MAKING
Annual Report 2021 2022 NEC CON TIONS
4 5 6 8 10 18 20 34 36 50 56 73 2021 – 2022 Board of Trustees 2021 – 2022 Operating Results Message from Reveta Bowers, Interim Head of School campus Messagehighlightsfromcari soto & Peter Chang, Co-Presidents, Parents’ Association 2021 – 2022 Supporters Why We give: The fardin family Why We give: The nichol family Administration and Advancement Staff portrait of a graduate favorite memories Message
The Center for Early Education, a socio-economically and culturally diverse independent school for children, toddlers through grade six, strives to graduate students who are joyful, resilient, life-long learners. The Center embraces a philosophy of education that combines a nurturing, inclusive learning environment with an increasingly challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child. from David Messinger, President, Board of Trustees
CONTENTSEE Core Values: CaringinclusionhonestyResponsibility @thecenterforearlyeducation
Respectfully yours,
David Messinger President, Board of Trustees The Center for Early Education
Our school has admirably and persistently worked through the unfore seen challenges of the past few years. As a result, we are well-poised for the future due to the exemplary leadership of Reveta Bowers, the excitement and promise regarding the arrival of Damian Jones, and diligent financial oversight.
presidenttrusteesboardletterfromof
Consistently across many decades, Reveta’s forward-thinking vision established The Center for Early Education as a national leader focused on educating the whole child, creating an environment that would attract world-class teachers and administrators, and embrac ing a culture that has celebrated diversity for many, many years. More recently, during her tenure as the Interim Head of School, Reveta helped us navigate the choppy waters of the pandemic. Across gener ations, children at The Center have thrived. We are forever grateful for Reveta’s work and her commitment to young children. Without a doubt, she is one-of-a-kind.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are as committed as ever to The Center’s mission, and we remain steadfast in our positive out look for the continued vitality of our school and community.
During the past school year, the Board visited classrooms in small groups. We saw first-hand how teachers have created caring, sup portive communities for students to connect with one another, to explore with curiosity, and to develop socially and academically. Children have continued to thrive due to the school’s exceptional Theprogram.Board
Dear CEntEr Community,
is pleased to report that our fiscal position remains strong. As I write this letter, we are closely monitoring the increased infla tionary pressures and market shifts, and we are taking assertive actions to appropriately service our debt. We continued to benefit from the ongoing generosity of The Center community. Tuition does not cover the full cost of operating the school, so we appreciate our community’s ongoing commitment to the Annual Fund and support of the Gala.
Looking forward, the legacy of The Center will continue under the compassionate leadership of Damian Jones, our new Head of School. Damian’s credentials as an educator and community builder are unsurpassed, and he expresses a deeply felt connection to our culture. Damian visited our school multiple times last year, interacting with students in their classrooms, and meeting with teachers and the admin istrative team. We are fortunate to have him in this role.
board 2021trusteesof–22 Jack JamieSunnyRobertDarnellTomChrisJJTanyaVivecaCharlesAlexandraDavidMarcusAnthonyHeidiMaiMatthewMichaelDamienBetsyDennisMassyEricUsamaVeronicaJohnRachelKawannaDeniseAngeloBartaBrownBonkovskyBrackerCajigasCortasEsrailianTadjedinFardinGies,TreasurerGonzález,SecretaryGrandersonGuerinKlineLassiterLevynLocke’94LollieMessinger,PresidentMisczynskiNelsonPaulin-FerrellGriegPerara’83RambergSotoStaggsStromTuttleWhang,VicePresidentZinberg
Kawanna Brown and Alexandra Miscynski, Chairs
Mai Lassiter and Charles Nelson, Chairs
Jack Angelo and JJ Ramberg, Vice Chairs Executive Committee
Marcus Lollie, Chair Development Committee
Dennis Gies, Chair
Board Committees 2021 – 22
David Messinger, Chair Finance Committee
Usama Cortas and Matt Kline, Chairs
School Life Committee
Tom Staggs, Chair
Safety and Security Committee
Legal Committee
Matt Kline, Vice Chair
John Bracker, Chair
Alexandra Miscynski, Vice Chair
Audit & Investment Committee
Governance Committee
Eric Esrailian, Chair
Ad Hoc BuildingsCommittees&GroundsCommittee
Compensation Committee
Tanya Grieg Perara ’83, Chair
6 CEE 2021 2022 OPERATING RESULTS unauditedrevenue annual fund drive & events (net) 17.46% $4,019,300 tuition & fees 76.17% $17,535,700 Auxiliary programs 5.59% $1,287,500 2021 – 2022
operating results annual fund drive $2,810,000 gala/auction (net) $1,257,500 other fundraising events $7,600 capital campaign $3,693,800 restricted gifts & other fundraising (net) $275,800 expendituresphilanthropic support salaries & benefits 69.48% $13,732,900 operating expenses 21.19% $4,188,900 financial aid 9.33% $1,844,000 other loss 0.77% $177,800
I am writing this to you on my last day as Interim Head at The Center. As I look back on the events of the last two years, I remember with great clarity my first Friday letter to all of you. In this, my final letter, I’m reminded of why I thought the weekly letters would be import ant. On my first day in July 2020, The Center’s campus had been, out of necessity, abruptly closed to students and teachers since the mid dle of March. Little did any of us realize that the planned two-week shut-down would lead to months of isolation from family, friends, and co-workers. When I returned to work, I did so mindful of how The Center had always functioned not just as a school, but as a com munity. Over more than eight decades, The Center had provided a place of welcome, nurture, comfort, and care for the generations of children and adults who sought out community.
