Winter/Spring 2014 - St. Mary's Magazine

W I N T E R /S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 M AG A Z I N E FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ALUMNI, AND SUPPORTERS OF ST. MARY’S SCHOOL

COLLABORATION Across Continents and Cultures LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY to Support Innovative Learning 20 YEAR Anniversary Ecology and Environmental FIELD STUDIES

FALL/WINTER 2013

CULTIVATING A CONNECTED SCHOOL

Headmaster’s

LETTER In this edition of St. Mary’s Magazine, whose theme is “Cultivating a Connected School,” we highlight the numerous ways in which we work to connect our students and families with the school, each other, our environment, and our increasingly shrinking world.

D

ear Members of the St. Mary’s Community,

Today the world is more connected than ever before. Helped exponentially by the technological marvels of today, the spirit and desire to make connections between people and places remains ever-present in schools. This is especially true for St. Mary’s, where a truly holistic and global approach to education creates a wide variety of connections for our entire school community. In this edition of St. Mary’s Magazine, whose theme is “Cultivating a Connected School,” we highlight the numerous ways in which we work to connect our students and families with the school, each other, our environment, and our increasingly shrinking world.

Connections are seen everywhere on campus and are at the root of what makes St. Mary’s a unique community. Teachers connect and shape our young students’ minds through the IB global and interactive approach to education. Friendships abound among students, faculty, staff and parents. We gather together often as a community to celebrate the accomplishments and growth of our children. This magazine highlights what is truly special about our school and community.

“This has been an extraordinary year at

Sharon Taylor

St. Mary’s, and I am

Interim Head of School

grateful to be back working with this amazing community.”

T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

1

What’s

INSIDE

Interim Head of School: Sharon Taylor Editor: Virtue Byrd Contributors: Erin Bratcher, Virtue Byrd, Christine Downie, Nancy Fries, Roxanne Kane, Aileen Kay, Erfan Mojaddam, Doug Patterson, Angie Rowe, Mimi Yogaratnam

Design: Finien St. Mary’s Magazine is published two times a year for families, friends, alumni and supporters of St. Mary’s School.

We welcome your feedback.

Please address questions and comments to Virtue Byrd at virtue.byrd@smaa.org Alumni: We enjoy hearing from you. Please send us your latest news and notes: marketing@smaa.org

Leveraging Technology to Support Innovative Learning.................................................. 2 Technology and the Transformation of Teaching.............................................................. 4 Collaboration.......................................................................................................................... 6 The Benefits of Multilingualsim........................................................................................... 8 IB and the Common Core................................................................................................... 10 St. Mary’s 20th Year Historical Timeline............................................................................ 12 The Power of Friendship..................................................................................................... 14 Building Friendships Across Continents........................................................................... 15 Where Environmental Ecology and Personal Growth Meet........................................... 16 Environmental Stewardship............................................................................................... 17 Legacy Winner...................................................................................................................... 18 Campus Life.......................................................................................................................... 20 Connecting Through the Arts............................................................................................. 22 Our Alumni........................................................................................................................... 23

Join St. Mary’s community online by becoming a friend on Facebook.

St. Mary’s School 7 Pursuit, Aliso Viejo, California 92656 USA www.smaa.org 949.448.9027

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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Leveraging

Technology to Support Innovative Learning A

ccess to technology isn’t just about technology – it’s about increasing access to resources, information, and people all over the world. At St. Mary’s, we don’t teach technology as an end in itself.

Rather, we use technology as a powerful tool to connect students and enhance learning.

“Textbooks alone just don’t cut it anymore,” said Erfan Mojaddam, St. Mary’s Technology Director. “At St. Mary’s, we believe there are

better methods out there to engage students.

You have to interact, collaborate, and discover new opportunities for creativity.”

to process interesting, creative multimedia presentations, and how to communicate with people around the globe.

St. Mary’s students do just that. For example, Fifth Graders write and animate stories about Native Americans and colonial history using a programming language called Scratch. Seventh Graders are producing commercials for ancient Chinese inventions.

Projects like these reinforce the content the students are learning, while also engaging the students in the vast range of possibilities technology offers. They learn how to access relevant information on the Internet, how

Technology is an integral part of the St. Mary’s community. In Kindergarten through Second grade, students are using iPads for spelling and math; our Fifth Graders are engaged in LEGO robotics; and our Eighth Graders are designing video games using JAVA programming. Our curriculum allows us to expose students to the various fields of study within technology and develop students’ skills that not only enrich their education, but can inspire careers.

In Seventh and Eighth Grade, that means providing student choice among four technology offerings: programming, animation, web interaction and productivity, and computer systems. In the Lower School, it means our Technology Specialists co-teach collaboratively with the primary teacher in the classroom, allowing for direct and relevant integration of technology into the curriculum. By next fall, we will require that every middle school student has access to a device that they can bring to school.

“Textbooks alone just don’t cut it anymore”

“Using Scratch, a programming language developed at MIT, our Fifth Grade students animate a scene from the book, Double Life of Pocahontas, and use systematic reasoning and creative thinking to generate codes that allow their characters to move and talk,” explains Carrie Zulanas, Fifth grade Lead Teacher. “With this technology, our students bring both their words and history to life!”

Grade 3 students working with iPads.

