Summer 2019
PERSPECTIVES IN LITERATURE Interdisciplinary course explores power of black female voices Page 8
Human Development AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE WESTRIDGE EXPERIENCE Page 10
LOOK INSIDE School news, faculty profiles, alumnae news, and more
12 CLASS OF 2019
Updates on our newest alumnae.
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AROUND CAMPUS
News and photos from Madeline Drive.
STUDENT WORK
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A sampling of art and writing from Westridge students.
FEATURED STORIES Classes and programs exemplifying Westridge leadership in girls’ education.
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Head’s Note
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ALUMNAE NEWS
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Reunion Weekend photos, events, campus visits, ALUMNAE NEWS and more. News and photos from alumnae.
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Surgere
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Featured Stories
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Class of 2019
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Around Campus
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Student Work
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Athletics Performing Arts School News
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Parent Association Updates
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Alumnae News
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Class Notes
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In Memoriam
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from the
HEAD OF SCHOOL The lead stories in this edition of Surgere provide windows into the exciting teaching and learning going on across a variety of classes and experiences occurring at Westridge—Lower School service learning, online student portfolios in the Middle School, our 4-12 program in human development and social emotional learning, and the Upper School interdisciplinary Perspectives in Literature course. And yet, within these diverse topics are shared pedagogical and philosophical threads that touch the core of what makes a Westridge education a singular experience. As you read you will see recurring themes of reflection and connection, either to one’s passions or among disciplines. These intentional through-lines in our curriculum help our girls truly know themselves and their interests. Together with our school culture, this allows girls to be their authentic selves, which frees them to engage deeply in learning and empowers them to use their voices. 2019-2020 will be an exciting year of change and growth at Westridge. Later this fall we will introduce our next five-year strategic plan that will guide all we do academically and administratively. And this July we welcomed Dr. Zanita Kelly as director of
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Lower and Middle School. Zanita brings great energy, experience, and educational thought leadership to Westridge, and we are thrilled to have her join our leadership team. You can learn about Zanita on page 20, and I hope you will attend one of the coffees she will host for parents this fall and introduce yourself when you are on campus. Zanita succeeds our beloved colleague Mary Tuck, who retired in June after 19 years at Westridge (see page 39). Though it was difficult to say goodbye, it was a joy to witness the community celebration of Mary and the impact she has made on our school and its people. As transitions such as these remind us, personal connection and relationships are at the core of Westridge. We thank you for being a part of our community and hope the stories on these pages nurture your life-long commitment to learning, and your passion for girls’ education. Surgere!
Elizabeth J. McGregor Head of School
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These intentional throughlines (of reflection and connection) in our curriculum help our girls truly know themselves and their interests.
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ommunity engagement is ingrained as deeply in the Westridge culture as Greek & Roman families or cookie Tuesdays. In the 4th grade, students discuss what it means to be a part of a community and our responsibilities to others, primarily focusing on the Westridge community. But in 5th grade students turn to the larger community for their first comprehensive, independent service project, known to the girls as simply “TCAP.” The year-long Think, Care, Act Project (TCAP) introduces students to the power that community engagement can have when aligned with personal passions. It requires students to think about their strengths, find a problem in the community that they care about, and act to address the problem by applying their strengths to volunteer work with a local organization. The resulting service experience allows students to see the positive change they can make in their own backyards. Last year’s class volunteered at animal shelters, sold art to protect endangered species, helped the homeless population, spread awareness about plastic pollution and the environmental impact of palm oil production, sewed pillows for children in the hospital, and worked to end bullying, among many other causes. This type of work, building the foundation for a life of engagement and impact to others, continues throughout students’ time at Westridge, including the 6th grade Baking a Better World project (combining math, entrepreneurship, and service) and the 7th grade Power of One project (researching, interviewing, and celebrating a community upstander to demonstrate the positive change one person can make). Each Upper School student undertakes a personal Community Action Project, which takes students on a four-year journey to discover and merge personal passions with community engagement, research into social justice issues, and self-reflection. But thanks to TCAP, some 5th graders have already found the cause they will continue to work on for years to come. For her project, Ruby D. volunteered at Alexandria House, a transitional residence that helps women and children find permanent housing. According to Ruby, this is no longer a school project but rather something she wants to do. Indeed, she volunteered over the summer, long after her TCAP was officially in the books. 04
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ONLINE STUDENT WORK PORTFOLIOS:
Archives yes, but so much deeper
fter last year’s pilot program in the Middle School, digital portfolios—powerful learning tools that help students gain insight into their process and growth as learners—are evolving to give students more flexibility in building their personal portfolios and include more mid-project student reflections. In addition, our five Upper School Global Fellows will pilot portfolios in the upper division this fall. 06
The portfolios are websites built by each student that include student-curated selections of their coursework, reflections on this work, and a free-form page to shine a light on passions outside of academics, from pets and family to club sports and photography. With options to post audio, video, text, graphics, and even computer coding projects, the format allows students to demonstrate a wide range of skills and learning. On one level, the portfolios are a powerful presentation tool. They preserve student work, create a productive online presence that provides an authentic picture of growth and learning (versus the polished-to-perfection posts on social media) and serve as an engaging package to present for volunteer, job, or internship opportunities. In fact, students used the portfolios to lead their
Student Parent Advisor conferences last year. But it is as a learning tool that digital portfolios shine—helping students identify, select, and reflect on meaningful work develops their own meta-cognition of strengths, talents, and areas in which they can grow. “One strength of the portfolio model is its emphasis on process,” said 8th grade English Teacher Masami Hansen. “Given the opportunity, our students can be deeply reflective and thoughtful about meaningful
work. The more intentional teachers can be about incorporating opportunities for reflection, the more we can help students identify meaningful learning and take ownership for their learning.” There is also a benefit for the school—the portfolios can be used as a curriculum review tool by providing insights into student learning and what projects are engaging students deeply.
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(FROM ZORA NEALE HURSTON TO QUEEN BEY)
Took Center Stage in Last Year’s “Perspectives in Literature” Class ast year, the interdisciplinary Upper School English elective “Perspectives in Literature” took students on a deep dive into the literature, drama, music, and art created by black women in the United States, from Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (written in the 1800s) to Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. How did the class manage to cover such a wide variety of nuanced material in only a year? The class was co-taught by eight faculty and staff members (plus
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one guest lecturer—lawyer and activist Nicole Lee), who contributed insights on their areas of expertise. “I provided the overview of the literature and an introduction to critical theory, which is college-level stuff!” said lead teacher Molly Yurchak, who has studied the work of black female artists for 25 years and received a grant from the school last year to conduct research for the class. “But I think what was the most valuable was the ability to have people like Director of Theatre Brandon Kruhm come in to teach a month-long unit on drama, or dance teacher Kashmir Blake drop
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in for several classes to do a critical analysis of mid1900s African American dance.” And despite the wide range of voices in the room, Yurchak said that universal themes emerged, including identity, motherhood and female lineage, self-love and acceptance, and liberation. “Having the class include so many disciplines showed that textbooks aren’t the only reflection of history and society,” said Jamie G. ’20. “Art holds a lot of truth, too.” Now in its sixth year, the “Perspectives” class focuses on a different theme every year, and previous topics have included “memoir,” “risk,” “monsters,” and “weapons.” This year’s class, taught by English Department Chair Dr. Jessica Bremmer, is a study of literary and artistic acts of dissent under the umbrella theme of “disruption.” The class culminates in the annual Upper & Middle School Voices in Literature & Culture Conference, where students present work based on the year’s theme. “It was the hardest and best class I’ve ever taken,” said Caroline P. ’20, whose presentation at last year’s conference used music, literature, and sculpture to unpack the ways in which African American women have been oppressed specifically through
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the objectification of their bodies. “The amount of in-depth discussion and analysis of topics that are compelling and relevant is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. And to have open conversations about race so young... I feel so prepared for the future.”
Being part of this class completely reignited my love of learning ,
added Gracie B. ’20. “It’s made me so excited to be here. And it makes me excited for college!”
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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING
HEALTH & WELLNESS
AWARENESS, ASSERTIVENESS, PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES
SELF & SOCIETY
MENTAL HEALTH
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
school’s course schedule can tell you a great deal about its priorities and Westridge’s practically shouts our belief that social and emotional health are central to both our students’ well-being and their education. Though at many schools health and human development is often limited to periodic, semester-long courses or carved out of PE classes, at Westridge, the human development (HD) program is an intentional, developmental program from grades 4 through 12, including dedicated classes once a schedule rotation (every six days) in grades 7 through 12. “Our school counselor talks about the luxury of time we have to devote to human development and social emotional learning. This is true, but we have worked hard to make that time,” says Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor. “Students’ social and emotional health is central to their well-being and personal growth and directly tied to their ability to be ready to dive into learning. I think our investment in this human side of education shows in the authenticity, confidence, and compassion that people tell us they see across our student body.” The HD program is framed by four pillars—Self & Society, Relationships & Human Reproduction, Consent & Safety, and Health & Wellness—with age-appropriate curricula spanning each area. For example, Consent & Safety begins with discussions of boundaries, kindness, and respect in the Lower School, addresses assertiveness and cyber-safety and social media in the Middle School, and includes formal self-defense classes in the Upper School.
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RELATIONSHIPS AND HUMAN REPRODUCTION
INTEGRITY
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TRUE SELF VS FALSE SELF
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH The themes of identity and self-reflection are central to the program, culminating in an in-depth look at self-care and strategies to manage all that students take on in the upper grades, guidance in navigating the college application process in junior and senior years, and a final semester learning important life-after-Westridge skills that will serve students well into college and beyond. “Being a well-rounded student means so much more than having a long list of extracurriculars,” says Human Development Coordinator Zoe Muñoz. “Our program gives students space to explore themselves and what is important to them. By the time they graduate, we want them to be prepared to be healthy, independent adults and to have a toolbelt of resources for when they need to seek help and support.”