I promised our faculty and staff individual classrooms and offices in which to work—clean and safe spaces. I also promised them the technology, supplies, staff, and administrative support they would need to effectively launch a new and improved remote program. Finally, I promised honesty, regular communication and as much infor mation as we could learn and provide about COVID so that they could focus on doing what they do best. Our faculty and staff trusted our school enough to return to campus and provide the kind of excellent programs for students we have come to expect. Their out standing work and confidence in our school reminded me of why communicating regularly with our entire community of faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, parents, grandparents, and alum families and friends would be essential during the pandemic.
Dear Center Community,
interimletterfromtheheadofschool
Warmly, Reveta Bowers Interim Head of School
When Mary Piper wrote her 2008 best-selling book, The Shelter of Each Other, I invited her to come and speak at our school. It was and continues to be one of my favorite books. The book was inspired by the Irish proverb “It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” It is my hope that the last two years, from our weekly communica tions to our work with you and with your children, have offered the sense of shelter and community that I have always felt at The Center. My thanks to all of you for your support of The Center. May the future bring health and happiness and the continued comfort of one another.
It quickly became evident that the start of the new school year would be remote. Throughout my 44 years at The Center, our school has served as a haven and a place of community, and I knew how criti cally important it would be to invite faculty and staff back to cam pus to begin the new school year.
Dear CEntEr Community,
While there is no one model of what a CEE alumnus/a looks like, they share common values. We spoke to alumni pursuing careers in public service, the arts, business, and education who reflected upon how their Center experiences influenced their careers and outlooks on the world to inspire and con nect with the community.
GRADUATEPORTRAITOFA
From warm memories of the Olympics, Carnivals, special units of study, and field trips, to the appreciation for multiculturalism, service, and diversity instilled from a young age, these CEE alumni reflected upon how their experiences at The Center informed the people they are and the careers they have pursued today. Read on for their inspiring stories!
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Audrey shares that while she was a CEE student, art teacher Penny Landreth had a large influence on her. “Penny had such a progressive and immersive way of teaching that was not just about the craft of art but always weaving in art history and references to historical move ments. Embarking on regular field trips to LACMA and other art institu tions as part of my education was an essential part of my early childhood.
Audrey is currently engaged in two independent projects. She is working with Eakins Press on a monograph on photographer Lisette Model (on whom she wrote her dissertation at Yale) focused on previously unpub lished photographs of jazz performers in the 1950s. The other project is a major art-historical survey of the history of the use of flash funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. This multi-year study, which will find Audrey traveling extensively to visit collections, is about the use of flash across a number of fields (fashion, engineering, sports, and more) in a way that has not been studied in a scholarly setting before.
She looks back on studying English with Joan Rosen in sixth grade as a formative experience, informing her passion for the humanities. Audrey says, “I remember reading Edgar Allen Poe with Joan and feeling like she offered a gateway into the seriousness of analytic thought. It was an empowering experience as a young person that sparked that passion for dissecting language.”
The year after she graduated from The Center, her mom Pat Sands began teaching at the school full time, so the CEE connection stayed in her family. She feels immense gratitude for The Center community and its values which inform her work and personal journey to this day!
“I think that at The Center, more than other elementary experiences that I am aware of, it is a given that multicul turalism and an embrace of diversity is something to cele brate. Always woven into the everyday was a sense that people different than ourselves were part of the fabric of what it means to be human. This had been imparted into my mindset from the beginning, impacting how I see the world and how I relate to people.”
Since graduating from CEE, Audrey Sands ’94 dedicated her studies to art history (earning her Ph.D. from Yale) and developed a career as a photography curator. Most recently, Audrey worked in a joint appoint ment with The Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona and the Phoenix Art Museum before moving to the Washington D.C. area in 2020.
’94
AUDREY SANDS
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE
is an active member of the Alumni Council, explaining, “I had the best experience at The Center, and I want to do whatever small part I can to contribute to helping the alumni as they transi tion. I want to reconnect with and be of service to The Center
MorganCEE.”
