Spring 2000

Parents’ Post A Newsletter for Parents and Friends of The Thacher School

Spring 2000

from The Botticellian Trees The alphabet of the trees is fading in the song of the leaves the crossing bars of the thin letters that spelled winter and the cold have been illumined Original photograph by Annie Nyborg

with pointed green

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Friends:

by the rain and sun— The strict simple principles of straight branches are being modified by pinched-out ifs of color, devout conditions the smiles of love – ......

William Carlos Williams

Williams’ spring “ifs of color” have now softened the texture of the scorched hills behind the campus; moonscape has become strips of velvet under the influence of salutary gentle rains and sun. Far less subtle is this season’s aroma in the Ojai and particularly in our orchardy corner of it: redolent with orange blossom, the scent on the breeze urges deep breaths, gives pause, begs us stop in the rush that defines this last quarter of the school year, to fill our lungs with what is, if reassuringly seasonal, certainly also evanescent.

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THE FINAL RUNG

GRAND DAYS

National Merit Scholarship Program notified Thacher of those Over sixty grandparents (some accompanied by their “kids”— TThe O Semi-finalists named in September who have met all requirements Thacher parents) spent a packed couple of days on campus mid-April. to qualify as Finalists. On that list of exceptional students: Lucinda Brown, Brooke Halsey, Clay Pell, and Juliette White. Similarly, Allegra Towns was named a finalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program’s 2000 competition.

ALL THAT GLITTERS ACTUALLY IS GOLD Last spring, Gallia Vickery (Mathematics, Dance—and a member of Lthe Ajiva Dance Theater in her spare time) packed up the Thacher Dance Ensemble, their costumes, and their weekend homework to attend the annual conference of the Dance Educators of America.

There, as some of you recall, the group swept a Gold Medal in their division, as well as a special “innovative Idea” award; Gallia herself was awarded “Best Choreographer.” History repeated itself almost exactly this April: though some of the players had changed and the piece—“Solace”—was brand new, the eight again won the Gold Medal for amassing 286 of a possible 300 points and earned the High Point Prize in their age category. Again, too, Gallia tripped off with the Choreographer’s Award. Pictured here, a blur of kinesthetic poetry: Megan Winecoff, Lily Mitchem, Lucy Milligan, Mariposa Widdoes, Margaux Lloyd,Yui Scribner, Katie Harmon, and Joy Bergeron.

A big thanks to Ann, Walt, and Jordan Fisher, who opened up their home to the dancers for the weekend.

On Tuesday, they took campus tours, poked around in the endlessly fascinating School Archives, had tea and then dinner with their grandchildren, and, in the e vening , enjoyed dessert, The Chamber Singers, and a brief history talk by Cricket Twichell in the backyard garden of the Head’s Home. Wednesday had the merry band off to classes, Assembly in I wish I were starting the sun-soaked Centennial Amphihere all over again.” theatre (where Dr. Newlin Hastings —Newlin Hastings, recalled his days here as a student “in C de P ’34, and granddad to the days before AP’s—Harvard just current students Betsy sort of guessed how well we would do and took us!”—as a parent, a member Bradford, Jamie Hastings, of the Board of Trustees, and now a and Laurel Hastings grandparent), and afternoon sports and gymkhana competition.

ON THE ROAD, TUNEFULLY Under the direction of Greg Haggard, The Thacher Chorus and U Chamber singers headed south to San Diego last month to attend the

BRRRRRRRRRR Inducted by Packmeister Austin Curwen (with daughter Darcy peeking at the awardees from behind) into the Sespe River Polar Bear Club as the first Thacher students of the new millennium (or the last of the old, depending on how you count) to have braved the frigid waters on a late-winter horsecamping trip were Drew Fleck, Nathan Parker, Vincent Chen, Alex Huth, and Will Johnson.

annual Gateway Music Festival. The vocalists left on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a tuneful drive through LA rush hour traffic to arrive at the Del Mar Hilton in time for swims and dinner. The next morning, students rose early to get over to Point Loma College, where both groups performed admirably before other high school groups from schools as far away as St. Paul, Minnesota. and a panel of adjudicators—top choral directors from around the country.

When the votes were in, The Thacher Chorus finished with a thirdplace trophy and the Chamber Singers received an “Excellent” rating and trophy—presented at Assembly in a long-held School tradition.

With their singing done, the group stopped at Sea World for a wet and rolicking end to their banner weekend.