3 With technologies changing so rapidly, who knows what tomorrow’s innovations will bring. But, St. Mary’s is committed to updating our infrastructure regularly, purchasing the best hardware and educational software, and offering professional development for our teachers so everyone knows how best to use the tools at their disposal.

Our students will graduate from St. Mary’s with a vast array of technological skills, and the insight on how best to use them. This will prepare them for high school, college, and for successful careers in an increasingly technological world.

Interactive Resources Available at St. Mary’s PC Library Media Center

Mini-Lab with 4 iMacs 4 mobile class sets of iPads 3 mobile class sets of laptops

1 mobile class set Chromebooks

Document cameras in every classroom

Interactive whiteboard and projector in classrooms

4 Light Tables in Early Education touch table in Early Education

5 computers in every K- Grade 5 Classroom

iPad centers in Grades K-2 Middle School Computer

study and understanding of space exploration in the unit How the World Works. During the unit, the children take on the role of NASA engineers,

3 Robotics class sets

1 Interactive SMART

“LEGO robotics enhances the children’s

Lab

PC Desktop Center in MS Humanities & Language Arts Classrooms

building and programming their “bots” to navigate and investigate the terrain found on Mars. Each day, the students are given a challenge that mimics a task NASA’s Rover Curiosity has completed.

These tasks include driving forward and backward, turning, and returning to a specific location; programming the bots to use light, touch, and sonar sensors; and building and attaching an arm to the bot that collects rock samples.”

— Carrie Zulanas, Fifth Grade Lead Teacher

Digital and video cameras available for checkout Digital audiobooks and mp3 players available

for checkout

Wireless Access across Campus.

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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Technology and theTransformation of Teaching T

echnology in the classroom not only changes the way our students learn, it also transforms the way our teachers teach. Here at St. Mary’s, we recognize that in order to keep up with rapid new developments in technology, our teachers must also be students—students of technology, constantly learning.

“We continually assess teachers’ technical needs and provide professional development opportunities and support,” said Glen

Galarpe, Middle School Technology Teacher.

That includes sending faculty to conferences where they learn new ways to use technology to spark curiosity and engage students. For example, several teachers attended the most recent International Society for Technical Education (ISTE) conference in San Antonio, Texas. “They practiced hands-on skills and had a chance to collaborate with other educators and tech experts,” Galarpe added.

Twelve faculty members attended the CUE Conference in Palm Springs in March, the largest and oldest technology in education conference in California.

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The days when students were sent to a separate technology class to learn how to use a computer are over. Conferences like ISTE and CUE give teachers the tools to integrate technology into their lessons, blending learning of the curriculum in subjects like science and social studies with learning how to utilize computer programs and the Internet. Students embrace new opportunities to collaborate and exchange ideas, using technology both to find answers to their questions and to facilitate creative expression.

Technological literacy is critical in the 21st Century, not just in school but also in the workplace, according to Lower School Technology Teacher Gretchen Gabreski. “New technologies are revolutionizing the nature of work everywhere, and therefore technology integration is imperative to education,” she said.

“At St. Mary’s, we are preparing students for the globally competitive world by integrating technology in a way that is used comprehensively and purposefully to support students in mastering the full range of what they need to learn.”

“At St. Mary’s, we are preparing students for the globally competitive world by integrating technology in a way that is used comprehensively and purposefully to support students in mastering the full range of what they need to learn.”

Twenty-first Century learning environments and working environments are both face-to-face and virtual; local and global.

This is due largely to what Pat Bassett, former president of the National Association of Independent Schools, calls “The Third American Revolution”—the Internet. Bassett, who spoke at St. Mary’s last year, said the Internet is a rich resource at our students’ fingertips, but they must learn how to verify the validity of everything they find. It’s more important than ever to ensure our school cultivates a culture where students, teachers and parents understand the importance of digital citizenship.

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

Collaboration Across

CONTINENTS & CULTURES Through our partnership with educators in Nacka, Sweden the Challenge 20/20 students exchange ideas and develop solutions to real-world, global problems with their Middle School counterparts.

I

magine St. Mary’s Middle School students having face-to-face conversations via Skype with students in Sweden discussing ideas and solutions to environmental challenges they face in their world today. This is the vision behind the work that is now being done in collaboration with St. Mary’s and (name of school) in Nacka, Sweden.

Through Challenge 20/20, a one trimester Service and Leadership elective, St. Mary’s Grade Seven and Grade Eight students learn how a committed group of young people can begin to resolve environmental problems. With our partnership with educators in Nacka, Sweden the Challenge 20/20 students exchange ideas and develop solutions to realworld, global problems with their Middle School counterparts.

The main platforms for student collaboration are a Blog the schools created and Skype.

We got to use our ideas to help not only the school, but the environment and community.

— Terrence Jung, Grade 7

The curriculum for both schools requires that students write a lab on how to create a product or program to make their home, school or community more sustainable. In November, these labs were entered into a “Nobel Prize” contest, judged by a diverse panel of adults and students from St. Mary’s.

The winners from St. Mary’s were Grant Kinsey, Evan Tuesta and Terrence Jung all from Grade Seven.

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Swedish Team Visited St. Mary’s Terrence Jung created an Earth Week Program for St. Mary’s, which proposed a new environmental activity each day for a week. He states, “It was exciting to work on this assignment. We got to use our ideas to help not only the school, but the environment and community.”