“I took those important principles with me to Brentwood, college, and beyond. It is part of why, as a lawyer, I have taken the track that I have.” Morgan recalls making sandwiches for the hungry and par ticipating in many service projects, internalizing the idea that “we are all equal even if circumstances are different.” As Morgan describes, there was a sense that “it would be abnormal NOT to be service-minded at
Council is a great way to reconnect with my fellow alumni and help the new alumni stay connected with the school. I am involved in the community service committee because being of service is so important to me, there is nothing better or more rewarding than seeing all of the young alumni come up with their amazing projects and go out into the world to make change and make the world better!”
“Thecommunity.”Alumni
“The Center has always been a place you can come back to and reach out to for help if you need it throughout the transitions in your life. Our alumni network is strong.
Morgan Mallory ’95 shared that her Center expe rience informed her decision to pursue a career as Deputy District Attorney in L.A. County helping victims seeking justice. She always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in public service, and began working in the DA’s office in 2013 after grad uating from law school in 2010. Morgan is cur rently assigned to the District Attorney’s Sex Crimes Unit, which prosecutes a wide range of serious cases.
’95
12 CEE 2021 2022
MORGAN MALLORY
Morgan aims to do what she can to help people turn their lives around and help those who have been wronged, including victims of domestic violence and elder abuse. She describes the things that bring her satis faction today are all values instilled in her at The Center: “being of service, giving back to the community, helping oth ers whenever she can, and treating others equally.
’99
For Kyly ’99 and Ryan Rabin ’98 , The Center connection in their lives runs deep. Though they didn’t know each other well while both were CEE students, they connected as friends in high school, and the rest is history! Kyly and Ryan married in 2016 and welcomed their first child in 2021.
As they reflected on their relationship, Ryan shared that at CEE, “I knew Kyly, but I don’t think she knew me. I was friendly with some people in her grade. We didn’t properly hang out until much later.” Kyly explains, “We were only one grade apart. We’ve now been together for 16 years. I didn’t know him at that time, but I feel like I did at this point since so many stories have been shared, and we have so many overlapping memories because they took place in the same environment.”
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As to the strength of bonds formed at CEE, Kyly and Ryan note that they “have so many close friends from CEE. We see them on a weekly basis.” For Ryan, “my core group of friends is still the group I’ve been hanging with since pre school! That experience kept so many of us together.”
When planning their wedding, Kyly and Ryan “wanted to get married at The Center! The construction timeline made it a bit challenging, but we did a site visit. It was the great est day! So many of our teachers were still there.”
profound respect for each child’s differences and creativ ity,” which shaped their outlooks.
Kyly sums up the meaning of being an alumna as such: “The Center, to me, is my favorite experience of them all.”
A GRADUATE
Kyly, who runs Zak., an optical business in L.A. and New York, and Ryan, who writes and produces pop and indie music, both feel that their experiences at The Center made them into the professionals and people they are today. They share that at CEE, “discipline and boundaries were established in such a thoughtful way” and “there is a
For Kyly, the attention to every child as an individual “fueled a curiosity to look at things in different ways.” She contin ues, “the level of personal attention we received at The Center allowed us to figure out who we were as people and stu dents. I feel like I had a core understanding of how to inter act with adults from a young age. Later in life, we found ourselves in places that may have felt less intimidating because of that foundation. The Center impacted every academic experience I had–it set me up for success in every environment and encouraged me to ask questions.”
KYLY RABIN ’98 RYAN PORTRAITRABINOF
“In sixth grade with Joan, with the whole year dedicated to civil rights, I felt like I left with an in-depth understand ing that advocacy for what you believe in and equality for everyone matters so much. I thought everyone was learning about racial equity in elementary school, and have realized that is a model we need in so many more schools. I also remember working with West Hollywood Food Coalition, which was an early experience with the work I plan to go
Natalieinto.”
enjoys keeping in touch with classmates and for mer teachers, and imparts the following to current stu dents as she looks back: “being yourself is going to be your best asset going into the world and will help surround you with great people as you continue your journey!”
When considering The Center’s impact on her educa tional and professional journey, Natalie shares that the school’s “emphasis on every person mattering, and dif ferences being a beautiful thing” was particularly mean ingful. She says, “Not only did The Center teach us that diversity mattered, but that diversity is something we should fight for. For example, when I was at The Center, so many parents and students were involved in advocat ing for gay marriage. To us, it felt obvious that this was something that we should be supporting for our com munity members, and the fact that you have to advocate and fight for those rights was a given.
NATALIE
Natalie with Acting Mayor of Boston Kim Janey (2021)
SWARTZ
Natalie Swartz ’10 turned her interest in public service and medicine into a series of positions at Boston’s City Hall, first as the Harvard Presidential City of Boston Fellow in 2020 and now as Special Assistant to the Mayor. In the Mayor’s office, Natalie focuses on initiatives involving homelessness, substance use, and mental health. She hopes to build upon this experience when she starts medi cal school next fall with a focus on addiction medicine.