Westridge Human Development Coordinator Zoe Muñoz and Human Development teacher Regina Wei 11
CLASS
OF
2019
The 75 members of the Class of 2019 will attend 60 colleges and universities in the United States, China, Ireland, and Scotland. Sixty seven percent of the class will study outside of California, and a third of the class will attend schools where it has been at least five years since another Westridge alumnae attended (we call them trailblazers!). 12
Summer 2019 / Surgere 57 29 30
39
20
50 60 8, 45
15
9 10
12
28
18
7
36, 37 38
19, 58
26, 40 44
11 1, 6, 41, 49
59
3, 22, 34, 46
56
16, 25, 42
48
51
4, 21 24, 31, 33, 47, 53 2, 17 5, 43
23 14
32 13
54 27
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Hawaii
Ireland
Scotland 55
ArtCenter College of Design Pasadena, CA Babson College Babson Park, MA Barnard College New York, NY Boston University Boston, MA (3) Brown University Providence, RI California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA (2) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA University of California at: 8. Berkeley Berkeley, CA 9. Davis Davis, CA 10. Merced Merced, CA 11. Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 12. Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA (5) 13. San Diego La Jolla, CA 14. Chapman University Orange, CA (2) 15. University of Chicago Chicago, IL 16. Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA 17. Clark University Worcester, MA 18. University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO 19. Connecticut College New London, CT 20. Cornell University Ithaca, NY 21. Emerson College Boston, MA (2) 22. Fordham University Bronx, NY 23. University of Georgia Athens, GA 24. Harvard University Cambridge, MA 25. Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA 26. Haverford College Haverford, PA 27. University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI 28. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL 29. Lewis & Clark College Portland, OR 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
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30. Macalester College St. Paul, MN 31. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 32. University of Mississippi University, MS 33. New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA 34. New York University New York, NY 35. New York University Shanghai Shanghai, China 36. Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Oberlin, OH 37. Oberlin Conservatory of Music Oberlin, OH 38. Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH (2) 39. University of Oregon Eugene, OR 40. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA (2) 41. Pepperdine University Malibu, CA 42. Pitzer College Claremont, CA (3) 43. Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI 44. University of Richmond Richmond, VA 45. Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA 46. Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, NY (2) 47. Simmons University Boston, MA 48. Smith College Northampton, MA 49. University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 50. St. Olaf College Northfield, MN 51. Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 52. Trinity College Dublin Dublin, Ireland 53. Tufts University Medford, MA (2) 54. Tulane University New Orleans, LA 55. The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland 56. Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO 57. University of Washington Seattle, WA 58. Wesleyan University Middletown, CT 59. Williams College Williamstown, MA 60. University of Wisconsin, Madison Madison, WI 13
Snapshots Westridge made me more outspoken and open to meeting new people whatever the circumstances. - ISABELLA LEE
Westridge made me reflective. - ELIZABETH FRIEDMAN
Even though our years at Westridge represent a finite interval of time in our lives…I’ve learned that the limit of the happiness, growth, and empowerment obtained from the friendships, hard work, and adventures established during our time here does not exist. - KAITLIN ZARENO ’19 (from her Commencement valedictorian address)
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around 6th Grade Celebration The Westridge Class of 2025 said goodbye to Lower School with a performance of “For Good” from Wicked at their recognition ceremony on May 28. Congratulations, girls!
8th Grade Recognition At the 8th grade recognition ceremony, the class presented a video in which each student reflected on how they’ve grown during their time in Middle School. The take-away? This thoughtful and humorous class is ready for Upper School!
Yara Shahidi Provides Sage Advice to Westridge Grads The Class of 2019 was over the moon to have actress and activist Yara Shahidi as this year’s commencement speaker. Shahidi is known for her work on TV’s “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish” as well as her advocacy for young people, diversity in media, and girls education. She delivered a powerful address that stressed the importance of coming together “not in spite of, but because of our differences.”
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Students Share Their Visions for Westridge at Dream Summit Thirty-six Upper School students volunteered to spend an entire Saturday on campus to participate in the Dream Summit. Spearheaded by Sosi D. ’21 and facilitated by Westridge Trustee Holly Bowyer, the event created a forum for students to share their thoughts about the direction of the school’s new five-year strategic plan. Participants discussed the school’s mission and purpose, its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and the characteristics of Westridge graduates (expressed as a Westridge student superhero!). And the students’ work isn’t done. Discussions at the Summit have led to the creation of a new student group, the Student Action Council, which will provide input on campus culture and issues.
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International Women’s Day In honor of International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating achievements of women, Westridge students celebrated three women who are taking action to create a more gender-balanced future: tennis superstar Serena Williams who is an advocate for racial justice and gender equality, actress Yara Shahidi who works to encourage her peers to vote and empower impoverished youth through education (and spoke at Westridge commencement this year!), and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who has long been an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights.
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All-School Read on Failure Is a Huge Success The third annual all-school read brought students in grades 4-12 together for crossdivisional conversations about failure. Students read a Harvard commencement address given by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling entitled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.” Lower schoolers met with Upper School students in small discussion groups to share their perspectives on the idea of failure. Additional discussions were held in Upper and Middle School English classes. “Rowling encourages us to change how we think about failure, and reading and listening to her speech created a moment of deliberate reflection and discussion about a concept we think is vital to our students’ learning,” said English Department Chair Jessica Bremmer. According to Bremmer, students of all ages embraced the topic and gave suggestions for safe ways to experience failure—and its benefits—at school.
Distinction at the end of the program. Topics the inaugural class of Global Fellows have chosen to study are:
Taking Global Studies Outside the Classroom 2018-2019 was a landmark year for global studies at Westridge, both in and outside the classroom. The Westridge Global Initiative launched, giving Upper School students the opportunity for multi-year, indepth, interdisciplinary study of a modernday global issue of their choosing. Juniors and seniors who have global interests can propose a topic and a selection of Westridge courses and experiential learning activities (such as internships and volunteering) that provide opportunities for cross-disciplinary connections and study. They work with a faculty mentor, presenting and defending their work to a faculty committee to earn Global Fellow
• R epercussions of low-quality childcare in the U.S., using the models of Sweden, Singapore, and Chile to evaluate. • H ow Romance languages propagate the patriarchy and how patriarchal root words impact law codes, both ancient and modern. • E valuation of current U.S. immigration policies through a global lens. • E valuating the weaknesses of prison systems around the world by comparing the American prison system to more successful global models. • A n analysis of American corporate programs to improve working conditions in their third-world factories. Separately, the history and global languages departments teamed up on an interdisciplinary, experiential opportunity for global learning last year when they took a group of students to Mexico to learn about the immigration issues at the U.S.-Mexico border. The four-day trip gave students from the Global Studies and El Mundo Advanced Spanish classes the opportunity to explore multiple perspectives on U.S. foreign policies by talking to border patrol agents, deported veterans, and migrants, all while delving deeper into their language skills.
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6th Grade Compassion Retreat
Spyglass Student Newspaper is Reinvented for Digital This past school year, our student journalists debuted “Spyglass 2.0,” a redesigned, fully digital version of the Westridge newspaper. The beautiful Spyglass website allows the writers to add multimedia to their storytelling arsenal and creates a new experience that reflects the expectations of modern news audiences, all while saving a few trees. Spyglass has been reporting Westridge news since 1946, but the 30-person staff of last year’s newspaper made history by bringing a beloved Westridge institution into the 21st century! Check out their new platform at www.westridgespyglass.org.
Last May, the 6th grade class had a special opportunity as they prepared for changes and challenges ahead in adolescence and Middle School: they took part in a one-day, on-campus retreat on self-awareness and compassion. The retreat was designed to help the girls develop greater self-awareness, skills in becoming grounded, and techniques for managing stress and anxiety (including breathing and yoga), and to understand the components of compassion and self-compassion. It was led by Westridge parent Cate Wilson, a doctoral candidate at Claremont School of Theology who focuses on engaged compassion work with women and girls. “Helping girls develop some of these skills before the most challenging years of adolescence gives them a jump start for managing the difficult emotions, complex social situations, and the uneven physical changes of their brains and their bodies that really begin to rule their middle school years,” said 6th Grade Teacher Christine Kiphart.
Upper Schoolers Give 6th Graders a Lesson on Climate Change
5th Grade Rocket Launch Tradition Continues The Westridge campus turns out each May to see the design and engineering skills demonstrated at the 5th Grade Rocket Launch. The iterative learning, excitement, and peer support at the launch each year are the definition of joy in learning.
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Students from the Upper School Environmental Engineering class guesttaught a 6th grade science class on climate change this spring, lending their knowledge to the Lower School curriculum. The Upper School students discussed the impact of humans on the environment and gave a demonstration of thermal expansion. The 6th graders then brainstormed ideas on how to conserve water (try using run-off water from the shower or rainfall to water plants!), cut down waste from single-use plastics, and reduce their overall energy consumption.
Speech and Debate Team Wins Record Numbers of Awards and Creates Sexism-Free Space for Female Debaters The Speech and Debate team is only three years old, but they have a trophy collection to rival many long-established teams. This year senior Rachel Harris became the first Westridge debater to place in the top three at the National Championships, placing third in International Extemporaneous! Seven Upper School students earned spots at the National tournament to compete with the top 400 speakers in their categories from around the country. Eight students competed at the State Championship tournament where two students made it to the semi-finals and Hattie B. ’20 became Westridge’s first State Finalist, placing fourth in International Extemporaneous. Six members of the team also traveled to Lexington, KY to compete in the Tournament of Champions, where Hana O. ’21 and Cara W. ’21 placed in the top eight in their categories. The Middle School team had nine members compete at the Southern California Championship tournament and brought home 11 awards
A group of Westridge students spent 11 days backpacking through the Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska this summer with science teacher Rob Greene. The group spent a week and a half hiking through the Alaskan tundra, learning basic navigation and survival skills while practicing teamwork. in the top five spots, with some students placing in multiple events! But winning trophies wasn’t the only impressive thing our debaters did this year. They also organized the second annual Westridge All-Womxn’s Debate Tournament, started by Rachel Harris ’19 last year as part of her CAP project on mitigating sexism in debate. This year, Rachel passed down the legacy of her CAP project to Ruby M. ’20 and Hattie B. ’20 to keep the safe space for female debaters alive (participants shared stories of being pushed out of co-ed debate teams and receiving judges’ comments on appearance or attire, among other experiences). In year two, the tournament more than doubled in size with 15 teams, 13 judges, and plenty of volunteer and spectator support!
USC Game Program Partnership Promotes Interest in Game Design Among Women The Westridge Middle School has formed a partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) Games program (the only interactive media and game design program in the country with 50% female enrollment) to promote interest in game design among women and girls and cultivate female leaders and mentorship in the industry. Westridge parent and Chair of USC’s Cinematic Arts Interactive Media and Games Danny Bilson facilitated this new partnership, which provides a unique collaboration between college and middle school students; budding Westridge coders get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a female game designer, and USC game designers gain a built-in audience to test-play the games they design for middle school-aged players. The USC designers have visited our 7th and 8th grade Coding & Game Design classes to present their latest unreleased game and discuss the design process. Plans for a Westridge trip to USC are in the works.
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Q&A WITH DR. ZANITA KELLY Director of Lower & Middle School estridge’s new director of Lower & Middle School, Zanita Kelly, Ed.D., has impressive educational leadership credentials and experience, matched only by her exuberance for independent school education and empowering girls. Her 25-year career spans teaching (elementary through graduate school), overseeing curriculum and instruction, and academic leadership for grades K-5, most recently as Upper (Elementary) School Head at Saint Mark’s School in Altadena. Her published work and academic presentations address such topics as global partnerships, multicultural classrooms, assessment practices, and the joy of social and emotional learning. Outside of school, she is the cofounder of Notes to Butterflies, a mental-health and wellness service organization for young women in underserved communities. She is also the mother of two daughters and a son, and a grandmother of three! Why did you become an educator? I wanted to be a teacher because I believe education is the great equalizer. I’ve seen that in my own life. My mom was a first-generation college student and I watched her transform our lives through education and I knew that I wanted to help people understand its power. I want to lead in a way that helps students discover their talents and find their voice, and then create the world they deserve. What brought you to Westridge? What impressed me most about Westridge, even before I stepped foot on the campus, were the girls. I was introduced to them when they visited my former school to speak about Westridge to potential applicants. I appreciated their confidence, their authenticity, their ability to articulate their passion for their school, and how they are benefitted by being in a single-gender education environment. They had a conviction that was unusual for young women their age.
