Year End 2005 by The Thacher School

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

Year’s End 2005

Dear Parents and Friends:

and overhanging oaks of the Outdoor UUnder Theatretheonestars night this May, the Thacher Chorus sang

ing moon and its craters, three shooting stars—those moments when time ceases to exist? Or do you count (among other award-winning tunes in their repertoire) double the others, so intense, so packed with meaning a single, intriguing line: “How do you measure a year?” and import—the triple overtime or the fiery debate in It’s a difficult question, even posed mellifluously—and history class, the race to the single stake and back to not merely because with our “year,” it’s actually hard the finish line?) For each student and faculty member, to calculate how many fewer than 525,600 minutes the answer is different. But together, many “years” are ours is. (Do you count those transcendent moments condensed into one, as each of us strives to make it, as on the playing field or in a yoga position, or when Mr. Thacher used to say, “the best year yet.” Whether you’re on a writing roll in an English essay, or up at or not 2004-05 qualifies, it certainly had some memoObservatory Hill gazing through a telescope at Ursula rable moments—a few of which we’ve aimed to catch Major, the Gemini Twins, Jupiter, Saturn, the wax- for you in these pages.

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Over Hill, Down Dale, and Everything in Between

If you wish your children to think deep thoughts, to “I“ know the holiest emotions,” wrote Richard Jeffries, a 19

century naturalist and essayist, “take them to the woods and hills, and give them the freedom of the meadows; the hills purify those who walk upon them.” T h i s s p r i n g’s Extra Day Trips ofScenic coastal vistas, rolling fered students all hills, redwood-sheltered campsites, an endless tailwind— kinds of opportunities to get into the for those who love exertion, backcountry of Jefspeed, exhilaration and a lasting fries’—and Sherman sense of accomplishment, this Day Thacher’s— fond wishes. Modes was the ideal trip. of transport inKevin Buddhu, Faculty Leader cluded hiking, sailon Thacher’s first Coastal Bike Trek ing, burro-packing, horse-packing, kayaking and river rafting—to such spots as Domelands (above Kernville), the Dick Smith and San Rafael Wilderness areas, Death Valley, Sequoia, Zion and Robber’s Roost (both in Utah), Big Sur, and more locally, Montaña de Oro, the Inyo Mountains, the Los Padres, Santa Cruz Island, and the Sespe River Wilderness. Several expeditions involved water challenge and fun (in and on the Eel River, where the group delighted one day to see a bald eagle perched on a branch overlooking the water; in the Sea of Cortez, off the Baja peninsula; the Channel Islands and Lake Oroville), while others took on trail maintenance— a genuine necessity after this winter’s re-

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cord rains, which left washouts and gullies in many of the camping spots and trails Thacher trips typically utilize. Two extra-special treks: the first, an A-Horsecamper sojourn in the Sespe, in which five avid and skilled campers—Alex Herr, Brendan Keane, Will Oxley, Willy Wilder and Martha Gregory—planned and executed a five-night, six-day trip completely on their own. The other was a coastal bike trek of some 250 miles, beginning at Half Moon Bay and going through Santa Cruz, Big Sur, San Simeon and Montaña de Oro. After a shuttle from there to Refugio Beach, the bikers pedaled the remaining 70 miles to Thacher.

The Show Must—and Did!—Go On

Wood Design put the SStudents finishing intouches on their pieces

two days before the 3rd Annual Student Furniture Show, which combined with various Studio Art classes (as well as an individual exhibit of Annie Strachan’s evocative photographs) for quite a visual extravaganza. Expert craftsmen Bo Manson and John Bueti guide a lucky handful of students each year from breadboard creation through fine pieces such as chests, bookcases, desks and tables of all kinds. Meanwhile, the Thacher Dance Ensemble, the a cappella girl-group Cup o’ Noodles (Lauren Church, Kathy Shim, Kelly Singco, Ariel Wang, Isabel White, Caitlin Wyman and Aubrey

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Wynn) and the newest instrumental ensemble (they’re all about Celtic music: Alina Everett, Kelsey Harrington, Kaja Johnson, Austin Waldecker and Greg Haggard) hoofed it up to the hospitable Happy Valley School, where the cozy Zalk Theatre provided space for all kinds of creative expression.

And Speaking of Shows…

Grand, Indeed!

CCelebrating Grandparents’theDays16 wereannual over th

75 grandads and mums (and assorted others) who’d made it their business to get to campus to revel in their grandkids’ daily Thacher lives. The event, under the thoughtful di-

Ombience: Evening of Music and O Dance fromAnIndia and Beyond held

all those who sat under the stars at the Outdoor Theatre enthralled during one Saturday evening this spring. A quartet of instrumentalists playing sarod, violin, bass and tabla, combined musical and creative forces with two dancers who shared their highly expressive art—the Kuchipudi and Bhart Natyam styles of classical Indian dance.

rection of Thacher mom Carol Castanon, included visiting classes, diving into the treasures of the Archives, enjoying a formal buffet dinner in the dining room and dessert at the Head of School’s home, watching athletic events, and holding their Sumo Wrestling collective breath and Dunk Tanks as their freshThe Indoor Committee men darlings went to town—well, ac- rode lickety-split tually, they went to the down one GymUpper Soccer Field—to k hana cours e put on a Spring Carnival after another. that had everyone on their toes for an entire afterHot On the National Scene noon, either pulling for their class (The Class of 2008 came Eight Thacher riders—the sort decked out in tan out on top every time) in the breeches, tall leather boots, black waistcoats and velvet tug-o’-war, chasing or being helmets, and sitting very straight in the saddle on the chased with whipped cream flat—boarded a plane for Baltimore, Maryland, this pies, jumping on or in all manApril, having qualified for the Interscholastic Equestrian ner of blow-up thingees, or chowing down on popcorn, League National Competition. (Side-note: In IEA shows, burgers and ’dogs, and cotton candy. rider and horse do not know each other until they meet for a very short warm-up orientation; this levels the field effectively so that each rider may be judged on his or her horsemanship.) With the guidance of their coach, Elizabeth Mahoney CdeP 1988 (herself a collegiate National Champion in jumping), they competed on the flat and over fences against 350 other riders from 40 other schools, and in front of over 500 spectators (including parent fans Sandy and Gil Singco, Cecilia and Jim Herbert, Cheryl Walsh, Jory Sligh, and Jerry Sun). By the end of the event, three Thacher equestrians had

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involved with the Day of Silence since it began a decade ago as a way to protest the kind of discrimination and harassment that lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transsexual students and their allies often suffer and that can force their silence. Thacher established The Alliance this spring, a group that meets to discuss just these issues. e

bounded to the highest echelons of achievement: both Deirdre Herbert and Leslie Sligh took 7th place in their divisions, and Keely Walsh secured a lofty 2nd (a.k.a. Reserve Champion). All the girls—these three plus Kelly Singco, Adri Ryberg, Sarah Winters, Lesley Sun, Alex Dotson—learned much about the bigger world of English competition “out there” and represented Thacher with classic Toadly spirit and grace.

Assembly Moments

primary and speeches before the asAAfter sembleda run-off community, Kaggie Orrick (pictured here of-

fering her vision for next year) accepted the position of School Chair, succeeding Jaime Luna. Her worthy opponent was Jordan Reiff. e Director of the Outdoor Program Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992 announced that senior Sander Duncan had earned A Backpacker status and “the highest respect and responsibility we accord at Thacher.” To earn this distinction, Sander captained and led trips, achieved his Wilderness First Responder certification, and did yeoman work in Camp Supply. e As part of a nationwide student-led initiative in support of creating safer schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, a half-dozen Thacher students announced the Day of Silence with posters they’d made. Over 2000 schools and thousands of students have been

Amy Elmore, the Development Office’s Research Coordinator, took an Assembly moment to thank several students who volunteered for a phone-a-thon earlier this spring, raising money for Thacher’s programs from alums and parents. Lucy Phillips, Chris Gordon, Bennett Kissell, Barrett Brown, Sander Duncan, Dana Gal, Becky Horton, Rena Karefa-Johnson, Justin Ouyang, Willy Wilder and MVP Austin Pollet (who logged three such evenings) all invested their time and energy on behalf of CdeP. e Keely Walsh received her Advanced Rider’s pin from Director of the Horse Program Cam Schryver, who highlighted her having won Reserve Champion at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Competition earlier in the spring. e Michael Yun raised his voice several times at Assembly, both as a member of the Chamber Singers and as a soloist, demonstrating in the latter the strength he’s gained as a self-accompanied singer this year. e Recognized at Assembly as National Merit Finalists: Keely Walsh, Ryan Church, and Chandler Pease. e AP Studio Art teacher Elizabeth Reynolds CdeP 1988 announced that Juliana Ma had won the Tamima Al Awar CdeP 2002 Memorial Scholarship from the Focus on the Masters program based in Ojai. The award, established by Tamima’s family to honor a daughter blessed with unusual artistic vision, supports the education of another equally

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talented young artist. e Cam Schryver holds the perpetual plaque held for the year by the school whose team earns the most points in the Thacher-Orme-Fountain Valley School Tri-Gymkhana. Once again, Thacher reined well—and reigned. Riding to victory were Will Oxley, Lauren Chase, Martha Gregory, Adri Ryberg, Olivia Jacobsen, Audra Horton, Brannon Cavalier and Annie Mulligan. e The community had the chance to say “Fare-thee-well” to Diane Russell, Buildings and Grounds Assistant for 14 years, thanking her and joining her and the rest of the Maintenance Crew for celebratory cake post-Assembly.