Grant Kinsey, examined Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and proposed alternative healthy ways to cook without GMOs. He states “I had no idea how dangerous GMOs were to our health until I started this project.” Evan Tuesta proposed a new crosswalk for the intersection of Aliso Creek Road and Pursuit to encourage more people to bike to school. The winners from both schools shared their labs on the Blog as a learning tool.

“I had no idea how dangerous Genetically Modified Organisms were to our health until I started this program” — Grant Kinsey, Grade 7

This year the Swedish faculty spent a day at St. Mary’s as part of a larger trip, participating in faculty round table discussions regarding sustainability and co-teaching sixth grade science classes.

This exciting professional collaboration between the two schools continues to grow and enrich our curriculum, promoting awareness of cultural perspectives.

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The Benefit

of Multilingualism A

ccording to researchers at Cornell Language Acquisition Lab, young foreign language students have better attention skills than students who know only one language. In fact, most scientists and educators agree that speaking two languages rather than just one, has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. Simply put, bilingualism helps us converse with a wider range of people.

As a required component of St. Mary’s IB programme, students have the opportunity to become critical and competent communicators in more than one language, while promoting cultural awareness and global understanding.  “Introducing our students to other languages at an early age increases their level of proficiency as they progress through primary and middle school. Not only do our students establish a respect for and understanding of

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different languages and cultures, but language studies provide a foundation to facilitate further learning in core subjects as well as enhanced academic enrichment,” notes Madlen Hulme, Language A Teacher at St. Mary’s.

Hulme notes that St. Mary’s views learning another language fundamental to a child’s holistic development, thereby helping students build lifelong learning skills.

When St. Mary’s students study a language, they go beyond verb tenses and building vocabulary. “We approach language culturally by exploring Spanish, French and Chinese history, art, literature, music, food and customs. It’s fantastic to witness the leap from speaking to thinking in a second language. Language and culture are intertwined, and thinking in a target language is an essential part of being able to express yourself more fully and to connect with the people you are trying to get to know,” adds Hulme.

Many of our students live in multilingual families and possess the adaptability to learn second and third languages faster.

For example, Neil Messmer, a native French speaker and Seventh Grade student, began to master English in less than two years.

“When I came here in Fifth Grade, I couldn’t speak English. I had a private tutor four days a week, and in December, after three months, I did not want to see her anymore.

I learned more with my friends and at school, with people talking all around me.”

By Grade Six, Neal was conversant in English 100% of the time. Neal admits it’s been challenging, “I speak English at school, but I speak French at home with my family.”

Bien fait!

There are 20 languages spoken by students at St. Mary’s School: Afrikaans

Japanese

Arabic

Kannada

Chinese

Korean

Dutch

Marathi

Farsi

Polish

French

Portuguese

German

Punjabi

Greek

Russian

Hindi

Spanish

Italian

Vietnamese

ST. ST. MARY’S MARY’S WINTER/SPRING WINTER/SPRING 2014 2014 MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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The rigorous standards and the varied, authentic, and relevant assessments of an IB education compliments the CCSS, as both aim to develop internationally minded students who are prepared to meet new challenges.

IB and the Common Core Guest Editor

DOUG PATTERSON

Middle Years Program Coordinator Grade 8 Humanities Teacher

T

he development of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is a nationwide effort to develop standards across the curriculum that aligns with 21st century demands. The goals of the CCSS are to enable all students to pursue success beyond high school and to equip them with the necessary skills to be lifelong learners.

An IB education prepares students to succeed amidst an ever-changing world.

Our students focus on global engagement and a balance between skills and values.

Our programs are designed to increase students’ creativity and equip them with the knowledge, skills and understanding to be successful in any path they choose to pursue.

In 2011, IB was selected by the Educational Policy Improvement Center as one of five different sets of standards evaluated

against the CCSS. Both the IB program and the new CCSS emphasize critical thinking, foundational understanding, and shift away from a one-size fits all approach to instruction and content.

Schools adopting the CCSS will focus more on trans-disciplinary approaches to learning. This could radically influence a school’s culture through changes in student assessments and changes in the curriculum.

Similar to the IB philosophy, the new standards define what students are expected to know, not how teachers should teach.

It allows for instruction to be more holistic and freedom for teachers to meet the needs of all students.

The one significant difference between the IB program and the CCSS is the integration of social and emotional learning into the IB standards. This is uniquely accomplished through our focus on the characteristics in the IB learner profile. The profile includes cognitive abilities such as: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators,

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and reflective, in addition to dispositions such as; principled, open-minded, caring, balanced, and risk-takers. This balance results in both cognitive and affective growth in students.

The CCSS is attempting to bring universal rigor to schools, something that IB has done for over 50 years in more than 3,500 schools.

IB remains the way forward in research based, pedagogically sound, best practice.

The CCSS is attempting to bring universal rigor to schools, something that IB has done for over 50 years in more than 3,500 schools.

References: Conley, D. T., Drummond, K. V., Gonzales, A., Seburn, M., Stout, O., & Rooseboom, J. (2011). Lining up: The relationship between the Common Core State Standards and five sets of comparison standards. Education Policy Improvement Center, 1-30. Deutsch, D. (2013). Connecting IB to the common core: Relationship studies resources to inform curriculum alignment. International Baccalaureate Organization, i-iii. Expanding student access to a rigorous international education An IB position paper on the Common Core State Standards [Editorial]. (2012). International Baccalaureate Organization, 1-3. Riddle, M., & Hersey, M. S. (2013). The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the IB: Preparing for a new paradigm. International Baccalaureate Organization, 1-79. Sparks, S. D. (2013). IB supporters tout program’s links with common core. Education Week, 32(15), 60-61.