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This opportunity felt like the perfect intersection between my life’s passion—the education I do with girls (editor’s note: through her nonprofit organization Notes to Butterflies)—and my academic and professional training. I always wanted to be a teacher but my passion for girls’ education evolved over time. I think girls are socialized to believe that to be a nice girl you must make yourself small and quiet. Westridge offers a counter-narrative to that. It supports girls in finding their voices and living lives of impact. As I am reading and learning about the school, all of the values Westridge believes in…girls living lives of impact, respect, integrity, responsibility and inclusion, its motto “Surgere Tentamus” (We Strive to Rise)…I see these standards embedded across its 106-year history, and yet Westridge has continued to evolve. I think that is awesome and I want to be a part of it and am honored and excited to be here. What did you learn about Westridge as you spent time at the school over the spring and summer? I have learned that the girls who visited Saint Mark’s are not exceptions, they are the real deal! They represent who Westridge is—who all these girls are becoming. They are articulate and poised, they lead, they are smart, they are funny, and they are confident and bold. All the attributes that I read about from the outside in the vision and the mission and the values of the school, I am seeing embodied in the young women that I meet.
Summer 2019 / Surgere What are you most excited about in education today? Social emotional learning (SEL). I wrote my dissertation on psychological safety in schools post-Columbine, and I learned that schools are better able to accomplish their educational mission when they integrate social emotional learning along with academic competencies. This is something educators have known intuitively for a long time, but I am excited that science has caught up with that intuition so that we can prioritize the work and have more students and families understand that it’s not either/or (academics or SEL), it’s both/and.
LEAST FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SCHOOL GROWING UP: I disliked adults who assumed kids weren’t capable of grappling with sophisticated and abstract concepts. It taught me to treat children as fully formed humans with fewer experiences.
What are you looking forward to in your first year at Westridge? I am really looking forward to becoming an integral part of the Westridge community. I think the most important thing in the first year is building relationships with the girls, the faculty, and parents… to be available and to listen. I am excited about finding ways to bring my talents to the table to add value to the program.
MOTTO: “Create the highest and grandest vision for yourself because you become what you believe!” I want girls to understand the concept of “not yet,” that we are constantly becoming better versions of ourselves. It relates to what I said about heroines.
SOME FINAL QUICK TAKES: FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SCHOOL GROWING UP: Literature and debate. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Nolan, used to tell us “raise your argument, not your voices.”
HERO: Oprah Winfrey is one of my heroes. I love that Oprah shares the mistakes and missteps that she has taken. With a lot of our heroes, we feel that they have always been perfect at life and so it is very difficult to think of yourself as having the power to be the heroine in your own story.
OUTLETS FOR FUN: I adore the beach. All I need is a book and a blanket and I’m in heaven. I like live music (including karaoke) and dancing, and movies (Editor’s note: we understand Dr. Kelly has a savant-like ability to memorize lines from her favorites—test her on The Lion King). BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Stand in your truth” (be unapologetically you) and “don’t adapt to the energy in the room, influence the energy in the room” (be a thermostat not a thermometer.)
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STUDENT WORK
Frankie W. ’26
Luciana P. ’25
Isabella S. ’24
Bibi R. ’22
Samantha S. ’21
WHAT WILL REMAIN?
Isabel H. ’26
Rosemary B. ’25
What will remain of the white wave’s mist? -The trace of the sun on the sea What will remain of the wildflower’s bloom? -The great oak’s sap What will remain of the journey to life? Fiona H. ’23
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-The dust from the path you walk What will remain of the book left unread -The dream gone undreamt.
Emily C. ’22
Summer 2019 / Surgere WHERE I AM FROM
Saya G. ’26
Ellie L.-S. ’25
I am from awkward smiles and random doodles, From screaming at my sister to screaming with my sister. I am from messy bedrooms and peaceful hikes, Shrieks of laughter to sobs for help. From the whistle of a bird and the meow of a cat, A box full of beads and a mouth full of braces. I am from home, always bright, warm, and consoling And things that can tell you the story of my life. Kat A.-A. ’19, Ellie W. ’18 (based on the work of Jadyn L. ’20 Buckminster Fuller) Kaitlin Z. ’19 Addison W. ’26
I am from hairbands and memories from before I was born, From mechanical pencils and jelly erasers, Excitement, love, and kindness. And I am from things that I cannot describe or explain, A star in an endless universe.
Samantha Jaque-Anton ’19
Luisa C. ’27
Jazlyn G. ’22
Isabella S. ’24
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Natalie C., Sophie P., Cara W. ’21
Elizabeth Wyatt ’19
Abigail Y. ’27
HAIKU By Olivia L. ’27
Roses in the air,
Clara K. ’22
Showing the signal of love, Dancing in the wind. Kiera S. ’24
HAIKU By Julia K. ’27
Gabriella R. ’25
So beautifully stream flowing so fluently bring peace to the world
Molly K. ’23 (food sculpture)
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Summer 2019 / Surgere HABIBTI Jenna H. ’20 In my mother lives every woman who has taught me love She shows me all I miss Her voice is soft and it is loud It knows all the answers It sticks to me Like revlon sticks to Kirtan In my mother lives my home In my mother lives my teta My grandmother
Holly C. ’23 (personalized sketchbook)
She used to make me mansaf Ask me why I didn’t eat all the food “Yelluh habibti you eat this much” Emi M. ’24
Jihan makes the mansaf now I think it’s just as good I can’t remember anymore
Alice C. ’25
In my mother lives me A carbon copy She loves me more than I can love myself I tell her she does not know me more than I know me I am beginning to think that is not true In my mother lives every woman who has taught me love
Jasmin C. ’26
She shows me all I miss In my mother lives my home
Audrey L. ’26
Jacqueline P. ’22
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Summer 2019 /
Surgere
JIM HOLLAND Dr. Jim Holland, Upper School English, Human Development, and Peer-to-Peer teacher and Westridge Research Initiative (WRI) coordinator, intended to retire five years ago. Westridge had different plans. t first the school requested he stay on an additional year to teach part-time. But when the Westridge Research Initiative was proposed, it was clear the best person to establish this centralized source of best practices in girls’ education was Jim Holland, a master teacher with significant experience in academic research. Luckily for Westridge, he graciously agreed to take on the challenge. Holland’s more than 40 years in education includes teaching English and serving as a college counselor, academic dean, and assistant head of school. While a student and later adjunct faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Holland worked with two pioneering researchers on girls’ development and education, Carol Gilligan and Annie Rogers. “Collaboration, project-based learning, and cooperative learning are strategies associated with helping girls learn effectively. However, we have traditionally taught in a way that relies on debate, individualism, and competition,” said Holland. “Single-gender environments provide spaces that allow girls to express themselves and be themselves. Westridge focuses on the presence of girls, rather than the absence of boys. All the research shows that girls in co-ed classrooms are less willing to speak up and volunteer their ideas.” At Westridge, Holland has taught his classes based on the philosophy cooperation and collaboration. He explained that he has seen education flourish with strong teacher-student relationships, and girls thriving in communities of trust and mutual respect. “In my literature classes,” he added, “it’s not about transferring what I know to my students. They need to create their own understanding, which they do through empathetic discussion and engaging in one another’s experiences.” While a teacher at heart, Holland is also the school’s resident expert on best practices in girls’ education. Thanks to his expertise, the WRI now hosts a database of resources for faculty and parents that focus on strategies for raising adolescent girls, best practices for creating spaces for girls’ education, and in-depth research into girls’ emotional and psychological lives. In its next phase, WRI research will be applied to key initiatives prioritized in the school’s new strategic plan. Though building WRI has been a fitting project to wrap up his Westridge tenure, for Holland it remains all about the students. “The girls’ engagement and interacting with them is what keeps me here. Westridge was originally an opportunity to immerse myself in teaching again, which is what brings me the most satisfaction, but it has become much more than that,” he said. This year, which Dr. Holland says truly will be his last, he will transition WRI to a new coordinator, and lead, along with Director of Counseling and Student Support Lisa Carruthers, a six-week parent education course on psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour’s new book Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. 27
T-T-TIG! E-E-ERS! The Tigers were on fire in the 2018-2019 school year, making Westridge history and going the distance to CIF-SS Finals in both soccer and softball, with the soccer team continuing to CIF State Regionals! It was a year of dramatic records (JV tennis’ undefeated streak now stretches to just shy of a decade) and play (freshman pitcher Hailey Y. pitched a very rare perfect game), resulting in well-earned recognitions from personal and school bests, banners in Hoffman gymnasium, and MVP designations. See additional 2018-2019 athletics highlights on the following pages.
Softball The Tigers made Westridge history this year as the first softball team to compete in a CIF-SS championship game! The Tigers defeated Coastal Christian, Vasquez, and Whitney to earn their spot in the CIFSS Semifinals, referred to as the “Showdown in Rose Town” (there were t-shirts!). The team won a dramatic 6-4 victory against Mayfield Senior and moved on to the CIF-SS Division 7 Finals. Although Western Christian won the championship game 3-0, the Tigers were incredible in their CIF play. The team received numerous awards and acknowledgements for their fantastic play in both the Prep League and CIF-SS this year. Special kudos go to freshman Hailey Y. who pitched a perfect, no-hit game against Providence in the CIF-SS playoffs and received the Prep League’s MVP pitcher award. Both Hailey and Deijah Bradley ’19 were named to the 2019 All CIF Southern Section Division 7 Softball team and Pasadena Star News All-Area Softball team! Coach Karen Hanselman also got some well-deserved recognition from the Pasadena Star News who named her Softball Coach of the Year. 28
Soccer The soccer team competed in the CIF State Regionals for the first time in Westridge history. They played their best soccer of the year as they advanced in CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs, outscoring their opponents 19-2 throughout their CIF-SS and CIF State run. In the CIF-SS Finals game, the Tigers played phenomenally against Los Amigos in regulation and overtime, but were unable to score. With the score tied 0-0, the game went to penalty kicks and the team came up just short in what was truly an incredible soccer game! Three Tigers were named to the 2018-2019 Girls Soccer All CIF Southern Section team—Sophia Makarem ’19, N’Dea P. G. ’20, and Kaitlin Zareno ’19.
JV/MS Tennis
Track and Field
The JV tennis team continued its historic Prep League run, racking up its 9th consecutive undefeated league season—the only team in Prep League history to hold this prestigious record. The Middle School tennis team is following in the JV team’s footsteps, winning the Middle School Independent League Championship for the third consecutive year!
Senior Sophia Makarem advanced to CIF-SS Prelims for the fourth consecutive year. Sophia ends her running career as the second fastest runner in Westridge history! She will continue to compete in both soccer and track & field at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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Equestrian The Equestrian team finished third overall out of 81 teams in the Interscholastic Equestrian League! Top performers include: Veronica C. ’24 overall champion in Freshman Jumper; Isabella G. ’20 overall Dressage Reserve champion in JV Dressage/ Second Level; Sydney F. ’20 12th overall in Varsity Rider Standings and third place in Varsity Jumper; and Rosemary B. ’25 overall Equitation champion, Novice Equitation champion, Novice Hunter champion, High Point Novice Rider champion, and Novice Overall champion.
Swimming & Diving Senior Kimi Adler advanced to the CIF-SS Diving Championships for the fourth consecutive year! She ended her impressive Westridge diving career by placing 15th in Division 3 and will continue her diving career at Claremont McKenna College.
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Summer 2019 / Surgere
2018-2019
BY the NUMBERS All-Prep League First Team Members CIF State Appearance
Individual Prep League MPVs (softball pitcher, soccer defense)
(soccer)
Scholar-Athletes Seven members of the Class of 2019 signed on to collegiate play. That’s nearly 10% of the graduating class!
