Surgere Summer 2015

Surgere westridge school

we strive to rise

summer 2015

From the Head

Dear Friends, I write this welcome to the current edition of Surgere from a quiet, summer-time campus, which gives me the perfect opportunity to reflect on the achievements and highlights of the academic year that has just passed.

With the launch of our new Strategic Plan in the fall of 2014, our community supported the school’s standards of excellence and its leadership role in girls’ education, and welcomed a recommitment to our core values of integrity, respect, responsibility and inclusion.

With a focus on what is most important and relevant for student learning now and over the course of the next five years, the goals centered on how best to educate and empower girls, as well as how to build community and strengthen our alumnae connections.

The use of space and the thoughtful use of technology to enhance learning are two key areas that we have addressed. In our lead story, “Making Spaces for Learning: Technology Inspires New Classroom Spaces,” you will see how our strategic goals are being realized. You will also see how our students are being supported by accomplished forward-thinking educators.

Our alumnae relations program has strengthened considerably this past year, as you will see in the stories about the opportunities we have provided for alumnae to engage in the life of the school, to tell their stories, and to find new ways to engage with one another.

I look forward to collaborating with you as we continue to steward the rich educational environment and the powerful interpersonal connections that make Westridge such an extraordinary school. I trust that this edition of Surgere will continue to connect you to our girls and to the joyful Westridge experience.

Sincerely, Elizabeth J. McGregor Head of School

Table of Contents

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lead story:

Making Spaces for Learning 6

around cam p u s :

News & Photos from Madeline Drive

10 our newe st alumnae:

Class of 2015

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college counse ling:

The Growth Continues

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Q & As:

Jemma Giddings, Assistant Head of School Gary Baldwin, Director of Upper School 14

ath let i c s h i g h l i g h t s

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pe rforming arts highlights

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stude nt work

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com mun ity update s

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alum nae news

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class note s & in memoriam

Making Spaces for Learning

technology inspires new classroom spaces

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s in life, technology is ubiquitous in education today. From interactive whiteboards and class webpages to flipped classrooms and 1:1 device programs, technology at Westridge is supporting teaching and learning in innumerable ways, including the way physical space can be reimagined to further learning outcomes.

“The way in which technology has evolved allows us to have far-reaching conversations about the changing shape of learning — it is no longer constrained by the four walls of the classroom and can be highly individualized and creative,” said Elizabeth McGregor, Head of School.

The concept of creative use of physical and virtual space linked to evolving technologies is included in Westridge 1

School’s Strategic Plan, which was published in November 2014. Spurred by the convergence of new technologies and research into both 21st century learning skills and the significant impact classroom design can make on learning, Westridge is thinking creatively about how its existing classrooms and spaces might be modified to further the learning experience.

steamwork design studio The most visible of these changes is the brand new STEAMWork Design Studio, which opened this summer for use in the school’s Summer Program Creative Coding class. It will be available for classes and students in all divisions in the fall.

The Studio, located in the Main Building in the Rothenberg Technology Center, is a “makerspace” — a gathering space centered on technology that offers opportunities for hands-on work creating, inventing, and building things with other people. It will be a focal point for creative, collaborative, crossdisciplinary problem solving in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts and humanities. The Studio will also be available to students for independent projects.

Initially, it will contain three areas: 3D Design & Printing; Coding & Robotics; and, Electronics & Circuits.

“This is part of our work to spark our girls’ imaginations and to help them become innovators,” says Jemma Giddings, Assistant Head of School, who led the development of the Studio. “We want to create opportunities for hands-on, iterative projects to empower students to take more risks in areas that traditionally are associated with boys. Tinkering spaces that encourage design thinking and expose girls to engineering are important steps toward these goals.”

Students in the Creative Coding Summer Program took full advantage of the new STEAMWork Design Studio.

“We want to create opportunities for hands-on, iterative projects to empower students to take more risks in areas that traditionally are associated with boys.”

Makerspaces equipped with 3D printers, lathes, CNC machines, and 3D scanners, as Westridge’s Studio is, are becoming realistic for schools now because technology costs have decreased enough to put the equipment within reach of educational budgets.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to make this a reality for our program so quickly, which happened because of incredibly generous donor support,” said Giddings. The Studio was funded by an initial $40,000 grant from an anonymous donor, and a second gift from alumna Lucy Larkin Stephenson ’58, who was inspired to become involved upon learning of plans for the Studio.