the Indoor Committee, all the IC student members who helped, faculty Princesses McCarren, Elmore, Gregory, Lin, Perry, McMahon, Ortiz and Manson, and Princes Sandy Jensen and Chuck Warren for seeing the project from blueprint to completion. It rocked. (Crowned Mr. and Ms. Fix-It were Montana Caset and Gabe Yette.)

according to the latest figures, about 2% of the cost of a “regular” prom.) A limo full of thanks go to Kara Hooper, faculty head of

And More Construction

hammer in AAmy hand, Elmore, left her Development

Office research work behind one weekend and led a half dozen eager laborers (all sophomore and junior girls) to nearby Piru, where they worked alongside other Habitat for Humanity volunteers to move a low-income housing unit towards

Construction Function: UnProm 2005

saying that a LLet’s darnedjustgoodstarttimebywas had by all:

Starting with combing through local and Ventura thrift stores, straight through “Who’s your [assigned] date?” (Find out through your school mailbox!), and your formal photo set against the uniquely dramatic backdrop of a backhoe, it was one fun spring-fling party. (And,

completion. Olivia Jacobsen, Anjali Joseph, Claire Shaw, Kaja Johnson, Jenny Morrill, and Lauren Church, as well as Chinese teacher WeiYing Lin, put up siding, weed-whacked, sledgehammered, caulked, and sorted equipment.

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And Reconstruction

stalwarts hit the Horn Canyon trail—or SSeveral what wasThacher left of it after the winter rains—when Direc-

Steve explains, “that are offered as votives of thanks to Christ or the Virgin Mary for a miracle granted or a favor bestowed. Painters (retablistas) are hired to give expression to the stories and to endow the anecdotes with aesthetic values. In Mexico, these pieces are hung in churches.” To start, each of Steve’s students wrote a “statement of thankfulness”; these were then drawn randomly by their fellow artists, who, in turn, created the retablos pictured here with C.C. Hayne, Molly Katz, Brigid McCarthy, Olivea Callendar-Scott, and Julia Bosson, seated behind Elizabeth Woolf-Willis, Benita Chan, Anna Reeser, and Joseph Wyatt. (Busy with other projects and therefore not pictured: Arthur Kaneko, Sophie LaRocque, Charlie Bennett, Simon Wu, Justin Ouyang, Sarah Eckhardt, Alex Min and Mary Bloom.) Kinda makes you want to get out your own paints, si?

tor of the Outdoor Progam Brian Pidduck put out a plea for workers. Will Oxley, Deidre Herbert, Martha Gregory, Adri Ryberg, Hazel Ruiz and Rebekah McFarland all pitched in, along with a couple of Forest Service employees, moving rocks, removing brush from the trail, and building a set of stone steps at the second creek crossing, which had been impassable by horses, cutting Thacher Applied Vet Med off from a whole web of trails in the Los Padres. “Heidi Anderson of the USFS is our contact/coordinator for all Chuck Warren’s Veterinary Medicine course typiof this, and she has been extremely helpful to us when cally includes field trips for exposure to horses beyond discussing trail conditions in the Sespe and how Thacher Thacher’s own backyard remuda. This spring, they took and the Forest Service can work together. “It was a good, honest day’s work, combining Thacher’s forces with those of the USFS,” pronounced Mr. Pidduck, putting down his pickaxe until duty calls again.

Retablistas

into new areas of expression with his AAlways students,pushing Steve Carter (who inaugurated Thacher’s

Archeoceramics class a couple of years ago) invited his Studio Art class into an esoteric genre called Mexican retablos—“folk images painted on sheets of tin,”

two tours—one, at the major breeding facility for the Budweiser Clydesdales, in Temecula, operated by John Soto. The group toured the facility and engaged in discussions about a breeding operation of this size and specialty. In another field trip, they got an inside look at the horses running at the Santa Anita racetrack. There, as guests of renowned racehorse trainer Jay Robbins CdeP 1964, they observed the various morning workouts and Mr. Robbins’ evaluations that followed; he also answered questions about training regimens for particular horses. Following came a tour with world-renowned equine vet (and head of the Santa Anita track hospital) Dr. Rick Arthur, who discussed the technology of the modern

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surgery equipment, its evolution over recent years, and the primary issues and major traumas he tends to in his work. “Most interesting was the gamma ray scintillation machine,” reported Mr. Warren. “It was Dr. Arthur who first developed and utilized it at Santa Anita.” From there, it was on to watching the afternoon races, where the crew put their knowledge to work: “We tried to select the winners based on confirmation and signs of a wellconditioned horse.” The big winner was Adri Ryberg, who picked five winners out of eight races.

Vegas, Baby!

On road again O thisthespring were

KIPP Kids Crash at Thach Representatives from the Knowledge is Power Program—a highly successful enterprise founded in 1994 and located in Austin, TX, that gives ambitious, motivated students the academic challenges they crave— made Thacher one of their whistlestops on two of their spring tours. The adults (brave souls) were shepherding seventy 7th graders around Southern California to visit colleges and universities, planting early the seeds of a vision of higher education. While on the Thacher campus, the middle schoolers enjoyed tours, met with Toads in small groups and in a panel discussion and essentially soaked up the positive atmosphere of boarding school. BTW, we enjoyed the vibrant company of a KIPP scholar for four good years: Nhu Y Dang CdeP 2004, presently at Trinity University in Texas.

Thacher’s Chorus and Chamber Singers, as they Of Films and Their Makers headed to the bright lights and Two esteemed guests in the film business visited Thacher big city of Las this spring: Pierre Sauvage, writer and award-winning Vegas to particidocumentary filmmaker, There is in all of us a pate once again in and writer-actor-director the Heritage Music Festival. Music Director Greg HagBilly Morrissette, whose capacity for good, for gard prepared both groups well, as the Silver and Gold evil and for indifference. Scotland PA garnered Medals that they won attest. Wowing the adjudicators Sundance Film Festival What [the people of by singing—and swaying—in Samoan couldn’t have accolades three years ago. Le Chambon] did was hurt, either! Thanks, too, to Tami Haggard, who helped As for Mr. Sauvage, it instinctive, natural for organize the trip. all started when a teaching colleague of Katherine them. There was no Halsey recommended soul-searching. It was Cora Mae, Baby! a film about a town in the only thing they Born on June 14 France that played a role could do. And there’s just in time for in saving Jews during a momentum towards lunch and weighing World War II. Soon, sergoodness that grows from endipity made its entrance in at 6 lb., 8 oz., was the latest bouncwhen it turned out that a people doing something ing addition to the boy—now man—born in good individually, and Schryver brood: said village was a friend then together. Cora Mae. She’s of a friend. The invitation Pierre Sauvage, on the French the wee bundle was offered, and voila! villagers who sheltered his parents pictured here with soon enough, the Thacher during World War II her brothers Concommunity was playing ner and Zane, sis- host to Pierre Sauvage, the writer and award-winning ter Carol, parents documentary filmmaker whose life story is tied up Lori and Cam, and with that village. Many students saw Mr. Sauvage’s film, a few of the canine Weapons of the Spirit, before the all-School gathering representatives of at which he spoke, answering questions about the film the Schryvers’ ex- and its making, about Huguenot history in France, and tensive menagerie. about his own life journey, which included being raised

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as a gentile in the United States. The following day, Mr. Sauvage met with French students and others at the Head’s Home, speaking in greater depth—and, for the most part, en français. In Weapons of the Spirit, which won world-wide acclaim, Mr. Sauvage tells the tale of Le Chambon, a small village in the Haute-Loire region, tucked into the mountains of southern France, whose Protestant citizens quietly and courageously reached out to Jews fleeing the Nazis, answering unequivocally Cain’s question to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” and securing a place of honor in hearts and history books. It’s a film worth getting your hands on; you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. Mr. Morrissette made the trek from Hollywood to our campus for a second year, graciously joining students in Celluloid Lit, a senior elective taught by local screenwriter (and Thacher dad) J.B. White and English teacher Joy Sawyer-Mulligan. The course is an introduction to the world of film adaptation from a “comparative literature” point-of-view. The students had already reviewed scenes in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (which they’d studied as 9th graders), read Morrissette’s script of his adaptation, Scotland PA, watched the movie, and compared it to the Bard’s version. For Mr. Morrissette’s visit, the seniors prepared questions arising from oral presentations they’d completed I wanted, first and foremost, the week prior. to make a comedy. I wanted it Nominated in 2001 to be not just for Shakespeare for the Sundance geeks—although I understand Fi l m Fe s t i v a l’s Grand Jury Prize, that many who love Shakespeare Scotland PA transended up liking the movie. poses Shakespeare’s Billy Morrissette, on one of the tragedy (itself an surprises of his film, Scotland PA adaptation from historical events) to 1970’s rural Pennsylvania (yes, there’s a town named Scotland in the Keystone State), where King Duncan’s castle is a burger joint, Joe (“Mac”) and Pat McBeth are “just underachievers” looking for a break, and the king is murdered with a whack to the back of the head with a frying pan, from which he takes a face-first tumble into a bubbling Fryolater. Did we mention that it’s a black comedy?