All-Prep League Performers
• K imi Adler — Claremont McKenna College, NCAA Division III, Swimming & Diving • D eijah Bradley — Pitzer College, NCAA Division III, Softball (not pictured) • C hloe Daniel — University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League Division I, Fencing • S ummer Garrison — University of Illinois, NCAA Division I, Soccer • S ophia Makarem — University of California, Santa Cruz, NCAA Division III, Soccer and Track & Field • A lexandria Perez — Santa Clara University, NCAA Division I, Crew • I yla Rossi — Caltech, NCAA Division III, Track & Field • K aitlin Zareno — Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NCAA Division III, Soccer
Pasadena Star News Coach of the Year (softball)
All-CIF First Team Members
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HIGHLIGHTS
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Summer 2019 / Surgere
Italian Cultural Exchange on Orchestra Interim Trip Members of the Westridge Chamber Orchestra traveled to Italy for Interim Week to create a cultural exchange and educational experience through music and art in Rome and Florence. Two highlights for the orchestra were performances at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence and a collaboration with Italian musicians for a concert of music by Italian and American composers in Rome.
Urinetown Immersive Theatre Experience Educates Audiences and Funds Clean Water Systems The Middle School Water Warriors created an immersive theatrical experience for theatregoers at performances of Urinetown, this year’s Upper School spring musical. Urinetown tells the story of a not-so-far-off dystopian future where water shortages have become desperate and corporations are charging people to use the bathroom (“pay to pee” in the show’s vernacular). When the typical rush to the bathroom began at intermission, audience members were stopped short by a group of Water Warriors wearing “Urine Good Company” badges (a reference to the show) that marked them as the officials who had to be paid for use of the bathroom. The donations collected for the “privilege to pee” at the performances ultimately totaled more than $500, which the Water Warriors donated to fund clean water systems in Africa. Don’t worry—everyone who needed to use the restroom was allowed to pass!
Winter Production of All in the Timing Led by Young Student Directors This spring’s Black Box production of All in the Timing was led by Emerson L. ’21, Phoebe J. ’21, and Caroline P. ’20— an unusually young group of student directors. Traditionally, seniors take on the role of student directors. Each student directed two, one-act plays for the production. Brava to the underclasswomen for taking on these leadership roles!
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Art Departments Increase Focus on Interdisciplinary Collaborations Last year, Westridge arts faculty joined forces across departments on the following student classes and projects:
12 Angry Men Women Jamie G. ’20 led a group of students in a staged reading of the play 12 Angry Men. The reading, accompanied by a voter registration drive, was part of a nationwide project to present 1,000 readings of the work by female (or non-cis male) casts over the weekend of April 5-8. The initiative, called 12,000 Voices, aimed to increase voter registration and civic engagement. “After discovering the 12,000 Voices Project, I knew I wanted to do a reading at Westridge,” said Jamie. “I hope our reading communicated the message that all voices deserve to be heard.”
• P erspectives in Literature Class: Listening to the Voices of Black Women Brandon Kruhm, director of theatre, spent a month guest-teaching the drama unit of the class, introducing students to plays from 1916-2016 including Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke (1916) and Sweat by Lynn Nottage (2015). Dance teacher Kashmir Blake taught about African American dance from the 1970s to Beyoncé, and orchestra conductor Michael Powers provided background of black female musicians and composers. (See page 8 for more information on this Upper School elective course.) • 6 th Grade Wax Museum Theatre teachers Julia Davis and Brandon Kruhm helped guide the 6th graders through the creation of their monologues for the Women of Character and Courage wax museum. • C eramics and Geometry Ceramic teacher Juanita Jimenez and geometry teacher Eric Libicki had students combine their knowledge of geometry with their visual and physical sense of clay’s properties to translate a 2-D form into a three-dimensional object.
New Theatre Classes Introduced In addition to existing electives courses in costume design and technical theatre, the theatre department now offers two courses that fulfill Upper School students’ art requirement. In Acting 1, introduced last year, students study the history and practice of acting techniques, script analysis, and character development. They also explore plays from different time periods, written by a diverse roster of playwrights from Shakespeare and Moliere to Lynn Nottage and Sarah DeLappe. At the end of the year, each class develops and performs a 30-minute show inspired by a collection of journal entries they made throughout the year on topics such as the human condition, their personal views, and elements of favorite stories. New this year is Theatre Production, which introduces students to the business of theatre. Students will learn about directing, design, production management, advertising, communication, dramaturgy, and more. They will also have a chance to directly influence the Westridge Theatre production process, guiding decisions about everything from marketing materials to audience relations and even the season selection for the next year’s theatre productions. 34
• T heatre History for 9th Grade English Classes Brandon Kruhm guest-lectured in several 9th grade English classes this year. He gave lessons on the history of Greek theatre to prepare students to study Antigone, and lessons on Shakespeare before they read Romeo and Juliet. • P ublic Speaking Workshops with the Research in Science Class In addition to research and lab skills, students in the Upper School Research in Science learn about and practice research presentation skills. The theatre department worked with students on public speaking, including the power of body posture and voice.
Summer 2019 / Surgere
Glee Club
Dance Concert
Lower School Concert
The Westridge Glee Club received a “Superior” award at this year’s annual High School Choral Festival, sponsored by the Southern California Vocal Association. The festival brought vocal groups from six LAarea schools to the Westridge campus to share an afternoon of beautiful music with their peers and receive feedback from a panel of esteemed choral conductors.
More than 45 Upper School students performed in the spring dance concert, “Expressions.” The concert featured 15 dance numbers, nine of which were choreographed by Advanced Dance students! Students showed off their skills in variety of dance styles to music ranging from Beyoncé to Newsies: The Musical.
The Lower School choirs and strings ensembles showcased their musical prowess in their Spring Concert. The 6th grade chorus impressed audiences with their rendition of Verdi’s Anvil Chorus and the 6th Grade Strings ensemble rocked out to a mashup of “I Will Survive” and “Unravel,” arranged by our very own strings teacher, Madeline Eaton.
Save the Date Westridge 2019-2020 Theatre Season
Failure: A Love Story October 18-20 I and You • December 5-8 Guys and Dolls • March 6-8
Once in a Lifetime
The Green Bird
The fall production of Once in a Lifetime featured a cast of 27 actors who skillfully portrayed more than 70 characters throughout the course of the play! Set in the late 1920s at the dawn of “talkies,” Once in a Lifetime tells the story of three failed vaudeville actors who go to Hollywood to make their fortune in the new world of talking pictures.
The 8th grade production of The Green Bird was a wild, chaotic road to “happily ever after,” paved with curses, clowns, demons, enchanted fruit, selfies, and a talking statue who kept losing control of the story she was narrating. Twenty-five 8th graders participated in the creation of this production, which performed four sold-out shows in the Black Box Theatre.
A Wrinkle in Time • May 7-10
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Upper School Opens Writing Center, Trains Fellows Westridge alumnae talk about the strength of our writing program, but the English Department isn’t resting on its laurels. This fall they are introducing the Westridge Writing Center, a drop-in resource for writing help to be held every day during lunch or H Block elective period and staffed by faculty and specially trained student Writing Fellows. The inaugural group of fellows will study the art of rhetoric and composition and train to be writing coaches with Westridge faculty members. Their training will include the recursive nature of the writing process, the Higher and Lower Order Concerns of essay writing, and study of modes, aims, and conventions of writing done campus-wide and across the disciplines.
Student Action Council Forms Inspired by their experience at the student strategic planning “Dream Summit” in February, a group of Upper School students will launch the Student Action Council this fall. Their goal is to ensure ongoing dialogue with the head of school and other administrators, through which they will offer their perspectives, solutions, and proposed action steps that will ensure the student voice helps to evolve and improve Westridge. The age-old saying of “As Westridge changes students, so students change Westridge” is alive and well!
“Clear, concise writing, and the thinking which produces it, are at the center of what we do at Westridge,” said Gary Baldwin, director of Upper School. “Creating a writing center is a natural extension of this commitment, and we are all very excited to see it get off the ground.” The Writing Center was developed by Ed Raines and Tarra Stevenson, members of the Westridge English faculty, who will also manage the Center. Writing Center Hours: Days 1, 3, 5, lunch-12:30-1:10 and H4/H62:00-3:00 (expected to open in October) Location: EC20 36
The student Dream Summit team.
Summer 2019 / Surgere
SAVE THE DATE: December 11
Dr. Lisa Damour Speaks with Parents about “Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls”
JOIN US Love movies and/or talking about them? Westridge’s new Film Friday series is for you. On seven Friday afternoons (3:30-6 pm in the Performing Arts Center), Westridge will screen movies and host short, faculty-led discussions after the films. The films voted on by the community are:
Rear Window (September 6) Water (September 20) Beasts of the Southern Wild (November 8) The General (January 17) Picnic at Hanging Rock (April 3) The Truman Show (May 8) Days of Heaven (May 22) Screenings are open to Upper School students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumnae. No reservation required! Special thanks to Art & History Teacher Lorri Deyer who is bringing this program to Westridge, along with a singleevening Short Film Night (details to follow). See you at the movies!
This year, we have the honor of welcoming back one of our most popular parent education speakers, author, psychologist, and expert on girls’ development Dr. Lisa Damour. She will speak with students, faculty, and parents on December 11 about her most recent book (and Westridge summer reading recommendation) Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls, which addresses management of normal, healthy stress, the range of stressors faced by girls but not by boys, as well as how to identify more pervasive stress. Dr. Jim Holland, director of the Westridge Research Initiative, and Dr. Lisa Carruthers, the school’s director of counseling & student support, will host a sixsession parent education series and book discussion in advance of Dr. Damour’s visit. Registration is limited for this small-group discussion series, which runs late September through mid-November. Participants will be expected to read each chapter in preparation for the discussions and must be able to attend all meetings. For information, please contact Anahit Turgman at aturgman@westridge.org. Dr. Damour is the executive director of the Laurel Center for Research on Girls and writes a monthly column on adolescence for the Well Family section of The New York Times. She last visited Westridge in the fall of 2017, when she spoke about her book Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls through the Seven Transitions to Adulthood.
For more information, visit www.westridge.org/filmfridays 37
Community Says Goodbye to Dear Colleagues and Friends This June, Westridge celebrated the retirements of long-time Westridge veterans Georgette Awad, Sherry Dai, and Pam Garcia. Georgette taught 6th grade math at Westridge for 20 years, bringing passion for her subject, love of her students, and a bit of good-hearted mischief to her co-workers, who she supported without bounds. In a parting gift to the school, Georgette engraved the school bell she brought to Westridge many years ago as a gentle call to Lower School students. Pam and Sherry were a team in the library for 19 years, where Pam served as librarian for 24 years with Sherry joining the team as cataloger five years later. Though quiet and humble, both Pam and Sherry left big marks on our library, campus, and community, as we heard in the tributes from colleagues, present and former, who came out to salute the pair. The Class of 2019 selected Pam as the parade grand marshall for this May’s College Connections Parade and Fair to make sure she knows how much the student love and appreciate her support of their work, studies, and research. Join us in thanking Georgette, Sherry, and Pam for their long and deep service to our girls.
Westridge Welcomes New Trustees
AKILA GIBBS
RICHARD LORD
Executive director of the Pasadena Senior Center with two decades of non-profit management experience, including with the Alzheimer’s Association and American Cancer Association. Spent the first 20 years of her career in broadcast news with Fox News Channel, KCBS, and KTLA. Board member at Huntington Hospital and chair of the Pasadena Senior Commission. B.A. in Communications from University of California, San Diego. Mother of Olympic silver medalist Lauren Gibbs ’02.