14 CEE 2021 2022 ’10
Natalie speaks about moving to Boston and noticing that people talked about the opioid epidemic in the way people talk about homelessness in L.A. as the most visible chal lenge the community faces. She wanted to work on helping those who suffer from substance abuse. She explains that, in general, there is poor access to the tools for recovery, and she became fascinated with the role she could play in help ing people access these treatments and tools. With Mayor Wu, Natalie is currently working on a housing surge to help 150 people transition into more supportive housing.
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’12
Jeremy Davis ’12 is a senior this fall at USC, majoring in cinema & media studies and photography with the goal of entering the film industry. Jeremy’s interest in photography started as a child, influenced both by his father and an experience at CEE in an after-school pho tography class. He remembers taking the class with his brother in first or second grade, explaining that it was where he got his first formal introduction to photography in a school setting.
Jeremy Davis
Later, as a junior in high school at Loyola, he took an Introduction to Photography class where he learned the technical concepts that pho tographers use, such as the “rule of thirds” and composition tech niques. From there, he expanded his studies to studio art and gained experience in photography, after which he began entering competi tions once his confidence grew.
Jeremy then secured an internship with The Getty Museum and has been working with the Getty over the past couple of years teaching workshops and even showcasing his work in an exhibition. He con tinues to develop his photography portfolio and expand his body of work, and recently gained hands-on experience working on film sets during an internship with Universal Studios.
Jeremy enjoyed sharing his experience with current students when he returned to CEE in January 2022 to teach a photography workshop to sixth graders during their Intersession week. He reflects that “being able to give back to a school I am so grateful for attending by teaching some of the students is an honor, and something I am very thankful for.”
Upon reflecting on his time as a Center student, he shares how “The Center impacted me in that I learned to establish relationships with my teachers who encouraged me to mature and be independent, advocating for myself as a student. I carried these skills through high school and beyond.
“The Center does an excellent job of preparing everyone aca demically, but for me, being surrounded by the diverse group of students there, I was exposed to numerous peo ple from different walks of life. That is where CEE pre pared me for middle school and high school. I am honored to be part of the group of people who call themselves CEE alumni.”
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE
BRYAN JOVEL
On what being an alumnus means to him, Bryan explains how the lasting connections with the com munity continue to impact his life. “I recently got in touch with a few other people from my grade after I found a book in the CEE library that was dedicated to one of them. This sparked further connections with fellow classmates, and we went out for dinner a few months ago just because we missed each other!”
Reflecting upon The Center’s role in his journey, Bryan explains that “when I was in high school and college, and then post-college, Reveta always found a way to help me. She went way beyond any school adminis trator I’ve worked with, and I know I’m not the only one she’s helped along in their lives.”
Bryan Jovel ’05 returned to CEE as a member of the Instructional Support teaching team in 2021. Bryan shared that he had stayed connected to The Center through his mom, Delmy, who has worked at the school for 20 years. He was so inspired when visiting campus a few years ago that he returned to graduate school to earn his early childhood development degree with the goal of joining the CEE faculty. Speaking on his role on the Instructional Support team at CEE, Bryan shared “I love it—I get to see kids of all ages through out the day, and everywhere I go, I can assist teachers and I feel like I am actually helping the faculty.” Bryan is looking forward to joining an Early Childhood class room as an Associate Teacher this fall.
Bryan regularly assisted in Lower Elementary Science with Nacissé, describing her as “one of the most car ing people I know. She allows me to teach and con nect with the children each day.”
“One of the biggest things I took from my CEE experi ence was how close a relationship I could develop with my teachers. I still remember Marsha from fifth grade as one of the most special people I have ever met. I knew she wanted the best for me. I am also so happy to be back working with Lucy in the Library; I read so much today because of her.”
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’05
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE
Today, Barney is a children’s author, illustrator, and singer/songwriter. When reflecting on the school’s impact on his professional life, Barney says, “I have to believe that both the school’s and my mom’s focus on the cultivation of play, which I keep cultivating as an adult, was planted when I was at The School for Nursery Years. I have very vivid memories of putting my arms back and being a jet and running through peo ple in the yard and playing in that way. The schools I attended later were more rule-based. I remember
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students, Barney shares, “I’d invite kids to turn off screens and use your imagination, go outside, draw, think, and read. I know that the way I feel after an hour of not using screens is better than when I am using Barneythem.”joyfully
reconnected with the community in recent years, hosting virtual read-alouds of his books for children and sharing his new work with the library. He notes that “there is this sense of history and com munity at CEE that I love even though it’s been so long since I was there as a child. It makes me feel like I am part of something. It is nice to be a member of that group!”