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Windy City Wonder Cream rises to the top, and that’s how the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation of Chicago came to name Hazel Ruiz their Scholar of the Year.

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Hazel simply stood out as exceptional.

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Allison Gonsowki, Special Programs Coordinator at Chicago’s Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation

Hazel was chosen from a pool of approximately 300 DMSF students in schools across the country.

Social Justice

longstanding Thacher devotee and supporter of The AA Thacher School, former U.S. District Judge William H.

Orrick, Jr. CdeP 1932 had a dear wish for his alma mater: that students could somehow learn more about the U.S. legal system, jurisprudence, and the public service done by attorneys and judges. Before he died, he and his wife, Suzanne, donated money to support a lecture series that would be based on a particular theme each year. One of his three granddaughters to attend, Whitney Livermore CdeP 2004, put a point on the specifics when she suggested that the inaugural event be as many-hands-on as possible. (And everyone agreed that the night would conclude with Eskimo Pies all around—Judge Orrick’s favorite dessert!) And so it was that the first of the Judge William Orrick, Jr. Lecture Series was a richly educational evening that included both the real thing (nine Southern California attorneys and judges and a case that combined facts from several cases recent to local court dockets) and the faux (a mock trial in which Thacher students played the characters of the case). Those not on stage sat as jurors, filling the benches of the Centennial Amphitheatre. The case was relevant and topical, involving parents who’d left beer

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available to their son while they left the house and who had not fully informed another set of parents about their intention to be out for the evening; a friend who arrived with marijuana and Oxycontin; two girls who joined the party, one of whom had brought vodka from her own parents’ cabinet. The night ends in severe injury of one teenager and the death of another. The potential counts included murder in the 1st and 2nd degrees, involuntary manslaughter, poisoning or adulterating a drink, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, being under the influence of a controlled substance, endangering the health of a child, furnishing a person under the age of 21 with an alcoholic beverage, and furnishing a controlled substance. After the entire case was brought before the court, small groups organized by grade level and gender headed off to various spots on campus to discuss the merits of the prosecution’s case and return a verdict. Not surprisingly, with nine different cohorts reporting, the verdicts ran a wide gamut. Our hearty appreciation goes to Attorney Kathy and Judge Brian Back (Thacher parents five times over), whose creativity, inspiration and tireless attention to detail made for such a successful launch to the series, as well as to the other professionals who graced the bench and the tables: Judges Melinda Johnson and Wendy Lindley; Attorneys Jay Johnson (private defense counsel), Lloyd Freeberg (private defense couns e l ) , We n dy Lawscher (private appellate counsel), Alison O’Neill (deputy public defender), Al Vargas (private counsel), and Gene Kinsey (deputy district attorney). Thanks, too, to Thacher’s own Chris Mazzola, Sabina McMahon, Kevin Buddhu, and Sandy Jensen, faculty who helped with preparation and coaching.

There was that night. All the lights were out, except for a few pinpricks down in the valley the darkness had texture, soft and smothering everything cloaked in the deepest of blues I came back to myself at the table the friends around glowing in the lantern light I was peeling a tangerine, or maybe a clementine a citrus with a long and summery name my fingernails digging in, tearing small pieces then one longer spiral I pulled the tiny orange crescents apart and laid them out exactly I wanted the second hand to stop Just for that moment. For the warmth, the laughter The perfect sections of fruit Just for then.

—Sarah Chamberlain

Sarah, 2 nd place winner in the Ojai Poetry Festival’s Student Poetr y Contest is pictured here with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Jessie Stern, the 1st place winner. Others recognized as Honorable Mention winners in the contest: Kelly Singco, Anna Reeser, Dave Kepner, and Ellen Adams.

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Academic Commendations and School Awards presented by the Faculty at the All-School Banquet on Thursday, May 26, 2005 end of any school year at Thacher overbrims with “lasts,” it is the All-School Banquet, held AAlthough the eveningthebefore the 9 and 10 graders head out the gate for the summer, that gathers everyone on th

photo by David Cook

An asterisk indicates the top student or students in the discipline at that grade level.

English Ellie Wilkinson* Claire Ferguson Max Pillsbury Annie Sawyer Maddi Sowash Alessandra Waste Max Barbakow* Elizabeth Knutsen* Benita Chan Julia Fiske Alexander Krey Kathryn Padgett Anna Reeser Joseph Wyatt Lucy Herr* Lauren Church Martha Gregory Alex Marlantes Rachel Munzig Erica Puccetti Aubrey Wynn

the Pergola by advisee group for the big last: a communal meal shared in a place dear to everyone, official recognition for achievements well-worthy of our applause, toasts and speeches that remind us of the truth of what’s on a plaque in the Library, a line from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamozov: “And even if we are occupied with most important things, if we attain to honour or fall into great misfortune—still let us remember how good it was once here, when we were all together, united by a good and kind feeling which made us…better perhaps than we are.”

The William Nixon Poetry Prize, first given in 1945 by William Nixon in memory of Jack Boyd, awarded for the best poem written at any time during the year: Rebekah McFarland*

photo by Tom Johnson

Max Anderson Josephine Chow Dana Gal Rebecca Horton Rena Karefa-Johnson Bel Lepe Chandler Pease Erika Satterwhite

The Jack Boyd English Prize, established in 1906 in memory of John Franklin Boyd, Jr., to honor the twelfth grader(s) who have done the best work in English: Ellen Adams* and Kaitlin Walter* The Nash Robbins Short Story Prize, given in the name of John Nash Robbins, CdeP 1981, for excellence in writing, presented each year to the author of the best short story: Ellen Adams*

The Morgan Ward Prize, established in 1964 by Dr. Marshall Hall, Jr., in honor of a former colleague and friend, Dr. Morgan Ward, to the senior who has done the best work in mathematics: Ned Lederer*

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

10 11

MATHEMATICS William Peterson* Jack Eastburn Logan Kroloff Maddi Sowash Kathryn Turner Alexander Krey* Alex Min* Benita Chan Kensey Pease Sam Purcell Anna Teague Joseph Wyatt Dallas Swift* Nick Wiltsie* James Allison Lucy Herr Drew Smith Ellen Adams Max Anderson Bel Lepe Erika Satterwhite

9 10 11 12

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award, for excellence in Science and Mathematics: Dallas Swift*

Level I Ellie Wilkinson* Brannon Cavalier Eliza Cope Erin Haswell Amber Lakin Max Pillsbury Annie Sawyer Kathryn Turner Level II Alexander Krey* Ellen Adams Olivea Callender-Scott Josh Cornwell Lilly Heilveil Elizabeth Knutsen Alexander Krey Kathryn Padgett Kensey Pease Anna Teague Level III Anjali Joseph* Amanda Ach Andrew Fair Julia Fiske Kelsey Harrington Alexander Krey Julia Oh

The Foreign Language Award, to the senior who has demonstrated excellence in and a passion for language acquisition: Ellen Adams*

THE SCIENCES Amanda Ach Jeffrey Chen Jack Eastburn Maddi Sowash Ellie Wilkinson Benita Chan Julia Fiske Erin Haswell Alexander Krey Kathryn Padgett David Phusarirak Anna Teague Joseph Wyatt Ian Boneysteele Belle Bueti Lucy Herr Jenny Morrill Nick Wiltsie Aubrey Wynn Maddie Ignon Ned Lederer Justin Ouyang Chandler Pease Willy Wilder Gabe Yette

10 11 12

The Chemistry Award, to the student who has done the best work in Chemistry: Dallas Swift* The Physics Award, to the student who has done the best work in Physics: Alex Min* The Biology Award, to the student who has done the best work in Biology: Arthur Kaneko* The Environmental Science Award, to the student who has done the best work in Environmental Science: Rachel Munzig* The Psychology Award, to the student who has done the best work in Psychology: Ned Lederer*

HISTORY Claire Ferguson* Tim Brown Alina Everett Kelsey Harrington Annie Sawyer Ellie Wilkinson

Advanced Level Lucy Herr* Max Anderson Bel Lepe Alyssa Tennant Kaitlin Walter

photo by Sam Purcell

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Alexander Krey* Max Barbakow James Burton Eliza Cope Elizabeth Knutsen Kathryn Padgett Anna Reeser Rachel Munzig* Nick Brownell Logan Morrow Erica Puccetti Kathy Shim Alyssa Tennant

10 11

The Marcus Hele Dall Award, to the student who has done the best work in photography: Max Anderson* and Annie Strachan*

The Agnes M. Lord Music Award, first given in 1922 to honor Mrs. Walter St. Clair Lord, who taught music at Thacher from 1898 to 1925: T.J. Bermant*

Sarah Chamberlain* Ellen Adams Barrett Brown Willy Wilder

photo by Ryan McMorrow

FINE ARTS

The Darrah Corbet, Jr. Studio Prize, first given in 1941 in memory of Darrah Corbett, Jr. CdeP 1936: Cindy Sorrick*

9 10

The Eric Bechtel Dachs Prize for Technical Theatre, awarded by the Drama Director to the student who, in his or her career at Thacher, has shown the greatest dedication, imagination and expertise in technical theater: Brendan Keane* and Kirsty Mark*

Jeffrey Chen (Music) Kathryn Turner (Studio) Alessandra Waste (Studio) Ellie Wilkinson (Studio)