Casualty Global Practice Director and member of the Board of Directors at actuarial firm Milliman. Sits on the Board of Trustees for the San Marino Schools Foundation. B.A. in Mathematics/ Statistics from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. Father of Audrey ’26.
CATHERINE CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ ’71 Alumnae Board Chair and Member at Large, Westridge Board of Trustees Owner and human resources director of ibar Special Needs Trust Advisors, working with trusts and estate planning to ensure individuals with special needs receive the protection they need and deserve. B.A. in English Literature from San Diego State University. Member of the Westridge Alumnae Board, 2014 through present. Took on Alumnae Board chair role this year.
THANK YOU! 38
Please join us in thanking three long-time Westridge Trustees who retired from our board in June—Stephanie Chandler Dencik ’90, Jennifer T. Lum, and Claire Phillips Tayback.
Thank you, MRS. TUCK!
Summer 2019 / Surgere
fter 19 years at Westridge and more than 40 years in education, Mary Tuck, director of Lower and Middle School, ran her last pet talent show at Petridge, presided over her final 6th and 8th grade recognition ceremonies, and led the faculty processional at 2019 Commencement before retiring at the end of June. With a tenure spanning a significant portion of Westridge history, she helped establish many of these school traditions, helped build the school’s reputation for academic excellence, and touched the lives of generations of Westridge girls. Mary joined Westridge in 2000 as the director of Lower School and in 2015, she also began to oversee the Middle School program, leading the day-to-day operations, strategic initiatives, and admissions procedures for grades 4-8. She came to Westridge from Polytechnic School, where she served in several teaching and administration capacities for 22 years. At Westridge, Mary was responsible for a number of programmatic innovations including the launch of the 6th Grade
Service Learning curriculum, the Lower School Council program, the Middle School Interdisciplinary Program, and the Let’s Talk parent series, as well as the shift away from textbook-based learning in the Lower School. Her retirement celebration was a beautiful and fitting tribute for Mary—loud, lively, and packed with children, young women, parents, and teachers, many who are currently at Westridge, and many long graduated or retired who returned to pay tribute to their friend, colleague, or former teacher. Fifth-grade students kicked-off the event with a dance created for the occasion and colleagues and parents of Westridge alumnae paid tribute to Mary. “Mary is a talented educator and leader and a wonderful colleague and friend,” said Elizabeth J. McGregor, head of school. “She has a gracious spirit and is warm and caring toward adults and students. She is student-centered and very supportive of her team of teachers—for both groups she encouraged risk-taking and a growth mindset, which made a great impact on our school. It’s the end of an era, but we are so happy for Mary.”
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY IN HONORING MARY Please help Westridge honor Mary’s outstanding commitment to our students, and the profound impact she has had on so many lives, by making a gift in her honor to the Lower School playground improvement project. Mary suggested that tributes in her honor be directed to this project, which is dear to her heart and much needed by our youngest students. Make your gift online at www.westridge.org/marytuck or call the Advancement Office at 626.799.1053 ext. 219.
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WESTRIDGE PARENT ASSOCIATION
Important WPA Dates
Who is the WPA? Every Westridge parent is a member of the WPA! The WPA leadership team works to create a strong community at Westridge by engaging parents through committees such as the Multicultural Parent Collaborative (MPC), which works to support and advance the Westridge multicultural community, the Summer Opportunities Fair committee, and events and activities including parent’s basketball and soccer games, and more! Visit www.westridge.org/PortalWPA to learn how you can get involved.
SEPTEMBER 22
Community Picnic SEPTEMBER 24
WPA Meeting NOVEMBER 5
Multicultural Parent Collaborative (MPC) Potluck (all welcome!) NOVEMBER 15
Yam Festival DECEMBER 11
MPC’s Night Market
Guest Speaker Dr. Lisa Damour Yam Festival
FEBRUARY 1
Summer Opportunities Fair FEBRUARY 20
MPC Potluck (all welcome!) Summer Opportunities Fair
Dad’s Club volunteers
The WPA has an exciting year ahead, with a host of events that foster a close community of parents who support their students, the school, and each other. As part of its ongoing work to provide educational forums for parents to discuss important issues surrounding the development of girls through adolescence, the WPA is bringing author and psychologist Lisa Damour, Ph.D. back to campus on December 11 to discuss her new book Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. The WPA’s biggest fundraiser, the 29th annual Summer Opportunities Fair, will take place on February 1. This beloved community event, along with the Multicultural Parent Collaborative Night Market and sales from the Tiger Tail Boutique school spirit store continue to fund guest speakers, faculty and staff appreciation breakfasts, scholarships, class parties, senior events, Partnership for Success!, and more. We need you to join us in our labor of love and calendar of fun and educational parent events this year. 40
MARCH 10
WPA Meeting APRIL 10
MPC Night Market MAY 12
New Parent Welcome, Volunteer Fair, College Report
Class of 1969 members, who presented their Forever Fund check for $100,000 to Westridge School during Alumnae Weekend include (front row, from left) Alice Esbenshade Burke, Jane Case Petering, Valerie Marshall, Kate Godfrey, Wendy Holden, Sara Campbell Lindgren, Elizabeth Russell, Carol Watson Kunert, Teri Wilde, Margie Earl Fryer, Crocker Hollis, Janet Jobe, Molly McCarty Regimbal, Mary Farris Anderson, Sherrill Sampsell Miller, and Sigrid Burton. Back row: Judy Kemper Lewis, Darian Marvin Dragge, Charlotte Holmes Woods, Mandy Reynolds Boesche, Elaine Evans Constantz, Kate Moore, Julie Cates, and Nancy Keatinge.
Betty Cole and Jennifer Heintz Lulla ’95
2019 RECAP he Westridge campus bustled with activity March 8 and 9 during Alumnae Weekend’s two-day program of activities for alumnae returning to celebrate their alma mater, lasting friendships, and milestone reunions. Members from the Class of 1969, in the 50th reunion spotlight this year, were among the earliest to arrive. Thanks to a dozen welcoming faculty, the 1969 alumnae were able to experience what classes are like today, from English and Spanish to history, chemistry, physics, earth & physical science, literature, strings, and ceramics.
Senior Class president Olivia Neil ’19), a Westridge Tigers softball game, and master class offerings such as an AP Bio workshop with Ryan Skophammer, Music Matters class with Paul Stephenson, and Intro to Computer Science class with Alex Husmann ’13. The Alumnae Board helped sponsor the Fiesta Friday evening reception at Pitcairn House with alumnae, faculty and staff, and members of the Board of Trustees filling the alumnae living room and spilling onto the lawn.
Following lunch at the Elizabeth Edmundson Herrick Commons, the Class of 1969 met the 4th grader pen pals they began corresponding with in January. The newfound friends got better acquainted over tea, cookies, and spirited conversation.
Events resumed Saturday with coffee with Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor for Madeline Society members and the Class of 1949. By 11 a.m., coffee and registration hit full swing with attendees, spanning nine decades, returning to campus – some for the first time in ages! Many arrived early, stepping back in time to the historic Braun Music Center to hear alumnae author Terry Gamble ’73 speak about her latest novel, The Eulogist.
All alumnae were invited for afternoon activities including a campus tour (led by ASB President Quyen Mullen ’19, and
The reunion luncheon featured remarks by McGregor, 2018-2019 Alumnae Board Chair Emily Miller Karlekar ’95,
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(cont.) and Senior Class President Olivia Neil ’19 who shared more than a few commonalities with esteemed alumna Katharine Nevins Schwarzenbach ’39, who was also class president, and was on the basketball team and yearbook staff. In celebration of her 80th reunion, Olivia presented Katharine with a gift on behalf of Westridge. The classes of 1947 and 1953 were announced as the Elizabeth Edmundson Herrick Bowl winners, reaching 100% participation from their classmates making contributions to
Class of 1954 Catherine Terry Dees and Sandra Morse Coleman
the 2018-2019 Annual Fund, and with special mention for class reps and reunion organizers Priscilla Dunn Flynn ’47, Gwen Garland Babcock ’53, and Cynthia Crawford Berne ’53 for their unwavering support and fundraising efforts. The Class of 1968 was awarded the Nancy H. Owen Trophy for making the largest dollar contribution to the Annual Fund. 2019 Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna award recipient Sigrid Burton ’69 was honored for her career as an artist, her visionary leadership, and her dedication to philanthropy at Westridge and the greater community. The luncheon ended with all singing Surgere Tentamus, led by the Westridge Madrigals singing group, but the celebrations continued with milestone reunion dinners taking place in private homes and Pasadena area restaurants on Saturday evening.
Class of 1959
Class of 1959 members Susan Hazeltine Connell, Carol Barnum Hill, Barbara Holway Ilias, Marcella Wright Ludwig, and Jean Farrand Smith
Class of 1964
Class of 1964 members Daphne Cates, Ann Callender Barker, Diana De Mers Fourney, Susie Hauk, Barbara Stout Arnold, and Diane Link
SUBMIT 2020 Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna Award nominations by October 31.
Class of 1994
(from left to right): Fiona Baerveldt Wertheimer, Katie Rothenberg Wei, Devon Jones Coleman, Heather Golde, June Chow Babtiwale, Alexa Christy, Lindsey Benter Hollingsworth, Melissa Wu, Liz Seitz DeRobertis, Sarah Soifer, Jill Peterson Dennis, and Vanessa Gaw Baik 42
Visit www.westridge.org/ RanneyNom for details.
Summer 2019 / Surgere
Forever Fund Reaches $100,000 Mark
Terry Gamble with 1973 classmates Nina Warner and Susan Seager
uring the Alumnae Weekend luncheon, Elizabeth Russell ’69 and Teri Wilde ’69 presented Elizabeth J. McGregor with a check for $100,000, funds raised by the Class of 1969 to commemorate the naming of the Forever Fund, a five-year fundraising effort in celebration of their 50th reunion. The fund supports financial aid via the Westridge Endowment. “My involvement with the fund started a reflection on what had made a difference in my life,” said Elizabeth Russell. “I realized that after my family, my Westridge education was the driver of my success, a gift beyond measure.” She spoke of how the idea for the fund was first sparked, largely through Sigrid Burton’s vision and perseverance, and the steps it took to reach the $100,000 needed to name the fund. Classmate and Alumnae Board member Teri Wilde was called upon next to share her experience in going from decades of non-involvement to igniting passion and support for Westridge. “Being able to gift a quality education to future generations, regardless of financial circumstances, motivated my decision to support our endowment,” said Wilde. Based on the Forever Fund class giving model created by Burton, Russell, and Wilde, other classes have followed their lead to contribute to the fund, including the Class of 1956 and the Class of 1963. Rather than resting on their laurels, Burton, Russell, and Wilde upheld the motto Surgere Tentamus (we strive to rise) by setting a new goal of raising $1 million for the Forever Fund by 2024 and are calling upon all classes to join this special alumnae effort. To learn more about this powerful endeavor, contact Lisa Vandergriff, director of Alumnae Affairs, at lvandergriff@ westridge.org or 626.799.1053, ext. 244.
for Alumnae Weekend, March 6-7, 2020 Elizabeth J. McGregor accepts the Forever Fund check from Class of 1969 members Teri Wilde, Elizabeth Russell, and Sigrid Burton.