“Design-thinking strives to understand how things are put together, how they come apart, and realizes that all objects are changeable and open for re-design,” said David Prince, a member of the art department who directs the Studio. “A variety of projects will take place in the

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lab across different disciplines; modeling cell-biology processes, reverse engineering machines and computers, coding, designing functional objects… the common goal is better understanding of how everything in our world is put together, whether digital or physical, and then applying this knowledge to innovate new approaches to thinking and making.”

“The idea was to create a flexible, comfortable learning environment that allows individual students to work in a manner that fits their learning needs and that works much better for the projectbased, active curriculum we have today,” says Kiphart. “I can be leading a lesson with a group of students at the Harkness table while a second group works on a group project at the café table and a third group is at the rug area writing The decision to centralize STEAM on their Yogas (computer tablets). That (science, technology, engineering, art, simply wasn’t possible before due to and math) activities within a single stu- space and seating constraints.” dio was a very purposeful use of space.

“Quite a number of these activities can, Kiphart and the 6th Grade team had and do, happen in individual classrooms. been talking about classroom design But that is a different kind of learning,” for some time, but the impetus for the said McGregor. “We wanted to move change in the 2014-2015 school year learning and students into a space that was the introduction of the 1:1 tablet looks and feels different from a tradi- pilot program in the 6th Grade. Inditional classroom and to encourage col- vidual tablets for each student freed up laboration between classes and students significant space previously devoted to for interdisciplinary projects. Signifi- computer stations, and also untethered cantly, we put the Studio in a central students from a single location. location in the school and cut an enormous window in the wall so that as stu- “With this new room design, I see students and faculty walk by, they will see dents who can get down to the business the work underway. These sound like of learning much more quickly and stay small things, but they are fundamental to engaged longer because they are physiencouraging our students and teachers cally comfortable. I also see much more to think and work in new ways.” movement in the classroom, which is important because we now know that physical movement assists learning,” said Kiphart. “True, student-centered learning is flourishing — more authority, more voice — because our physical space has changed the relationship between us. There are times when the teacher needs to be the focus, but in this room, it is easier for me to shift that foWhen school opened last August, the cus from me, which helps build the kind faces of the 6th Grade class were priceof trust that allows for that deep perless as they entered Christine Kiphart’s sonal learning.” classroom. Gone were the traditional desks and the bulky bank of computer In addition to appreciating the novstations. In their places were: a seating elty and comfort of the room, students area with two couches, a rug, beanbag seem to grasp its impact on teaching and chairs, and some balance balls; a large, learning. “I think it changes the way 10-seat table modeled after those emwe think about what we are learning,” ployed in the Harkness method that was said Felicity P. ’21. “We’re really free developed at Phillips Exeter Academy to move around and it opens up what to encourage open minded, student-led teachers think we can do in class.” discussions, but also suitable for smallgroup, teacher-led lessons; and, a small, café-style table with four chairs.

6th Grade humanities’ extreme classroom makeover

Lucy Larkin Stephenson ’58

Gift Supports New STEAMWork Design Studio I supported the new Studio because I want Westridge girls to have a place where they can have the excitement and fun of making things with all kinds of tools; screwdrivers to 3-D printers, electronics to paint brushes.

In this space they can use all their educational and creative abilities – the ultimate application of a Westridge education – to find solutions for myriad needs. Girls will discover the pleasure of making things. I can hear the joy from here!

A sign over the door to the Westridge STEAMWork Design

The Fun Starts Here.”

Studio might say, “

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According to Kiphart, after a few weeks of heavy use of the beanbags, students gravitated toward the seating choices that serve them best as individual learners. That is a beanbag for some, but a chair and table for others, and that is just one facet of the beauty of the new 6th Grade humanities room.

The second 6th grade classroom, Mrs. Awad’s classroom, is closer to a traditional classroom to better serve its subject matter: math. However, desks have been replaced with tables that are very easy to move so they can be reconfigured quickly for group work — and there is a “tinkering room” adjacent to 6th graders at work in the flexible seating of their the main classroom. Now two years classroom. old, the math tinkering room includes math games, puzzles and challenge sheets. “There is a lot of research saying that kids need to ‘tinker’ or play around with games, building materials, puzzles, “The idea was and any item without directions, which otherwise can limit kids from creating to create a and innovating new ideas that eventually become new ways of thinking,” says flexible, Awad. “Tinkering gives the girls an opportunity to be resourceful and figure comfortable things out on their own.”

