Artemis - 2013 - Spring

Spring 2013

Alumnae Notes see pages 26-35

Artemis

The Archer Magazine

Archer Alumna Finds Her Purpose see pages 8-10

Record-Breaking Year in Athletics see pages 20-21

Remembering Photography Teacher Harris Hartsfield see pages 18-19

www.Archer.org

A R T E M I S THE ARCHER MAGAZINE Editor

In This Issue....

Christina McIntosh

Assistant Editor Gena Carpenter

Contributors Marcia Berman Gena Carpenter Elizabeth English Daniel In Denny Lennon Christina McIntosh Evelyn Ramirez-Schultz Mia Rille Brittany Schoof Brian Wogensen Francine Wood

Special Thanks Budget Printing & Copy

Design Gena Carpenter Daniel In

Photography Archer Communications Office Cover Photograph by Jesse Dittmar

Board of Trustees 2012-2013 Barbara Bruser, Co-Chair Cornelia Cheng Stephanie Darrow Suzie Doran Beth Friedman Natalie Fuller Ann Gianopulos Mark Gordon Caroline Grainge Cathy Helm Michael Heslov Anne Josephson Kathleen Kennedy Deborah Lehman Scott Lord Johnathan Lurie Frank Marshall Ray Michaud Catrice Monson Barbara Natterson Horowitz, Co-Chair Hillary Newman ’04 Lawrence O’Donnell John Ohanesian Karen Richards Sachs Jody Siegler Ana Serrano Ron Stone Stephen Warren 11725 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90049 310-873-7000 archer.org

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In the News Around Campus Cover Story: Archer Alumna Finds Her Purpose Community Service Update Teacher Feature: Kari Morioka In the Classroom Archer Celebrates International Day of the Girl Remembering Harris Harstfield Athletics Update The Archer Affair Do Uniforms Mean Uniformity?

Honoring Archer Fund Parent Volunteers Harris Hartsfield Memorial Scholarship Alumnae Notes and Profiles

From the Head of School Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee speak.What resonated with me most was her lament that, “We have gone absolutely soft as a country. We are so focused on making our kids feel good that we have failed to teach them how to be good.” She then shared that she has two teenage daughters and suggested that if anyone visited her home they would think she is raising two Olympic soccer stars. “Judging by the number of soccer trophies they have amassed, you would think they are the next Mia Hamms. The truth is, they both suck at soccer.” The story got a good laugh, mostly I think because its moral is all too recognizable. Children these days get trophies and praise for just showing up, regardless of effort or performance. We are a generation of parents who go to great lengths to protect our children from what we – and by extension they – perceive as failure, i.e. anything less than an A or anything short of first place. The consequence is that we rob our children of the developmentally critical experience of struggle and, yes, sometimes failure, which is what ultimately teaches them that sustained effort and practice underlie excellence.

Most parents readily acknowledge that adversity is the true teacher of perseverance and grit. So why is it so hard for us to let our children struggle? Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, contends that “the relationship between adversity and success is clear: a moderate amount of adversity is good for kids.” Further, he asserts that we have “an adversity gap” in our country. “Poor kids have too much. Rich kids don’t have enough.”

At Archer we teach students to have a growth mindset, to acknowledge that intellectual capacity is something that is developed over a lifetime and not a fixed attribute that forever plots them on a bell curve. Further, we teach them that grades are an assessment of their learning to date and not a referendum on their intelligence. As a result, Archer girls are resilient. If they don’t get an A, or the lead in the play, or bring home the league trophy, they know that the essential question is “what could I have done differently,” not “what’s wrong with me,” or worse, “what’s wrong with the person who made the decision.”

As I recently tweeted after the Archer softball team came from behind to beat Sierra Canyon in overtime 7-4, “Archer girls got grit.” Archer girls don’t give up when it doesn’t feel good. They hang in there, adjust strategy, ask for help, support their peers, and relish the challenges that come their way. And that’s exactly what you’ll see in this issue of Artemis – fearless Archer alumnae who’ve blazed the trail for their younger Archer sisters: scientists, lawyers, artists, doctors, entrepreneurs, activists, all Archer girls who’ve earned their “trophies.” And we are very proud of them!

Elizabeth English Head of School

In the News

Pictured Above: Archer students wait for the space shuttle Endeavour to pass over the campus on the flight to LAX before being moved to its final destination at the California Science Center.

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Head of School Featured on HuffPost Live Head of School Elizabeth English appeared on the Huffington Post Live to participate in two discussions with other educational leaders, teachers, and students on the value and state of the American education system. Links to the archived footage are available at www.archer.org/news.

National French Week Essay Winners Congratulations to Archer 10th grader Maria Gelabert and 8th grader Lulu Cerone on their award winning essays for the National French Week Essay Contest, coordinated by the American Association of Teachers of French. Gelabert placed second in the high school division and Cerone received the third place award for the middle school division. Felicitations!

Sophomore Wins Young Eco-Hero Award Zola Berger-Schmitz ’15 was recently awarded second place in her age group for the Action For Nature 2012 International Young Eco-Hero Awards. Her biggest effort focused on supporting the adoption of “marine protected areas” along the coast of Southern California.

To help create these areas, Zola spoke at multiple public hearings across California, circulated numerous petitions, produced a short film, spread the word to peers, and spoke up from a young person’s perspective about preserving marine life on California’s coast for the benefit of future generations. She later started a Green Team at Archer and has become a youth activist in fighting for legislation to ban single-use plastic bags.

Student Selected by NCGS to be a Delegate at Australian Conference Archer Junior Rita Shrestha was selected as one of two delegates for the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS). In January she traveled to Australia to attend the Student Leadership Conference organized by The Alliance of Girls’ Schools. In her application, Rita

described how she has “witnessed the power behind females in leadership and what they can accomplish when working together. Girls collaborating are more than just capable; we are intelligent, confident, creative, and resilient.”

Science Teacher Granted a NSTA Grant: 1 of 3 Awarded Nationally Archer Science Teacher Crystal Sengstaken was one of only three high school teachers in the country to receive the Vernier Technology Grant from the National Science Teachers Association. The award was given to three teachers who will use the funds to incorporate the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other hand-held device in the science classroom.

NOLS Continues to Empower Students As part of the curriculum, Archer students in grades 7, 9 and 11 go on a week-long backpacking course with the highly-acclaimed National Outdoor Leadership School. Many return expressing that the experience

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changed their lives. This summer, Archer senior Alessandra Sternberg will go one step further and take a month-long course.

Literature Magazines Win Awards Archer’s Upper and Middle School literary magazines both received awards from the National Council of Teachers of English. Pillars of Salt, the Upper School literary magazine, was rated “Superior,” the highest ranking. Archer was one of only 13 schools out of the 417 magazines submitted in California to receive this honor. Write in the Middle, the Middle School literary magazine, was rated “Excellent,” the second highest ranking, which means it was ranked in the top 20 out of the 417 magazines submitted in California. Not only that, Archer was the only middle school on the list!

Archer Senior Blogs for Huffington Post, Gets Tweet from First Lady Michelle Obama Archer Senior Nahal Shakib has been keeping busy writing for the Huffington Post, discussing a wide range of topics. And congratulations to Shakib on a post being tweeted by First Lady Michelle Obama to all of her 1,479,591 followers!

Student Recognized with Citizenship Award In December, Archer senior Annie Krepack received the Brentwood Youth Citizen Award, an honor given by the local Brentwood Community Council to deserving youth under the age of 18 who have demonstrated initiative, leadership, innovation and are dedicated to improving the lives of others in their community. More than a dozen students from area schools were honored at the monthly meeting held at Kaufman Library. Each recipient received a certificate of commendation from the local council office, Assembly member Mike Feuer, the Los Angeles City Council, and Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles.

Soccer Player Signs with Duke Archer Senior Krysia Sikora recently penned her name on the dotted line of a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for the Division 1 Duke Blue Devils. For more information, please see pages 20-21.

To read about the most up-to-date news and Archer accomplishments, be sure to visit www.archer.org/news.

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Around Campus

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Diversity Conference Archer’s annual diversity conference underscores Archer’s commitment to an on-going exploration of our commonalities and differences. The conference seeks to broaden our awareness and understanding of the diverse identities and cultures reflected within and outside the Archer community with hope of engendering a greater sense of trust and acceptance. Through education we aim to empower individuals by breaking down assumptions and stereotypes.