Conor Farese (Ceramics) Lucy Herr (Studio) Kaja Johnson (Music) Jenny Morrill (Ceramics) Elena Penny (Studio) Kathy Shim (Music) Peter Thom (Ceramics)

The Rhode Island School of Design Art Award, given to the student who has demonstrated uncommon dedication, commitment and achievement in the Visual Arts: Juliana Ma*

Alex Herr (Wood Design) Maddie Ignon (Studio) Arthur Kaneko (Studio) Brendan Keane (Ceramics) Kirsty Mark (Studio) Hazel Ruiz (Ceramics) Michael Yun (Music)

The Class of 2000 Dance Award, established in recognition of the dedication, leadership and accomplishments of Margaux Lloyd, Lucy Milligan, Yui Scribner, Mariposa Widdoes and Megan Winecoff, and awarded to the senior who most embodies those qualities demonstrated by the dancers of the Class of 2000: Maddie Ignon* and Eleni Towns*

The Harry Llewellyn Bixby Dramatic Cup, first given in 1919, and awarded to students in recognition of their contribution to the Thacher Drama Program: Ben Babbott*, Kaitlin Walter*, Caitlin Wyman*

The Jesse Kahle Horsecamper Award, to the student who, in the opinion of the Camping Committee, has demonstrated horsecamping skills of the highest quality and greatest range by planning and carrying out a variety of worthwhile trips during a Thacher career: Will Oxley* The George Beckwith Gymkhana Trophy, presented to the captains of the winning gymkhana team: Martha Gregory* and Will Oxley*, captains of the Green Team The Bissell Gymkhana Trophy, to the highpoint man or woman: Audra Horton*

Lucy Bosche (Music) Benita Chan (Studio) Nick Hubbard (Ceramics) Anjali Joseph (Ceramics) Sam Purcell (Photography) Anna Reeser (Studio) Claire Shaw (Photography)

The Munro-Palmer Public Speaking and Debating Award, a combination of The William Bennett Munro Prize (first awarded in 1934) by Mr. Munro, who for many years was head of the Humanities Department at the California Institute of Technology and The Palmer Prize, first awarded in 1937 and given by the father of Lowell M. Palmer II CdeP 1938: Sam Felton*

The Vaquero Cup, awarded to the best allaround student in riding, shooting, and gymkhana: Nick Hubbard* The Best Camper Award, to the student who, in the opinion of the Camping Committee, has done the most camping and helped significantly with the running of the camping program: Sander Duncan* and Will Oxley*

The Cum Laude Society Founded in 1906, The Cum Laude Society is a national organization that recognizes superior academic achievement and excellence in high schools across the country. It is modeled on Phi Beta Kappa, the college-level honor society. Election to Cum Laude officially commends those top students who have undertaken a rigorous course load and have maintained the very highest level of academic achievement and integrity throughout each and every year at Thacher. To be elected, a student must also hold dear the qualities of excellence, justice and honor named in the Society’s motto: Areté, Diké, Timé. Joining Max Anderson and Chandler Pease, who were elected in their junior year, Members of the Class of 2005: Ellen Adams Ben Castanon Sarah Chamberlain Josephine Chow Sarah Eckhardt Arthur Kaneko

Ned Lederer Belsasar Lepe Erika Satterwhite Kaitlin Walter Members of the Class of 2006: Lauren Church Lucy Herr Kaja Johnson Alyssa Tennant

The Top Wrangler Buckle, given by the Class of 1979 in memory of their friend and classmate Richard A. Wilson, Jr. CdeP 1979 and first presented this year to recognize that senior who throughout his or her Thacher career has shown great endeavor and success in all aspects of the Horse Program—riding, camping, and leadership: Will Oxley*

The Charles Pratt Trapshoot Plate, awarded to that student with the highest score: Gabe Yette*, for 42/50

The Moffitt Saddle, given by Liz Moffitt Herr in memory of the long-term relationship between Thacher and her father, Herbert C. Moffitt, M.D. CdeP 1933, and awarded to that junior whose energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the Horse Program reflect that of Dr. Moffitt: Conor Farese*

The Edward R. Spaulding Tennis Cup, presented to The Thacher School by E.R. Spaulding and first awarded to Albert T. Spaulding in April, 1903, and presented each year to the School Tennis Champion: Ryan Smith*

photo by Sam Purcell

The Marvin Shagam Award, given annually to that student who has made a difference in The Thacher Community through force of character, goodness, courage, vision, and love for all God’s creation, rather than for leadership in academics and athletics. Although established in Mr. Shagam’s name, he has no part in the selection of the recipient: Rachel Munzig*

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Spring Sports

against Villanova (which handily sealed sole ownership of the Condor League title), Dave Kepner’s gunning out a runner at home plate from left field in our one-run victory in the opening round of the CIF playoffs. But the real strength of this year’s squad was our hitting. We had an unprecedented five players who ended the season with a batting average at or above .400: Jeff Harthorn (.462), Cal Jensen (.459), Dave Kepner (.425), Gabe Yette (.421), and Quinn Hacker (.400). While we will sorely miss the wonderful leadership of this year’s seniors, we have lots of great players returning so we’re looking forward to next spring already. Order up that Cracker Jack, please, Mr. Maxwell!” Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse

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“Take me out to the ballgame” was this spring’s theme song, peanuts and Cracker Jack included (lemonade, too). With teams playing their hearts out on every court and field available, fans had lots of reasons to cheer. Baseball Coaches: Rich Mazzola and Robert Torres Captains: Barrett Brown and Gabe Yette

From Coach Mazz: “Mistakenly dubbed a ‘rebuilding year’ after the team lost some very strong players to graduation the past couple of years, this season proved to be full of pleasant surprises. Each and every one of the returning players brought his and our game to a higher level, and some new talent made outstanding contributions to a very successful spring. The season had many memorable defensive highlights: Redgie Collins’ game-saving diving play in the Cate game, Quinn Hacker’s no-hitter

Coaches: Emily McCarren and Peter Robinson Captains: Becky Horton and Emma Werlin

This team wowed (and sometimes steamrolled) their opponents and arrived at the end of the line with an 8-3 record and the Condor League Championship title in their hot mitts. Along the way, they played in the Western States Tournament in Palo Alto, where they succumbed in the semifinals to Seattle’s Mercer High School. The girls also played in the Southern California Girl’s Lacrosse Association Tourney in Orange County, where, after a sound defeating of Foothill High in the semis, the lost to Cate in the finals. During regular season play, the team did a great job against their Condor League opponents, winning all games except one. They defeated a strong

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club team (the Conejo Clash) in an exciting 12-11 nail-biter here at Thacher. The highlight of the season was the team’s game against the UCSB’s A team, which at the time was ranked #1 in the country for college club teams (and coached by Diana Garcia CdeP 1995). “Our much younger Toads did a fantastic job against the college kids and gave them a run for their money!” reports

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I hope for the girls that they have a great time out there. We emphasize loving the game and developing a camaraderie that means something beyond the field. We combine that with really intense physical goals.

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Emily McCarren, Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse Coach

Coach Etch. “This was an extremely talented group of gals and they always played with a great deal of courage and heart.” Kaggie Orrick was the high scorer for the season; Most Improved Player was

Lucy Bosche, while MVP honors were shared by Becky Horton and goalie Rena Karefa-Johnson. Other seniors we’ll miss: Dana Gal, Sarah Eckhardt and Chandler Pease. (T’won’t be the same without you, but Kaggie, Belle, Rachel, Logan, Jo, Catherine, Ruth, Julia, Anna and Katie will do their best to fill your cleats!)

cleats in eighteen seconds flat!). Amber Lakin, game newcomer, stood stalwart in goal and emerged as quite a force, saving on average two of every three shots to the net, including 18 saves in a heartbreaking loss to Cate. Helping her defend Thacher’s turf were Erin Haswell, Alessandra Waste and Kensey Pease. Kathryn Padgett did more than her share of scooping up groundballs on the fly (notched a record at 40), and successfully combined with Audra Horton (9 goals scored) at the midfield. Also playing offense were Anjali Joseph, Claire Vinson and Sarah Brown-Campello. No surprise that C.C. Hayne came to wear the mantle of MVP: she scored 11 goals, had 3 assists and scooped up 38 ground balls. Most Improved was basketball cross-over Erin Haswell. Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Coaches: Cam Spaulding CdeP 1992 and Toby Elmore Captains: Ed Cahill, Alex Herr, Jaime Luna, and Conner Schryver

From Athletic Director Rich Mazzola: A JV Girls’ Lacrosse trip north to the CarCoaches: Kara Hooper and Phoebe Larson mel Invitational was Captains: Molly Katz and Kensey Pease the perfect way to open A thrilling 8-7 win over Midland (three goals by C.C. this year’s season. The Hayne) propelled this team into a season of growth tournament featured and discovery (yes, you can trade riding boots for the best teams from

14 :: Parents’ Post

the state of California and our team’s strength was forged in the heat of that competition. When the boys returned to campus the tough non-league competition continued, the four well-earned victories and three hardfought defeats had prepared the Toads well for the Condor League season. The highlights of the season came with the two games vs. Cate. At Cate, our boys found peak performance to jump out to a The top season highlight? lead and fended Without a doubt, the moment in off a late surge our home game against Cate when by the Rams to Ben Babbott scored in suddenemerge with a 9death overtime off a feed from 8 victory. The rematch at Thacher Alex Herr to win 11-10. was even closer— Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Coach in fact, it was a Cam Spaulding CdeP 1992 carbon copy of last year’s grudge match. At the end of regulation time, the two teams were tied at 10, but this year the Toads scored the big goal to come away with the victory and the Condor League Championship. That win cinched a playoff berth in the California Club Lacrosse State Tourney, where the success continued through their exciting win over the Palo Alto in semifinals. This, in turn, placed the team in the California Club Lacrosse Championship, where they came up just short against a very strong St. Margaret’s team. By season’s end, Conner Schryver and Davie Connick had earned Most Valuable Player honors, and Billy Irwin was named Most Improved. Additionally, US Lacrosse honored two members of this team with prestigious awards: Toby Elmore was named Assistant Coach of the Year for the Greater Los Angeles area, and Conner won that rare and most wonderful accolade of All-American.