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Jan Wesley ’68 and Alice Esbenshade Burke ’69
(Top) Stephanie Chandler Dencik ’90, Nina Warner ’73, and Tracy Gamble Hirrel ’70 (Bottom) 1953 classmates Holly Greef Robinson, Gwen Garland Babcock, and Cynthia Crawford Berne
Madrigals performing during the luncheon include Phoebe J. ’21, Sam Jacque-Anton ’19, Mia Banks ’19, Mia M. ’20
for all Westridge alumnae & with reunions for classes ending in “5” and “0”
March 6 & 7, 2020 FOR MORE INFORMATION,
Katharine Nevins Schwarzenbach ’39 receives special recognition on her 80th reunion year from senior class president Olivia Neil ’19
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contact Lisa Vandergriff, Director of Alumnae Affairs at lvandergriff@westridge.org or call 626.799.1053, ext. 244.
Summer 2019 / Surgere
Book Panel
Class of 1969 members (pictured here) who participated in the pen pal program, include (by alpha) Mary Farris Anderson, Alice Esbenshade Burke, Sigrid Burton, Julie Cates, Elaine Evans Constantz, Wendy Holden, Crocker Hollis, Janet Jobe, Nancy Keatinge, Carol Watson Kunert, Sara Campbell Lindgren, Kate Moore, Jane Case Petering, Elizabeth Russell and Charlotte Holmes Woods. Fourth grade students pictured (by alpha) include: Izzie B., Luisa C., Kelly C., Alumnae Morgan, Kara C., Sophia C., Sophia D., Pip D., Julia K. Cadence K., Nissa K., Katie L., Olivia L., Alice L., Jadyn S., Phoebeauthors M., Gia M., Jessica Aceley P., Fiala P., Marley P., Josephine S., Tekle S., Hermione W., Lillian W., Yolanda W., Keenan W., Caitlin W., Shania W., Abigail Y., and Irene Z. Caroline Wallis, Leslie Parry,
and Susan James Julie Cates ’69, Jane Case Petering ’69, and Sigrid Burton ’69 with their Class of 2027 pen pals.
Elizabeth Russell ’69 with pen pals Irene Z. ’27 and Phoebe M. ’27
Westridge Alumnae Readers Fall Play – Failure: A Love Story / Friday-Sunday, October 18-20 Annual Fund Phonathon / Wednesday, October 16 Yam Festival / Friday, November 22 Young Alumnae Circle Brunch / Saturday, December 14 Homecoming & College Conversations / Friday, January 10 Summer Opportunities Fair / Saturday, February 1 Alumnae Weekend / Friday-Saturday, March 6-7 + reunion celebrations for classes ending in “5” and “0” Spring Musical – Guys and Dolls / Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 College Connections Fair / Friday, May 15 Commencement / Friday, June 5
Join us at 7:30 p.m. in the Pitcairn House Leslie Clarke Gray ’62 Alumnae Living Room for:
• The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings / September 4, 2019 • Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Leguin (50th Anniv. edition) / November 13, 2019 • The Library Book by Susan Orlean / January 22, 2020 • Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker (Penguin Classics) / March 11, 2020 • Becoming by Michelle Obama / May 20, 2020 • Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See / July 15, 2020
RSVP to alumnae@westridge.org or 626.799.1053, ext. 244. Books are available at Vroman’s with a 20% Westridge Alumnae Reader discount.
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6 College Connections Fair 2019 Now in its 4th year, this year’s College Connections Parade and Fair included 150 alumnae, student, faculty, staff, and administration participants who represented more than 80 colleges and universities at spirited booths filling Madeline Court. The event, a joint effort between the College Counseling and Alumnae Affairs departments, allows students and families in an informal setting to learn about colleges and universities that might not necessarily be on their radar. The event kicked off with a parade of colleges, led by Tiger Mascot Ronni Husmann ’19, of course. The parade’s Grand Marshal, Pam Garcia, was chosen by the senior class in recognition of her final year as librarian at Westridge (Garcia retired in June after 24 years). With food, music, and a range of fun activities, the Fair has quickly become a great tradition 46
for current seniors who’ve just been through the application process, and for returning alumnae who are eager to share first-hand college knowledge with current students. And it connects Westridge’s past, present and future in a way that benefits all involved. “I continue to be in awe of the wonder that is the College Connections Parade and Fair!” said Upper School English Teacher Katie Rothenberg Wei ’94.“You bring together so many alums, parents, and members of our school community in an event that is fun AND informative!” 1. Z oe Muñoz, Caroline Nowak ’19, Salomé Albright ’19 2. Hannah Lam ’19, Christa Lorenz 3. Chloe Daniel ’19, Lauren Baydaline ’19 4. Metzli Mejia ’12, Sissi Li ’19 5. Rachel Harris ’19, Amanda Milley ’17, Barbra Chabot 6. The 2019 College Connections Parade & Fair
Summer 2019 / Surgere
Homecoming and College Conversations January marks the time for alumnae to return to campus for two annual events—Homecoming and College Conversations. College Counseling spearheads the efforts with their fine-tuned College Conversations tradition of having the most recent graduate class—in this case, the Class of 2018—talk to current seniors about their college experiences. A series of panels and “PSA” (Problem Solving Assistant) speakers allow seniors to ask candid questions about the collegiate experience, from the earliest stages of applying and waiting for acceptances to making the adjustment to a new school environment. Equipped with a toolbox of strong writing, speaking, and studying skills, most young alumnae find their biggest issues are not academic, but rather related to food, climate, or roommates.
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Later in the day, alumnae join Westridge’s Athletic Homecoming festivities including varsity soccer and basketball games, Pie ’n Burger, and t-shirts for any visiting alumnae. All alumnae and past parents are invited to save the date for Homecoming January 11, 2020! Classes of 2019 and 2020 are also invited to save the date for College Conversations on January 10, 2020.
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1. Maddie Groff, Zoya Abbas, Corah Forrester, Siena Giljum, Jane Horner 2. M adeleine Chiu, Maddie Groff, Madeleine Myronowicz, Kira Stevenson, Quincy Foster 3. E leanor Watson, Matilde Eckford, Lucy Bertolet, Melissa Brassard, Audrey Wang 4. Jessica Beskind, Penelope Boone, Madeleine Chiu 5. M arissa Aivazis, Ciauna Cota, Nicole Tanouye, Sophia Spezialy, Matilde Eckford, Sophia Ramirez-Brown
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Rocket Dreams (and More) Fueled at Westridge Laurence Diarra ’17 On April 5 Laurence Diarra spoke during an Upper School student assembly about her experience studying Astronomical Engineering at the University of Southern California, including building fullscale rockets and being part of the first student team to design, build, and send a rocket (Traveler IV) into outer space. (Yes! Read that again!) She recently spent two weeks at Spaceport America, an FAA-licensed spaceport located in New Mexico, where the launch took place near the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range. (Visit www.viterbischool.usc.edu and search “student altitude record” to learn about this historic feat.) Laurence credits her experience as one of the first students on the Westridge rocketry team for her decision to become an engineer. “I owe a lot to Maddie Emslie ’16, who started the team,” said Laurence. At both Westridge and USC, Laurence has worked on solid motor rockets and those using liquid propellant, which she explains is more difficult.
mental health, and to be wary of joining too many things at once. “Create balance first, then add on more,” said Laurence. Laurence’s final words of advice to students? “Know how to write a personal statement and a compelling email.”
Nina Suh-Toma ’18 Nina recently completed her first year at UC San Diego, where she is a Global Health major on the pre-med track, with an interest in pediatrics. She spent the year as an undergraduate research intern with the Center on Gender Equity and Health, part of UCSD’s School of Medicine, working on a project called UC Speaks Up. “The research team’s goal is to better understand the campus climate around sexual assault, consent, and unhealthy relationships and gain insight on how UCSD and the UC system as a whole can improve their services for survivors and prevention and education programs,” said Nina.
“Westridge also taught me to create my own opportunities,” said Laurence. Proof of that lies in the summer internship Laurence found for herself, working in Hawaii on the Neutron 1 satellite. Laurence explained how the opportunity didn’t come by following an internship lead, but rather by cold calling about something that interested her. Laurence credits being comfortable with teachers as the best thing Westridge gave her. She also advised students to focus on their 48
Caltech post-doc Christopher Barnes with Nina Suh-Toma ’18
Summer 2019 / Surgere
This summer, Nina interned with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health through the Vaccine Preventable Disease Control program. She also returned to Caltech to continue her work with Christopher Barnes in the lab of Pamela Bjorkman. Barnes mentored Nina in the lab for her Westridge Research in Science class. Work during this senior year class led to Nina being named among the authors of the recently published article, Broad and Potent Neutralizing Antibodies Recognize the Silent Face of the HIV Envelope, featured in the journal Immunity. Sharing her excitement about the article, Nina said, “I am so thankful to Westridge and especially Dr. Skop (Ryan Skophammer) for the opportunity to work at the Bjorkman lab during my senior year.”
Kai Grayson ’13 After graduating from Emerson College in 2017 with a degree in Visual and Media Arts, Kai moved to Japan in August of 2017. “The idea started as a joke on Facebook and just escalated from there,” said Kai, who started out with a three-year visa and a job in the countryside. Thembisa Mshaka ’88 connected with Kai Unhappy with the Grayson ’13 while visiting Japan. job and location, she moved to bustling Tokyo, where she has been for the past year and a half, teaching herself Japanese and staying busy with multiple jobs. She found work singing and performing for children as part of an English program, works as a model, and plays the bass in two different pop bands.
Rachel Dillman ’16 Rachel Dillman ’16 is a summer intern at both the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the office of Senator Diane Feinstein. She works directly with office staff, assisting with constituents, research, and casework on immigration, housing, and healthcare. Rachel is grateful for the opportunity to work for two powerful female politicians, hoping to someday be a politician herself. She will be a senior at Santa Clara University this fall, majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Journalism and Studio Art.
Quincy Foster ’17 After completing her sophomore year at UC Berkeley, where she studies political science and public policy, Quincy spent the summer working as a communications and press intern for Senator Kamala Harris. She has loved working in the Senator’s office and learning about life on the Hill. “Fun fact: I took a picture in front of this same sculpture when I was on the 8th grade DC trip with former Senator Barbara Boxer!” - Quincy Foster
“Westridge opened the idea of world travel to me especially because the first international trip I took was during Interim week when I went to China,” said Kai. Still intent on pursuing a film industry career, Kai plans to work as a set PA when she moves back to the U.S., with the goal of directing her own works within five years.
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Nicole Tanouye ’18 During her freshman year of college, Nicole studied abroad in Florence, Italy through New York University’s First Year Abroad Program. Being in Italy allowed Nicole to travel and explore Europe while also incorporating the knowledge she gained from Westridge in her AP Euro and AP Art History classes. Although she was undeclared during freshman year, Nicole was recently accepted as a Music Business major in the New York University Steinhardt School. As an intern with the Visible Clothing company, Nicole visited Westridge in May to help the College Counseling department present laundry bags to the graduating seniors in the Class of 2019. She found the internship at Visible Clothing through Westridge parent Julie Lin, who is friends with one of the founders. Nicole’s work at Visible Clothing involved developing PR packages for potential clients and managing the company’s Instagram account.