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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St. Mary’s 20th Year Historical Timeline 1994

2002

• Father Sillers opens his fourth school which he referred to as the Jewel in the Crown • September, First Day of school with new faculty

• First Annual Lip Sync, which later became the Variety Show

• New building opens (Gym, Library and Media Resource Center, Middle School labs, classrooms and art studio)

1998 • First Annual Golf Tournament

• First Annual Gala

• Trailers – only four classroom trailers

1996

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

200

2000 • First St. Mary’s alumni hired

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

ST. MARY’S

2003 1995

1999

• First graduating class, 16 students

• First Soccer League Championship awarded

• 200 students total • More than a dozen classrooms, playgrounds, library and administrative offices

• First Summer Resort

1997 • First permanent building for Lower School opens

2001 • Track wins 1st of 11 County Championships

• The new Leadership program was include in the academic curriculum; including the Legacy Award • First group of students to graduate that started in Kindergarten

• First laptop compute are introduced into classrooms

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• The MYP earned International Baccalaureate candidacy • First Lacrosse League Championship Awarded

2008

• Four fifth and sixth grade students traveled internationally to participate in Maths Quest • New athletic field and playground equipment • Middle School “House” system began

• John O’Brien joins as Headmaster • Hosted an international exchange with the faculty and students of Luoling Foreign Language Experimental School in Shenzhen, China • First Drumline DAC Championship awarded

2006

2014

2010

• Enhanced STEM program

• First Annual St. Mary’s Cancer Awareness Assembly

Science

• Cheerleaders finish first at the American Championships

04

Technology

• IB Reaccreditation

2012

• First Broadway-style school musical

20TH YEAR

p ed

g

ers

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

• First Annual International Student Exchange, 15 students traveled to Milan and welcomed students here • Hosts First Annual Track Invitational

2005

Math Engineering

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

2007 • Became an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School (preschool through grade eight) • Received reaccreditation with WASC and NAEYC; received accreditation from CAIS

2011

2009 • First SMART Boards installed

• Father Sillers' 100th Birthday Celebration • Lower School Science Lab Opens • iPads integrated into curriculum

ST. MARY’S 20TH YEAR

• Athletic Field and Outdoor Play-areas Renovated • Receives 6 year accreditation from WASC/CAIS • Over 800 students enrolled

2013

• Arts Field Study to NY began

• Football wins County Championship

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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The Power of

Friendships

A

cclaimed author and clinical psychologist Michael G. Thompson is an expert on many fascinating topics ranging from children’s behavior to education to parenting. In October, he struck a chord with children and adults when discussing the topic of friendship at St. Mary’s school. During a full day of assemblies and a Speaker Series event in the evening, Grades 4-8 students, teachers and parents talked about the meaning of friendship.

The responses from children, who confidently took the microphone to share their views, were especially poignant. “They share with us. They support us and stick up for us when we need it. They keep secrets.

They love us, no matter what.”

In the course of the evening, Dr. Thompson informally polled St. Mary’s parents and local families by asking how many of them still had friends they made when they were children. More than 40% of the audience smiled as they raised their hands. While the

audience seemed somewhat surprised by bewildering cruelty. As parents, we watch, the number, Dr. Thompson was not. As the and often live through vicariously, the author of nine books, a consultant, and a tumult that our children experience as they regular on the talk show circuit including encounter the ‘cool’ crowd, shifting alliances, The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and bullies, and disloyal best friends.”

CBS 60 Minutes, Dr. Thompson has discussed this topic hundreds of times, and he clearly “Your children’s friendships are equally understands the power of enduring important, and it’s important to friendships over support them but stand back as they time, distance and life events. navigate through the social dynamics “Friends broaden our of making horizons, share our joys and secrets, and accompany them on their journeys into ever-wider worlds,” said Dr. Thompson.

Dr. Thompson’s book Best Friends, Worst Enemies explains the less than perfect, path of making friends. “As children grow, their friendships become more complex and layered but also more emotionally fraught, marked by both extraordinary intimacy and

friends.”

Filled with eye-opening accounts and sage advice, Dr. Thompson’s book may be intended as a guide for parents to help their children, but his words offer a timeless and powerful message that resonates for friends of all ages.

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Building Friendships

ACROSS CONTINENTS I

n 2010 when the Rowe family became a host family for Cesare De Michelis, an Italian Exchange student from the International School of Milan (ISM), neither knew that this brief connection would lead to a lifelong friendship with the De Michelis family.

Angie Rowe, mother of sons Colin and Brady, recently shared how one simple act created a connection that continues to cultivate in unexpected and wonderful ways. “The program between St. Mary’s and their sister school in Milan has enabled a strong friendship to evolve between the schools. As a family, the friendships we have formed have been life changing. Over the years, we have become so deeply involved, it also gets harder every year to say goodbye, so we just say ‘arrivederci,’ or see you soon.”

Over the course of their week together, Cesare became a part of the Rowe family. They enjoyed noisy conversations over elaborate meals, and they all learned about the differences and similarities in cultures.