7th Grade cultural studies classrooms under construction This fall, as the 1:1 tablet pilot program expands from the 6th Grade into the 7th Grade, so too will the redesign of humanities classroom spaces. Rooms X & W are being redesigned this summer for use by 7th Grade English and history next year.

The idea is to create multiple learning spaces in each classroom similar to those in 6th Grade. The classrooms also will be equipped with modular, flexible, and comfortable furniture alternatives. Significantly, because the 7th Grade English and history curriculum is tightly interwoven in the Cultural Studies program, the rooms now will be connected.

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learning environment that allows individual students to work in a manner that fits their learning needs and that works much better for the project-based, active curriculum we have today,”

“I think it is important that we move this flexible classroom concept along with the students who were in Christine’s (Kiphart) classroom last year. They are adjusted to the style of room and are really happy and productive in it,” says Mary Tuck, Director of Lower & Middle School. “And from a curriculum perspective it makes great sense. The 7th Grade Cultural Studies program, which combines English and history, is a wonderfully interdisciplinary curriculum. Now, it will have space designed to not only support the program but to help teachers take the program to the next level.”

“Our hope is that it (the new, connected space) will allow us to discover new ways to make Cultural Studies even more interdisciplinary,” said John Cross and Gigi Bizar who teach the program.

“Our curricula currently parallel each other most of the year and we schedule times to bring the classes together for true integrated work. But with permanent connected and fluid space we expect to find more opportunities, especially organic, unplanned work, which is often where the most beautiful learning occurs.”

future planning Talks have begun about a functional redesign for the the Academic Resource Center (ARC). Technology and the digitization of information are having a sweeping impact on the field of library science. Traditional libraries are evolving into more active spaces for research, collaboration, and teaching and learning. To that end, Westridge is looking into changes including additional, and more comfortable, seating, and areas designed specifically for group work and collaboration including enclosed rooms for meetings and projects.

There is also a great deal of excitement around the topic of expanded educational use of our outdoor spaces.

Westridge is fortunate to have beautiful and abundant exterior spaces on our

campus, something quite unusual among urban schools. Faculty members take great advantage of the space — moving classes out onto the lawns, hosting small-group orchestra practice sessions outdoors, and taking environmental science projects outside into our natural laboratory for field work. However, Westridge plans to be even more intentional about outdoor learning. Discussions are underway about the many ways the campus’ outdoor space could be used for educational discovery, including purpose-built, outdoor learning spaces with seating conducive to outdoor classes and collaboration, outdoor lab stations, and more opportunities for accidental discovery and collaboration throughout the day.

“Interaction with nature during learning is so important and inspiring and is missing in so many schools. It has practical educational purposes and it sets a mental and emotional space for learning. I think of our gardens and the pond in the Lower School,” said McGregor.

“We’re thinking anew about our exterior spaces. We want to make it so that when you move through the physical space of our campus, you are continually experiencing and learning.”

“At the highest level, we want to make sure we are thinking through all of the possibilities that our facilities offer our program.

Technology is so flexible today that any space can be part of the learning environment.”

Elizabeth mcgregor, head of school 5

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around campus

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1. 3rd Annual Voices in Literature & Culture Conference Takes on “Risk” In its third year, the school’s student-led literature conference, Voices in Literature and Culture, grew to 31 students on six panels and explored variations on the theme “Risk.” The conference included Lower, Middle, and Upper School students in a cross-divisional opportunity to present and discuss original writing compositions and share ideas through documentary, photography, original musical scoring, singing, and painting.

2. Research in Science Program Adds Lunchtime Talk Series In the 2014-2015 school year, 12th Grade Research in Science students presented 15- to 20-minute talks on their research in laboratories at Caltech University and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, such as “Advancement of Optical Communication & Biomedical Imaging/Sensing” and “Clustering and Classification with Human Ethical Processes.” The talks, offered to fellow students and faculty members, were introduced this year so the research students could address the progress of their year-long projects and practice describing their research for an audience of lay people who are not scientists or experts in their field of study.