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WRITE FOR RIGHTS Urgent action appeals are letters written, under the auspices of Thacher’s Amnesty International chapter, to various world leaders in whose countries human rights are in some way being violated. Doing their part during a Wednesday evening dinner were Wes Myers, Tyler Manson, and Sarah Morrow, who were writing to the president of Colombia to express concern for the safety of people living in La Esperanza, Barrancabermeja.“This issue came to our attention after guerilla groups went into this town and murdered about ten people and abducted about twenty-five others,” said Thacher’s AI Head, Mia Silverman, who has orchestrated several of these letter-writing efforts this year.

WE KNEW ’EM WHEN…

T

Tsuki-Tsuki—a group of five honey-voiced Toads (Ryan Meyer, Andrew Barkan, Casey Muller, and Eric Morrill—all C de P ’98—and Thomas Beatty, C de P ’99)—who made much and wonderful music two years ago—have had their CD, “Short Guy in the Middle” nominated in the “Best High School Album” category of the Contemporary A Cappella Awards. When “the envelope please” moment takes place later this spring, we’ll let you know what’s inside!

IN GOOD HEALTH School Chair Kristin Berona, along with Head Prefects Bennett BarSbakow and Annie Nyborg, met with faculty this term to discuss the findings of the first Community Council Survey on the Advisor System at Thacher, a project that emerged from that group’s discussion about possible improvements to the system. Said Kristin, “We discussed many ideas amongst ourselves and then in an open community council before winter break, the options of having coed or mixed age advisee groups. Community Council had discussed the pros and cons of these possibilities, but I wanted to hear the opinions of the entire student body. To this end, I created this survey to gauge general satisfaction and to see where the [students] stood on these two issues.” The findings: 88% of the girls and 95% of the boys who responded (65% of the student body) are satisfied with the current advisor system. Some recommendations from the students: for advisors to spend more time discussing and advising on academic issues and for the faculty to consider the concept of “team advisors.”

Two advisors, one with girls and the other with boys, would be linked; the two groups would have dinners and other functions together several times over the course of the year, while remaining separate groups. Kristin’s report comes on the heels of another study conducted last summer by Dean of Students Chris Mazzola and addressed to parents, one whose results, like those of the Community Council, endorsed the very positive nature of this student-faculty relationship at Thacher while underscoring the ongoing need for reg-

ular communication among all parties. Incidentally, parents will again have the opportunity to comment on the advisor-advisee relationship in another questionnaire you’ll receive from the Dean’s Office this summer. The students completed theirs just this week.

THROUGH OUR GATES past months have been rife with concerts, lectures, presentaTThese tions, and recitals of all sorts. Among those bringing culture to our doorstep, most under the aegis of The Arts and Lectures Series, orchestrated by Jake Jacobsen: Jazz teacher, clinician, and music professor Ken Foberg took time out from his usual responsibilities in New Orleans to spend time with aspiring Thacher jazz musicians. He gave a lecture and provided a master class for a group of keen instrumentalists.

Takashima Professor of Japanese Cultural Studies at UCSB, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and Thacher dad, Dr. John Nathan, enthralled an after-dinner crowd with his perspectives on Japanese cultural complexities and nuances. His latest book, Sony: The Private Life (Houghton Mifflin, Boston), offers an insider’s view into the Japanese as people and businessmen and their corporate culture.

With lines of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” as the connective poetic thread, Kathleen Mulligan and David Studwell of the world-famous Ashland Shakespeare Festival performed scenes from several of the Bard’s plays, including Henry V, Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, as well as from a whole roster of contemporary playwrights and writers whose works they had adapted for the stage. Preceding their evening’s show, the duo worked with Jake Jacobsen’s Advanced Acting class on the creative interpretation of text through motion and vocalizing, with a focus on the emotional components of text rendition. Pictured here, Mr. Studwell, Grace Carter, and Mary Ann Bronsen.

The inimitable and wildly colorful explorer, writer, and filmmaker Quentin Keynes returned to Thacher for a third year to show his film “Up the Zambesi” to an appreciative after-dinner crowd.

At the Chinese New YearYear of the Dragon Banquet and Celebration, planned and executed by the Chinese Club, the community was swept into a dining room entirely transformed, it seemed: decorated with enormous red lanterns and with colorful rice paper on which Chinese students had written

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couplets and characters, the room was also filled with the aroma of several authentic dishes. After dinner, Professor of Ethnomusicology at UCSB Xiaoli Zhang-King and her father Mr. Zhang, invited their audience into a different aural culture entirely with their renditions of both traditional and more contemporary folk tunes on a musical instrument called the erhu. This instrument has been widely used in all kinds of folk music perfoamcnes as well as in traditional dramas—for example, by the Peking Opera. (“Er” means two and “hu” means string.) The evening also included post-performance fun of various games and a calligraphy demonstration and workshop. Our thanks especially to Chinese Teacher Li Li,Wayne Chang, and Brooke Halsey for their leadership in the club and on this enchanted evening. Pictured here, the Chinese Club: in the front row, Li Li,Vivian Wu, Jessica Liu, Mariposa Widdoes, Carlos Soriano, Blake Caldwell, and Erin Blankenship; back row, Ronald Wu, Brooke Halsey, Wayne Chang, Fred Kim, and José Estrada.