Are you a member of Westridge Connect? Our networking platform, Westridge Connect, has seen significant growth since launching in the fall of 2016. Today, the site includes more than 1,000 members of the Westridge community that includes alumnae, Upper School students, parents, faculty, and staff. Alumnae make valuable connections via Westridge Connect for career advice and job leads, and parents are solid resources for jobs and mentoring
Amy Stapenhorst ’19 Amy had a unique summer job as a tour guide with Downtown LA Walking Tours. She worked as a guide for the Downtown Architecture tour and had the opportunity to create a summer pop-up tour of South Pasadena as well.
opportunities. The network is also used to discover alumnae across the nation and overseas. Students may join during their junior and senior year, and while their profiles remain hidden until they become alumnae, they utilize the site to reach out to alumnae when researching colleges, internships, or careers. Our college-age alumnae have been particularly helpful during college tours, and the process of connecting students and alumnae that used to take five steps now only
Amy Stapenhorst ’19 with Julia Long ’02, founder of Pasadena Walking Tours.
“I love performing and interacting with different people, and this job combines both of those passions!” said Stapenhorst.
“Working with alumna Julia Long on both tours has been an great experience as well. Her passion for leading tours and her commitment to supporting and helping me is unparalleled. I’m so grateful to Westridge Connect and Julia because I would not have found this fantastic opportunity without it!”
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takes one, thanks to Westridge Connect! The strength of Westridge Connect is in the scope of connections and outreach, and your participation allows for further growth. Visit https://westridgeconnect.peoplegrove.com to join today!
Summer 2019 / Surgere this challenging time. Memphis is a liberal oasis in a red state surrounded by red states. It is known for barbecue, soul and blues music, and the mighty Mississippi River. Our son will come from Singapore in July with our grandson, Zachary, who will stay throughout his summer vacation. Our daughter and family will stay with us for two weeks in July. We will finally enjoy the family reunion we expected to have last December.”
1 Class of 1963 Arizona gathering
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Corinne Sandberg Gans (Chestnut Hill, MA) shared news of her recent move from Encinitas, CA to be near family in Massachusetts and said, “I’m very proud of ’our’ continuing excellence in preparing the girls for successful futures.”
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2 Emily Ko Wang ’93, Lynne Tsuboi Saito ’63, Andrea Mills ’72
so grateful. The frosting on my cake-of-a-year was Ben Dillon, my 9 pound—took two docs to haul him out!—and first west coast grandson, born Dec. 20. I have five grands, now—all boys. A quinfecta? I can’t make Alumnae Weekend this year, alas but I’ll be at Gwen’s lunch, June 19. Hope to see a lot of ’53ers then. Surgere! Lynne”
Marilyn Keyes Roper (Houlton, ME): “Great-grandchildren are Harry’s and my current delight. One great-grandson turned 1 in February. He is already a serious bookworm, turning pages and making sounds like he is reading. Another greatgrandson due in mid-March. We’ve cherished each ultrasound photo of him as he progresses toward birth.”
1956
Lynne McKelvey (Washington, DC): “Dear Classmates, How sad to lose Val and Sylvia in quick succession. Thanks, Gwen, for letting us know. My novel, A Real Daughter, and I crisscrossed the country on book tour all year. (If you’re into large print, there’s an e-book version out now.) Your support has been amazing. I’m
Susan Sumner Sullivan (Fallbrook, CA): “Love living in Fallbrook!”
Julie Patton Barker (Grass Valley, CA): “Six of us had a lovely time remembering our super times at Westridge—Patty, Lassie, Debby, Carrita, Schirmie, and me this spring in Santa Barbara. Some of them never knew some of us got caught smoking under the stage!”
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Susan Wheeler Rappe (San Francisco, CA): “I am doing well. I have discovered Madagascar. Helping the people. The lemurs
3 Gabrielle Groth-Marnat, Enid Elliot, Kathy Levin, Libby Sinclair, class of 1965
there have become my current passion. I have been there the last 2 years and plan to go again.”
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Lynne Tsuboi Saito (Huntington Beach, CA) shared news of a gathering, earlier this year of classmates in Green Valley, Arizona. 1 Front, from left: Lynne Tsuboi Saito, Keonan Yardley, Caroline Grey-Ganz. Back: Lee Warren, Tudor McCook. Lynne was honored at the Westridge Alumnae Board end-of-year dinner in May for completing two terms of service on the board. 2
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Britt Gordon Ascher (Lafayette, CA): “Mike and I are living in Memphis, TN for the 2019 year while our grandson Michael goes through treatment for cancer at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. It is an amazing place where 400 children pass through the hospital and clinic each day for treatment. Families come from all over the world and are given free medical care, housing and transportation. Families make friends and get all the support and care needed for
Barbara Coates Morey (Victor, ID): “Our company, City PASS, is doing well. Our daughter Megan is CEO. We now have a lot of time to enjoy the Tetons, St. John in the USUVI and Lopez Island, WA. We are busy in our communities and with our 9 grandchildren. We are still enjoying boating, swimming, and kayaking.” Lourinda Bray (Pasadena, CA): has once again brought her treasured collection of antiques to the Pasadena Museum of History. The exhibit, on display until October 13, features a vibrant collection of carousel animals, ride-on horse toys, pull toys and tin toys from the personal collection Lourinda has been curating and restoring since the 1970s.
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Kathy Gilbert Levin (Sedona, AZ) shared a photo with her classmates, Gabrielle GrothMarnat, Enid Elliot, (Kathy), and Libby Sinclair, deemed the “fearless four” at Gay’s Idaho float house on Lake Pend d’Orielle, where they reconnected in June. 3 Heu’ionalani (Meph) Wyeth (Anahola, HI): “Aloha and thanks to Lisa for the campus tour she gave us in April! It was wonderful to see the many changes that have been made since I graduated in 1965. My friend and I both felt we would be delighted to go back to school in this wonderful environment. Keep 51
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Sigrid Burton ’69 Honored as Hometown Legend As part of Pasadena City College Foundation’s Hometown Legend series, Sigrid Burton was celebrated for her work as an artist during a reception in March at the Armory Center for the Arts. Juanita Jimenez and Sushan Demirjian ’84
up the good work Westridge!” Note: During her visit, Meph shared a video clip from a documentary she’s been working on for the Pacific Traditions Society’s Vaka Taumako Project, which features ancient Polynesian navigation practices from the Southeastern Solomon Islands and helps preserve the seafaring culture. For more information, visit www.vaka.org.
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Virginia (Ginna) Hastings (Woonona, New South Wales, Australia): “My darling gentle husband Dr. Max Lawson died on Australia Day, January 26, 2019, dying peacefully after a long struggle with interstitial lung disease. I shall miss him terribly but am glad he no longer suffers. At a time when I was a broken soul he filled me with love, hope, stimulation and joy. I shall carry him in my heart forever.”
Trustee Laureen Chang, Nancy Davis ’70, Sigrid Burton ’69, Westridge former faculty member Barbara Smith, Joni Moisant Weyl ’72, Jennifer Schultz Bertolet ’86, and Lisa Vandergriff. Back: Westridge Trustee John Mulchaey (also a PCCF Hometown Legend)
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Linda LeMoncheck (Seal Beach, CA): “Jed and I are grateful to be enjoying good health and a blissful retirement together in Seal Beach, where we have lots to occupy us. My mother and stepfather live independently in a retirement community in La Verne, so we try to visit them as often as we can. I feel very close to Westridge, love receiving alumnae and school news, and have confidence that Westridge will continue both to educate and challenge its students to fulfill their passions and make a positive difference in a changing world.” Mary Good Lindgren (Arcadia, CA): “After living in our home in Arcadia for 36 years we will be moving to a condo in Pasadena later this year. We look forward to the visits from our son, his wife and our grandson from North Dakota. It is always a joy.”
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Suko Gotoh (Glendale, CA): “My daughter, Kimiko Adler, is a
member of this year’s graduating class, 2019. We thank Westridge’s faculty, administration and staff for their outstanding support of Kimi! Kimi will be attending Claremont McKenna College in the fall and will join the CMC Diving Team.” 4
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Elizabeth Dunton Gould (Phoenix, AZ): “I am pleased to share that I had a memory-making trip with my mom. We all spent a month last July in Paris, France. We saw everything on my bucket list and more. We also spent a peaceful week out in the country at a friend’s beautiful chateau. It was a special time spent together.”
1987
Darragh Jones Cheleden (Pasadena, CA): “Daughter Caitlyn Cheleden ’11 was sworn in as member of the New York State Bar on June 26, 2019 in Albany, NY. She is currently an associate attorney in New York City for the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She is
Dorie Bailey ’12 Releases Insta L.A. Insta L.A., a recent release from local publisher Prospect Park Books, features all the best photo spots in and around Los Angeles, according to the book’s editor, Dorie Bailey, and includes photo credits from Dorie as well as fellow Westridge alumnae Mary Hakimeh ’11, Molly Lichten ’11, Hannah Erskine ’12, and Caitlin Taylor ’14. Insta L.A. is available online at www.prospectparkbooks.com and in many L.A. bookstores.
engaged to Robert Rogowski with a wedding scheduled for October 12th, 2019 in Charlottesville, VA.
1989
April Verlato Seymour (Arcadia, CA) was sworn in on April 16 as Mayor Pro Tem, and the first female mayor in Arcadia in 16 years. April is pictured above (right) with classmate Shelley Boyle (left). 5
1990
Stephanie Chandler Dencik ’90 (Pasadena, CA) completed nine years of tremendous service on the Westridge Board of Trustees in June. Among her numerous roles, she chaired the Asset Management and Mission and Governance committees, and served on the Centennial Steering committee. 6
1992
Megan Campbell-Risen Meirav (Waban, MA) and her husband Udi welcomed their baby boy, born November 15, 2018. Mason Campbell Meirav is Megan’s third son joining half-brothers Bennet and Jackson Melbon. 7
Summer 2019 / Surgere
1994
Liz Seitz DeRobertis (Altadena, CA) is an estate planning attorney for Cunningham Legal, and was recently featured in a Pasadena Community Foundation newsletter for her work in helping to incorporate charitable gifts into estate plans. Liz also serves on the Westridge Alumnae Board. 8
2000
Eszter Lengyel Neuman (Los Angeles, CA) and Ariel Neuman of Los Angeles welcomed daughter Maya Klari on April 8. Maya joins very excited and protective big brothers, Zev (age 5) and Louis (age 2). In 2018 after more than a decade in law practice, Eszter founded SteinScope, a healthcare regulatory compliance consulting firm. Ariel is a partner at Bird Marella where he represents clients in high-profile civil cases and criminal investigations.
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Leah Demeter (Los Angeles, CA) is engaged to be married on August 25, 2019. Brittany Mohr Grant (Pasadena, CA) resides in Pasadena with her husband, Brian. Brittany
serves as the Rose Bowl Game’s Director of Team and VIP Operations and has worked with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses for the past 13 years. In her role with The Granddaddy of Them All, she manages the logistics and oversees the planning and execution of the stay for the participating teams and Rose Bowl Game VIPs. She is proud to be a part of an event that touches so many people, in both the community and throughout the country. Outside of the office, Brittany and her husband enjoy traveling, going to sporting events together and spending time with their dog, Roxy.
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Alyson Kil (Washington, DC) is a staff physician in the Medical Readiness Clinic at Walter Reed National Medical Center, the White House Medical Unit Captain in the U.S. Army, and was featured as a distinguished speaker at the recent USC’s annual Women’s Conference in Washington DC. Alyson was also named Outstanding Alumna by USC for her distinguished professional achievements and outstanding service to her community.