Barney Saltzberg attended nursery school at CEE in the 1960s when the school was known as The School for Nursery Years. He fondly remembers the “house” environment, the yard, and the physical environment of the school. Barney shared a photo of himself and his friend Michael Slater on the jungle gym from those days (above), noting that they remained friends for decades following their experience at the school.
BARNEY SALTZBERG
He also maintained a longstanding relationship with a friend from preschool, Barbara Slade, ultimately work ing together on songwriting and collaborating profes sionally given her career in children’s television in
squeezing tomatoes through my teeth at lunch and letting them squirt across the table at each other; they let us do that. It’s in my DNA now—to let chil dren play is so important.”
OnEngland.today’s
18 CEE 2021 2022 memoriesfavorite
Olympics 1992
2006
Art Fair
favorite memories 19 CEE 2021 2022
Grandparents Day
1997 Last Day of School Carnival 2006 Olympics 2011 InternationalFoodTasting 2006
LACMA
Field WinterTripSing 2004
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CEE’s beloved Elementary Halloween Parade made its return to campus in great style this year! From the fun and creative costumes to the hilarious open-mic joke telling, it was a spooky and spirited day for all. Children in costume paraded with their classmates around the field (led by Parade Marshall, PE teacher April Frank) before telling jokes to the crowd (emceed by Reveta). Costumes were creative as ever and after celebrating in 2020 on Zoom, the in-person event was even more spectacular.
highlightscampus
halloween 2021
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andworkLeporThankswww.centerforearlyeducation.org/alumni/ceeds-podcasthere!tothepodcastcommittee(SarahHoberman’01,Marissa’06,TrevorMiller’97,andDarrinRevitz’92)fortheirhardinlaunchingthisproject!Welookforwardtomoreepisodeseventstocome.
Listen
CEEDS ALUMNI PODACST
Following the first episode, alumni Jordan Passman ’98, Jeff Platt ’96, and Jenni Konner ’83 each participated in an inter view with CEEds, sharing how The Center influenced their pro fessional and personal journeys.
Fall 2021 marked the debut of the Alumni Council’s first podcast series, CEEds! CEEds is made up of a series of conversations with members of The Center community who share their CEE experiences and the paths they have taken to become the inspiring people they are today.
To celebrate the podcast launch, the Alumni Council sponsored the first in-person alumni event since the start of the pandemic on Thursday, November 11 on the CEE rooftops on campus. It was a very special event, and a wonderful opportunity for alumni to connect with fellow alumni and former faculty in attendance, especially after eighteen months apart! The first podcast episode, hosted by Marissa Lepor ’06, featured Reveta. Together Marissa and Reveta par ticipated in a live conversation at the alumni reception follow ing a social hour and time to enjoy dinner from Flowerburger (founded by a CEE alumnus David Platt ’92).
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ANNUAL FUND DRIVE - “Stand Up With CEE”
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS 23 CEE 2021 2022
Mauricio and Sharon Oberfeld Lauren Ravan ’05
This year’s AFD volunteer chairs participated in a video series, aired during Kick-Off Week, in which they shared why they support The Center and what the school means to them and their families. Thank you to all who participated!
We ended 2021 with a fun and festive Elementary Winter Sing before Winter Break. Kindergarten through sixth graders, along with the A Cappella Choir, shared songs of all kinds, from choral numbers to instrumental compositions. Music teachers Ellen Gerstell and Sonya Nakagawa skillfully arranged pieces that were wellsuited for the COVID protocols, such as a spoken word performance of the “Rattletrap Car” book by third grade. The performances were live-streamed to parents and grandparents around the world to ensure everyone’s safety. The pro gram was a wonderful return to form after 2020’s Zoom perfor mance and the children delighted in performing live on stage together following the hiatus!
Jennifer Louchheim ’96 Jack Angelo Sunny Whang Alex and Caroline Mitchell
Massy Tadjedin Fardin and Bobby Fardin
WINTER SING
CEE’s Annual Fund Drive Chairs:
Harry and Joan Saperstein
AFD Kick Off Week: October 18-22, 2021 Gift Goal: Gifts/Pledges500Reached: 581 in 5 days! 100% Trustee Participation 100% Faculty and Staff Participation 70 AFD Parent Volunteers 30 AFD Alumni Volunteers
Community service projects occurred throughout the year as students and families came together to support the local Los Angeles community. In October, students brought in gently used costumes to share with local children on Halloween, and in November, a broad community food drive was held to support people during Thanksgiving and beyond. Students were delighted to know that their contributions were helping children like them! A holiday toy drive sponsored by CEE’s Heritage Family took place in December and the collection bins were overflowing with gifts by the end of the drive. Service drives supported organizations such as the Alexandria House, Big Sunday, the Blind Children’s Center, and others.
COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVICE
46 Birthday Bags (Good Shepherd Shelter, Upward Bound House) Party Bags (Blind Children’s Center) Cards to accompany bags and kits & Potted Succulents (CEE’s Alfred St. neighbors) mural (Silverado Beverly Place) 36 Art Kits (Stella Elementary) Bags of garbage collected (CEE neighborhood) 50 flowers planted, 10 bags of trash and leaves collected, 200 pounds of mulch spread (Kings Road Park)
320 Hygiene Kits (Alexandria House, Proyecto Pastoral, Book Foundation, Upward Bound House)
2,396 Books (32nd St. Magnet, Magnolia Place Preschool, Proyecto Pastoral)
35
250 Hygiene Connect Kits (Saban Community Clinic)
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300
15 Painted
400 sack lunches (Hollywood Food Coalition)
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LEARNING
CEE’s Whole School Day of Service was held on March 25, and children in Toddlers through sixth grade participated in service projects both on campus and at nearby organizations. Younger children assembled lunches, birthday bags, dog toys, cards, and more to benefit community members via several local organizations. Third graders sorted over 2,300 books, fourth graders planted flowers and helped clean Kings Road Park, fifth graders participated in a neighborhood clean-up, also creating a mural and potted plants for our neighbors, and sixth graders assem bled and delivered hundreds of hygiene kits to the Saban Community Clinic. It was a joyous day full of caring and responsibility, two of The Center’s core values. Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, and parents who made this day possible! By the end of the day, CEE students helped with:
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
of literature and history, students found that discrimination and misunderstanding can grow when a story about a person or a situation is told without additional reference points or when the protagonist is lacking empathy for others.
Throughout the 2021 – 22 school year, trustees had the opportunity to participate in the daily life of the school by shadowing students for part of a day. Board members participated in morning meetings and all kinds of lessons, from library to science to math and more! The board members were not merely observers but instead took part in the school day as if they were students including running in PE! Children had fun integrating these visitors into their activities, and trust ees enjoyed the chance to experience The Center from the student perspective.
Fifth graders engaged in a special unit this year about “The Danger of a Single Story”, inspired by a TED talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which addressed the pitfalls of engaging with stereotypes or stories from a single Throughperspective.theirstudies
TRUSTEE VISITING DAYS
One student shared that they now “see examples of this every day,” and many students provided examples of historical events that involved people in power overlooking the perspectives of those they encountered. This exploration of how perspective and empathy can change an outcome was quite meaningful for the stu dents who prepared posters and presentations about their interpretations of the danger of a single story, and continued to reference the concept in the class room throughout the school year.
C5 language arts
On January 24, 2022, Center students had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a NASA educational downlink event during which NASA astronauts answered pre-recorded CEE student questions live from the International Space
through sixth grade students thoughtfully submitted video questions for the astronauts to answer. Over 60 questions were submitted to NASA, and approxi mately 20 were chosen to be addressed during the live event.
Community members tuned in for the special experience from around the world. The recording is available on CEE’s website.
Students enjoyed a unique Center experience they will treasure and remember for the rest of their lives!
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS CEE 2021 2022
KindergartenStation!
Kayla Barron, the aunt of Morgan Madati ’22, is a NASA crew member who recently arrived at the space station. We are grateful to the Madati family and Kayla for facili tating this connection, and so proud of our CEE students for preparing and recording their thoughtful questions.
NASA DOWNLINK
SPOTLIGHT ON INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT
“I enjoy being appreciated for any and everything I do for each class by each teacher!”
ERIE
“I have been challenged this year with what has felt like constant learning. With readjusting back to in-person teaching full time, the days are much different than they were a year ago; the learning is different and the teaching is different. It’s been a very rewarding challenge, and there has been much learning and growth.”
“Something I have learned from the students is how pas sionate every child can be. Whether it’s competing on a team or telling me that they have strawberries for lunch, it feels like every conversation or activity is full of life.”–Bryan
–Erie
JAZMIN FANNY
TAYLOR
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–Jazmin
The Instructional Support team is a relatively new addi tion to the CEE faculty. Instructional support staff play a key role in supporting students and teachers and helping the school day run smoothly. Many of them also teach after school classes and coach CEE athletics teams. They have become indispensable members of our community throughout the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 as staffing and classroom formats have shifted time and time again and more hands on deck are needed! Hats off to the IS team! BRYAN
The ongoing CEE Employee Health and Wellbeing Program provided a number of opportunities for faculty and staff to focus on their health while having fun and get ting rewarded for their efforts this year! Over Thanksgiving Break, employees participated in the 2nd Annual CEE Virtual Turkey Trot, sharing their distance walked and photos from adventures over break to be eligible for prizes. Other examples of the monthly wellness activi ties included a health-focused crossword puzzle game, a Valentine’s Day step count challenge, and a visit from a physical therapist. Participants entered to win various raffle prizes such as gift cards to local health food outlets and for massages.