Held on January 30, this year’s conference featured a wide array of topics for students to choose from. The day began with a screening and discussion of the documentary “Happy” followed by a series of topical sessions and a keynote address by women’s advocate Jess Weiner who specializes in helping brands cultivate positive media and marketing messages targeted at women and girls.

Founders’ Day and Senior Recognition Ceremony The Archer community recently honored the School’s founders and the Class of 2013 during the

Colgate 13 Performance Archer girls were treated to a lunchtime performance by a capella group the Colgate Thirteen from Colgate University.

Additional photos are available at www.facebook.com/archerschool.

Archer students were treated to a special lunchtime activity by the more than 40 clubs on campus at this year’s club fair. From the Thespian Society and Yearbook to the Harry Potter Club and Black Student Union, Archer students have dozens of ways to share their interests while making new friends.

7th Annual “Literature &” Conference

annual Founders’ Day and Senior Recognition Ceremony. A full photo gallery is available at www.

MyArcher.org/Photos12-13.

No Trick, Just A Treat Halloween is a unique tradition at Archer. Students, faculty, and staff

Endeavour Flyover Like many Angelenos, Archer had an exciting lunchtime experience on September 21. Our students, faculty and staff all gathered outside to watch the flyover of the Endeavour shuttle on its way to the Los Angeles International Airport.

Club Fair

Archer welcomed students, teachers, and family members from eight other Los Angeles independent schools for this year’s literary conference. Student presentations combined literature and another discipline, as well as creative pieces and essays about works of literature in general.

dress in costume, lessons can be festively spooky, and all students participate in a haunted house (organized by the seniors) and Halloween carnival. Many Archer students also participated in Trickor-Treat for UNICEF.

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Finding Purpose:

Archer Alumna Helps Shape Social Movements Turn on the TV, read the news on your iPad, or listen to podcasts and on any given day you’ll hear that America’s political system is “broken,” “stagnant,” “gridlocked,” and even “dysfunctional.” We live in a highly polarized country where politics is a contest and the spirit of cooperation has seemingly vanished.

And yet, despite the media hype, change is happening.

Thanks to people like Archer Alumna Erika Johansson ’04 who has chosen a career with a distinct purpose – to help shape 21st century movements and incite change where change is needed.

For the past three and a half years, Erika has served as a Senior Strategist for a company called Purpose, a New York-based b-corporation that works with organizations and progressive companies to help them mobilize largescale, purposeful action for a particular cause. Simply put, Purpose helps create movements to influence political, cultural, economic, and institutional systems in order to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

“We work to make an impact on major, systemic, global issues – from global poverty, to modern slavery, social justice and more,” said Erika. “I’ve personally had the privilege to work on a variety of issues for our clients including cancer prevention, nuclear nonproliferation, international development, veterans rights, school bullying, and more.”

Through her work at Purpose, Erika hopes to give every person the opportunity, the inspiration, and the tools they need to take thoughtful action on the issues that matter to them. Recently, she has shifted her efforts to internal projects within the company and spearheaded the creation of a technology project called the “Purpose Platform,” a new international online and mobile activism toolkit that aids in organizing movements on 8

a global scale. As a senior member of the team, she is charged with training new strategists that join the company and she’s also working to develop a series of seminars for professionals who want to find purpose in their own work.

“My goal has always been to give people the tools they need to be advocates for what they believe in. I can and will make change on the issues that I personally care about, but I am a strong believer in amplifying and unifying the voices of others to make change,” said Erika.

“Building out Purpose’s educational offerings and creating a shared online platform for activists around the world - these are the projects I’m most proud of and the projects that I think have immense potential to scale and accelerate the pace of social change.”

Erika began her work at Purpose in 2009, when the organization had only six employees. In just a few short years, the company has grown to 60 people who all share a common goal.

“I love working at a startup because I’ve been able to not only watch the company grow, but also help shape it into what it’s become,” said Erika. “The people at Purpose are incredible. We bring together folks from many backgrounds – online organizing, branding, marketing, creative, government, social innovation – to solve complex global challenges. Purpose people are the smartest, most thoughtful, and socially aware people I know. Working with them is inspiring.”

It’s not surprising that Erika was drawn to an organization that charts its own path, cultivates new ideas, and embraces change. After graduating from Archer in 2004, Erika was accepted to the prestigious Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. The program at Gallatin is unique in that the program doesn’t follow a prescribed major, instead

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“My goal has always been to give people the tools they need to be advocates for what they believe in.�

Photo by Jesse Dittmar

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are free to take classes in any of the >> students colleges within NYU and pursue a concentration that aligns with their interests. “My concentration was called Travel Histories and Narratives of Exploration,” said Erika. “Having traveled a lot in my childhood, I was fascinated by travel narratives and the ways in which explorers (from early Muslim and Portuguese explorers to later British, French, and Americans) journeyed into foreign lands and described their experiences to people back home. What intrigued me most was perception – how does the wealth of history and experience a person has affect their view on the world? Especially when they encounter new people, places and things.”

Like many of Archer’s alumnae, Erika chose to leave Los Angeles and experience life in another part of the country. However she still stays in contact with her Archer sisters almost nine years after graduation. “I keep in touch with many friends from high school, but it can be a challenge living on the east coast when so many girls from my class chose to stay in L.A.,” said Erika. “It helps to be on the alumnae board, where I get to Skype into meetings and work with the incredible board on special Archer ventures.” Erika proudly serves as the Chair of the Archer Alumnae Association and is very involved in creating new projects and initiatives to help keep alumnae connected and engaged with the School.

She credits Archer with helping her find her voice and when asked what enduring lessons Archer taught her, she replied, “The funny thing is, when I started at the School it was kind of like a startup - the mentality was that we, the student body, could shape the school into whatever we wanted it to be. This same feeling that I can create the life that I want has stayed with me ever since.”

In addition to preparing her for college and life beyond the walls of Archer, Erika acknowledges that her career

trajectory was shaped by an experience she had with Archer alumnae parent Arianna Huffington. “My first brush with politics was at a fundraiser for Arianna Huffington’s run for governor. The energy in the room was incredible, and since then, my entire career has centered around the intersection of politics and the media. From internships at The Daily Show and The Colbert Report to the work I’m now doing at Purpose, I’m not sure I would have pursued social change were I not exposed to politics at a young age.”

It’s clear that when it comes to the future, Erika could go anywhere and do anything. After all, that’s what she’s always done. She creates her own path, discovers her own meaning, and applies her own set of values and expectations to every experience. Erika is a big picture thinker and hopes to someday establish a program for students to go outside their comfort zone and travel the world. “I dream of creating a global gap year program to give students an international perspective on social and systemic issues before they go on to college,” she said. “I was fortunate to travel around the world when I was young, and I got to experience, firsthand, the amazing world beyond our borders. Providing exposure to activists, leaders, social innovators, and entrepreneurs who are doing incredible work in other countries might just shift a student’s perspective and show them that there are many non-traditional paths to success and fulfillment,” said Erika. “It is my hope that a program like this would motivate students to bring purpose, passion, and a global awareness to any career path they choose.”

In turn, Erika Johansson has chosen a path that enables her to fulfill her own purpose by helping others to find theirs. With talented, driven people like her pushing the global conversation and influencing millions, maybe we should all take a moment to reflect and ask ourselves, “What is my purpose?” And when the answer comes, then ask, “What can I do to fulfill it?”

5 Fun Facts About Erika ’04 1. I write one fan letter each month to a different person who inspires me.

2. I dyed my hair a different crazy color every month from the age of 9-13.

3. As part of a strong family tradition, I never take off my great grandmother’s 1905 high school graduation ring.

4. In my spare time, I sometimes lead scavenger hunts around New York City.

5. I used to travel the country with the Declaration of Independence.

Pictured at left: Erika helping to install a copy of the Declaration of Independence at the California Science Center.

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Save the Date May 10, 2013 Harmony Gold Theatre

Learning to Lead Archer’s partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School helps girls learn valuable leadership skills outside the classroom while asking students to step outside their comfort zone and appreciate the natural world.