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JV Boys’ Lacrosse Coaches: Bo Manson and Tyler Manson CdeP 2001 Captains: Ian Boneysteele and Dallas Swift

This team, comprised entirely of sophomores (11) and juniors (5), produced a 5-1 record for the season, with every player competing in every game. “It’s all about participation, a full team effort,” says Coach Bo Manson, “and that’s why we don’t single out individual players for end-of-season awards.” As with many of the younger teams, time on the field, in practice or in competition, is full of learning and trying, of working hard and feeling the reward of it. “To delight in each other’s enthusiastic company—that’s really why we gather for 1½ hours each day,” Bo went on. And icing on

the cake, beyond a prideworthy win-loss record, is seeing the spirit and leadership provided by returning players Marc Fuller, Chris Masson and Austin Waldecker as it combined with the pure love of the game in the sophomores: offensive players Ryan McMorrow, Tom Johnson and Drew Cole, midfielders Bryan Brockman, Stone Yu, Mark Wolcott, Jack Pearce and Joseph Wyatt, and defensemen Max Barbakow and Andrew Jordan.

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Freshman Boys’ Lacrosse Coach: Michael Mulligan Captains: Jack Eastburn and William Peterson

From Coach Mully: “The Freshman Lacrosse Team was a dedicated and fun-loving group of rapscallions. It was only occasionally that I had to reproach them for putting their helmets

(and one of the top players in the League) was MVP Ryan Smith; Simon Wu was at #2, pulling off wins against two of the League’s top singles players. Ryan and Austin Pollet (later named Most Inspirational) teamed up to play doubles in the Condor League Championships, where they walked off the court as winners. From there, it was on to the sectional tournament in Santa Barbara, where they won their first match before falling to a top-ranked team from Harvard-Westlake, brothers by the surname of (irony of ironies) Thacher. Ryan and Austin also played in the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournaon backwards. With ment; despite a challenging first-round draw, they won their skills and their the match (though lost in the next). Also playing doubles stick work improving were Kevin Kumana and Chris Gordon. The team’s Most by the moment, they Improved Player was Max Anderson. laced into the Midland School in our home JV Boys’ Tennis opener and beat them

11-1, only to lose to a beefed-up Midland squad the following weekend on their home ground. Still, they gleefully anticipated beating the Boys on the Mesa. The smuts were grateful for the presence of sophomore Gymkhana jocks Nick Hubbard and Alexander Krey, who came out for some exercise and good fun in their spare time.”

Coach: Eric McCarren

Several matches against Cate’s JV and Ojai Valley School’s Varsity squad made up most of the Thacher JV’s season play. “We all worked to make the season productive and to focus on

Varsity Boys’ Tennis Coaches: Chris Mazzola and Stacy Margolin Potter Captains: Toby Nathan and Austin Pollet

“We had our best season in several years,” crowed Coach Chris, arriving at 2nd in the Condor League by the end of May and beating some tough non-League opponents—to wit, Nordhoff and San Marcos High. Starting the spring ranked #9 in the CIF, the team held onto that number right up unt i l the playoffs in May. At #1 singles for Thacher

the goals of participation, sportsmanship, fun and fair play,” said Coach McCarren, adding, “Senior T.J. Bermant provided a fine model of positiveness

and motivation.” David Phusarirak wound up playing #1 singles; Bennett Kissel and Eli Behar formed a doubles teams. Also playing for the orange and green: Kennan Zhong, Yoon Kim, Dackory Hill, Josh Cornwell and Brian Carter.

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Track & Field Coaches: Derick Perry CdeP 1983, Kurt Meyer, Theana Hancock, and Dan Henry Captains: Mary Bloom and Bel Lepe

In Thacher’s first season utilizing the visually stunning and marvelously resilient new David S. Lavender Track, the girls fought hard to secure 2nd place in the Condor League; the small boys’ contingent took 6th. Sprinters in the gang included Anna Reeser, Julia Bosson, Kaja Johnson, Claire Shaw, Olivea Callendar-Scott, Elizabeth WoolfWillis, Eliza Cope, Allie Barbey and Natalie Selzer ; tending ably to the longer distances were Anna Moncharsh, Mary Bloom and Ellen Adams. Meanwhile, Justine Robinett focused on her discus work, and Bel Lepe, Calvin Kim, Coulter Woolf and Logan Kroloff worked to master that baton hand-off in the 4 × 4 relay. Bel and Mary shared the Track Cup (the Most Valuable award), while

Eliza Cope jogged away with the David S . L ave n d e r Most Improved Runner award. “For many of the kids, this was the first time they had ever truly tested their physical limits,” said Coach Perry. “As a result, the team had

some wonderful and instructive experiences to build upon next year.” We’ll be at the edge of the track, watching and cheering. Dance Thacher’s ever-flexible Dance Director Gallia Vickery once again extended the notion of inventive choreography with this spring’s Dance Ensemble, including in the mix many dance-asyou-drive numbers, as these true troopers rode to and from studio space in Ojai. (They, perhaps more eagerly than most, await completion of the Performing Arts Center early next winter!) A core quartet—Jojo Chow, Maddie Ignon, Eleni Towns and Lilly Heilveil—was joined by five others (Lauren Bangasser, Montana Caset, Heather Back, Victoria Lowe and Aubrey Wynn) when the latter weren’t a’horseback or swimming laps in a pool, all ultimately learning the lessons of creative resilience when they performed in three very different spaces: in Thacher’s Outdoor Theatre during the Gymkhana Cabaret, at Happy Valley School’s Zalk Theater, and at Nordhoff High in that school’s first dance show. Their three pieces—“Boogie Free,” “Subtle Influences” (to contemporary Bulgarian vocal music) and “Diamond Bond”—embraced 20’s jazz style and an updated variation on it, as well as canon and floor patterns.

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At the All-School Banquet, Justin and Nick received The Golden Carabiner Award (Justin had earned it last Coach Spencer Stevens led a trio of students—Drew year, as well), for accomplishing a first ascent of a climb Smith, Hannah Rich, and Della Taylor—through condithat required two days work to complete—something no tioning, paddling, and basic maneuvers in the Thacher Thacher students had yet attempted. They first selected pool before heading seaward for fun in the surf or to an unclimbed section of rock in Wheeler Gorge and set beckoning rivers. about doing a first ascent the old fashioned way: groundup (although with a back-up top rope in case anything went wrong), drilling and placing protection bolts using a hand drill (antiquated by modern sport climbing standards) on lead. (Very few climbers still do first ascents this way.) In this case, these boys took the most adventurous approach, where success was not guaranteed, and started from the ground. Both contended with loose rock, unknown territory and, above all, uncertainty. Yet they succeeded, producing a route that is a nice line, well protected and safe; it promises much to the many who Advanced Rock Climbing will follow Justin and Nick. From Climbing Instructor Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992: Justin Ouyang, Nick Wiltsie and I comprised a partnership—and good partnerships in climbing are often the foundation for great ascents. I offered instruction in many aspects, but in many ways I was a consultant, helping Justin and Nick to refine their leading skills and developing their ability to take on climbs of greater technical difficulty. Of course, I also learned a lot from them, which is one of the greatest benefits of serving as an instructor. We climbed and bouldered at Thacher, in nearby Wheeler Gorge and at the Owens River Gorge near Bishop. The boys successfully led routes such as Nirvana, Arbitrot, and Trouble with Tribbles, all of which are vertical-to-overhanging “endurance” climbs. In addition, Together, these two young men set a high standard they worked-out the sequential moves on the notorious for future Thacher climbers, as well as local climbers, to (in other words - very hard!) aspire [and perspire!] to. Mind Meld Arete of the DilYoga ithium Crystal. Despite the fact that stu- Elizabeth Cleveland again coached both begindents have been climbing ners and those more experienced in the fine points of at the Gymkhana Field for yoga, encouraging students to use both the relaxing many years, both Justin and and the strenuous elements to find better balance and Nick succeeded in establishing new climbs, with each health in their daily lives. The group of eleven seniors increasingly more difficult than the last. Justin further practiced in various yoga studios in town, in the Study polished his lead climbing (being the sharp end, or the Hall, and at the Outdoor Chapel and Outdoor Theatre; first climber to go up a climb), while Nick, though new they also visited a chiropractor, an acupuncturist and a to this aspect, quickly developed his lead climbing ability massage therapist to learn about those aspects of health during our 2½ months together. maintenance. Kayaking

18 :: Parents’ Post

 

Gymkhana 

Big (and we mean BIG) Family Weekend



In the words of Uncle Jack Huyler, who’s seen dozens of Thacher Big Gymkhanas (55, to be exact) up close and very personal, this spring’s main equestrian event was one of the most competitive ever, and Saturday’s six hours of thundering hooves and shattering records (and we don’t mean vinyl) drove home the point. The many family, friends and assorted other fans watching on Saturday, as well as on Friday (English competition and trail course) had come from all over the country and the world to witness the unique spectacle, predictably both breathtaking and inspirational. Other weekend events—athletic contests, a student art exhibit and a cabaret of singing, instrumentalizing and dance on Friday night, an all-School barbecue and fabulously successful Parent Auction on Saturday, Sunday morning chapel with an address by Ned Cahill CdeP 1970, trap shooting, tennis and just plain soaking up the warmth of the Ojai—left everyone thinking just how right Sherman Day Thacher had gotten it. (As if there’d ever been a doubt!) Special and extensive thanks to Sue Feldman, under whose guidance the Parent Auction reached new heights of participation and yield, netting over $110,000—an increase of $8000 over last year’s event.