Thacher students and faculty got a slice of something pretty grand when a version of Mountainfilm made a whistle stop in the East End. Based in Telluride, CO, Mountainfilm has been hailed as “America’s premier Festival of Mountain, Adventure, Environmental, and Cultural Films.” Three hours of these films entertained and informed a packed Lamb Auditorium for an entire Saturday night.

Butts, Brian Keane, EEric Russell Grether, Katie Kuhl, Chris Grant, Jane Kwett, Melissa Vickery, and Patty Abou-Samra take a breather on the steps of the Obispado in Monterrey, Mexico, as part of Cecilia Ortiz’s two-week language immersion/homestay program south of the border during spring break.

HILLS ALIVE! A slice of gold rush history was brought to vivid life one recent Sunday evening by Kate Magruder, who visited us in the form of Louise Smith Clappe, a cultured New Englander who left her home turf to travel to California with her physician husband, Fayette.

They soon—and happily—found themselves living in a tent (and subsequently a log cabin) at the bottom of the Feather River Canyon near Marysville amid a thousand or more miners from around the world. In letters home to her sister “back in the States,” Clappe (who gave herself the nom de plume of “Dame Shirley”) detailed the vitality and drama of the phenomenon of the gold rush. Magruder, cofounder and former artistic director of the Ukiah Players Theatre (and aunt of Thacher students Emma and Mary White), created her magic via an art form known as a Chatauqua, in which the player is the person for part of the program, speaking in his or her voice, answering the audience’s questions from that individual (and timebound) perspective; during the next part, the player doffs the costume and voice to address cultural and historical questions. (Thomas Jefferson came to us last year by similar means.)

Former Congressman and Korean War veteran Pete McCloskey (and uncle to Alden Blair and Hannah Hooper) spent extended time with students and faculty discussing his seven terms as Bay Area representative, his GOP presidential primary bid in 1972, his anti-war stance at that time, the political, legal, and constitutional implications of the Vietnam War and a host of other issues in an after-dinner talk and in classes throughout his two days on campus.

sound of all kinds of music—jazz, classical, R & B, folk, and TThe pop—has been filling the Alumni Room off and on throughout the semester, thanks to the multiplicity of talents brought together by members of the recently formed Music Guild. Pictured here, standing, Max Greene, Hannah Carney, Iyana Reid, Kindra Clemence, Logan Clark, Meredith Walker, chief organizer Will Barkan, Erik Fiske, Eita Hatayama, Carina Fisher, and, seated at the piano, Ben Heilveil. In addition to their frequent gigs on campus, several of the members will be singing at the Local Hero bookstore at some point in May.