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Athlete & Scholar, Jenny Horowitz ’14 Archer Junior Jenny Horowitz recently became the 2013 Gold Medalist in the US Fencing Association’s Junior Olympics Championships. Horowitz excels both inside and outside of the athletic arena, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. She was recently selected as the 2013 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s Female Outstanding Jewish High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

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Community Service Update The mission of Archer’s Community Service program is to inspire students to become involved, compassionate citizens. Archer provides opportunities for students to perform community service through school-wide projects and after-school activities, while challenging the girls to create and find meaningful service experiences of their own. This year has been particularly successful in fostering partnerships with service organizations that offer real, hands-on experiences.

A few highlights from recent events: • Organizing monthly dinners and art workshops with Daybreak Women’s Shelter • Trick-or-treating for UNICEF to assist the United States Fund • Donating candy and chocolate collected during the Halloween Candy Drive to the Westside Food Bank • Making blankets and gathering gifts for nine families through our annual Adopt-A-Family program • More than 60 students and parents delivering holiday gifts to families in need in downtown L.A. • Sorting and delivering books at the Book Ends facility

• Spring Blood Drive with St. John’s Blood Donation Center • Donated cereal and toiletries to the SOVA Cereal and Toiletries Drive during Spirit Week • Raised awareness about traffic and pedestrian safety in Brentwood • Assisted with the 5K/10K Run organized by the Upward Bound House to raise funds for transitional homes in March Coming Up: • Hold on to your books for the Book Ends drive in April! Check our Facebook page (www.facebook. com/archerschool) for more information.

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“I Truly Love This Place.”

There exist many storytellers in this world, but Kari Morioka, Archer Human Development Teacher and Soccer Coach, is a story finder. She helps Archer girls find and share their personal stories and voices while teaching them about their own development. And she loves every minute of it.

to learning that Morioka has come to appreciate, “It’s the way kids feel free to express who they are, being okay with their true inner self. Among the faculty, I love that there is a genuine appreciation of each other and a sincere support of what each other does. We’re each other’s champions.”

The Story Begins When Morioka (or Coach Mo as she is known to most Archer girls) started her education at Harvard, she had every intention of becoming a school counselor.

But thanks to the advice of a recruiter, she decided to start in the classroom. She loved it so much that she hasn’t looked back since.

The human development program at Archer is based around the concept of counsel, using it to teach kids a “way of being with their story” without judgment, an open mind and an open heart.

“I felt I could really do more in dayto-day interactions with the kids,” Morioka said. “The kids are why I do what I do and how I do it.”

Morioka graduated from Harvard with an A.B. and Ed.M., moving on to teach for 10 years before a brief stint coaching college soccer. From there she went on to teach at a private school for native Hawaiians.

While there, a seasoned teacher told her something that changed her professional outlook, “They’re not going to remember anything you say, they’re going to remember if you loved them.”

community and home at Archer. I truly love this place.”

Morioka first joined Archer as a Middle School soccer coach, then a long-term sub, eventually becoming a permanent member of the Archer family.

“That’s the moment I became an “Archer takes a whole person educator instead of a teacher,” approach to teaching and learning.

Morioka said.

We strive to teach the girls to find that balance that works, and when Finding Home they do teeter, we give them the “When I moved to Los Angeles I skills to find their way back to the really missed the sense of family and center,” she said. community that I had in Hawaii,” Morioka said. “I found that sense of It’s not just the Archer approach 14

“I see human development as a means for kids to understand their story and that they have a very powerful role in creating a story they want to tell,” Morioka said.

In human development, students learn how to care for themselves mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. They learn how to become observers of others and themselves along with the traditional subjects of human development.

“I teach kids how to love themselves and how to love others. At the end of the day, I want my students to understand the difference they make in themselves and the difference they make in the world.”

In The Classroom

At Archer, we believe in ambitious, joyful learning and teaching girls the way they learn best.

This means we are constantly looking for new, creative ways to help expand our students’ minds and inspire them to want to explore exciting subjects and topics.

Días de los Muertos Spanish students learned about los Días de los Muertos, or the Days of the Dead, this past November.

The holiday, based on Aztec traditions, is a time to remember, celebrate and honor ancestors, friends and family members who have passed away. Families usually celebrate by visiting the cemetery and making altars, on which they place ofrendas (offerings) and photos of the departed person. Spanish students created Archer’s community altar and encouraged their fellow students as well as faculty and staff, to contribute to the project.

Music Class Tours Warner Brothers Studios Two Archer Upper School music classes recently toured Warner Bros. Studios to learn more about how the sound for a film is made. Students had the opportunity to tour post production studios, including the Foley-stage, Eastwood Scoring Stage, and dub room.

In-School Shakespeare Field Trip Senior AP Literature students recently attended an in-school “Hamlet” workshop with members of the Independent Shakespeare Company.

Learning Outside Our Borders A group of ten Upper School Archer girls recently traveled to India to spend time at a girls school working with Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES). An extension of their classroom studies and discussions, the girls increased awareness of themselves as they were stripped of the comforts and distractions that they have become accustomed to: cell phones, laptops, iPads, etc. They lived simply and spent time working with and getting to know the girls at the school they visited.

Digital Timeline of Evolution As the culmination to a unit on evolution, science students in Hannah Shohfi’s class worked together to create an online visualization of the sequence of events in the history of earth leading to the evolution of life and humans. Each student was responsible for creating a visual summary of a major time period and to place it on the Prezi timeline. Now they can click on the arrows of the Prezi to advance through the evolution timeline and watch the story unfold.

Ghana Pen Pals Seventh grade students in Beth Gold’s History class have connected with some new epals in Accra, Ghana.

Students will be exchanging information about their culture, daily life, school curriculum and practices and current events. Archer Teaching Associate Francine Wood helped connect students with their new epals in Ghana. Wood formerly attended the school in Ghana herself and was very excited to help all of the students learn about each other’s lives and countries.

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Archer Celebrates

international day of the girl On October 11, Archer was proud to be a part of the millions of people across the globe who celebrated International Day of the Girl. More than 550 events in 93 countries across all seven continents were organized to observe the United Nations’ first-ever International Day of the Girl. Archer partnered with 10 x 10, a global campaign to raise the value of the girl — in her home, her community, her nation, the world.

The campaign’s mantra, “Educate a Girl, Change the World,” points to the direct correlation between a country’s investment in the education of its girls and its overall social and economic prosperity. As the campaign states, “removing barriers to girls’ education - such as early and forced marriage, domestic slavery, sex trafficking, gender violence and discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, school fees - means not only a better life for girls, but a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world for all.

Archer students discussed this important movement and completed a school-wide project to further raise awareness and encourage other students across the globe to get educated and get involved. Each student was asked to answer the important question “Girls + Education = What?” Their answers were inspiring, thoughtful and powerful.

On March 12, Archer Upper School students were treated to a special screening of the new documentary Girl Rising, a film that spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls across the globe who were born into unforgiving circumstances.

After the viewing, a Q & A panel discussion was held with the film’s producers Beth Osisek and Gina Nemirofsky. The film previewed at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and made its theatrical debut on March 7, the eve of International Women’s Day. The exclusive screening at Archer was made possible thanks to Archer parent and co-producer of the film, Beth Osisek.

To learn more about Girl Rising and the global 10 x 10 Campaign, visit www.10x10act.org.

To see more photos of this event, visit the Archer Facebook page, www.facebook.com/archerschool.

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NO VOTE, BIG VOICE During the past Presidential Election, Archer students participated in the NO VOTE, BIG VOICE Campaign. Instead of voting for a candidate on November 6, students voted for the issue that mattered most to them by choosing a flag to display on the front lawn. Upper School students also worked in partnership with The League of Women Voters to register voters in the local area.

Read more about this campaign in posts at ArcherTakeAim.Tumblr.com.

Night of Dance 2013 “A Moment in Time� was the theme of the Archer Dance Troupe and Dance Company Night of Dance performances at the American Jewish University on February 9 and 10. Nearly 100 dancers performed dances choreographed by renowned guest professionals, students and faculty.

