NOVEMBER 2007 (VOL. 14, NO. 1) est. 1893 • K-12 college prep
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inside Project Photos.................2 Cof fee with a View...........3 Donor Q&As..........back page
events Aquatic Center Inauguration and Ribbon Cutting Events
Watch the Dec. Harker News for details!
Science & Technology Center
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Harker Family Pledges Generous Matching Gift to Campaign We have an exciting matching gift to announce. The Madala family, Durga and Srini, and Samantha, Gr. 5, has pledged to match specific contributions to the Annual Giving Campaign with a gift to the Capital Campaign. They are offering this match to encourage incremental giving and to increase our parent participation percentage. It is a 5:1 match for new donors and a 2:1 match for incremental giving. The gift will work as follows: for any family who did not make a gift to the Annual Giving Campaign last year, the Madalas will give $5 to the Capital Campaign for ever y dollar the family contributes this year. So if a family donates $100 to the Annual Giving Campaign, the Madalas will give $500 to the Capital Campaign. For families who made a gift last year, they will give $2 to the Capital Campaign for ever y $1 a family gives incremental to what they gave last year. In this case
if a family gave $100 last year but increased their pledge to $200 this year, the Madalas will donate $200 to the Capital Campaign. As you can see, this is a phenomenal match that ever yone should take advantage of this year. The Madalas feel that all Harker families should participate in the Annual Giving Campaign, especially since we are planning to apply for foundation and corporation grants to help fund the “green” features of the Science & Technology Center this year. Schools that have received this kind of support from foundations and corporations in the past most often had participation rates of 85 to 95 percent of their parents making gifts to the school. This means that ever y gift we receive, no matter the size, could help the school receive millions of dollars for the students.
Saratoga Construction Projects Making Remarkable Progress
Davis Field
Ribbon Cutting – Fall 2008.
giving Donations to the Capital Campaign
$14.425 million of $25 million as of Oct. 10, 2007
Exciting things are happening on the Saratoga campus! The first project to be finished was the new football field. The beautiful Davis Field was inaugurated with much ceremony on Sept. 14, and to add to the celebratory atmosphere, our teams won their games! The boys varsity soccer team beat Redwood Christian 2-1, and our varsity football team beat Sierra Christian 34-12.
Harker News — November 07, Capital Campaign Report
Another milestone was reached on Sept. 23 when the field lights for Davis Field were installed by AMS Electric with the help of a 140-foot crane. The entire set up is part of the manufacturer’s “Green Generation” series, which consumes half the energy of traditional field lights and have an expected lamp life of four times as long. The four poles each emit 15,000 watts and are
under warranty for a dozen years of use, based on expected yearly use, noted Mike Bassoni, facilities manager. The lights are 75 feet tall, and you’ll notice that the light imprint shines exclusively on the field with no spill – truly state-ofthe-art. Their manufacturer, Musco Lighting, provides lights for professional sports and other outdoor facilities around the world. Continued on page 2
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Futurein Continued from page 1 Next up are the bleachers, which will be installed in December. Once completed, the bleachers will seat 420 fans, with the option of expanding the number of seats in the future, and will include three coach boxes. The next phase of the athletic facilities construction is the swimming pool, which is slated to open in Februar y 2008, in time for the US swim season. The pool will have 11 competitive swimming lanes, and will be large enough to fit two water polo courts. There will be an area for a learn-to-swim program, and at its deepest, the pool will be 14 feet – deep
enough that someday Harker could implement a diving program. Stay tuned for details on the ribbon cutting for the Aquatic Center.
building. According to Bassoni, the building is on schedule for our crews to begin moving in August 2008.
Visitors to the campus have surely been impressed by the bustling, yet completely selfcontained, construction site behind Dobbins Hall. The Science & Technology Center is growing before our eyes! The Center is a tilt-up building, as is often done in this area of the countr y, which means the concrete walls are poured into frames built on the ground and then lifted and supported through steel beams. The first lift of the concrete walls was on Oct. 17, and there will be one more lift to complete the
Visit the Harker Web site for photos of the construction progress. Also, XL Construction has setup a live webcam so you can watch the construction 24/7. Go to www.xlconstruction.com and click on their webcam link. Then, click on the Harker Science and Technology project just below the John Muir Medical site. “The photos are changed approximately ever y minute, so don’t expect motion pictures. But it’s ver y exciting to tune in ever y few days to witness such wonder ful progress,” said Bassoni. Harker News — November 07, Capital Campaign Report
Progress Skybox Events Offer Coffee with a View Head of School Chris Nikoloff is holding informational coffees most Friday mornings in the Dobbins Hall conference room, called the Skybox, which overlooks the site of the new Science & Technology Center. Small groups of parents are invited to learn more about the construction project. If you are interested in being invited, please contact Melinda Gonzales at 408.345.0111. Harker News — November 07, Capital Campaign Report
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Q&A With Harker Donors Q: What activities is/was your child involved in at Harker?