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SHORT TAKES

LET THERE BE MUSIC

American High School Mathematics Exam, given in every high For three glorious days, in the mid-year tradition known as DeTThe F school across the United States, tests analytical and reasoning abil- partment Weekend (the focus of which shifts annually), students and ity in the areas of geometry, number theory, and algebra. Placing as Thacher’s local 11th/12th grade winner was Anwar White (whose Senior Exhibition, incidentally, explored Egyptian math); Alison Flynn took top honors for the 9th and 10th grades. Meanwhile, Simon Xi qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam.e Named by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as a 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner was Felicity Howe, whose work in community service over her four years at Thacher have culminated in her heading up the program. Felicity’s areas of particular expertise and ardor: Special Olympics and service dog training. (Just ask Kendall, the black lab constantly in Felicity’s company!)e The Chamber Singers just mailed off a check for over $100 to The Door of Faith Orphanage in Ensenada, money earned by their Singing Valentines project.e Recently elected by their peers to serve on the Judicial Council were Jennifer Bowie, Moved by a recent Darren Bechtel, and Erin Hafkenshiel.e evening spent in the company of a small group of Ventura County HIV-positive young men and women, who discussed with Thacher students what it’s like to live with AIDS, Logan Clark, Kristin Berona, Max Greene, and Jennifer Bowie have launched an ambitious fundraising effort. It started with a coffee-house featuring the usual (bands, duets) and the unusual (a reading of Green Eggs and Ham by Buck Wales, Austin Curwen’s retelling of The Cremation of Sam Magee, as well as some classical pieces performed by various instrumentalists), at which students were urged to donate whatever they could to the cause; an anonymous donor matched the first $100 that came in. The four plan to turn proceeds from this and other events this spring (a car wash, a snack bar) over to the local AIDS agency, as well as to the Uganda Children’s Charity Foundation—a group also supported by the freshman class, who are raising money via donut sales.e Running—and fast—in the Ojai Valley’s annual American Heart Association’s Heart and Sole 10K benefit were Katie, Max, and Jamie Kuhl, Melissa Vickery, Phoebe and Will Barkan, Addie Hearst, Greg DelVecchio, and Juliette White. Alice Meyer (Technology), a member of that organization’s board, brought Thacher into the event several years ago.e Riding the roller coasters of Six Flags Magic Mountain this month were members of 9th and 10th grade physics classes, on assignment to measure and calculate and estimate such forces as velocity and momentum as part of their onIn a sort going examination of how this big old world works.e of in-house community service project, Jennifer Bowie and Gavin McClintock recently completed the Herculean task of organizing the mountains of print materials sent to the School on summer programs and opportunities. making them accessible and to all students.e Big thanks to Elaine Elliott (Allison Flynn’s mom) for the several bags of games for Open House. From one end of the house to the other, they’ve been put to immediate and sometimes fiercely competitive use!

faculty immersed themselves in all genres of music: from the sublimity of the worldrenowned Alexander String Quartet (whose cellist and founder, Sandy Wilson, is father of freshman Jonathan Walsh-Wilson) and their rendering of Beethoven, Bartok, and Mendelssohn quartets (in a master class, and then in performance) to the wide-ranging wit and balladry of songwriter, composer, producer Van Dyke Parks (father of Richard) to the boot-stomping electricity of boogiewoogie pianists Rob Rio and Carl Sonny Leyland to the big band sound of Lee Press-On and the Nails, the campus thrummed with sound. The school community was also treated to a special screening of El Norte at the Ojai Playhouse (thanks to Sheryl and Khaled Al-Awar) followed by a Q & A session with cowriters and Ojai locals Greg Nava and Anna Thomas. (Other films by the duo include Selina and La Familia.) On Saturday morning, in preparation for the swing band’s arrival that evening, Andrew Ho (Physics) and veteran hoofer Margaux Lloyd held forth in a space packed with learners eager to try their feet in the basics of swing dance.

Pictured, as well: Luke Myers and Melanie Morris prepare to fly.

RIGHT LEAD Members of the Thacher Equestrian Team, under the piloting of M English Riding Instructor Elizabeth Mahoney, recently showed in Palm Springs: Amanda Grumman, Katherine Bechtel, Alex Herbert, and Libby Rauner, each winning at least one blue ribbon and a whole rafter of those in other hues. Two extra treats: making the inaugural run in the shiny new horse trailer (a gift of Alex’s family) and having Cecilia Herbert and Dorothy Healy (Alex’s mom and grandmother) along for the ride. The team’s final show of the year will take place in Riverside later this month, though some of the riders may continued on page 9

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SENIOR EXHIB

“My essential question was: Can I do this?” Though M her own, contemporary rendition of Little Red Riding Hoo

butterflies about this challenge known as The Senior Exhib opportunity to investigate in depth and throughout the yea publicly to the School in April, the Senior Ex turns students in program’s head, Kurt Meyer. Moreover, they answer Hannah’s ARTS AND LETTERS Bennett Barbakow Alfred English Brendan Fitzgerald Peter Hartnack Hannah Hooper Suriya Jayanti Margaux Lloyd Sarah Morrow

Richard Parks Fritz Rice Mia Silverman Carlos Soriano Allegra Towns Mariposa Widdoes Kirby Williams Megan Winecoff

THE HUMANITIES The Evolution of Electronic Music Hip-Hop Music and Jazz Film and Society A History of the Blues Art in Children’s Literature The Short Story Social Dance: A Reflection of Women’s Culture The Power Behind the Mask: An Exploration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro Bluegrass Music Controversial Music in American Culture Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan: A Spokesperson for Protest vs. A Spokesperson for Self Fusion Food: Not just a Trend?