3. Experiential, Discovery, and Interim Week Lower, Middle, and Upper School students travelled across Los Angeles, the United States, and the world for Experiential, Discovery, and Interim Week, an annual week-long, or longer, exploration of activities that promote a sense of discovery, creativity, curiosity, connection, and reflection. Spring 2015 trips ranged from a 5th Grade adventure to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, a Middle School trip to Washington, D.C., an Upper School trip to Morocco, and a Glee Club Tour of the South to explore civil rights through song.

4. ‘The Girl in the Picture’ Kim Phuc Known as “the girl in the picture,” Kim Phuc spoke to Westridge Middle and Upper School students about her harrowing experience during the Vietnam War. Phuc was only nine years old when she inadvertently sparked protests to end the Vietnam War after the world saw a photograph of her running naked down a road, her body covered with burns from a napalm attack that struck her village in South Vietnam. Her lifelong path to forgiveness inspired her to form a foundation dedicated to children who are victims of war and her message of peace and perseverance touched the hearts of the Westridge community. Pictured here are Kim Phuc and Nick Ut, the photographer of the iconic photo.

6 5 5. Los Angeles Sparks Clinics Ignite Girls’ Basketball Skills Westridge proudly welcomed Los Angeles Sparks star players Alana Beard and Candice Wiggins to conduct two clinics on basketball fundamentals, one for girls in grades 4 through 7 and a second for girls in grades 8 through 12. Fifty girls from Westridge and other local schools turned out for this special opportunity.

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6. Middle School Debate on a Roll Middle School Debate had a fantastic year, winning 1st place Tournament Awards at the Sequoyah School Debate Tournament and the Tournament they hosted at Westridge! Two Middle School debate teams also represented Westridge School at the West Coast Championship Tournament in April.

7. Five Students Named National Merit Finalists; 12 Named Commended Scholars Seventeen members of the Class of 2015 — more than a quarter of the class — were recognized in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship program. Five students, Sarah K., Juliet L., Muse L., Jasmine L., and Julia S., were named Finalists. Approximately 1.4 million students entered the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT); just 15,000 finalists, or approximately one percent, were named. Fifty-thousand students received commendations.

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8. 7th Grade Service Learning Partners with Conservancy on Community Gardens Westridge 7th Grade Service Learning partnered with the Pasadena Community Gardens Conservancy (PCGC) to explore the impact of community gardens and to plant the south Community Garden bed at Westridge. Some of the leafy greens have been used for salad at lunch! In addition, the students bagged worm castings created in the campus compost bin and used it for fertilizer.

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9. Tinkering, Science, and Travel in Westridge Summer Program Westridge introduced an innovative summer program this June designed to help girls hone scientific and technical skills, develop passions, and engage in their communities and beyond. The Lower and Middle School programs (Creative Coding and Science, Service and Leadership) are open to girls from all schools entering grades 3-8. A summer travel program is available to Westridge Upper School students. According to Assistant Head of School Jemma Giddings, who led development of the program, these offerings are just the start and the program will grow in subsequent years.

10. Student Voices - Bigger, Bolder, and Broader Student Voices, the Upper School student-led leadership group, grew this year and formed two new affinity groups for adopted and bereaved students.

In addition to a Martin Luther King, Jr. assembly, which highlighted the issues of socioeconomics and poverty, the group organized assemblies that focused on microagressions, current social justice issues, and sex and sexism. For Black History Month, the group set up an outing to see the movie “Selma,� and during the Lunar New Year, a Chinese performance troupe was brought to campus. Eight students attended the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and six faculty/staff members went to the People of Color Conference in Indianapolis.

11. Junior Ring Ceremony

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12. Holocaust Survior Erika Jacoby speaks to the 7th Grade 13. Grandparents & Friends Day 14. 8th Grade Recognition 15. 6th Grade Recognition

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Congratulations, Class of 2015!

The 63 members of the Class of 2015 earned 370 acceptances to 158 colleges and universities. They will attend 45 colleges and universities in 18 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom.

American University University of Arizona Brown University (2) California Institute of the Arts University of California at: Berkeley Los Angeles (4) San Diego Santa Cruz (2) University of Chicago Claremont McKenna College Coventry University United Kingdom Emory University The Evergreen State College Fordham University Georgetown University

Hampshire College Harvard College Lewis & Clark College Loyola University New Orleans Middlebury College (2) Mount Holyoke College New York University (4) Occidental College Ohio Wesleyan University University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania Pomona College Pratt Institute Princeton University University of Puget Sound (2)

Purdue University Reed College Samford University University of San Francisco (2) Smith College University of Southern California (5) Stanford University (4) Tufts University Tulane University Vassar College Washington University in St. Louis University of Washington Whitman College Willamette University Yale University

“The Class of 2015 is a wonderful mix of strong individuals who do not hesitate to do things their own way.