The next spring, our son Colin, who was in seventh grade, stayed with the De Michelis family, and he had an equally great time with them in Milan. “We all felt that this bond would continue to grow,” said Angie.

“Little did we know how much this circle of friendships would expand.”

Fast forward to the fall of 2011 when Patrick Kerr, an Irish teacher at ISM who has been with the program for several years, stayed with the Rowe family. “Like Cesare, the connection with Patrick was almost instant. Now Patrick and his wife, Simona, and new son, Liam, are part of the circle,” explains Angie. “After so many great memories and friendships were made through the exchange program, we traveled as family in the summer of 2012 to Italy and Spain to vacation with the De Michelis and Kerr families.”

Like a ripple effect, the friendships continued when Alessandro Oriani, another Italian exchange student stayed with the Rowe’s in the fall of 2012. In the spring term, our second son, Brady, then in seventh grade, stayed with the Oriani family, and he also spent time with the De Michelis family because their daughter Ottavia was also participating in the exchange.

Thanks to email, Facebook, FaceTime, Tango and What’s Up video messaging, Skype and text messaging, the time difference between California and Italy has kept the lines of communication open. “The ability to stay connected, even if it’s just a Facebook posting, brings our worlds closer together. It doesn’t replace the personal interaction, but it has enhanced our friendships immeasurably. ”

“The ability to stay connected, even if it’s just a Facebook posting brings our worlds closer together. It doesn’t’ replace the personal interaction, but it has enhanced our friendships immeasurably. ” — Angie Rowe

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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Learning Comes to Life:

Where Environmental Ecology

and Personal Growth Meet

B

efore St. Mary’s seventh grade students even stepped on the bus for the Pali Institute for an intensive five-day science camp, they were well prepared to embrace their surroundings in the San Bernardino National Forest. Prior to departure the students studied about habitats, ecosystems, population density, predator to prey ratios, adaptations and interaction among living things.

“It all comes to life when we arrive in Pali,” said Ms. Leila Volkmann, Middle School Science Teacher. “When we take day and evening hikes through the forest, our students are immediately engaged because they are inside the ecosystems where they witness the delicate balance of the local environment.

This kind of experiential learning is a joy to be

part of as a teacher and as a student. Light bulbs are going off every day as we ask how tough is Mother Earth?”

Thanks to a daily blog, families followed along as entries were posted. “Day 2: Last night we all enjoyed a great night hike– the students learned and observed the constellations.

The students also learned about the anatomy of the human eye and how it adjusts to light and darkness.” These blogs helped to convey the sense of wonder, excitement and joy expressed as students and faculty experienced physical and mental challenges together and as individuals.

In addition to scientific discoveries, the concepts of morals and ethics are key to the experience. Students begin to show greater respect towards the needs and feelings of others and they take the initiative to solve a task as a group. Ms. Volkmann adds, “By engaging students in group cooperation, teambuilding activities, and goal-setting, our students continue to learn mutual respect, appreciate diversity, practice advanced methods of leadership and gain essential skills to help them throughout their lives.”

In addition to scientific discoveries, the concepts of morals and ethics are key to the experience.

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Environmental

A

Stewardship

n autumn trip to Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island, just off the California coast, served as an adventure in field research and an unparalleled opportunity for our sixth grade students to learn how to coexist with the environment and each other.

Eighty-five students and eight teachers were introduced to Catalina’s native habitat at the camp’s science labs, where they experienced the local environment through laboratory activities that included contact with aquatic species in touch tanks, microscopic analysis and dissections. Students learned about the invertebrate kingdom and the phyla, or grouping organisms, by observing and classifying indigenous plants, animals and insects.

During the journey into and along the shores of the longest undeveloped coastline in Southern California, our sixth graders gained a greater understanding of biology while simultaneously enjoying a well preserved piece of California’s ecological history. Whether students were snorkeling or kayaking in the Pacific’s interactive aquarium or hiking along trails observing deer, buffalo and the island fox, these experiences provided them with the perspective of the interconnectedness of all living things with their environment.

This five-day immersion in environmental stewardship also offered each student a personal glimpse into the amount of daily food waste they accumulated. All leftovers were collected and this daily volume was charted before all the waste crossed the channel on a barge back to the mainland, since Catalina does not have a landfill.

From day one, students learned that their daily choices and decisions had real consequences and profound environmental implications whether it was putting too large a serving of mashed potatoes on their plates or using too many napkins.

This sixth grade trip represents the first time that many of our students have spent five days away from home.

They learned a lot about themselves and each other which resulted in their ability to show empathy and genuine caring towards their classmates that comes from shared experiences in an unfamiliar environment. Mr. Glen Galarpe, Middle School Technology Teacher noted, “This opportunity helped our students develop important life skills such as self-confidence, teamwork, personal responsibility, problem solving and self-worth.”

“During my experience at Catalina, I learned that every action we make effects the island and the ecosystem. I also overcame my fears on the trip and had fun.”

– Zoe Strickland, Grade 6 “We are killing the animals in the ocean by polluting the ocean with plastic. People need to stop being so wasteful and start caring more about the environment.”