Astrology Around the World Creating a Masterpiece: Inside and Out Protest Music in the Age of Conformity Minor White, Photographer

Wallis Adams Justin Arnold Erin Blankenship

Channel Isl Learning D Islamic Soc

Amissa Bongo Lucinda Brown Wayne Chang Evy Disner Ellie Fletcher Besse Gardner

AIDS: From Astro Logic The Bible C Adoption: T The Life an Two African The Mbuti Manic Dep Meditation The Americ Japan and Affirmative Joan of Arc Livin’ La V How Impor Western Aid The Nature POW Cam Adolescent Teaching R

Ella Goodbrod Lacey Gordon Felicity Howe Frederick Kim Lucy Milligan Justin Mulholland Clay Pell Eric Reeser Yui Scribner Guido Soracco Devon Tarasevic Sara Thacher

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B I T I O N S 2000

Hannah Hooper was referring here to writing and illustrating od, her query is a distillation of many of her classmates own bition. A graduation requirement that gives every senior the ar a topic of personal interest and to present his or her work nto “the teachers we know they can be,” in the words of the s question with a resounding and self-affirming, “Yes, I can!”

land Resource Management Disabilities ciety and Women’s Roles m Primates to Humans c Codes The Third Choice nd Work of the Artist Yvonne Hudson n Tribes Compared: Pygmies and the Maasai pression n and Health can with Disabilities Act of 1990 WWII e Action and UC Admission

Vida Loca in California Politics: rtant is the Hispanic Vote? d and Mustang e of Serial Killers ps in Vietnam Females’ Moral Development Riding

MATHEMATICS AND THE SCIENCES Darren Bechtel Kristin Berona Marisa Binder Paul Bonewitz Jake Braitman Nate Faggioli Lauren Fraim Brooke Halsey Cheryl Lynn Horton Jon LePlastrier Trevor McProud Todd Meyer Annie Nyborg Marley Orr Carissa Ridgeway Matt Schuman Celeste Thomas Peter Warman Andrew Warren Juliette White Anwar White

Avalanche Accident Analysis Diabetes: Taking Control The Mozart Effect Chess Wilderness Medicine Naval Diving Oil Spills and the Environment The Physics and Fluid Dynamics of Sails Rain Forest Plants and Modern Medicine Cryptology: What is Protecting Your Credit History?

Yuba River Preservation Calendar and Time Psychoneuroimmunology: The Healing Mind Cold Regions Deep Ecology The Physics of Sailing The Neuropsychology of Dreaming The Physical and Psychological Determinant of Consonance and Dissonance Snow Science The Health Effects of a Vegan Diet Egyptian Mathematics

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The Thacher Masquers Present

Music Director

Choreographer

Mr. Greg Haggard

Ms. Gallia K. Vickery Staging Director

Mr. Rod Jacobsen Assistant Director

Technical Director

Ms. Lucy Milligan

Mr. Matt Schuman

CAST

PRODUCTION CREW

Charity Hope Valentine Mariposa Widdoes Oscar Lindquist Paul Bonewitz Nickie I Margaux Lloyd Helene I Julia Erdman Vittorio Vidal Chris Bonewitz Ursula, Helene II Monique Gaskins Daddy Brubeck Kirby Williams Herman Emmett Hopkins Marvin Andrew Warren Charlie, Manfred Will Barkan Old Man, Monty Alden Blair Good Fairy Lily Mitchem Hostesses and Customers of the Fandango Ballroom Lacey Gordon, Meredith Walker, Emma White, Heidi Cole, Youna Kim, Zöe Towns, Peter Warman, Emery Mitchem

Assistant Director Lucy Milligan Technical Director/Light Design Matt Schuman Costume Design Susan Hardenbergh Light Board Operator Sara Thacher Sound Kevin Schmidt Stage Manager Rob Dickson Running Crew Mike Hammer, Chris Grant, Stephanie Hubbard, Melanie Morris Sign Artist Wendi Parker-Dial Painting Assistants Ms. Parker-Dial’s Intro Art Class ORCHESTRA Conductor, Keyboard Percussion Bass Flute Trombone

Greg Haggard Jamie Kuhl Eddie Guthman Mary Ann Bronson Max Greene

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attend the season-ending State Finals show in Sacramento during August. Meanwhile, in another equine sport, the recently resurrected Thacher Gymkhana Team, under the guidance of Chuck Warren, has observed and participated in shows in Bakersfield, as well as gone farther afield. Ronald Wu and Bobby Kellogg attended the two-day California Gymkhana Association’s Jamboree in Salinas, placing in four events, and in mid-April, Jamie Hastings, Patty AbouSamra , Tamima Al-Awar, Nathan Wallace, Erik Fiske, Bobby Kellogg, Ronald Wu, and Matt Brewer participated in the first-ever, historic three-way gymkhana with Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs, CO) and Orme School (Mayer, AZ), held at Orme. Though the team came in third, everyone agreed that it was an event worth repeating. And in still other equine news, Director of the Horse Program Cam Schryver lauded publicly the achievements of senior Devon Tarasevic, whose dedication, knowledge, and work in the program have earned her the appellation Top Horseman. “You are now a member of our staff,” said Cam to Devon at Assembly. Meanwhile, Alex Herbert has elevated herself to the B-Horse level.