They observe life with a critical eye, care deeply about social justice, and are willing to speak their minds.

They are always dependable in the end, but definitely sassy along the way.”

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— Willa Greenstone, Head Senior Class Advisor

College Counseling with the O’Ladies: Serious business, Serious results, Serious Fun For the past five years, the O’Ladies of Westridge College Counseling — Director of College Counseling Lynn O’Grady and College Counseling Associate Kathleen O’Reilly — have been quietly evolving the school’s college counseling program. Today, it is a rich, intensely personalized, full-service guidance program that embraces the whole girl.

The department’s annual calendar has grown from three to more than 25 events. These range from a series of student workshops to parent information evenings to on-campus college fairs, complemented with 130 college rep visits in the fall. The program extends to the 9th Grade, with a class meeting designed to spark girls’ thinking about getting involved, trying new things and finding their passions. Sophomores receive counseling on course selection, and the school’s series of semester-long “college seminar” classes begin in junior year.

“Our job is to make sure colleges know about Westridge girls, and to give the girls every opportunity possible to put their best foot forward,” said O’Grady. “We do that through a continuous cycle of education, support, and honest feedback.”

The team has a well-earned reputation for going the extra mile to help a student achieve her goal. The counselors have been known to hold six mock interviews for a single girl for a single interview (a big commitment, considering they work with dozens of girls who apply to an average of 11 schools each). And when school was closed for Head’s Holiday in late April, days before college decisions were due, O’Grady’s counseling sessions with girls who remained conflicted on which school to attend began at 7 a.m.

Philosophically, the department’s goals are to help students have a wide range of options, and to help them understand that this process is not just about college but about success after college as well. “Students do well in a college where they thrive academically, personally, and socially. When those come together, post-collegiate avenues open wide,” said O’Reilly.

“We talk a lot about schools where they can be happy and thrive,” added honorary O’Lady and Department Assistant Marcie Robinson.

What they don’t talk about is how stressful the process is, a refreshing take in light of the national conversation on precisely that.

According to the team, it doesn’t have to be stressful, at least not at Westridge. “Firstly, these are Westridge girls who know themselves and are prepared for this,” says O’Grady.

“Secondly, we give them the opportunities they need and we’re on the ground working right with them and teaching them.” The final component of a low stress approach to college counseling? Make it fun.

“The girls have a lot going on and this process is a lot of work. We recognize that and make it fun so they want to take advantage of all of the programs we offer,” says O’Grady.

That “fun” changes depending on what the girls need in a given year. The team has been known to don Westridge uniforms for silly skits that deliver serious messages.

This year, they founded Circle Groups, four small lunch-time group discussions for juniors that are each led by two senior mentors. And around St. Patrick’s Day, students get a taste of “O’College Counseling”— a sustenance break during which the team hands out shamrock cookies and green lemonade. Juniors and seniors get a chuckle out of it and students in earlier grades have another touchpoint with the team before the full program ramps up for them.

“Our team is phenomenal,” says Head of School Elizabeth McGregor. “They are wise about the process, they know the schools and the people there, but perhaps most importantly, they really go above and beyond to know and support our girls. And the proof of this special combination is in the schools our girls are getting into – it’s an impressive list and knowing these girls, I know just how wise the matches are.”

HIGHLIGHTS* of the Westridge process * for a more comprehensive list of program activities, visit Westridge.org/cchighlights2015.

fre shman year - Introductory class meeting “Freshman Tasters Choice” sophomore year - Course registration guidance - Preview to Testing Evening - Mock ACT test junior year -“Do What You Are” Assessment – Personality & Career (Fall) - Junior Seminar semester-long course (Spring) - Course registration guidance - Circle Groups with senior class mentors - Interim Week College Tour - Case Studies program & College Fair - Spring Family Meeting with counselor se nior year - Jump Start Workshop (August) - Senior Seminar semester-long course (Fall) - Interview & application workshops - 130+ college visits at Westridge - Frequent one-on-one meetings with counselor

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Assistant Head of School

Jemma giddings

Assistant Head of School Jemma Giddings just completed her first year at Westridge. She brings extensive experience in girls’ education, having served as Upper School Director at Columbus School for Girls and was Middle School Director and Associate Head at Atlanta Girls’ School. Her major responsibilities at Westridge include curriculum oversight and development and support for innovation, teaching, and learning. Here is a little about Jemma, her first year at Westridge, and what she sees ahead.