More photos from this event are avaialable at MyArcher.org/Photos1213

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Photo by Daniella Morrisey ’13 18

Harris [Hartsfield] embraced his work here with a buoyancy and curiosity that inspired and drew out the best in his students.

- Brian Wogensen, English Teacher

RE M EM BERING

MR. HARRIS HARTSFIELD photog rapher. mentor. f r iend. te acher.

I want to extend a collective embrace from our community to Harris’ family and honor a great man, a man whose presence shaped and shapes so many students and fellow teachers and friends. Harris embraced his work here with a buoyancy and curiosity that inspired and drew out the best in his students. I am grateful for his mind, his stories, his wit, his growling, bellowing exuberance, the way a mock stern face would burst into a smile.

I am grateful that he said yes so often to my queries and requests. Yes to the lush, golden cowardly lion costume I asked him to wear during our celebration of Wizard of Oz. A costume he reveled in despite its form fitting qualities.

But his lack of guile I admire above all. He told it like it was, truth without trappings, a clear point of view. You girls know this better than anyone. In his sphere students understood quickly that he cared fully – at the level of pastoral care – he sought to comfort and to be honest. And he cared enough to challenge and to push and to pose the question that might lead out from somewhere or into somewhere else for that girl at that moment. The photo room was sometimes an eye in the psychic storm for students, and I have read so many posts and missives that eloquently and passionately express this fact.

His impact is truly profound.

I am grateful for his conversation, as I know many of us are. I think that when I talked to him, sat with him, over the past 13 years, I was loosened – he lightened the titans a bit. On occasional walkabouts around the school I often ended up in the photo room, or I would purposely head to the back parking lot at the end of the day through the art hallway to get a few words in that often, before I realized it, had stretched out to many words. He was a great talker – politics, art, race, history, civil rights. And often what we talked about was Archer girls. Their photos, their ability, their challenges, their needs....

I am grateful too, for Harris’ eye and the art he shared. The first time I looked at one of his Slot Canyon photos it tricked me – I thought it was some rich fabric blowing in the wind. His photos of Archer made me see this environment and these girls anew. I have had the postcard from his Tenacity exhibit up in my classroom for years, and every day that boy’s eyes look out at me and test me....

I am both happy and sad in the photo room now. There is a giant poster in there – the cover art for Hendrix’s Axis / Bold as Love album with Jimi and the band blended into a Hindu devotional painting.

I associate the poster with Harris, and I think that expression sums him up – Bold as Love. He was Bold as Love....

I miss Harris. I will continue to miss him. I will keep open what he gave.

Excerpted from a speech by Archer English Teacher Brian Wogensen at the Tribute to Mr. Hartsfield.

For more information on the Harris Hartsfield Memorial Scholarship, please see page 25.

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R E S C H I C AR ATHLET ARCHER SPORTS SPRINT INTO SPRING The Archer School for Girls sports teams shook off the cold of winter and came out of the gate with force during the spring. Leading the way are the Middle and Upper School track teams, both of whom have dominated in the early part of the season. The varsity softball team picked up three big victories in March, while the swimming and equestrian teams moved forward as well. In addition, the Archer beach volleyball team – the first in the school’s history – opened their first season with a strong performance.

TRACK The Archer track program has steadily risen over the past three years, and this year, the girls have performed with great results thus far. The varsity squad 4x400m relay team finished first in two consecutive meets, while athletes in several other races racked up top finishes as well. Giving confidence for future success is the performance of the Middle School track team, which won its first two meets of the year in the Pacific Basin League (PBL). With solid performances at the league prelims, varsity track is looking for the school’s first-ever Delphic League Track Championship.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL The Archer volleyball program has taken a huge stride forward with their entry into the Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League (IBVL). The Archer team, featuring all but one of the 2012 fall indoor varsity volleyball team that won the Delphic League Championship, also has rising Upper School volleyball players training with the squad. Three two-person teams from Archer 20

match up against counterparts from opposing schools.

The 30 team IBVL is divided into two conferences, each with three divisions. Archer currently plays in the Westside division of the Southern Conference.

SOFTBALL A year after winning the Delphic League championship and advancing to the CIF quarterfinals, the Archer varsity team has been promoted to the powerhouse Alpha League, which began play in early April. So far in non-league play, the team is 3-3, with big wins over Marymount, Sierra Canyon and Campbell Hall. Archer will play nine of its 14 remaining games at home, and is aiming for a CIF playoff berth in one of the toughest leagues in the CIF. SWIMMING Thirty one swimmers make up the Archer swimming team, an all-time high for the rising program. After having qualified more swimmers than ever for the CIF prelims a year ago and on the heels of back to back Middle School championships, Archer is on the verge

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of becoming a swimming powerhouse. The 2013 team has increased their training regimen and finished in second place at the first two meets, JV finishing in first at one meet.

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EQUESTRIAN Year in and year out, the Archer equestrian program has ranked among the elite in the Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL). Archer currently ranks 5th with 330 points in the 70 school IEL. The final show of the year is scheduled for April 14.

SOCCER STANDOUT SIKORA SIGNS NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT WITH DUKE Archer’s Krysia Sikora ’13 (pictured at lower left) has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer as a Blue Devil for Duke, a Division 1 program. The threetime all-league player and two-time Archer soccer team MVP tore her ACL the opening game of this season, but has wasted no time in rehabilitating and is months ahead of schedule. Sikora excels not only on the pitch, where she also competes in the USA Olympic Development Program, but in the classroom as well, where she holds a 4.11 GPA.

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SEE ARCHER COVERAGE ON MAXPREPS.COM The high school sports web site, maxpreps.com, covered all three of Archer’s CIF volleyball games, with award-winning journalist Jake “Big Game Jake” reporting. Go to http://www.maxpreps.com/video/ search.aspx and search “Archer” to see all Archer coverage.

For a complete listing of upcoming games and scores, go to archer.org/athletics.

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Follow us at www.Facebook.com/ArcherAthletics or on Twitter @ArcherAthletics.

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The Archer Affair Our 17th annual auction and dinner, The Archer Affair, was held on Friday, March 8, 2013 at Santa Monica’s landmark hotel, The Fairmont Miramar.

Guests were dazzled early in the evening with nearly 200 beautiful and unique auction items, including the most-coveted – a luxury suite for 12 at the upcoming One Direction concert. And in the midst of friendly bidding wars and delicious tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, a team of Archer parents, faculty and staff members broke out in dance for a flash mob performance to a mix of the latest pop hits. The surprise performance kicked the evening into high gear and the fun continued into the ballroom where local band “Venice” wowed the crowd with the best dance anthems of our time. However, the real gem came when Raise Your Paddle garnered over $172,000 for Financial Aid. In total, the Affair raised over $346,000, which includes funds from an opportunity drawing for a premium cellar of exquisite wines. Congratulations to event chairs, Debby Hopper and Geoffrey Evans, and The Archer Affair team for creating one of the most lively and successful auctions in Archer’s history. Thank you to all who came and supported The Archer Affair and Raise Your Paddle and to our generous event sponsors: An Affair to Remember Sponsors: Caroline* and Lucian Grainge Kathleen Kennedy* and Frank Marshall*

Monte Carlo Sponsor: Anne Josephson*

Cannes Sponsors: Beth* and Joshua Friedman Natalie* and Simon Fuller Earl and Aya Goldberg Latham & Watkins LLP Katy and Stephane Strouk Alexa Tierney Family

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St. Tropez Sponsors: Barbara Bruser* and Richard Clark Ellen Danna Parallax Associates, Inc. Sarah and Ronald Stone Sugerman Communications Group, Inc.

St. Jean Cap Ferrat Sponsors: Ann* and Jim Gianopulos Catherine* and Mark Helm Jeri Okamoto Floyd and Daniel Floyd Catherine and David Wood *Member, Archer Board of Trustees

The Uniform = Uniformity Is it something of a contradiction that at a school where we prize individuality and the development of a robust sense of self, we insist that students dress alike?

The interpretation of the dresscode has evolved here at Archer.

For instance, there once was a rule forbidding nail polish; clearly, we’ve moved on. But still we strive for an appropriate, simple look in our uniform, which, frankly, serves many purposes.

Uniforms function differently in different settings. On sports teams and in the military, for example, the purpose of the uniform is indeed to obscure individual differences and to elevate the group above the individual. The uniform signals that the group is a cohesive unit, joined to accomplish a singular mission.