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS 29 CEE 2021 2022
Employee health and wellbeing program
Athletics Program HighlightS
Some highlights of the 2021–22 year include the Sixth Grade Girls’ Volleyball and Sixth Grade Boys’ Basketball championship wins in the Pacific Basin League! We were proud to celebrate these teams’ successful seasons (alongside all of our players and their accomplishments)!
The Center athletics program has matured in recent years into a robust and cele brated team sports program that provides a high-caliber, competitive experience for our student-athletes. Fourth through sixth graders of all skill levels now have the opportunity to participate in volleyball, flag football, basketball, and golf teams throughout the school year.
American Affinity Group created a vibrant display celebrating Lunar New Year in February, featuring items signi fying good luck and fortune in the new year. For Black History Month, the Heritage Family African American Affinity Group celebrated Black Heroes through an interactive exhibit where community members could share their heroes and add to the display. The Heritage Family also sponsored a Zoom event on “Black Entrepreneurship & the Wealth Gap” featuring a panel discussion with local Black entrepreneurs. Finally, the AntiRacism Interest Group (ARIG) continued its work into its second year, offering virtual meetings with guest facilitators on the topics of systemic racism and talking to our kids about race. Attendees from all corners of the CEE community engaged in meaningful small group discussions through ARIG this year!
This year, Parents’ Association affinity groups found COVIDsafe ways to celebrate holidays, reflect culture, and initiate important conversations with the community. The Latin American Affinity Group put together a beautiful ofrenda at the front entrance in honor of Día de Los Muertos where stu dents and parents could place photos of late loved ones, while the Indian American Affinity Group put together an engaging video celebration of Diwali for students to enjoy at Morning
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PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION AFFINITY and interest GROUPS
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2022 Gala Chairs
gala—once upon a time
On Saturday, May 14, over 700 guests from the CEE community reunited for an in-person Gala celebration at The Beverly Hilton. The theme, Once Upon a Time, inspired numerous creative storybook-based costumes, from Little Red Riding Hood to Harry Potter cocktails and the silent auction, CEE parent and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco had
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS 33 CEE 2021 2022 cee olympics 2021
Dear CEE Community,
We are grateful for this past year, we are thrilled for what’s to come, and we can’t wait to return to campus – to reconnect with our teachers, staff, and each other.
Your 2021–2022 Parents’ Association Co-Presidents, Cari Soto and Peter Chang
associationparents’
No words can describe the immense appreciation we have for the steadfast leadership of Reveta Bowers. We have gleaned so much from her experience and wisdom during her return to CEE as Interim Head of School over the past two years. Reveta skillfully led us through countless uncertainties that the pandemic presented, while instilling both a sense of reassur ance and optimism that our children would be well cared for throughout. We could not have asked for more. We thank Reveta and wish her only the very best in her retirement.
This past school year back on campus was an inspiring show case of our incredible community and our collective ability to reconnect and make new relationships that expand and enrich our school culture.
As we look ahead to next year, we are eager to welcome our incoming Head of School, Damian Jones. With the strong momentum we generated last year, we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Damian and CEE to contribute to our thriving community.
As the school year progressed, we appreciated the increasing opportunities for parents to gather in person at volunteer events, grade level socials, and ultimately the CEE Gala, which was a memorable night of celebration, costumes, and connection. We are humbled by the strong support our parents and community members have shown in attendance and fundraising for the Gala, as well as through AFD participation.
Under The Center’s unwavering commitment to the highest health and safety standards, students were able to return to campus for in-person learning and parents were able to resume a number of important volunteering activities on campus. We wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to every parent, alumni, and grandparent volunteer who participated both on- and off-campus this year for their ongoing creativity, generosity, and resilience. This cross-generational community support is exactly what makes CEE so special. We would also like to acknowledge the tremendous effort put forth by The Center’s faculty and staff members who worked tirelessly to create the best experience possible for our children.
Letter from the Parents’ Association Presidents
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GIVEWEWHY
The fardin FAMILY
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At the end of the day, giving back to The Center means supporting your child, supporting their peers, teachers, and community. It’s building a joyful learning experience with real value.
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CEE Parents Massy and Bobby Fardin knew that The Center was a special place from their very first tour of the school with Reveta. What impressed them most were the students themselves, as Massy explains. “What really moved me was how cooperative and empa thetic they were to each other, and how collective their goals were.” Since joining The Center community, Massy and Bobby find that each day they are able to witness the val ues and lived experience they wanted their daughter to have in her education. Bobby explains, “the way the students are educated and the way they carry themselves is so impres sive. Their inquisitiveness and empathy are nurtured.”