Team Results: Green: 7560 points, captained by Will Oxley and Martha Gregory. Blue: 6778 points, captained by Hazel Ruiz and Kelly Singco. Orange: 6650 points, captained by Peter Arnold and Nick Hubbard. In the famed Silver Dollar Pick-up, five riders were successful at loping to the limed circle, reaching down and scooping up the prize: Bob Kamuyu, Brannon Cavalier, William Hockey, Holden Miller, and Thomas Waltcher. Horsemanship Bridles for best all-around horsemanship were awarded by Director of the Horse Program Cam Schryver to Elizabeth Knutsen and Nick Hubbard. Winner of the newly established Most Improved Rider ribbon was Tatyana Rem.

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Top Ten Freshmen

1 Audra Horton 2 Annie Mulligan 3 Brannon Cavalier 4 Holden Miller 5 Douglas Land 6 Annie Sawyer 7 Thomas Waltcher 8 Bruno Ferrari 9 Lindsay Oliver 10 William Hockey Top Ten Riders

1 Audra Horton 2 Lauren Chase 3 Bob Kamuyu 4 Martha Gregory 5 Olivia Jacobsen 6 Sophie LaRocque 7 Annie Mulligan 8 Brooke Wharton 9 Brannon Cavalier 10 Holden Miller

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On the crest of the McCaskey Trail, with my horse Robin, I would look down on the School and think about those little concerns of the day (who said what, the grade that wasn’t fair) and realize they were not, in fact, important. [On that spot] I gained an understanding of what I must do: simply to keep studying, riding and being part of the Thacher community. That trail on the hill just above us now was my spiritual heaven.

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Dr. Ned Cahill CdeP 1970, in his Gymkhana Family Weekend chapel talk

20 :: Parents’ Post

Senior

Exhibitions

2005

Well into its second decade, the Senior Exhibition W program continues to grow in vibrancy and breadth, as seniors take on subjects that range far and wide in a multiplicity of academic disciplines. In their final presentations (all part of a graduation requirement) during a long weekend in April, these students, many of whom have become genuine scholars in the year-long process, stand behind the podium as teachers, enlightening their audience of peers, faculty members, younger students, friends and family in ways they perhaps never quite anticipated. It’s an overt and happy celebration of cerebration. Arts and Letters Annie Strachan Ellen Adams Keely Walsh Max Anderson Michael Yun Sarah Chamberlain Will Oxley

f/64 and Photographic Evolution The Art of Frida Kahlo Dressage Fashion Photography Ethnomusicology and Singing The Poet in Wartime The Evolution of Western Horse Training

Year’s End 2005 :: 21

The Humanities Zach Behar T.J. Bermant Mary Bloom Kay Bradford Barrett Brown Edward Cahill Montana Caset Ben Castanon Josephine Chow Davie Connick Dana Gal Zack Grossman Alex Herr Becky Horton Lindsay Hunt Maddie Ignon Arthur Kaneko Calvin Kim Parker Lohman Emily Love-Platt Jaime Luna Juliana Ma Kirsty Mark Cindy Mendoza Toby Nathan Austin Pollet Erika Satterwhite Conner Schryver Eleni Towns Kaitlin Walter Emma Werlin Gabe Yette

Charles Bukowski Bush’s Oil Policy The Harlem Renaissance Native American Casinos in California Cultures in Conflict Vigilantism A History of Social Problems in Argentina Black Nationalists and the Black Panther Party Footbinding and Corsets Mariology Medical Malpractice Human Development in China Deadheads: Intentional Communities Sexuality through Western History The Long-term Effects of Juvenile Incarceration The Options for America’s Displaced Children Islam and Violence The Suez Canal Crisis Crime and Truth The Zapatista Movement The Brown Berets Cosmetic Surgery Witchcraft and Wicca Religion and Warfare American Foreign Policy Cancer Comebacks Media and United States Foreign Policy: The CNN Effect Title IX Malcolm X Religious, Political and Social Ideology in Disney Films War Coverage by the Media Pirates

The Sciences Peter Arnold Sustainable Development Lauren Bangasser Beef Production and the Environment Ben Babbott Oil Consumption and the Automobile Charlie Bennett Game Theory Megan Boswell Addiction Brian Carter Bio Diesel Ryan Church Cryptography Sander Duncan Assisted Reproductive Technology Sarah Eckhardt Bipolar Disorder Sam Felton The Family and Adolescence Rena Karefa-Johnson Mob Mentality Brendan Keane Speaker Design Marguerite Kissel Ojai’s Insects Ned Lederer Laughter Bel Lepe The Perfect Race Rebekah McFarland Black Holes Justin Ouyang Quantum Computers Chandler Pease Marketing and Psychology Justine Robinett Art Forgery Hazel Ruiz Poisons Cindy Sorrick Genetically Engineered Crops: Frankenstein Plants or Technological Miracles? Willy Wilder Architecture: Dormitory Design

In addition to the pairing of each senior with a faculty member who serves as a direct advisor to the project, several additional teachers provide critical guidance and support throughout the year as the Senior Exhibition Committee, meeting with students in small groups to be sure that they meet interim goals. Long-time chair is Kurt Meyer; the other stalwarts are Alison Curwen, Jeff Hooper, Jake Jacobsen, Alice Meyer, Buck Wales and Chris Vyhnal.

22 :: Parents’ Post

Shoulder-to-the-Wheel for Thacher

We accept the risk of missing someone who W oughtknowingly to be thanked publicly when we put together a

roster such as this. But into the danger we forge, just because we can’t let the year close without proper appreciation in these pages. (Please let me know whom I’ve missed, and I’ll add them to a sequel in the next Post!) The Weisberger-Harringtons (Kelsey’s folks) hosted a pizza-cake-and-Martinellis party for 9 th graders, complete with a screening of Indiana Jones, while the Oberndorfs cranked up the barbie at Lower School on another weekend. One grade up, the McMorrows gave a similar food-fest for the lads of Los Padres. Down the road apiece, the Davis-Jensens opened their home, their backyard and their Jacuzzi for games, dancing and vittles to all the Casa girls and faculty earlier in the term; this spring saw that class pile into vehicles for the home of Katherine & Doug Wilkinson to take full advantage of Ellie’s parents’ hospitality. Meanwhile, Barrett Brown’s family put on a beach party for seniors and a barbecue for the baseball team. The night before Commencement, Lori & Cam Schryver invited the juniors and seniors to their home and, with the game help of Margeanne & David Oxley (both CdeP 1978), as well as Liz Herr, they put on quite the dog for the fortunate kids, providing a homey spot for their last night on campus. (The Oxleys also barbecued up a storm for the PTS Club at Margeanne’s folks’ house in Ojai after the students had cleaned up the Thacher corral on Montgomery Street.) Perennial Toads boosters Sally & Larry Werlin opened their doors (and their floors) to the entire Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse team at their home during the Southern California Girls’ Lacrosse Association tournament. They also provided snacks during the course of the weekend, as did Debbie Tennant and John Tennant throughout the entire season. Up north, Robin & Yoav Gal created a gourmet cheese pick-me-up lunch at the Western States Tournament. Several parents, both local and “from away,” hopped behind the wheel of school Suburbans or their own vehicles to move athletic teams hither and yon during winter and spring sports seasons: among them, Peter Robinson, Lisa Cole, David Babbott, Lori Schryver, Sandy Jensen, and John Bueti. David Oxley did the same, except with horses in a trailer, pitching in to get stock where it needed to be useful on Spring Extra-Day Trips. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then Roy Harthorn is one chatty guy: he created a Thacher Baseball

website accessible to all fans onto which he loaded hundreds of photographs of the Toads in action. Another someone who magically materializes whenever crunch time hits, to stuff envelopes or put place cards on tables, or whatever: the ubiquitous Ann Oliver. In Thacher’s Library, five tireless worker-bees toiled at tasks such shelving and shelf maintenance, book processing, book sleuthing, displays and exhibits. “Their work freed us up to do more of ours,” smiled Alisa McCoy. Veterans Nancy Babbott, Allie Bueti, Elizabeth White and Ruth Lassell (still volunteering despite her third child’s having completed Thacher!) welcomed Caryn Bosson into the fold. A final thanks to those people whom Parent Auction Chair Sue Feldman called “committee chairs, major contributors and people who just went above and beyond in one way or another”: Margo Barbakow, Cathy Reiff, Carol & David Castanon, Abby Wilder, Alex Jordan, Carol Bingham, Erica & Walter Fuller, Cheryl Winters, Mia and Bob Morrill, Shelly Smith, Judy & Tom Munzig, Elizabeth White, Jane Carroll, Nancy Babbott, Katherine Wilkinson, Liz Herr, Sandy Jensen, and all the Southern California and Northern California folks who filled those magnificent faculty gift packages to overflowing. Says Sue, “The Auction has over 70 parent volunteer positions. We had the best year ever thanks to those who gave so generously of their time and resources, or both!”