At Archer, the uniform signals a number of different things. First, it levels the playing-field and makes clear that girls at Archer are valued for what they accomplish and who they become — not for what they look like or can afford to buy. The ultimate goal is to create an inclusive and comfortable environment where the focus is, above all, on learning. People often make snap judgments about girls who attend an independent school and oftentimes people think that a girls’ school on the West Side is for rich kids and therefore our students must come from very affluent families.

Archer is explicitly dedicated to offering superb educational opportunities to girls from all walks of life, regardless of their income status. Our students come from 141 different feeder schools and 86 different zip codes across Los Angeles. The Archer uniform underscores this fact. Because our student body is so diverse, we want to create an environment where the obvious economic differences are not keenly felt. “Free dress” days at Archer are fascinating; it seems that there is almost a negative peer pressure against the flagrant display of “brands” and instead Archer girls use free dress days to get comfortable in sweats.

Ultimately, Archer girls enter the classroom as equals. They are quietly and comfortably well-dressed, but the focus is not on popular notions of what it means to be attractive or sexy.

The focus is on the girl inside the clothes, whose authentic individuality will always transcend the uniformity of the Archer uniform.

Photo from the Archer New Uniform Fashion Show available at MyArcher.org/ Photos1213.

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Honoring 12th Grade Parent

Archer Fund Volunteers This year, five outstanding Archer Fund volunteers will be “graduating” along with their daughters.

We celebrate and thank each of them for their dedication to our School and their important fundraising efforts on behalf of all Archer girls. We look forward to seeing you at future Alumnae Parent events.

“When we arrived at Archer, I knew that tuition alone would not cover the expenses associated with a private school education and so I became an Archer Fund volunteer. Now that Sarah is in college and Hannah is soon to follow, I realize what an impact The Archer School for Girls has had on the direction of their lives. They are unique individuals and Archer has given them the tools to blaze trails into the future. Our commitment to Archer will not end when Hannah crosses the stage at graduation because what Archer has given to our children will last a lifetime.”

Jana Eshaghian (Hannah ’13 and Sarah ’12) “I had so much fun working with the Archer Fund volunteers! This was a really great way to connect and help our School. Our daughter will treasure her years at Archer.” Karen Nalle (Bella ’13) “There is no better investment for our daughters than an Archer education, which is why I have volunteered to work on the Archer Fund for the past 11 years. With one daughter, an Archer Alum, graduating from Duke this year and another daughter graduating from Archer, I have seen firsthand the value and gift that is Archer. My daughters are strong, empowered, educated women with ambition, ethics and values. Their Archer education has been pivotal in defining who they are and will be an important part of the foundation for whatever they accomplish throughout their lives.” Beth Cranston (Hannah ’09 and Jessie ’13) “The reason why I have consistently served as a volunteer for the Archer Fund is because I am passionate about Archer, and ‘I get it’! Annual giving helps finance numerous student activities, faculty development, and financial aid.

My daughter, Tatiana, refers to Archer as her second home and I will be forever grateful to The Archer School for Girls for the support, care, love and preparation given to my daughter. This fabulous community will always be a part of our life and our giving!” Linda Evans (Tatiana ’13) “Before my daughter started at Archer in 6th grade, coming from a public school, I didn’t fully understand the importance of annual giving to an independent school. So, when I received the phone call asking if I would join the Leadership Circle, I was a bit hesitant. What I quickly discovered was that the amount directly correlated to the shortfall between the tuition and the costs of our daughter’s education. I made the decision to join the Leadership Circle, and not only commit to giving at the higher level but to also asking other families to do the same. I am proud of the fact that my husband and I, as Archer Fund donors, could be a small part of helping to make the Archer environment so fully rounded, and I am proud that I was able to encourage others to participate as well.” Robin Swartz (Devon ’13) Pictured above from left to right: Karen Nalle, Robin Swartz, Linda Evans and Beth Cranston. Not pictured: Jana Eshagian.

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BE A PART OF TH E

HARRIS HARTSFIELD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

“Standing in the photo lab, the softness of jazz filling the room, Hartsfield gave off the confidence of an old world artist. He played jazz CDs for us in class and it became the steady and familiar beat of creativity and artistic expression...It’s hard to completely capture his essence, but it was there, his sense of ease, acceptance, and lightness. The weight of my other classes lifted when I would enter the room; it was more than just a classroom, but a place of refuge.” - Liza Epps ’04 Harris Hartsfield, a founding faculty member of The Archer School for Girls, fostered a learning environment that was comfortable and empowering to his photography students. Described as a mentor, inspiration and friend to students, alumnae and colleagues, Mr. Hartsfield’s reach extends across multiple generations, encouraging many to experience the world through a camera lens.

The Archer community celebrates Mr. Hartsfield’s life and his work inspiring young minds through the Harris Hartsfield Scholarship.

Just as Mr. Hartsfield always encouraged life through the arts, this scholarship will be awarded to an Upper School student of promise in the Visual Arts.

To join in giving to the scholarship, please use the enclosed gift reply envelope or visit Archer’s online giving page at www.archer. org/giveonline and click on the Harris Hartsfield Scholarship link.

Or please contact Mia Rille, Director of Advancement, at mrille@ archer.org or 310-873-7079.

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Alumnae Notes Updates and Profiles Celebrating the Accomplishments of Archer Alumnae

CLASS OF 2001

Notes compiled by: Shireen Shafai shireenshafai@gmail.com & Lauren Hochberg Finkelstein laurenfinkelstein1@gmail.com It is an exciting time for Archer’s first graduating class, full of personal and professional milestones. Rachel Katz married Chris Guerin at a farm on Mt. Hood in Oregon in September of 2012.

Rachel is teaching college writing and getting ready to have their baby who is due this July. She is also preparing to go back to school next year for a second Master’s in Education so she can teach high school Language Arts. Heather Cagle Zackheim, who now goes by Roupa Manjari devi dasi Zackheim, married her love Nathan Zackheim,

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aka Naaara Narayan dasa Vishwakarma, in 2007 and they welcomed their beautiful daughter Jyotir Gamaya devi dasi in June 2010. They are currently working together at Nathan Zackheim Associates, an art restoration firm, on an exciting new project to remove a WPA-era mural from the former Venice Post Office and reinstall it on the property of the future home of Silver Pictures.

Dominique Miller moved to New York City in the fall of 2010 to pursue her MBA at New York University Stern School of Business.

She graduated this past May and now works full-time at American Express as a Client Manager in their Global Merchant Services division. Dominique says one of the best parts of living in New York City is her close proximity to the East Coast contingency of her Archer girl family! Minka Marcom-Rehwald completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology in June 2011 and is now working to complete her required hours toward getting her license as a marriage and family therapist.

She is working at Open Paths Counseling Center in Culver City and works in LAUSD schools as a

counselor. Shireen Shafai married Adam Zacharius in July 2011 and is in the midst of moving from Los Angeles to New York City where she will be working with Adam at Kensington Publishing.

Shireen already misses her LA Archer girls, but is very excited to be part of the close-knit group of New York City Archer alums.

Lauren Hochberg Finkelstein married Andrew Finkelstein, a talent agent, in 2012. They

eloped last August with friends in the British Virgin Islands and then decided to have a proper wedding at the Bel-Air Hotel this past November. Lauren recently left her job of six years at Fox Searchlight Pictures to work at boutique public relations firm Sunshine Sachs, in West Hollywood. She currently is in the process of moving to the West Hollywood area and enjoys serving on the Archer Alumnae Association Board.

CLASS OF 2002

Notes compiled by: Helen Vera helen.vera@aya.yale.edu This has been a great year for the Class of 2002, with more professional and personal milestones. They celebrated their ten-year reunion in August with a delightful cocktail reception and an awesome slideshow that brought back loads of funny and poignant memories. Cailey Hall is a second-year PhD student studying English literature at the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to finishing up her coursework this year, she is working as a teaching assistant for undergraduate English courses, which she finds fun and rewarding.