Brooke Bennett (Arcadia, CA): “I just finished my first year of business school at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. I am spending the summer in Dallas, TX working as a Financial Strategy Intern at American Airlines and making the most of my travel benefits.”
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Sally Chung (New York, NY) graduated (a semester early) from Georgetown University in December 2018 with a degree in International Relations (concentration: International Law) and Women’s and Gender Studies. She traveled to Korea to celebrate Lunar New Year with her Korean family for the first time in 12 years and enjoyed visiting temples and rekindling her Brittany Huang (San Marino, love for the arts. After finishing CA) recently joined the Foreign the LSAT exam in June, she is Service as a member of the 18th moving to New York to start a LNA class and will head to her new job as a litigation paralegal first post at the U.S. Consulate for Cravath, Swaine, & Moore, General Shanghai later this year. LLP for the next two years before attending law school to continue her studies in International Law. In addition to building a career, she Michelle Ko (Cambridge, MA) plans to continue her passions in graduated magna cum laude in photography, drawing/painting, her concentration with a degree volunteering, running, exploring in Human Development and restaurants and cuisines, and Regenerative Biology from Harvard concerts. 10 this year. She was fortunate enough to receive a Fulbright Scholarship and is currently teaching English in Taichung, Please send class notes Taiwan for one year and is having and photos for the Winter a wonderful time. Please look her Edition of Surgere up on Westridge Connect and visit by November 15 to her if you happen to be in town. 9 alumnae@westridge.org.
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College counselor Marcie Robinson with Jane Horner ’18 at the University of Richmond. Class of 2015-2018 parents gathered to assemble college care packages from the Alumnae Affairs office.
Clare Schneider ’13 (left) and Mia Osinski ’13 (right) with Georgette Awad, who retired from Westridge in June.
While celebrating a varsity softball victory over Rio Hondo prep, varsity softball coaches Karen Hanselman and Allison Clark ’07 ran into not one, not two, but three Westridge alumnae at Mijares (pictured above with Robin Knight Spear ’45). Coach K, as she is known around campus, said, “We gladly accepted the photo op and posed for pictures.” Not pictured: Cathy Hasket ’74 and Devin Howes ’76. 53
In MEMORIAM THE SCHOOL HAS LEARNED OF THE DEATHS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Anne Beech Lewis ’37
Ansley Newman Carnahan ’43
Anne died peacefully on January 10 at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Claremont, CA. Anne grew up in Pasadena. An accomplished writer, during her time at Westridge she served as business manager of Inlook. In 1941 she graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in French and in 1943 married Joseph Lewis to whom she was married for 70 years until his death six years ago. They lived in San Marino, CA for 50 years. Anne’s community service included the Pasadena Junior League, Sweet Adelines Barbershop Chorus, San Marino Community Church, Scouts, PTA, and as president of Delta Gamma Pasadena Alumnae chapter. In addition, she helped her husband Joe, a San Marino City Council member, promoting ballot measures and was appointed by her State Senator to his State Central Committee. She is survived by her two children; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
Ansley passed away over the weekend of Cinco de Mayo in her home in South Burlington, VT. She was 94. In the 1943 Inlook the words beneath her senior picture are: puppies, ringing telephones, a brook, and Antoine de St. Exupery.
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Ansley married young and, like many of her peers post-WWII, left college early to raise a family. She spent a year at UCLA and 66 years later finished her Bachelor of Arts education at Burlington College in 2014 where she went on to earn her master’s degree in political science in 2016. In the intervening years she engaged in a wide variety of professions in addition to raising two energetic sons and managing a household; running an arts supply business and gallery (Santa Fe), event planning (Santa Fe and NYC), office management and bookbinding (NYC), and
paralegal research (Burlington). She was a professional breeder of pedigreed Labrador retrievers and Siamese cats. She was passionate about politics and social justice, joining Dr. Martin Luther King’s August 1963 march on Washington. She was generous in her volunteer work for numerous causes, wherever she lived. Ansley was married to Robert Thomas and together they had two sons. After his death in 1956 she moved to Santa Fe, NM where she met and married David Carnahan. Over the 54-year span of their marriage they kept house in Santa Fe, NYC, and most recently in Burlington, VT. The many members of her extended and blended family, as well as friends wherever she sojourned, will remember her for her kindness, generosity, and steadfast
Summer 2019 / Surgere
convictions and support of these values: peace, love, fairness, inclusion, equality, honesty, and the unending pursuit of knowledge and its wise application. She is survived by her son James’ her sister Joan Newman Coon ’45, and grandchildren.
Nancy Adams Holliday ’45 Nancy died at home in Santa Fe, NM on July 8 with her devoted daughter at her side. It was the final step in a long and vibrant life. Born in Los Angeles in 1927, Nancy grew up in Pasadena where she attended Westridge. While a student, she was Captain of Greeks. After graduation she went on to UC Berkeley. In 1954 she married J. S. Holliday, a research fellow at the Huntington Library. They soon moved to Berkeley and then to Lafayette, which became home to a growing family. She also lived in San Marino, Palm Springs, and Santa Fe. Nancy showed great dedication not only to her family and friends but to the betterment of her communities. She devoted five decades to civic enrichment as a volunteer board member of the San Francisco Symphony Foundation, the International Host Committee, the American Cancer Society, Pasadena Beautiful, and the ESU. She was also an active member of her Westridge Class of 1945. Nancy had verve and style and a big and generous heart. She is survived by her children, Brett, Jack, and Tim Holliday, and three grandchildren.
Mary Lou Price Moses ’47 Mary Lou passed away April 19 in Portola Valley, CA at the age of 89. When her family moved from Missouri to Pasadena, Mary Lou entered Westridge School. At Westridge she got a taste of competitive
sports, playing volleyball and tennis and served as Lower School editor of Inlook. Her parents Francis and Kenneth Price were both Westridge teachers. After Westridge, she attended Bryn Mawr College, graduating in 1951. In 1953 she obtained her teaching credentials at Pacific Oaks Children’s School in Pasadena. She taught preschool at the Peninsula School in Menlo Park for three decades. Mary Lou was an active Quaker. She was predeceased by her second husband, Lincoln Moses, and her sister Patricia Price Watson ’50. She is survived by her four sons; five stepchildren; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Molly Kennard Smith ’48 Molly died February 26 in Richland, WA. While at Westridge she was editor of Inlook, served on the Spyglass staff, and was in the cast of You Can’t Take It With You. She attended Stanford University and after graduating moved to San Francisco, where she met her husband John MacDonald Smith. Molly was a long-time volunteer at the DeYoung Museum and SFMOMA. She was a member of the Junior League of San Francisco, the Royal Oak Foundation, and the Georgian Society. Molly attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where she served on the Altar Guild. She is survived by her two daughters.
Annette Gadd Colley ’49 Annette “Toni” passed away peacefully, with family, on January 1 at the age of 87. While at Westridge she served as captain of Roman Team, sang in the Glee Club, and played basketball, hockey, and volleyball. She then went on to Colorado College where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, graduating with a degree in mathematics in 1953. Following a tour of Europe, she obtained her teaching credential at Occidental College, and then began her teaching career. She married Ted Colley in 1957 and went on to raise
three sons. Toni always had a positive attitude and treasured her time with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister Betsy Gadd Boyd ’47. She is survived by her three sons; five grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
Judy Kircher Coulter ’53 Judy passed away February 4, 2009. Her sister was Jean Kircher Oleson ’53.
Sylvia Hewitt Eliot ’53 Sylvia died on January 3 following a stroke. While a student at Westridge, she was editor of Spyglass and member of Glee Club and Mask and Brush. Prior to her death, Sylvia sent in the following classnote: “As part of our refugee program at church I am head of an E.S.O.L. team teaching English to the mother of the family.”
Jane Kearney Kahn ’53 Jane passed away on May 18, the day after her 84th birthday. Her daughter, Athene, reports she was determined to make it to another birthday. Jane had suffered from dementia and heart issues and died peacefully under Hospice care. While a student at Westridge, Jane sang in the Glee Club, performed in plays, and played on the volleyball and hockey varsity teams. She attended Scripps College and the Claremont Graduate School.
Huntley Cockburn Lewis ’54 Huntley died May 28 at the age of 82 in Pasadena, CA. She attended Westridge followed by studies at UC Berkeley, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. While at Westridge she was president of the athletic association, on Upper School Student Council, and participated in hockey and swimming. In 1956 she married Don Lewis. In 1978 both Huntley and Don were
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called to fulfill personal ministries moving to Berkeley to attend the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, graduating in 1981. Don became an Episcopal priest and Huntly became a marriage, family and child counselor. She began her career in Laguna Beach providing care to runaway and abused children, and later, was in private practice in Pasadena. In 1994 they retired to Cambria, CA. She is survived by her sister Laurie Cockburn Morrison ’57, her children and granddaughter.
Erika Hoeneman Oller ’60 Erika passed away April 12 following a year of serious respiratory challenges. Erika attended Westridge her junior and
senior years in high school, during which time she was captain of the tennis team. After graduating from Westridge, she studied painting and drawing at the National Academy of Design, School of Fine Arts in New York City, graduated from UCLA with a degree in fine arts, then studied some more at Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California State University in Long Beach, and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Until the early ’90s, she painted in traditional style in watercolor, then began a long career producing whimsical, sometimes satirical art for greeting cards and other products. Erika’s watercolors and monotypes reflect a delightful humor, sense of freedom and making light of convention.
From 1984 to 1998 she worked in the behavioral biology lab at Caltech in Pasadena. In preparation for that job she took many human anatomy classes, several courses in botanical illustration at Otis Art Institute and The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, completing the better part of the master’s program in medical illustration at Cal State Long Beach, and spent four years of drawing ancient skulls for an evolutionary biologist. In addition to her delightful greeting cards, Erika also illustrated a number of children’s books. Erika was always generous with her time and talent on behalf of Westridge. In the early ’80s Westwards, the newsletter for parents, was illustrated by Erika with whimsical drawings. She served as an alumnae luncheon speaker in 2005, was the Westridge Artist in Residence in 2010, exhibited her art in the Westridge Centennial Art Exhibition in 2014, and more recently created the artwork for the 2016 Grandparent’s Day invitation (pictured left)—a whimsical peek at a group of many grandparents, gathered in a group, and all busy on their cell phones. She is survived by her daughter, Monica Oller ’91, and granddaughters Sabina P. ’24 and Fiala P. ’27.
Wendy Wilson-Bugbee ’63 Wendy passed away on April 9 of an infection following femoral artery bypass surgery. Her husband of 48 years, John, said Westridge was a big part of her life. While a student at Westridge, Wendy served as business manager of Inlook. She is survived by her husband and sister Anne Wilson Giddings ’62.
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Summer 2019 / Surgere
Smart women PLAN Who needs an estate plan? Just about everyone. Minimize Your Taxes. Maximize Your Impact. Generally speaking, your estate is simply the property you own and your estate plan addresses how that property is passed on to others. For some, it’s a very simple process; for others, it’s more complex. But for everyone, it is a good idea to plan because an estate plan enables you to specify what happens to your property and who ultimately benefits, from family members to favorite charitable organizations, like Westridge.
We are available to help you with gift planning ideas and ways you can benefit Westridge School. Contact Rebecca H. Potter, Planned Giving Officer at 626.799.1053, ext. 261 or rpotter@westridge.org.
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324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105
Director of Lower School Mary Tuck retired this year after 19 years at Westridge! Read about her career and learn how you can honor her legacy on page 39.