The Reidels: To make a difference and to lead by example.
Sally Anderson: My son, Tim (’91), was involved in sports activities, especially basketball. He attended summer school and after-school activities every day. He loved going to school at Harker.
Q: What do you envision Harker being like 10 years from now? Anderson: Ten years from now, I believe Harker will still be the best private school in the world.
Suhas and Jayashree Patil: Teja (’02) was involved in dance, drama and singing. She participated in all the per formances that were staged while she was at Harker.
The Patils: We envision it providing cutting-edge education, and keeping the standard in both education and personality development. The Reidels: As the Capital Campaign is our current focus, we imagine a “state-of-the-art” high school campus, second to none.
Chris and Marcia Reidel: Soccer, basketball, football, piano, art and computer.
“Now that we have become grandparents, we believe we have done the right thing in getting involved with the Capital Campaign.” – The Patils
Q: What do you enjoy the most about Harker? Anderson: I enjoy the integrity that the children are encouraged to embrace. Also, the respect they have for each other. The Patils: The quality of teaching, and the balance between study and extracurricular activities.
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The Reidels
The Reidels: The empowerment it gives our children (Randall, Gr. 6., and Hunter, Gr. 3) to explore many avenues.
Q: What is your favorite Harker memory?
Anderson: My favorite memory is the first time I volunteered in the library and Tim ran in with his friends, yelled, “Hi, Mom,” and then ran out. He was just happy to know I was there and part of his day. The Patils: Teja per forming on the stage.
The Reidels: This is a difficult question, as there are so many. Asking everyone to trust me (Marcia) to transform The Fairmont Hotel for the first Harker Fashion Show. Seeing the guests’ and volunteers’ faces was absolutely amazing. It validated our efforts! Of course dancing with both Pam Dickinson and her daughter (Casey ’06) at the fashion show was a highlight. Watching our children continue to bloom. The goose bumps and tears that well up in our eyes as we watch our children move out of our perception of their comfort zone and totally enjoy their experience.
Q: Why are you involved in the Capital Campaign? Anderson: Because the children at Harker deserve the very best facilities.
The Patils: We believe it’s important to participate in educational activities and that early-stage education is especially important. Now that we have become grandparents, we believe we have done the right thing in getting involved with the Capital Campaign.
Sally Anderson
Q: For what other groups/ organizations do you volunteer? Anderson: I am involved with nonprofit organizations that enhance the lives of orphans in Ethiopia and street children in Brazil, and an organization that brings the word of God to the people of the Horn of Africa. The Patils: TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), India Community Center. The Reidels: Junior League, San Jose Ballet and various other groups, as needed.
Q: Why do you feel giving back is important? Anderson: Sharing our resources allows many people to benefit, so I choose organizations about which I have a passion and I support them. The Patils: By giving, we believe you get more back. We are happy about giving to Harker and we believe that giving to Harker’s per forming arts will help maintain the highest standards of education in dance, music and acting. We are looking forward to see more and more great artists and great students coming out of Harker and contributing to the betterment of the society and humanity at large. What better thing one can ask for in return for one’s giving? The Reidels: We truly believe in creating a balance. I feel that giving back completes the circle.
The Harker School is a K-12 independent, co-ed, college-prep school. Grades K-5: 4600 Bucknall Rd., San Jose, CA 95130; Grades 6-8: 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose, CA 95117; Grades 9-12: 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129 Harker believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age (over 40), marital status, political affiliations, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by state or federal laws, local law or ordinance.
The Patils
The Harker News provides timely information, news and features about the Harker community to current and alumni Harker families. Editor: Pam Dickinson; Assistant Editor: Catherine Snider; Writer: Emilie Robb; Production: Jaja Jones; Photos: Mark Tantrum, unless noted; Printing: Harker Copy Shop; Mailing Coordinator: Desiree Mitchell. Harker News — November 07, Capital Campaign Report