Cailey also tutors high school students, working with them on writing, college applications, and more. Helen Vera is also continuing her graduate-level education and will complete her final year of law school at Yale University in May. Congratulations to Alisha Perry Bunch and her husband, D’Juan, who welcomed their first child, Ava Janene, last October (pictured,

Alisha with baby Ava). Alisha writes that Ava “is a total delight and has brought new meaning to being in love and being tired.”

The family is currently living in England and will relocate to Germany in the fall. A few months ago Korinne Mitchell Hinderliter began a new job as an assistant merchant at Bebe, which she loves. Korinne and her husband, Victor, traveled to Spain in the spring to attend Natalia Serrano’s gorgeous wedding to Alejandro Sanchez-Dominguez. In typical Spanish style, they celebrated late into the night! Natalia and Alejandro visited Los Angeles over the holidays and it was great

to see them. Congratulations to another newlywed from the class of 2002, Ashley Sawtelle Kietzmann! Ashley and her husband, Joey, were married on the banks of the St. Vrain river in Lyons, Colorado, in a beautiful celebration that included several Archer alumnae (pictured above

left to right, Helen Vera, Korinne Mitchell Hinderliter, Ashley Sawtelle Kietzmann, Samantha Estrada, Elana Schwarzman Besserman, and Cailey Hall).

Ashley continues to run her own successful photography business, which has taken her all over Colorado and beyond to cover weddings and take family portraits. She credits much of her professional success and passion to her first photography teacher and mentor, Archer’s own Harris Hartsfield, who passed away in January. Ashley writes, “I look forward to connecting with Mr. Hartsfield through my work and through teaching others this art, as he did with all of us.”

CLASS OF 2003

Notes compiled by: Devon Dunlap devon.dunlap@gmail.com Carly Salindong is a full-time mom to daughter Emalee, who turns two in April. She is also a freelance graphic designer and most recently worked on the logo and brand design for Tie The Knot, a non-profit started by “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, which sells bowties to raise funds for the fight for marriage equality (www.TieTheKnot.org).

Laura Korman is the Director at TAG Gallery, a fine art gallery located at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. She is thrilled to be participating in the Los Angeles arts community representing this particular gallery, where she works closely with forty artists and manages the gallery exhibitions, publicity, and sales.

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Meet Alexandra Kogan ’05 Alexandra Kogan credits Archer with finding her voice.

Now her voice is being heard

by Fortune 500 companies in her role at Edelman, one of the world’s largest public relations firms. A Senior Account Executive, Alexandra serves on the Digital Public Affairs team in Washington, D.C., providing companies and organizations strategic counsel specific to online reputation matters and crisis-related issues.

Prior to joining Edelman, Alexandra served as a Communications Specialist for the Asian American Justice Center, the nation’s premier civil rights nonprofit serving the interests of the Asian American community. Right out of college, she worked at the Embassy of India as Press, Information and Cultural Coordinator where she organized a number of initiatives

Brenda Meaney is in her final year at the Yale School of Drama, sleepdeprived and happily overworked in pursuit of an MFA in Acting.

Jacqueline Mention continues to live a happy pastoral life in Port Townsend, Washington as a freelance writer for the local newspaper, the Marketing Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for Centrum, a local art nonprofit, and serves on the Board of Directors of the local community radio station.

She has also officially started a family by getting married last year and adopting a rat terrier named Murray. Chloe Clifford graduated from Columbia School of Law in May and passed the California bar in July. She is now working as a 28

and reports during the negotiations of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University, a language proficiency certificate in Hindi from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. Alexandra has served as guest lecturer at Georgetown University, teaching various digital and social media topics.

When asked about her Archer education, Alexandra says, “I will forever cherish my time at Archer, and as I get older realize more and more what a unique and valuable experience it was.”

lawyer at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in downtown Los Angeles. She is now She is living in Santa Monica and is happy to be back in California near her family again after nine years on the East Coast.

Vanessa Anderson runs AM PR Group, a successful boutique public relations company in Los Angeles which focuses on entertainment and digital content. Devon Dunlap returned to Los Angeles last summer after two years in New York. She continues to work as a freelance television producer, most recently on TLC’s “Cake Boss” and ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Isabelle Edwards moved from London to New York last year and now works for Gagosian

Gallery, where she manages Mr. Gagosian’s private collection. In February, she will begin to travel regularly to Europe, Asia, and South America on behalf of the collection.

CLASS OF 2004

Notes compiled by: Maria Vera mariavera27@gmail.com It’s been another busy and successful year for the class of 2004, as the group continues to follow their passions and succeed in a variety of fields. Liza Epps is currently working for the animated FOX series “Bob’s

Burgers” in the background design department. In her spare time she works on her own paintings in preparation for an art show this coming year. January marked Hillary Newman’s third year working at GOOD (www.GOOD. is), an online platform for “people who want to live well and do good.” Hillary is serving her second year on Archer’s Board of Trustees and first year on Archer’s Alumnae Association Board as Board Liaison.

Maria Vera continues to work at PBS’ national headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., where she oversees publicity for PBS KIDS® - the number one educational media brand for children. Maria serves as her class representative for Archer and on the community service board of the Yale Club of D.C. Taryn Haar recently graduated from nursing school and landed a job as a Registered Nurse at Cedars-Sinai. As Executive Assistant to Paramount’s SVP of Publicity, Melissa Bank is keeping busy this awards season. On a personal note, she is engaged to be married this October in Puerto Rico. Also on a personal note, Hannah Zeiler Hodgen is expecting a son this May. Lauren Haas recently started her own endeavor as a Holistic Nutrition Health and Life Coach. She works with clients in Los Angeles and New York City to create individual and balanced “life maps” to help promote health and wellness. Leylie Aghili runs her successful boutique Tribute on Montana Avenue. She also is creating her own line of women’s clothing, with a fall 2013 collection launching internationally as well as nationwide.

CLASS OF 2005

Notes compiled by: Rachael Rebujio rachael.rebujio@gmail.com The bright women of 2005 continue to show their commitment to academic pursuits, with many recently earning graduate degrees and a few even going on to pursue careers in education. In August 2012 Archer Davis moved to Millbrook, New York to teach Spanish II and IV at the Millbrook School, a co-ed 9-12 high school. She lives on campus and coaches cross country, helping coach the team to a win in their division this year! Having graduated from the University of Southern California with best friend and fellow Archer alumna Sami Chaikin, Samantha Schotz went on to Pepperdine University to receive her Master’s in Education and multiple subject and History credentials. Samantha credits the amazing teachers at Archer for inspiring her to give back some of the gifts she received and pursue a career in education. She has been teaching at Laurence School, a private school in the Valley for the past two years. Last year she taught fifth grade and this year is teaching Kindergarten and she absolutely loves it! Alexandra Kogan is currently living in Washington, D.C., working as a Senior Account Executive for Edelman- the world’s largest public relations firm. She specifically works on the digital crisis communications team and provides counsel to Fortune 500 companies and institutions facing crises. In the spring of 2012, she graduated with a Master’s

degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. Kaci Taylor is graduating from Tulane University with a Master’s in Architecture this coming spring.

CLASS OF 2006

Notes compiled by: Marisa Guterman marisaguterman@aol.com The class of 2006 has a pretty exciting slate of accomplishments.

No surprises here; they are Archer girls after all: bold, courageous, and ready to change the world.

Rocio Cabrera is busy pursuing painting while working at a downtown Los Angeles law firm and volunteering at the Los Angeles Mission and the Museum of Contemporary Art. She recently exhibited her own art in a show downtown and will start working at the University of California, Los Angeles in grant writing for non-profits.

Thisbe Gensler, once a star in Dr. Friedman’s Art History class, is now in grad school at New York University finishing her Master’s in Art History at the Institute of Fine Arts. Nicole Grierson has called Vienna, Austria home for the last four years, working as a translator and post-production editor in film. While she misses the Los Angeles weather, she wouldn’t trade living in Europe. Marisa Guterman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and is now working as the San Francisco Marketing Rep at Sony Music and guest starring in a number of television series. She has returned to Los Angeles to

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pursue acting, writing, and music.