CULTURE-ALL Berenson Fund, awarded to a deserving senior faculty member TThe for a period of three years, allows its recipient to draw from this particular endowment for activities or programs that teacher deems worthy and good for the School and our students. In this way, a teacher can support, create, and help to shape program depending on how the funds are allocated. In his second year of governing the funds, David Johnston (Chair, History Department) has urged students and faculty to propose Southland cultural events they’d like to attend; money is provided from the fund. As a kick-off to this year’s selection, the group took in the Los Angeles Opera’s production of Gounod’s Faust; fast on Faust’s heels followed Rent. Coming in 2001, among others: The Lion King. Earlier in the year, supported by the Language and History Departments, students took in the Santa Barbara Opera Company’s The Marriage of Figaro. Meanwhile, closer to home, widely-known and highly esteemed World Religions scholar and author Huston Smith spent an evening lecturing at the Krotona Institute, a talk of which around fifteen Thacher students were part.

EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE Making the Lamb Auditorium one Sunday afternoon earlier this seM mester into a mini-exploratorium were Mr. Warren’s physics students, demonstrating for the rest of the School community their findings in their self-selected research projects.

Physics Phun Day culminated several weeks of investigation in such topics as cyclones, pinhole photography, center of mass, electrostatic levitation, conservation of angular momentum, energy transfers in running shoes, 3-D projection, freezing point depression, and the vibration of a cello string. Pictured here: Troy Pollet, Laurel Back, Owili Eison, and Kingsley Costin watch A.J. Goldman (Mathematics) playing with fire at Laurel’s experimental station; Jonathan Wa l s h Wilson watches Brenton Sullivan create a tor na do in-a-bottle; Nikke Alex sets up her experiment in fire’s effect on water’s rising; Viviana Hernandez copies data just before opening shop on her project.

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WINTER SPORTS Director of Athletics Bill Vickery returned proudly from the Condor D League Councils’ winter meeting waving the Tony Dunn Sportsmanship Award banner (well, it’s actually a trophy), recognizing qualities of fair play and grace in victory and defeat. Though individual teams are named each sports season, it is the total sum of these nods that wins a League school the big prize.

Bradford (who, with Felicity, suffered a sidelining injury relatively early in the season) earned a rare Coach’s Award for her help, loyalty, and devotion. Betsy proved a stalwart in preparing stand-by goalkeepers, Charlotte Lord and Hilary White, the latter of whom won Most Improved, along with Maggie Tillman. Sweeper Heather Ferguson and stopper Ella Goodbrod allowed only two goals in the final five games. Logan Clark brought experience and grit to both midfield and defense; Meredith Flannery stepped confidently into the center midfield position.

VARSITY GIRLS’ SOCCER Coach: Bill Vickery Captain: Sarah Morrow Led by five seniors (Sarah Morrow, Kristin Berona, Erin Blakenship, Besse Gardner, and Mia Silverman), this squad started the season “bound and determined to be a better team by play-off time,” according to their coach. After some frustrating results early in their campaign, both individuals and team made significant strides, the result of persistence and patience. In the end, they earned a 6-1-1 record and the League Championship title (shared with Villanova) and the Tony Dunn Sportsmanship Award (with Cate and Happy Valley). In the CIF playoffs, the varsity girls won their first-round match against Viewpoint in a nail-biter of an overtime game, but was upended in the next round by number one seed Pasadena Polytechnic. The return next winter of nine powerhouse juniors will no doubt translate into even more exciting sideline spectating.

JV GIRLS’ SOCCER Coach: Fred Coleman Captain: Felicity Howe Even with a more demanding game schedule this year, these Toads learned to play a beautiful style of soccer and ended the season as Condor League Champions—and Tony Dunn Sportsmanship Award winners — with a record of 7-3-1. The season included two

THIRD GIRLS’ SOCCER Coaches: Andrew Ho Assistant Coach: Wendi Parker-Dial Captains: Amissa Bongo, Suriya Jayanti, Addie Hearst Capping the season with a shut-out victory over Midland (five of the seven goals scored by MVP Meg Kwan), this team was led well by its seniors (Carissa Ridgeway, in addition to Captains Amissa and Suriya). It was a season of voluminous mud—but that didn’t hamper the consistency of the team’s goalies (Suriya, and on two occasions, Claire Faggioli), nor dampen the spirited play that defined the squad. Ninth grader Lucy Hodgman, who played on her non-riding days, won Most Improved.