The value the Fardins place on empathy and mindfulness informs their priorities for giv ing back by supporting the Annual Fund and the Leading From The Center campaign. Reflecting on why The Center tops their list of priorities, Massy shares, “at the end of the day, giving back to The Center means supporting your child, supporting their peers, teachers, and community. It’s building a joyful learning experience with real value.” For Bobby, his favorite part of The Center is witnessing joyful learning in action. “The best part of my day is seeing my daughter’s enthusiasm at drop-off and the smiles of all the students. The balance of academics and social growth at The Center means that she is developing into a confident and conscientious person.”
Joyful learning is a hallmark at The Center and part of the mission of the school, and it would not be possible without the support of the community. The results of giving back to The Center are many, as Bobby explains “a great place to start with giving is CEE, it is a gift well worth giving.” Massy adds that “from the community to the manner of instruc tion to the quality of teachers and staff, and the value on diversity and inclusion, support ing The Center means you are supporting a better future. It’s your child’s education, and what could be more valuable?” The Center thanks the Fardin family for their leadership, support, and dedication!
56 CEE 2021 2022 GIVEWEWHY The nichol FAMILY
It’s a tremendous source of pride to give and we contribute in a way that is appropriate for our family.
When considering why giving back to The Center by supporting the Annual Fund ranks among their top priorities, McG shares that “it’s a tremendous source of pride to give back and we contribute in a way that is appropriate for our family. You know that you are contributing to something that is right in the world, and to something that is good for the future.” And with an eye toward making a difference beyond the halls of CEE, McG continues, “when you contribute to The Center, you see your contribution in action. You see it in the joy and laughter of the children, and the spirit of balance they bring to the community. When you give, you are making a direct contribution to the improvement of the world. As people consider where they want to give their support, their time, and their energy, a great place to start is at The Center.”
The Center experience would not be possible without the support and care of our generous community. Alix summarizes her Center experience by telling us that “in meeting parents, in making friends, and in supporting the wider community, every parent is supportive, interested, and just amazing. Everyone is joined together with the same spirit—to make our kids the best versions of themselves.” We are thankful to the Nichols for supporting The Center’s goals as we strive to build a safe, protective and nurturing environment where students, parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty and staff can be lifelong learners.
Through educational and multicultural school wide celebrations, ranging from spotlights on Día de los Muertos to the Heritage Family “Rites of Passage” event, Alix notes that CEE students “are so happy and eager to learn—to them, learning is a joy. I want them to keep feeling this way—it’s the greatest gift as they continue to move through the world.” Supporting The Center’s educational and cultural initiatives is paramount to the Nichols.
For Alix and McG Nichol, The Center represents “a culture of excellence, balanced teach ing, balanced learning, and an incredible sense of community.” As a multilingual and multi-cultural family, the Nichols were attracted to The Center’s commitments to diver sity and inclusion, with Alix sharing “we love how The Center helps our children to become global citizens in every sense—going into the community and fostering a sense of giving back and being kind and grateful.” Together, The Center community strives to lis ten to, learn from, and share diverse perspectives, with McG adding that “the composition of the student body is reflective of the real world, and since we have been involved, The Center has exceeded all our hopes.”
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Design
Assistant Director of Advancement
Photography
Erika Johnson
Director of Innovation
Laura Maher
SMOG Design, Inc.
Director of Upper School
Director of Student Placement
Debbie Wilhite
Matt Argüello
Director of Technology
Director of Advancement and External Affairs
Katrina Lappin
Jessica Levin, Director of Communications
Gabby McHale
Nassim Shandy
Natacha Blanchet
Amy-Marie Rivera
Peter Chang Erika CariKeniaDavidJohnsonMessingerRomeroSoto
Director of Advancement and External Affairs
Director of Annual Fund
All efforts have been made to ensure the information in this report is accurate. We sincerely apologize for any inaccuracies or omissions. Should you find any, please contact the Director of Communications, Jessica Levin (levinj@cee-school.org).
Laura Maher
Event Coordinator
Allison Larned
Director of Teaching and Learning
Debbie Wilhite, Director of Finance
Editorial
Administrative Team 2021 – 22 advancement Team 2021 – 22 73 CEE 2021 2022
Special Thanks
Financial Reporting
Natalie Adams
Assistant Head of School for Operations
Director of Lower School
Ellen Krissman
Database Manager and Advancement Services Coordinator
Reveta Bowers
Director of Early Childhood Programs
Director of Admissions
Kristen Stankowski
Mitzy Velez
Omar Dueñas
Matt AndrewJessicaAndrewArgüelloHeiserLevinZinn
Interim Head of School
Gala Director
Jessica Gersh Leff
Laura Maher, Director of Advancement
Director of Finance
Trish Alison Photography
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