Selected from a worldwide search, along with Grammy Best New Artist Esperanza Spalding, Marisa was named one of Splashlife’s 30 Under 30 Musicians to Know and most recently performed her original music at the Sundance Film Festival. This last year Marisa appeared on the television show “Breaking In” and finished writing her second pilot and first feature film. Sara Hirsch, Kenyon College graduate, lives in Los Angeles and works at an organic edible heirloom plant nursery, designing and installing gardens all over the city. Maxie Optican brought a little California sunshine to the Windy City. She works for “Chicago Social” magazine, a sister of “Angeleno,” in their production department and also freelances as a writer for the magazine. Jewel Rose recently moved back to Los Angeles from Atlanta, where she is the talent producer on the hit reality television show “Big Rich Atlanta.” Jasmine Shackelford is a Case Manager with an agency called Project 180 located in downtown Los Angeles. She provides legal services to young mothers (18-25) with mental health and substance abuse histories who are trying to get their children out of the DCFS system and/or foster care. Carina Sohaili graduated from George Washington University and did a year-long graduate program at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She launched her own company, Vibrant Healthy Life, and has a private nutrition practice in Beverly Hills. Carina has been a featured health expert in various publications, including a video series titled “The Mindful Munch”

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for E! News Host Giuliana Rancic’s “FabFitFun” newsletter. Charlotte Steinway, former editor of the Archer Oracle, merged two of her favorite pastimes — travel and writing — at a new job at Jetsetter. com as an Editorial Producer, reviewing hotels and writing about her travels to exotic locals, including a recent trip to South Beach. Charlotte currently resides in New York’s Lower East Side where she runs into Archer girls daily. Lizzie Stromberg graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010 with a degree in American Studies. For the last year and a half, the former captain of the Archer Robotics team has been working at a tech company in Palo Alto called Box. Lizzie lives in the NOPA area of San Francisco.

CLASS OF 2007

To submit future notes: Natalie Babcock natalie.babcock@gmail.com

CLASS OF 2008 Notes compiled by: Callan Coles ccoles426@gmail.com

The Class of 2008 has just recently graduated from college and is now out in the world starting their lives!

Storey Sheinberg just graduated in May from Pitzer College. She is the lead in a band called Storey and The Tellers as the songwriter, lead guitarist, and lead singer of the band. Her secret is playing shows without wearing her glasses because that way she can’t see the audience and it helps her avoid stage fright. Helen Keyes is living

in Japan and teaching English to grades 5 through 9. She just signed her renewal contract to work through July 2014. Anna Funke is living in London and applying to graduate school.

Veronika Syrop is living in East Los Angeles, mothering two kittens from a litter of strays that Darby Vickers ’06 took in. Alyssa Lanz is also back in Los Angeles and working at United Talent Agency as an assistant in the Digital Media department. Lauren Meepos is waiting to hear back from medical schools, volunteering in pediatric literacy at the Venice Family Clinic, and traveled to Haiti in February to do research.

CLASS OF 2009 Notes compiled by: Chloe Makhani cmakhani@wisc.edu

Each member of the class of 2009 may be following different paths; however, it looks like they are all moving swiftly. From traveling to exotic places to expanding their knowledge through academia and incredible experiences, these ladies have already left deep imprints all over the map. Madisen Siegal is graduating from the University of California, Davis a quarter early with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Education. After graduation, Madisen will begin work as a preschool teacher in Los Angeles at Beth Shir Shalom. Her senior yearbook prediction of “most likely to sing in a Disney movie” has almost come true as she works with the Cinderella Company performing as Disney princesses

Meet Shauna Higgins ’05 A future doctor, Shauna Higgins credits Archer’s challenging and supportive environment with preparing her for both professional and personal success. While at Archer, Shauna received the Wellesley College Book Award for outstanding academic achievement and leadership within the school and community. A founding member of Archer’s crosscountry team and a member of the budding track team, Shauna also earned the Scholar-Athlete Award for academic excellence during cross-country and track seasons. After graduating from Archer in 2006, Shauna attended Brown University to study Human Biology and Business Economics. After initial exposure to the art of photography at Archer, Shauna also furthered this interest at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), taking advantage of the Brown-RISD partnership.

Her passion for healthcare has manifested itself in a journey that began at Brown with involvement in childhood obesity prevention programs and with coordinating a mentoring program for

Jasmine and Pocahontas. Skye Optican, now a yoga and SoulCycle fanatic, is attending the University of Southern California’s film school, and loving her internship at Annapurna Pictures. Erin Pearlman just completed her internship with Joe Kennedy’s victorious campaign in representing the 4th district of Massachusetts in the United States Congress. Erin worked as a press intern and campaign photographer, which enabled her to acquire wonderful skills before returning to her class routine this

inner city Providence high school students interested in the healthcare field. She also worked with organizations such as the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and the Venice Family Clinic during school vacations. Upon graduating from Brown, she traveled to Quito, Ecuador with the organization Dr. Interns to staff medical clinics and learn about local healthcare infrastructure. She also performed biomedical research for the Doheny Eye Institute at USC. Currently, Shauna is a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where she also serves as co-editorin-chief of UCLA’s The BEAT Art and Literary Magazine (uclabeat.com).

In her free time, among other things, Shauna enjoys being outdoors, staying creative, and modeling. She has appeared on the hit television show America’s Next Top Model, and has done freelance work with RISD and musical artists such as Audio Push and Kaki King.

semester. Malka Sender will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and earning certificates in LGBTQI and Women’s Studies.

She is the radio DJ for the campus station where she hosts her show “Californiacation.” Upon graduating, she plans to look for a job in the music industry in New York City. Malka additionally spent last spring in Sevilla, España studying Spanish while traveling around Europe. Madison Besser is

currently interning for dream team Los Angeles Lakers in their public relations department. Madison will be graduating this May with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Sports Media Studies from the University Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Kate Geller just recently moved back to New York from Berlin after living there for a year. Kate is graduating from New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a

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Meet Zoe Ravich ’08 “Archer taught me how to learn, which has enabled me to excel as a student, as a teacher, and as a researcher,” says Zoe.

International Honor Society in Psychology and as a board member for the Scripps College Institutional Review Board (IRB).

No stranger to the laboratory, Zoe currently works in the Adult Development Project (ADP) lab performing studies on aging. She has conducted suicide prevention research at the University of Rochester as well as traumatic brain injury research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also a Teaching Assistant in the Psychology Department at Scripps College.

If that’s not enough, she authored an artist’s book depicting the effects of the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, on a young woman patient.

In her spare time, Zoe is an active board member for the PHASE ONE Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Phase I clinical research and treatment programs for patients with cancer. During her time at Scripps College, she served as co-president and chief financial officer for the Psi Chi: The

A member of Archer’s Class of 2008, Zoe attended Scripps College where she received a bachelor of arts in Psychology and graduated summa cum laude. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received The Margaret Siler Faust Psychology Senior Thesis Award.

Zoe says, “Archer undoubtedly provided me with the solid foundation of a wellrounded education. Perhaps more importantly, though, Archer showed me how to seek out knowledge independently and how to ask for help when I needed it.”

Meet Leylie Aghili ’04 Leylie Aghili has kept busy since graduating from Archer in 2004. In 2010 Leylie opened Tribute Boutique, a women’s clothing store in Santa Monica. With its success, the boutique garners attention from the press, and was recently featured on Good Day LA and was also named one of “LA’s hottest new boutiques” by The Hollywood Reporter.

Leaping into her latest venture, last year Leylie started her own line of clothing exclusive to Tribute that quickly became her bestseller. Her eponymous clothing line, “Leylie” will be made available in other boutiques with the official launch of her 2013 fall collection. “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for fashion, but more profoundly, a love for storytelling--whether it’s telling a story with clothes I buy or create seasonally or with my

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journalistic endeavors.”

Prior to launching into entrepreneurship, Leylie graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and earned a Master of Arts in journalism from USC’s Annenberg School of Communications.

She has also written for fashion magazines and worked in public relations for the fashion industry.