VARSITY BOYS’ BASKETBALL Coach: Brian Driscoll Assistant Coach: Rich Mazzola Captains: Anwar White, Michael Back, Jay Thornes To become, as they did, the Condor League Champions, this team had to wrest one victory after another from the maw of defeat. Offensive force Andrew Warren played complement to Anwar’s shotblocking defense (among the best in the Southern section of the CIF); Matty Wilson, Eric Butts, Jay Thornes, and Michael Back all bounced back from various injuries to rumble full strength against Laguna for the League-clinching win; some astonishing three-pointers emerged from the two latter guys. Meanwhile, Andrew Ma provided stability in the middle and also shared rebounding honors with Anwar. Brenton Sullivan, the lone 9th grader on the team, distinguished himself with clutch-free throws and intelligent play. Of particularly sweet note: “These seniors—Anwar ,Andrew, and Alfred English—will graduate,” said their coach, “having beaten Cate seven out of eight times”—a happy way to exit, stage left.

JV BOYS’ BASKETBALL Coach: Derick Perry Captains: Blake Caldwell, Wayne Chang, Guido Soracco

victories over cross-town rival Villavova and two over Cate. Laurel Back was high scorer (11 goals) and scooped the most points (24); Ellie Fletcher (pictured here)—named Most Valuable and pictured here deftly stealing the ball from an opponent—led the team in assists (5). Most Inspirational Player was Captain Howe, and Betsy

Dedication and diligence were key ingredients to the stunning success of this team—success measured by an 11-0 Condor League record, by the League Championship title, and by a Tony Dunn Award. Most Valuable Player was Blake Caldwell, while Simon Xi won the Most Improved.“This season was one of the finest in Thacher JV Basketball history,” according to Coach Perry, who’s been witness to much of that same history. “Teamwork and genuine affection one player for the other made the squad a joy to coach”—not to mention fun to watch for those of us in the bleachers.

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VARSITY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coach: Rae Ann Sines Captain: Cheryl Lynn Horton Ending with a League record of 7-3 and a season record of 9-4, this team also won the Tony Dunn Award (with Cornerstone Christian); they gained entry to the CIF’s, though they were defeated by #2 seed, Brethren Christian. Captain and MVP Cheryl Lynn Horton (pictured here) blasted through all individual scoring records set last year by Katie Russell (now at Brown University), to wind up holding Most Career Points (883), Most Points in a Single Season (305), and the High Points Per Game Average (21.8); she also qualified as the CIF Statistical Leader for the regular season, with a points per game average of 22.5.

Meanwhile, the team’s defense lay in the capable hands of Laura Neville and Heidi Cole, who led the team in rebounds. Lauren Fraim was the master of the “no look” pass—“the best player I’ve had in that way,” said Coach Sines. In addition, guard Mercedes Farrell made some eye-popping three-pointers. And finally, the squad gained depth and expertise via the three freshmen additions: Annie Wheatley (who was the team’s second leading scorer), point guard Katie Kuhl, and guard Nikke Alex. Meredith Walker earned Most Improved Player.

Cate and one at the League Tournament over a Midland team that had defeated the Toads earlier in the season. Captains Caldwell and Munzig led in goals while, at the other end of the field, Will Chamberlain (named Most Improved Player) proved stalwart as keeper.

VARISTY BOYS’ LACROSSE Coach: Jack Crawford Assistant Coach: Bo Manson Captains: Jake Braitman, Todd Meyer “Improvement describes and defines our season,” Mr. Manson said of this fairly young team (14 of the 22 players were new to Varsity).

“There was lots to learn from our new head coach who arrived with tremendous experience and knowledge: he challenged both returning and new players with a more complex system of play. We all adapted well!” Both coaches cited strong, positive senior leadership (from Darren Bechtel, Justin Mulholland, Justin Arnold, Todd Meyer, Carlos Soriano, Eric Reeser, Jake Braitman, and Jon LePlastrier) as critical to the success and growth of the team. One particular moment for the memory book: on the first Saturday after the end of Winter Break, beating the alumni (who always field a competitive team) by one goal with seven seconds remaining on the clock.