– Hayley Augustini, Grade 6

MARY’S FALL/WINTER 2014 2013 MAGAZINE ST. ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING

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A Legacy

of Excellence

19

K

aylin Martin was the winner of the 2014 St. Mary’s Tenth Annual Legacy Leadership Award. Each year, St. Mary’s annual Legacy Leadership Award honors a St. Mary’s eighth grade student who demonstrates superior leadership skill, evidence of service, and civic responsibility. The competition focuses on four main principles called the “Four Aces”, which form the cornerstones of a strong community – Attitude, Commitment, Engagement and Service. Each student in the competition writes two essays and is interviewed individually by a panel of judges representing local community and business leaders.

This year’s winner Kaylin Martin attended St. Mary’s since Preschool and has received a number of academic achievements awards including the Principal’s Honors for every trimester since sixth grade. Kaylin is a member of the St. Mary’s Math Counts team that competed at the University of California, Irvine Math Counts Competition and a winner of the Chapman University Art & Writing Contest in 2014. In addition, she is involved with numerous philanthropic organizations that support Mission Hospital and Project Hope School. In 2012, she donated eight inches of hair to Locks of Love at a St. Mary’s Cancer Awareness assembly. Kaylin Martin will be attending Santa Margarita Catholic High School in the fall and is an excellent representative of St. Mary’s leadership legacy tradition.

This year’s judges for the Legacy Leadership Award included Paula Braun, Former National Officer for National Charity League, currently Serving at Families Forward and ICEC; Robert Deuster, CEO of Collectors Universe, Former CEO of Newport Corporation; Michael Hamilton, Retired Executive with Ernst & Young; James Littlejohn, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and Greg Spierkel, Retired CEO of Ingram Micro, currently serving as Director on two private boards. The judges participate in reviewing the candidates’ essays, as well as judging each candidate in an oral interview.

Twelve Student Finalists.

The competition focuses on four main principles called the “Four Aces”, which form the cornerstones of a strong community – Attitude, Commitment, Engagement and Service.

Based on the essays and interview the judges selected twelve student finalists: Colin Ballantyne, Sean Byrne, Marriott Hoffmann, Lauren Lemieux, Kaylin Martin, Isabelle Odgers, Alexandra Oliver, Evan Pearson, Marisa Pla, Kylie Sharron, Erica Shenoi and Mackenna Strohmeier. At the ceremony, prior Legacy Award recipient Devin Walsh, now a freshman at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, announced Martin as this year’s winner.

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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CAMPUS LIFE

A Community Celebrating It’s Accomplishments Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing Award Ceremony In March, eighth graders Kaylin Martin, Colin Ballantyne and Lauren Lemieux attended the Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing contest award ceremony held in Memorial Hall, along with teachers Peggy Fowler and Lisa Dennis. These three students represented St. Mary’s in the contest and were chosen as finalists for their creative work reflecting on the testimony of survivor Zelda Gordon, as well as other survivors that they encountered in their inquiry of the Holocaust.

The students toured the Chapman campus in advance of the award ceremony, visiting the university’s

Holocaust collection in the library, as well as enjoying the musical performance of an authentic Klezmer musical group. At the ceremony, they were reminded that listening to the stories of the survivors is the best way we can honor them and carry on the message of tolerance.

Several members of the Holocaust survivor group known as the 1939 Club were present at the reception afterwards where students could speak with them and request their autographs in their copies of The Holocaust Chronicle, a book provided to each of the finalists after the ceremony. This is the third year that St. Mary’s has participated in the contest and we are looking forward to collaborating again next year with the university in this important event.

Winners of Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing Award.

Mathcounts During winter break, St. Mary’s 7th and 8th grade math students took part in the Orange County Regional Final of Mathcounts at University of California, Irvine. The Mathcounts Competition Series is a national competition program designed to excite and challenge middle school students. The competition involved a sprint round where individuals solved problems under examination conditions. Teams of four then took part in the target round where they solved four pairs of challenging questions against the clock. The finalists went through to a countdown round held in one of the university lecture halls with an audience of parents, students and teachers. The finalists demonstrated amazing mental math skills, answering problems almost as soon as the question was read!

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St. Mary’s Places 5th in the Western Region of the Green Cup Energy Challenge The schools that participated in the Green Cup Energy Challenge reduced their electricity consumption by over 1 million kWh, keeping 1.5 million pounds of C02 out of the atmosphere.

We are pleased to report that St. Mary’s School placed 5th in the Western region, out of 10 schools on the West Coast. We applaud the efforts of all the schools who participated. The winning schools from each region are: The Cate School (CA), Peak to Peak School (CO), the Latin School of Chicago (IL), The Derryfield School (NH), Avon Old Farms School (CT), Robert A. Van Wyck Green Magnet School (NY), Episcopal High School (VA), and Delhi Public School, Bopal (India).

This global competition prompts our students to look carefully at their energy consumption by keeping track of khw used on campus. Our school saved 1,704 khw during the competition, which was a total energy savings of 3.3% over last year! To achieve this energy savings our students used natural light instead of lights in the classrooms and reduced air conditioning use at the school.

Model United Nations St. Mary’s Model United National Club participates in six Model UN conference this spring. On February 22, students in grades 7 & 8 represented St. Mary’s School as delegates to the Laguna Hills High School 22nd Annual Model United Nations Conference. Our students competed against mostly high school students from 15 different schools.

During the day, students gave speeches and discussed global topics such as Cyber Terrorism, the Situation in Syria, Whaling and Solar Energy. During this conference, St. Mary’s students progressed beyond the novice level and participated at the more advanced levels.