Wrapping It Up

final events of the school year—Senior Vespers, final TThe exams, packing, the All-School Banquet and awards evening, Senior Banquet, and Commencement—pack themselves into just one short week’s time. Like maple syrup, for which one gallon requires 40 gallons of sap, there’s

Year’s End 2005 :: 23

a feeling at the end of it all that you’ve tasted the essence of something, an intense and distilled sweetness. A few specifics: • One Thacher tradition holds that the week ending in Commencement begins with the honoring of Thacher’s war dead at the Memorial Pergola perched high above the upper soccer field. There, this year, as in many before, the whole community squeezed under the beams or out onto the Outdoor Chapel’s benches to stand, listening to the Head of School intone the names “of men who were once boys here, who walked these paths and rode these trails, who learned and grew in this place—just as you are doing now.” Following the last name and a moment of silence, the crowd moved to the Outdoor Chapel for the Senior The truth is that Thacher is Vespers service— readings, singing always the same and never and an address the same. There will be new given by a faculty buildings shortly. There will be or staff member new teachers inevitably. chosen by the SeAnd, sadly and joyously, nior Class. This spring, it was Engthere will be lish teacher, dornew students always. mitory head, and Yet, the essence of this place track and basketremains. You can hear it in the ball coach Derick echoes from the hills and fields. Perry CdeP 1983 You will hear it the stories you whose perspective on Thacher the tell and the lives you lead. community leaned The protagonist in the Invisible forward to hear in Man says, ‘Perhaps to lose a the growing dusk. sense of where you are implies • After the meal the danger of losing a sense of at the All-School Banquet, students who you are.’ You do not have to were honored for worry about that. their academic Derick S. Perry CdeP 1983, and extracurricuin his Senior Vespers Address lar accomplish-

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ments. (See pages 10-11 for details.) As well, each class president (Lucy Phillips, Chris Gordon, Nick Brownell and Ned Lederer) offered a toast, outgoing School Chair Jaime Luna gave a short speech, and Head of School I love it most Michael Mulligan offered especially when a litany he called “Reflections: those of you with Some Things I Love about My age and experience Life Here, Some Things I Love or judgment look about You,” naming among dozafter those without ens of things, quail calling to each other, horses with as much these strengths. heart as muscle, “the transcenWhen you look dent pull of the full moon”; after the one who watching students work hard, needs help, who is stretch, “become bigger and not brimming with broader”; hearing “unbridled, blissful laughter”; signing diploconfidence, who mas, and thinking about each is still finding his senior’s first day here. or her way, you • With the departure of the are finding your underclassmen early on Fribest self. And you day, the campus was left for a are helping others moment of quiet before families and other guests of seniors find theirs. began pouring through the Michael K. Mulligan, gates in anticipation of the SeHead of School, in his nior Banquet (into which BacAll-School Banquet address calaureate was folded this year, in an arrangement new this year). Before the awards of the evening, Dr. John D. Maguire, President Emeritus Claremont University Consortium and Graduate University and Senior Fellow Institute for Democratic Renewal/Project Change, spoke about what exactly the needs of the 21st century world are, offering three simple, compelling challenges to the seniors, who, he implied, were ready and able to take them up as gauntlets for right action beyond Thacher.. Following Dr. Maguire’s address came two nonsenior awards. In the first, Mr. Mulligan recog- Dr. Maguire with grandson Andrew nized Jan and Jon Pease, who had served “reliably, selflessly and energetically” as Presidents of the Parents’ Association and as Parent Representatives to The Thacher School’s Board of Trustees this school year. “This couple has re-set the bar for volunteerism at this school,” he said.

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24 :: Parents’ Post

Emma Werlin, “two hard-working but fun-loving, fiery competitors and inspirational leaders who have carried their gusto, confidence, risk-taking and love of team from van rides to practices to championship games.” The Thacher Letterman’s Club Perpetual Trophy, by vote of the Athletic Council for the same qualities mentioned above, went to Jaime Luna and Conner Schryver, “both gifted, threesport athletes, conf ident c apt ains, The second, a thorough surprise to its honoree, recog- tireless workers denized Bruce C. Oxley CdeP 1954 and Horse Program voted wholeheartDirector Emeritus, through the donation to the School edly to their athletic pursuits, boys with great vision on of a sculpture depicting Bruce and his horse sitting down the field and beyond it.” and reading together—a trick Bruce taught Bing when The Newton K. Chase Community Service Award, he was a Thacher student. Presenting the bronze that had “given to that student who, through volunteer work in been commissioned by Bruce’s wife, Carol, were Will the community, has demonstrated an unselfish interest Oxley—who would graduate the next day—and his fa- in and concern for others” was awarded to two students ther, David Oxley CdeP 1978. (David, perhaps anticipat- “who have encouraged the dedication of their peers in ing the potential for singular future their community service historical significance, had married a work, pursued their own Three truths, three values are desperately classmate, Margeanne Winter, one of venues of volunteerism, needed at this turning point in human Thacher’s first female graduates. Will and have striven to imis thereby the first offspring of two prove the quality of the history… In a world at the crossroads we Thacher alums to attend the School.) program better to serve need, as never before, imagination, pluck and Then, it was on to the traditional those students who will resiliency… In a world at the crossroads we Senior Banquet awards: follow their lead. Above need to live more simply so that others may A reiteration of those just elected all, they have given us simply live… In a world at the crossroads we to the Cum Laude Society (see “Acareason to believe that ultimately have only what we give away. If demic Commendations and Awards,” one person can make p. 11). a different and that the we wait to be enlightened—which we say we The Elizabeth Helms Adams Perpower of our collective do and often give as the explanation of why petual Sportsmanship Award, by vote efforts can far surpass we keep going to school—we have to give of the Athletic Council for “a commitour greatest expectalight… If we want to be happy—and many ment to excellence and teamwork, the tions”: Max Anderson of us say that’s what we want as much as and Eleni Towns. The School Chair to be loved—we have to bring happiness to Award, in recognition others. ‘If you want to be happy,’ said George of his contributions to Bernard Shaw, ‘be a force of nature, providing the whole Thacher comhappiness, instead of the feverish, selfish little munity, went to Jaime clod of ailments and grievances complaining Luna, “who in many that the world will not devote itself to making ways captures the spirit of this School: he is kind you happy.’ To be happy, make happiness. and thoughtful, smart Dr. John D. Maguire, President Emeritus ability to elevate the play of others, yet unpretentious, selfClaremont University Consortium and Graduate University and a reverence for sportsmanship,” less and devoted to his Senior Fellow Institute for Democratic Renewal/Project Change was awarded to Becky Horton and pursuits.”

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Year’s End 2005 :: 25

The Charles L. Tutt Silver Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility honors “those qualities of character not always recognized in the traditional school-type awards— not primarily leadership, but integrity and responsibility, fortitude in the face of adversity, consideration for others. Winning the award, by vote of the faculty, were Jaime Luna, “a selfless spirit, a leader by powerful example, a supporter of students and staff, a voice of reason and moral leadership to the administration, faculty, and student body,” and Bel Lepe, “a top-flight scholar and outstanding runner who has provided quiet, consistent and thoughtful leadership, standing up for the School’s principles of kindness and generosity of spirit.” The Thacher Cup is presented to that senior who, in the judgment of the faculty, best demonstrates the qualities the School holds as central: academic excellence, extracurricular achievement, moral leadership, and concern for others. The winner, Rena Karefa-Johnson, “personiﬁes the values of Thacher. [She has] an innate ability to do the right thing; she is also a bundle of boundless energy, giving herself completely to her academics, her athletic teams, her volunteer work, her classmates and schoolmates.”

• And The Big Event itself on Saturday morning— Commencement— at w h i c h f o u r faculty readers— Cam Schryver, Blossom Pidduck, Rich Mazzola and Emily McCarren—joined the Head of School to deliver to each of the 61 members of Thacher’s 116th graduating class the tribute written to quantify and make s p e c i f i c w h at the faculty, staff and other community members have appreciated in him or her—in Mr. Mulligan’s words to the group, “the pleasure your gifts have given and the gratitude we feel for what

you have brought to our communal table.” And as the last note of “America, the Beautiful” died away, only to give rise to an even heartier cheer that went up to the top of the highest pole of the Big Top, the sun couldn’t hold out a moment longer, breaking through the cloud ceiling to warm the hugs-all-around, celebratory throng.