JV GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coach: Pierre Yoo Captains: Lucy Milligan, Stephanie Hubbard “Our theme for the season was ‘Play Basketball and Have Fun’—and we did!” said Coach Yoo of his scrappy and resilient band of court warriors. In fact, the group—led by an impressively hard-working Lucy Milligan (the sole senior)— was eager to learn, and witnessed impressive improvement during the course of the season, closing point gaps with increasing skill and aggressiveness. Alison Flynn (a part-timer because of her freshman horse obligations) and Stephanie Hubbard (named Most Valuable Player) tied for highest season point total, while Esther Guzman was the second leading scorer (and had the best free throw on the team). New to the game at the start of the winter, Youna Kim came a long way on the boards—and was awarded Most Improved Player.

FRESHMAN BOYS’ LACROSSE Coach: Greg Courter Captains: Charlie Munzig, Drew Fleck, Tyler Caldwell By season’s end, this team of predominantly new-to-the-game players had amassed a 6-2 record. Moments to savor: two victories over

JV BOYS’ LACROSSE Coaches: Peter Robinson Assistant Coach: Terry Twichell Captain: Nate Faggioli Bulldog tenacity marked the practice and play of this squad: four of its five victories were come-from-behind-wonders, including thrilling one-goal wins over Windward and OVS. The defense, anchored by MVP Matt Spille and MIP goalie Jose Estrada, was the key to the team’s success, yield more than six goals only twice. Offense, led by goal scorer Bobby Kellogg and assist leader Leigh Salem was well-balanced because the midfielders made such a strong contribution: Captain Nate Faggioli, swing-man Nathan Wallace and the powerful Tim Stenovec. The game to watch was the match with OVS: tied 3-3 with four minutes to play, Leigh, Bobby, and Tim each drove in a goal, securing the victory with a robust 6-3 final score.

SNOW BALL winter Outdoor Program, under Jamie Dial’s direction, took on TThe virtually every adventure sport under the sun on weekends between their weekday conditioning and trail work: ascending a frozen waterfall near June Lake, two days of backIt is this state of grace I am after… country snow campThese moments when all things ing near Mammoth, a coalesce and we are in the zone of no s k i - i n s t ay a t t h e thought, just action and movement… School’s Golden Trout Camp in the High The responses to external stimuli Sierra, and boulderbypass the consciousness and we ing at Happy Boulders in Bishop, CA react to and feel the immediate (which “combines the environment. It is like getting a clear subtleties of low angle radio signal of your favorite band or friction climbing with the gymnastic power musician in a sea of static while moves required on driving through the Mojave Desert… the steeper angles”) And this sort of state is attainable to us There, Dan Moore and Mike Hammer all. It is probably the most powerful came away with a first when in nature, but consider the ascent of “The Crushskilled horseman picking up a silver er.” In addition to Dan and Mike, the OP’s dollar, or a lacrosse player deftly enthusiasts included picking a ground ball and passing to Julien Rhodes, Fred his or her teammate, or the trombonist Kim, Chelsea Bauch, Laura Slattery, Carina in a jazz improvisation or a dancer in Fi s h e r, Tre vo r perfect unison with the musical piece.

McProud, and Brooke Poetry in motion: no thought—just Halsey. Joining the group throughout the action and movement. season for various —Brian Pidduck, e v e n t s i n c l u d e d Director of The Outdoor Program Wendi Parker-Dial (The Arts), Katherine Halsey (French), Jamie Kuhl (Director of Maintenance), and Mark Larson (environmental law attorney and husband of Associate Director of Admission Phoebe Larson).

But on to clearer weather for year-end festivities, news of which to arrive in your mailbox mid-summer.

CH E A R H Cheers to all,

Production Credits Editor Joy Sawyer-Mulligan Production and Design Tim Ditch

The Thacher School Parents’ Post 5025 Thacher Road Ojai, CA 93023-9001 Address Service Requested

Design J. Bert Mahoney

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me , for goodness’ sake, to wrap it up. I just have to add, though, in a final weather note, that those self-same orange blossoms noted on page one were all very nearly dashed to papery bits by torrential rain and hail (would that, as some of your children argued it was, it had been snow—a School holiday, if so!) in one of the most spectacular thunderstorms many of us have ever witnessed in the Ojai—a light and sound show from which tender buds have just recovered.

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like Samuel Richardson’s epistolary heroine Clarissa, I dash RRather off this final line—breathlessly—as the printing press folks urge

Photography Tami Haggard, Joy Sawyer-Mulligan Parker White, Elizabeth Mahoney, Jamie Dial, Dalia Menendez

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 17 Ojai, CA 93023

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