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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Connecting

Through the Arts

New York City Fine Arts Cultural Field Study

By Roxanne Kane

A

group of thirty seven St. Mary’s parents, teachers and students met at the terminal the morning of March 5, to embark upon a Big Apple cultural adventure. As an International Baccalaureate World School, St. Mary’s is committed to “educating the whole child,” and understands that exploration and appreciation of the visual and performing arts is essential to the development of children who will become true risk-takers and thoughtful inquirers.

Roxanne Kane, Visual Arts Instructor and Maren Oom, Department Chair of the Arts, led eighteen students, accompanied by parent chaperones, on a tour of New York City that was designed to impassion youngsters and their parents through exposure to art museums, musical and theatrical venues, and multicultural cuisine opportunities.

Museums visits included the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the Frick Collection. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, students were guided towards exhibitions inspired by their individual IB classroom units of inquiry. At the Guggenheim Museum, the group was treated to a guided tour of the current exhibition of Italian Expressionist works.

Students then participated in a hands-on

visual arts drawing workshop given by Guggenheim museum educators. At the Frick Collection, students were able to view a new exhibition of Italian bronze sculptures as well as enjoy the permanent collection of art and furniture.

The program also included a tour of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The group enjoyed an exquisite evening of fine dining at The Russian Tea Room followed by a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring the Orchestra of St. Luke’s playing Beethoven’s Requiem Mass. Other dining experiences included a French luncheon at Café Un Deux Trois prior to enjoying a Broadway production of the musical Matilda. The group sampled Puerto Rican cuisine at “Sofrito” restaurant and enjoyed a spectacular Italian repast at Serafina’s in the meatpacking district. This accompanied with a dazzling off-Broadway production of “Stomp” made for a great evening.

To top off the experience, the group was lucky enough to get tickets to the celebrated production of Prince Igor at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The Performing and Visual Arts are alive and well at St. Mary’s and these types of cultural experiences make learning come alive and build the foundation for a lifetime of art appreciation.

St. Mary’s group in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Keeping Up with

OUR ALUMNI

We love when our Alumni make us proud, which they often do.

Class of 2002

Ashley Jenkins attended Mater Dei High School and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) for college where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in European Studies. While at UCLA she was a member of the UCLA gymnastics team. Ashley attended the International University in Geneva, Switzerland for her Master of Arts in Media and Communications. She currently works for the United Nations in the Editorial Unit in Geneva, Switzerland. She is fluent in French and Italian and loves to dance, cook and travel.

Class of 2004

Yuki Iizuka graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Toxicology in 2012. After college he interned in Washington D.C. at the Food and Drug Administration for one year. In 2013, Yuki enrolled in medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and is interested in specializing in neurosurgery or ER during his residency.

Class of 2005

Evan Donald Jacobsen attended San Clemente High School and during his time started a non-profit foundation, Summit7, Inc. which combined his love for mountain climbing and missionary work. Evan received a full scholarship to play college football at the University of New Mexico and graduated with a double major in both History and Accounting. Evan works part time as an Accountant and is deeply involved in service to God’s Church.

Evan continues to train as a NFL Free Agent in hopes of joining a professional football team.

Class of 2007

Emily Chadwell is a junior at the University of Alabama double majoring in History and Education. Emily is on the Alabama women’s crew team and volunteers in the Best Buddies’ program in which she works with a special needs adult to share different activities throughout the year. In 2013 Emily won the University of Alabama Top Female Athlete Community Outreach Award, as well as the Alabama Women’s Rowing Community Service Award.

Emily’s crew boat recently won a gold medal at the Chattanooga Head Race in Tennessee.

Serena Silvan attends the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University (TCU) majoring in International Marketing.

She is President of the TCU French Club, Vice President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and a member of both Delta Gamma Fraternity and Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society.

Serena worked as a marketing intern with Relativity Media at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Heather Marie Zadra is a junior at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, majoring in Biology and taking pre-veterinary classes.

Class of 2008

Jacqueline Adams graduated second in her class at Mater Dei High School and is currently a sophomore with a major in Economics and English at UCLA. She is involved in many organizations such as the Undergraduate Student Association Council Academic Affairs, Ski and Snowboard team, College of Letters and Sciences Honors College, Unicamp volunteer and Alpha Delta Lambda Honors Society.

She interned at McKasson & Klein, LLP and is a Director for Project Literacy, a volunteer one-on-one tutoring organization for inner city Los Angeles students.

Jessica Meyer received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2013, where she competed all four years on the NCAA Cross Country team and studied abroad in Cordoba, Spain. Jessica is preparing to go to graduate school to obtain either a Doctorate in Physical Therapy or a Masters in Teaching.

ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

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Class of 2008 (cont.)

Kent Iizuka has been inducted to the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Class of 2016. He successfully completed his first year and summer training including a sailing trip to Essex Connecticut and SWO training aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. Upon graduation from the US Naval Academy, Kent would like to be commissioned as a Navy Pilot.

Hayley Ritterhern graduated from Santa Margarita in 2012 as Valedictorian and with an International Baccalaureate Diploma.

She is currently a sophomore at Stanford University majoring in Biomechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science, and will study abroad in Berlin this spring. Hayley is Chair for the Stanford High School MUN Conference and on the core team for the Society of Women Engineers Stanford Chapter where she works to inspire young women to pursue STEM field interests.