Leylie says, “Archer instilled within me a confidence and creative fervor that allowed me to ask questions in lecture halls of 200 plus people and later, to start my own business. Most importantly, the Archer experience taught me that I don’t have to limit myself—today I’m a shop founder and designer, tomorrow I might finally write that novel I’ve been dreaming about.”

concentration in Creative Writing and Comedy as well as a minor in German Language. Danyelle D’Andrea is hoping to move to San Francisco after she graduates from Loyola Marymount University this coming May with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Political Science in order to continue with her passion to work with autistic children. Danyelle worked the 2012 election as an exit poller and currently works as a classroom aid with high functioning autistic students. Additionally, she is the group leader for “Free Arts For Abused Children.” Chloe Makhani spent the spring of 2012 living and studying Italian in Rome and is graduating from the University of WisconsinMadison with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate in Business. She is currently applying to graduate school for Hospitality Management, while simultaneously looking for jobs to have all sorts of options when decision time comes. Chloe is currently managing the Friday night life in Madison, where she has used the stability of her company CRE8 to book DJs, and musical acts and monitor the distribution of tickets and sales.

CLASS OF 2010 Notes compiled by: Georgina Stage gstage@usc.edu

Archer’s graduating class of 2010 has taken on the entire world as they venture into junior year at their respective colleges; many of whom are becoming worldly, cultured beauties as they study abroad. Ari Cohen just got back

from studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem for the semester, and is now conducting research for her honors history thesis on the Westernization of Yoga. The University of Pennsylvania will be home to three Cohen kids next year, as her sister will join Ari and her brother. Tea Clayton is currently majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in pre-law, and minoring in Business Law at the University of Southern California. She works in recruiting at the USC Football Department and is also an English tutor for a program called Readers Plus.

Georgina Stage was re-elected as Team and Alumni Development Coordinator for her dance team, “Break Through,” for her second term this semester. Ashley Durrer is keeping busy. In addition to being a full time student she works at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the Accessibility Department.

They create programs and services for people with different abilities: sight, hearing, physical, and cognitive. Ashley has created her own program for the Starlight Foundation to come to the Museum. She also works at Global Pathways- a program that helps international students transition to their degree program in America.

Ashley is taking ballroom dance classes at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Numerous girls of the Class of 2010 are studying abroad, including Jennifer Hourani, Jillian Hurwitz, Daisy Dennerline, Sophie Du Pont, Elisa Glubok, Elissa James, Shade Quintanilla, and Molly Smith. Archer girls are charming the entire world with their brains, beauty, and language

skills that originated in their 9th grade language courses at Archer.

Once an Archer girl, always an Archer girl!

CLASS OF 2011

Notes compiled by: Kandace London kandacelondon6@gmail.com The talented women of 2011 have settled into college life and are leaving their marks at their respective universities and around the world. Emily Idell has an amazing paid internship in San Francisco for Allied-THA. She is a studio intern for Focus Features Films helping coordinate and plan events on campuses in Northern California to promote

movies. Caitlin Topkis (pictured above) traveled to London last summer and interned with social media marketing company UMI Marketing. She currently interns with Chirrpet, a website helping women with everyday and not so everyday problems.

Mary Chavarria is majoring in Evolutionary Anthropology and will travel to Costa Rica in the fall to study Global Health and Tropical Medicine among indigenous populations. Leasly Salazar studied abroad in Spain where she fulfilled one of her

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dreams and visited the stadium for FC Barcelona. She currently works with America Reads/ America Counts and tutors at public schools in the area. Lydia Decoud is a student ambassador at Loyola University, Chicago giving tours to prospective families.

She recently changed her major from music to journalism and will be doing an independent study in Cordoba, Spain this summer.

Chelsea Montgomery-Duban has been cast in four main stage productions at Muhlenberg College including the role of Suzanna in “The Marriage of Figaro.” She is living with her best friend from Long Island and is having a blast.

She will study abroad in Italy next fall. Horatia Hopper just completed an amazing semester abroad in London taking classes about immigration, British history, human rights, and imperialism. She is now back in New York working toward her major at New York University Gallatin. Cynthia Ambriz just declared a History major and Film minor at Colorado College and is working on campus at the day care center. Courtney Salindong is majoring in Chemical Engineering with a petroleum emphasis. At school, she is a part of AlChE, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and just recently joined

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the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

She is also a part of a FilipinoAmerican culture club, called Troy Phi. During the fall semester she joined Pi Beta Phi. She says it has been a great experience meeting girls in a place that reminds her of the Archer community. Kim Horn joined Kappa Alpha Theta in the fall of this academic year. She just finished a five month long fashion journalist internship, in which she wrote weekly fashion advice articles representing the University of California, Los Angeles for www.collegefashionista.com. She is on the Marketing Staff of the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA under the Cultural Affairs Commission.

She sits on the Academic Development Committee with the Office of Residential Life as the only undergraduate representative.

Samara Josephson is currently in her second year at New York University Tisch in the Meisner studio. She was cast in two plays, as Betty in “The Crucible” and as Rosalie in “The Children’s Hour.”

She started a community service program within the Meisner studio where they are hoping to raise money and donate their time to the victims of hurricane Sandy. Rebecca

Peaslee is enjoying campus life at the University of Southern California, grabbing lunch with friends at Lemonade, enjoying sunny days on her apartment’s rooftop in Los Angeles, working out at the gym, and spending time at her sorority Pi Beta Phi. Over the summer she hopes to go on Birth Right to Israel and travel to Vietnam where she will teach kids English and receive her Teaching Foreign Language certification. She also hopes to have an internship in Los Angeles that incorporates her interest in communication and passion for marine biology. Kandace London is currently the Assistant Director on The Community Affairs Committee on her campus.

She hopes to Intern in either New York or Los Angeles this

summer. Caitlin Kramer lives in Oregon in the Pi Beta Phi sorority house. She started selling her handmade jewelry, too (www. caitlinkramerdesigns.com).

CLASS OF 2012

Notes compiled by: Victoria Chen vchen168168@gmail.com The post-Archer years have only begun for the class of 2012, who boldly dove into their college lives

despite the apocalyptic prediction in December. Cora Cull worked for Reading Rainbow (yes—you read it correctly, the PBS show!) between her semesters at Bennington and joined her school’s fencing team, which will compete at nationals this year. Christine Zaccaro continued to pursue her passion for dancing in college, joining Boston College’s main hip-hop dance crew, Uprising, and competing at World of Dance.

Tess Morgan writes for her school’s newspaper, The Wesleyan Argus, and promotes Middleton-Wesleyan relations though a number of social groups. Juliette Hourani joined WashU St. Louis’ professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and has been involved in

student theatre productions since their wondrous and exciting September. On the west coast, college environments! Continue Benina Stern is taking Stanford’s rocking it ladies! theatre groups by storm, as she is assistant producer and choreographer for a completely student-produced spring musical and just finished acting for two other student-produced plays in the winter. At the other side of campus Are you an Archer Alumnae in the San Francisco Bay, Celena with news to share? Email Staff rows for Stanford on the your Class Representaive Women’s Varsity Crew team. (Go (listed under your graduating Trees!) Faced with befriending new class) to be included in the people, learning how to deal with next Alumnae Notes. non-Archer professors (it is actually quite difficult), and acclimating to new weather patterns, I am proud to say that Archer’s 2012 graduates have successfully assimilated into

Meet Michelle Maile ’08 Michelle Maile says, “Archer encouraged me to ask questions, think critically, and step out of my comfort zone in order to explore new interests.”

Undoubtedly, these skills have contributed to Michelle’s role as Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. As a research fellow, she is currently conducting biomedical research exploring how variations in genes and environments interact and lead to certain behaviors or illnesses like OCD, anxiety, depression, and Autism. Her lab utilizes mouse models of mental illness. She studies mice that are over or under-expressing in certain neurotransmitter systems. These

manipulations allow their research team to look at the impact certain genes have on behavior and physiological functioning.

Michelle graduated with honors from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She also is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has participated in several scientific publications and presentations.

She is excited to continue her education and is in the process of applying to PhD programs in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Michelle says, “I am thankful for the wide range of experiences I was exposed to while [at Archer], especially the unexpected ones.”

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11725 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049

ambitious, joyful learning

Student STEM Symposium Archer is committed to empowering girls in the STEM Fields.

This year’s student STEM Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at The Archer School for Girls in Brentwood.

This one-of-a-kind symposium is an exhibition of independent student research projects in STEM subjects and any high school student is encouraged to submit their original research.

For more information, please visit archer.org/STEM.

An Exhibition of Independent Student Projects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math