How did your background lead you to Westridge?

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I have been working in girls’ schools almost my entire professional life and each step along the way has prepared me to join this amazing community. Helping to start Atlanta Girls’ School gave me great insight into developing program and articulating the benefits of an all-girls environment. My work at Columbus School for Girls helped strengthen my ability to work within existing systems to encourage growth and innovation in a strong, century-old girls’ school. When I learned about Westridge School, about the deeply held values, the strength and centeredness of the girls here, and the enduring commitment to creating a student-centered environment, I fell in love and could not stay away.

What has been the greatest joy in your first year here?

My greatest joy has come in working closely with other school leaders and faculty members to begin to explore what could be and to identify new ways that we can help open doors, lift sights, and broaden horizons for students. From our new STEAMWork Design Studio to our commitment to growing interdisciplinary opportunities and global awareness, we are fostering the development of students who are ready to pursue new passions and work collaboratively to become change-agents in their work. It is a joy to see students and faculty members working together on behalf of a goal, enjoying each other’s company, interested in one another’s perspectives. It is a delight to see something so uncommon in education happen literally on a daily basis at this school.

What has struck you most about Westridge girls?

I know well the confidence and strength that develops in students in all-girl environments, but what strikes me most about Westridge girls is that the strength and confidence here are more organic. Each of these girls operates from a deep sense of self, and there is deep appreciation among them for the gifts and strengths of their peers. These girls are intellectually adventurous, and they look for ways to celebrate one another. As a result, students here are comfortable in their own skin; they understand their own centers of gravity, and they operate from places of conviction and passion with arms open to one another. It is nothing short of beautiful.

How do you see yourself as a role model for students?

Gloria Steinem once said, “The best way for us to cultivate fearlessness in our daughters and other young women is by example.” I want my life to be an example to students of how one can embrace opportunities to grow, learn, and explore, even in the face of uncertainty and fear. I look for the open sky and soar toward it, and I hope I do so in ways that invite others to journey with me.

What are you looking forward to most next school year?

I am looking forward to working side-by-side with teachers to build on the foundations of innovation that we have established this year, but even more than that, I am looking forward to getting to know all of the students here even better than I have already.

How do you like California? What are your favorite Pasadena spots?

I love waking up each morning to see the mountains, and I adore sunsets overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Being here has stirred in me a sense of journey and exploration. My favorite spots (besides Westridge’s beautiful campus) include the labyrinth at Arlington Gardens, the trails at Eaton Canyon, and my beach running route along the shore in Santa Monica. Before last February, I never imagined I would ever be in Los Angeles; now, I don’t think I can imagine myself anywhere else.

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New Upper School Division Director

Gary Baldwin Gary Baldwin joins Westridge this summer as Director of Upper School, succeeding Margaret Shoemaker, Ed.D., who is moving on to a post in strategic projects with the school. Baldwin has 15 years of faculty and leadership experience in independent schools and joins Westridge from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where he headed the History Department and led development of the school’s impressive Global Studies curriculum. He brings deep experience in the many and varied responsibilities of a division director, and stood out during the national search for a new director for his intellectual curiosity, his forward-thinking leadership style, and his effectiveness in moving strategic initiatives forward in ways that engage and strengthen a community. He is also the father of four daughters!

Why did you choose to join Westridge?

I could not have imagined that I would find someplace like Westridge. It’s as if someone set out to create my dream school. Many schools offer excellent educations, but there’s a more elusive quality that the best schools possess — something that’s in the essence of the community that makes it possible for the school to become almost an extension of your family life. Finding a school with that sort of feeling was important to me.

What are you most looking forward to?

I came to my first interview at Westridge last December. My mind has been with Westridge for half a year now, so it’ll be nice to stop just thinking Westridge and start being at Westridge.

What do you anticipate will be the hallmark of your first year?

I don’t think that’s the sort of thing you can plan — or at least I don’t think it’s wise to plan it. Schools are complex ecosystems, and the first job of anyone coming in from the outside is to learn the peculiarities of this particular system. I plan to listen and learn and then see how I can help.