Christopher James Zadra is a sophomore at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, majoring in Computer Engineering.

Class of 2009

Nick Begg graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2013.

Nick attends Arizona State University where he played football as a freshman.

Class of 2009 (cont.)

Daniel Reardon graduated from St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in 2013. Daniel is currently majoring in Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Nick Vinci graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2013 with an IB certificate and a cumulative GPA of 3.9. At SMCHS he was Events Commissioner, Vice President of the Invisible Children Club, and CSF member for six semesters. Nick attends the University of Washington majoring in Business and is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Class of 2010

Austin Drysch is a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School where he carries a 4.88 GPA and was recently named Valedictorian.

He is also a National Merit Scholar Finalist, US Presidential Scholar Candidate, an IB Full Diploma Candidate, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He is on the golf team and enjoys volunteering at the Special Olympics and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Last summer Austin mentored at the summer surgery program at UCI Medical School and he will soon publish a research paper on the use of ultrahydrophobic materials in laparoscopic surgery, which will no doubt help him to reach his goal as a surgeon.

Daniel Marx, a senior at Mission Viejo High School, has chosen to play football at Stanford University in the fall because of the school’s tremendous blend of athletics and academics. He is confident he will continue to maintain his outstanding GPA while playing fullback for the Stanford Cardinal. Daniel credits his rigorous academic work ethic to St. Mary’s which has allowed him to take AP and Honors classes.

Madie Chadwell graduated from Mater Dei High School in 2013, where she received the Father John Weling Scholarship, award for Outstanding Senior AP Language Student, Girls’ State recognition and an award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Cumulative GPA 4.0. She also received a Varsity letter for the MDHS Sailing team where she was co-captain. Currently Madie is a freshman at Boston College Carroll School of Management. She participates in the Women in Business club and hosts a radio show at the college radio station.

Jason Cowan graduated from Sage Hill School in 2013. Jason is currently a freshman at Southern Methodist University.

Ryan Sandell, a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, is busy participating in sports such as soccer, track and wrestling and is also a Student Ambassador, Link Crew Leader and has been a Ministry Retreat Leader. This past summer through a SMCHS Spanish Immersion program he helped to repair a broken down school in a Pachacuti camp in Uruguay (along with fellow St. Mary’s alumni Sarah Hershorin ‘10 and Gregory Yosenick ‘10). Ryan has been a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) since 9th grade and was recently chosen to be a part of National Honor Society (NHS). He is an active member of the community raising funds for Susan G. Komen and is the Co-President of Eagles Coins for Change. Ryan plans to major in Business Administration with a concentration in either International Business or Entrepreneurship.

Class of 2010 (cont.)

Julia Traylor is a senior at Laguna Hills High School where she is an International Baccalaureate Full Diploma Candidate.

She is a four-year Varsity team member in both tennis and lacrosse. In tennis as the number one doubles player in 2012, she helped her school win the CIF SS Division 3 team championship title, and earned MVP and Scholar Athlete honors.

Julia is active in National Charity League, volunteering more than 120 hours of community service in each of her last two years.

Class of 2011

Carlee DiNicola is a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School where she maintains a 4.5 GPA and is an International Baccalaureate Full Diploma Candidate. She is passionate about the Model United Nations program and was invited to travel to London to participate in an international conference last October. Carlee also started and is President of the Pencils of Promise Club at SMCHS.

Class of 2012

Frances Gargano is a sophomore at Santa Margarita Catholic High School where she is on the Varsity Cheer Team and Secretary of the Lion’s Heart Club.

Austin Presutto attends J Serra where he is a member of the Honor Chamber Choir and plays for the tennis team where he was awarded the Scholar Athlete Award for 2013. Thanks to the rigorous academics and solid technology foundation he obtained from St. Mary’s, Austin completed his freshman year earning a solid 4.0 GPA. Setting his goals higher for his sophomore year, Austin is currently enrolled in four honor and AP courses earning him a spot on the Dean’s Honor Roll. He hopes to pursue a career in science or medicine, but for now he’s spending his spare time learning the construction trade from his dad and singing at concerts and events throughout Orange County.

Class of 2012 (cont.)

25 Alanna Verde attends Dana Hills High School where she made the Principal’s Honor Roll her freshman year. She joined the JV Soccer Team, finished the season with the Scholar Athlete Award and runs track on the Sprints team.

Last summer Alanna was selected to play for the So Cal Blues Soccer Club (a nationally ranked club), achieving a lifetime goal.

Class of 2013

Noah Hill, a freshman at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, continues to be an excellent student as well a musician. He is in six honors classes and made the Honor Roll with a GPA above 4.0. Noah is one of two freshmen at the school selected to be part of the Honors Chamber Choir and the only freshmen selected to be part of the elite Jazz ensemble. He was a member of the drumline in the school marching band which placed fourth in the Southern California Championships. As a member of the All American Boys Chorus for the past five years, Noah spent three weeks in Australia staying with seven different host families, an experience he relates to the Italian exchange he participated in at St. Mary’s.

Santa Margarita Catholic High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, December 10, 2013 Gregory Yosenick ’10, Emilie Marcinkowski ’11, Carlee DiNicola ’11, Ryan Sandell ‘10 ST. MARY’S WINTER/SPRING 2014 MAGAZINE

St. Mary’s School 7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 www.smaa.org

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