26 :: Parents’ Post

Onward and Outward

One of Thacher’s many traditions holds that at the O moment in spring when the last senior has secured

admission to college, the whole class displaces the understandably bemused 9th graders to sit, once again, on the Freshman Wall—the first level of student seating on the Pergola. Though the stone wall was unavailable this year (construction in the middle of campus having kept Assembly in the Centennial Amphitheatre past winter), the seniors nonetheless pulled off the symbolic gesture, heading to the bottom tier of seating and cheering their own success from that low-and-lofty place one day in April. There, they got us thinking about their individual and collective transitions, imminent and inescapable. By the time this Post gets to your mailbox, most will have already begun their packing for the next big step. Those of us still in “this place,” wish them happy times and success in their new homes-away-from-home. Send news! Ellen Adams Max Anderson Peter Arnold Ben Babbott Lauren Bangasser Zach Behar Charlie Bennett T.J. Bermant Mary Bloom Megan Boswell Kay Bradford Barrett Brown Edward Cahill Brian Carter Montana Caset Ben Castanon Sarah Chamberlain Josephine Chow Ryan Church Davie Connick Sander Duncan Sarah Eckhardt Sam Felton Dana Gal Zack Grossman Alex Herr Becky Horton Lindsay Hunt Maddie Ignon Arthur Kaneko

Columbia University New York University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Amherst College Colby College Rhode Island School of Design The George Washington University Hobart & William Smith College Kenyon College University of Southern California Colorado College Bowdoin College Middlebury College UC Davis Mt. Holyoke College Wesleyan University UC Berkeley Tufts University Dartmouth College University of Colorado at Boulder Dartmouth College Tufts University University of Denver Wesleyan University Tufts University University of Colorado at Boulder Davidson College Dartmouth College Connecticut College Stanford University

Rena Karefa-Johnson Yale University Montana State University Brendan Keane Calvin Kim University of Chicago Marguerite Kissell Scripps College Stanford University Ned Lederer Bel Lepe Stanford University Austin College Parker Lohman Emily Love-Platt Emerson College Jaime Luna University of Notre Dame Vassar College Juliana Ma Kirsty Mark Colorado State University Rebekah McFarland University of Chicago Cindy Mendoza Mt. St. Mary’s College Toby Nathan Boston University Justin Ouyang Middlebury College Will Oxley Colorado State University Chandler Pease Duke University Austin Pollet Pepperdine University Justine Robinett University of Chicago Hazel Ruiz Bucknell University Erika Satterwhite Georgetown University Conner Schryver Whittier College Cindy Sorrick Colorado College Annie Strachan Lewis & Clark College Eleni Towns The George Washington University Keely Walsh Mt. Holyoke College Kaitlin Walter Emory University Emma Werlin The George Washington University Willy Wilder Bowdoin College Gabe Yette Colorado College Michael Yun USC (Marshall Business School)

CH A

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Year’s End 2005 :: 27

1889

SCHOOL THE THACHER ation Parents’ Associ August, 2005

r s: e with your Thache at least a little tim Dear Fellow Parent e in th ng ng tti di ge en e ar sp r d te e summer af ur summers an th yo g g rin yin du jo r en he ot all e ch We hope you ar ey have to visit ea . (BTW, why do th daughters and sons ring gradugether?!?) ver more so than du ne — us st rest of the year to tru t— the culminaamatic, bu so we experienced can at times be dr s, te nt ua re ad pa r gr ’s he ac ay M Th ong this e parents to the The life of a er, Chandler, was am r us, the stirring ovation given by th ht ug da st de ol ur e. Fo ation. O tween parents and ation for the first tim nuinely warm spirit that thrives be uc ed r he ac Th a of tion d the ge our children. cement emphasize lifelong benefit of e th r fo s rk wo faculty at Commen know s to llaboration that we uals too numerou teachers. It is a co ent all year. Individ id hletes ev at d an ad us To d ro te ne gear, suppor r ship, it was ge he er ac rtn Th pa ld at so th , sts of Au e e Parent ction ardized te As for your sid l events such as th ry, proctored stand ra sfu es lib e cc th su y in all ed en rk mention wo uted to phenom e road, and contrib r one last time at home and on th own reward, but fo its is ne do ll we b jo and Grad Night. A who volunteered. mmend all of you we would like to co e Grad Night parents planning th 05 20 of s as Cl r he Time spent with ot of us: three points to all party drove home quickly; 1. Four years pass quent; and gs are far too infre 2. Parent gatherin ts! sw at was a lot of ee 3. My goodness, th t year—What a grea omptu dinner this pr your im in s an nt ld re he pa s r nt r other Thache Bay Area pare fo y or ct ire her D ot ity an mmun u contact idea! Scan your Co together. When yo t ge d , an ds le, ki ca ur lo l ra n process, u miss yo area, choose a cent e college applicatio uch in common: yo th m he ve at ha lo u ely yo iat r, ed he the Bay Area g at Thac parent, you’ll imm more of us follow they’re experiencin t’s th Le . ow ity gr un m ive m sit co po you love the nnection to the broader, stronger co and you long for a glimpsing the next year. g the Trustees and tin ee m parents’ example d ye jo en gory CdeP 1969, esidents, nts’ Association pr Mary and Dan Gre re to Pa ng as lo e be tim ll t wi ea n gr io ferred three bankerWe had a this posit we have now trans School. Next year gh e ou th gle lth of (A gs in s! rk nd wo ha inner le to pass along a sin e in good we are quite unab her parents. You ar rt g, ac in sta : Th ep lls ke ed hi fe nc Ca sa rie e r pe th fo ex edecessors, ial to them pr er r at m ou of en itt on iti wr on th m boxes filled wi ve the central ad new Presidents sa helpful hint to the ) an Hastings) of ation Party now! if you’re one of Cl , ree th planning the Gradu r (o n tio ra of a gene continue to find we hope you will g marked the end d rin an sp , is nt th re u, pa r yo he of ac be a Th For a few u have just begun. this: You’ll always hool. Others of yo Sc ow e man Kn th s. to ee d nd te te ec at nn CdeP gest, will be a fresh to stay co d Jensen, our youn nce. e Ojai Valley and an rie th or pe it ni Ex vis ju r a to he is s ac se ey cu Th ns e ex the inimitabl middle (our Ke e by th d ke in lin ht rig lly e rfu ar Some of us , we are all powe r the case, though this fall). Whateve on. Hope to see you so Let’s stay in touch.

50 25 T hach er

R oa d • O

ia ja i , C al ifo rn

80 5. 64 0. 10 33 5. 64 6. 43 77 • F ax 93 02 3- 90 01 • 80

walked a few hundred yards due north and homeward, where he has set up shop and launched Hamilton Berchman Design Group, his own graphics and design We say farewell to a handful of faculty members: • Eliza Gregory CdeP 2000, our energetic, “Where company. • Spencer Stevens puts a wrap on his Thacher scido you need me?” intern in the English Department, will be a Princeton in Africa participant, working for the ence teaching, coaching, and advising career as he trades International Rescue Committee at a Burundian refugee Ojai’s east end for The Presidio. The head at the recently founded (2004) Bay School of San Francisco, a cuttingcamp in western Tanzania. • English teacher Kevin Buddhu, who spent his edge institution whose curriculum emphasizes science sabbatical year here coming to understand better the and technology, had the good sense to sign Spencer on. idiosyncracies and delights of boarding school life, will (Incidentally, Spencer has thrown in another one of return to his post at Camarillo High School, taking “the the big Life Changes, in addition to changing jobs and blessings of passion and devotion” on to other students. moving: He’s affianced to Jaime Michele Laguette, with • Chinese teacher Wei-Ying Lin, after her year step- wedding bells poised to toll next summer.) ping into Ms. Li’s shoes, will return to Taiwan to re-establish family ties and to take a breather before pursuing graduate studies. • Reneé Nuñez has turned off her AP Art History slide projector and packed her rucksack for day hikes in the Valley, which she leads for visitors to the region—that is, when she’s not teaching yoga or working with long-distance learning students at Laurel Springs School. • Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Relations, Sara Sackner, who has been a bottomless well of creative inspiration in the Development/Alumni Office for four years, will return to her deep love of documentary film making. Her current project focuses on arts education. • Bert Mahoney, who has guided our website from And as they are off, so go most of the rest of us—until its inception and our yearbook to ever higher reaches late August, when the next best year yet begins to take of design magnificence, has packed up his office and shape. We hope for all of you some down time, some

New Horizons, Too

T HE

HO O L

Warm (as of this writing, 91-degree’s worth of warm!) wishes,

CH E A R H

up time, some time you spend precisely as you wish with your hard-working Toad(s). (Hint: A cool drink at the end of a hose is a grand idea.)

PRODUCTION CREDITS Editor: Joy Sawyer-Mulligan Design and Production: Tim Ditch Photography: Lauren Bangasser CdeP 2005, Conor Farese 2006, Jeffrey Chen 2008, Julia Fiske 2007, Harry Hoffman 2008, Nick Hubbard 2007, Cheryl Winters, Auty Hayne, Roy Harthorn, Frederick Allen, Tami Haggard, Bert Mahoney, Brian Pidduck, Chuck Warren, Amy Elmore, Scott Smith, Joy Sawyer-Mulligan Student Media Assistants: Eli Behar, Eric Elias, Mason Feldman