What do you want the Westridge community to know about you before you get here?

What is most important to me is that the Westridge students, parents, faculty and staff, and alumnae understand that I take my commitment to the school and to them as individuals very seriously. With any important responsibility, you really have to undertake it with real purpose, and I feel that keenly.

You teach history. What period of history is your favorite to teach and why?

I’d teach the Protestant Reformation. I’m a fan of St. Augustine;―he makes a comeback in a big way.

Plus, the civil and religious wars of the 16th century are so driven by passion and zealotry that they almost border on the irrational to modern eyes. I like things like that.

What was one of your favorite things about school when you were growing up?

I went to a boarding school and there is no doubt that I chose a career in independent schools because of my experience there. I like learning communities. I like getting up in the morning and getting to discuss big ideas with smart people.

What do you do with your time off?

My wife, Jamie, and I are raising four girls — including an infant, so there isn’t a lot of time off. I run and read and try to catch a few minutes of the Red Sox games when I have a chance, but mostly I spend my time outside of work doing my first job — being a husband and father.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Mint Chocolate Chip

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athletics:

Tigers on the Rise!

During the 2014-15 school year Westridge Athletics experienced much success with four teams advancing to CIF-SS playoffs and 15 girls participating in individual CIFSS Championships in swimming (7), tennis (1) and track & field (7). The Middle School soccer team was crowned Middle School Independent School League (MSIL) champions in convincing fashion and JV Tennis went undefeated in league play for a 5th year. Given the return of many talented and dedicated athletes,Westridge Athletics is on the rise and 2015-2016 promises to be even more exciting! Go Tigers!

• Water Polo advanced from nine wins last season to earning 21 wins this year, taking 2nd place in the Prep League and competing in CIF-SS Division 6 Quarter Finals. Georgia B. ’17 and Kira O. ’17 were named to the Star News All-Area First Team and Coach Robert Echeverria was named Coach of the Year! Georgia was also named 1st team All CIF-SS Division 6 and to the United States Junior Water Polo Team, which will compete internationally in the summer.

• Varsity Tennis finished 2nd in Prep League after three consecutive Prep League Championships (2011, 2012, 2013). The team advanced to CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs and Lena T. ’15 advanced to CIF-SS Individual Tennis Regionals. Lena had only three losses in her final three years of high school competition.

• JV Tennis was undefeated in the Prep League for the fifth consecutive year!

• In Track & Field, Samantha K. ’17 was Prep League Champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles and the first Westridge athlete to compete in four events at the CIF-SS Division 4 prelims.

• In Golf, Andrea L. ’16 was named Prep League MVP and placed 1st at Prep League Golf finals. At the CIF-SS Individual Championships, she broke a school record with a 93 on a very difficult course.

• Swimming placed 2nd in Prep League finals! Ella P. ’17 placed 2nd in the 200 and 500 Yard Freestyle. Sophia L. ’17 was 2nd in the 100 Yard Breaststroke. And, the 200 Yard Medley Relay (Ella, Sophia, Anna B. ’16, Georgia B. ’17) and 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (Lauren A. ’15, Ella, Anna, Sophia) finished 2nd!

• Volleyball advanced to Division 2AA CIF-SS playoffs. Natalie M. ’15 received a NCAA Division I Scholarship at Fordham University and Allison M. ’18 was named to the MaxPreps All-American team.

• Basketball has been in the CIF-SS Playoffs 10 of 12 years, but lost a tough first round game this year to Notre Dame High School of Riverside.

• Middle School Soccer earned the Middle School Independent League Championship and was undefeated (7-0) for the season!

• In Middle School Track & Field, Kaitlin Z. ’19 placed 1st in the 100 meters at the MSIL championships. Brooke B. ’20 was 1st in the 1600 meters.

• In Lacrosse, Isabelle P. ’18 was named to the 2015 Women’s Division National Tournament (WDNT) Lacrosse Team. Caroline B. ’16, Rachel D. ’16 and Natalie P. ’16 were named to the 2015 US Lacrosse All-Academic Team. Interest in Westridge lacrosse is increasing rapidly —―this year the school’s first JV team was formed.

• The Equestrian team had a very strong showing this year with Julia O. ’17 named the reserve champion in the Varsity Jumpers Division.

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Upper School Physical Education Revamped to Raise Heart Rates and Student Interest Upper School PE is thriving with a new three-times-a-rotation class that embraces a robust variety of exercises not often found in schools including Zumba, spin, Kung Fusion (a fusion of martial arts), yoga, and occasional units in sports such as archery or badminton. A new level of dance has also been added to the mix — Intermediate Dance — which focuses on ensemble work and has earned its own place outside of the PE curriculum.

In the past, students met twice a rotation and would select one of three offerings: yoga, dance, or martial arts for the entire semester. The increased frequency in the current program was a priority to yield faster, more targeted health benefits. Introducing a variety of activities each semester keeps PE fresh and sparks student interest.

“I am having a blast in PE! Not only has Coach Jason created a great program, but I have learned how fun exercise can be,” said Grace P. ’17.

Discussions around the Strategic Plan, which includes a focus on student physical and emotional wellness, brought about Westridge’s new thinking about physical education. Administrators and faculty dug deep into how moving the body impacts the mind, how exercise is crucial to keeping in peak performance, and the benefits exercise have on mood, anxiety, stress, and mental health.

Jason Windass, Physical Education teacher, played a key role in the development and implementation of the Upper School program. He wanted to accomplish the goal of modern day PE: to raise heart rates to the Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity zone or MVPA, when students get to 60 to 80 percent of their working heart rate zone for the majority of the class time.

And he thought about what types of activities the specific students who take PE want to do versus what they need.

“I decided low impact cardio workouts would be key for this demographic, that’s how the spin idea came about,” said Windass, who is now a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor and a Zumba Instructor.Yoga has been a part of a rich tradition at Westridge and Kung Fusion is all about discipline and focus.”

An article in the February 2015 edition of THE Head’s LETTER entitled “The New PE: Increasing Fitness for Body and Mind” reaffirmed the new focus. It cited a Harvard Education Letter which promotes the new PE as getting students active, trading in sports-focused activities for those that provide a heart-pumping workout, and emphasizes aerobic and mental benefits.

To see a video which highlights the new Upper School PE Program, visit www.westridge.org/newPEprogram.

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Lower School Strings & Choir In December, the 6th Grade Strings class formed string quartets and performed holiday carols. Later in the year, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades showed off their talents at the Lower School Spring Talent Show.

Middle & Upper School Orchestra Westridge hosted Jefferson Middle School in February for the Middle School Orchestra Festival. This was the first time this event emphasized music composition rather than performance.

Visit www.westridge.org/MSorchestrafestival2015 to see a video about the program’s process which features student scores.

Perfor

The Chamber Orchestra collaborated with Advanced Dance in the Dance Concert, performing an orchestral arrangement by Middle and Upper School Orchestra Teacher Leo Kitajima of Clean Bandit’s pop song “Rather Be.”

Upper School Choral Music The Glee Club traveled to the south for their Interim trip — “The South - Exploring Civil Rights through Song” — and sang at Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama, and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama.

The Glee Club received a Superior Performance ranking at the Southern California Vocal Association High School Choral Festival hosted at Westridge.

Dance Sixty-five dancers were featured in two performances of the Westridge Dance Concert, “Uptown Funk.” The evening included Bollywood and salsa dances, conceptual dance, a classical ballet piece, and showcased student-choreographed pieces.

Margaret (Marney) W. ’16 in “Into the Woods.”

Theatre The Westridge 2014-2015 theatre season included: > William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, adapted and directed by Director of Theatre Laurie Riffe. > David Lindsay-Abaire’s play Rabbit Hole. > The spring musical Into the Woods. > The 8th Grade production of Number the Stars, adapted from the Newbery Medal award winning book of the same title, about the escape of a Jewish family from Copenhagen during World War II. In addition, Emma Rothenberg ’15 won the Los Angeles branch of the English-Speaking Union High School Shakespeare Competition, and performed at the national level at Lincoln Center in New York.

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Lower School Holiday Concert Upper School Chamber Orchestra Assembly Performance

rmingArts 2014-2015

highlights save the dates

Westridge’s 2015-2016 Theatre Season of Truth & Magic A Midsummer Night’s Dream October 23-25, 2015

The Liar December 4-6, 2015

A Little Princess March 11-13, 2016

Still Life with Iris May 12-15, 2016

Glee Club Interim trip

“Number the Stars”

Advanced Dance members

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art student

& writing

Kat A. ’19

Ella S. ’22

Julie B. ’21 Julia J. ’15

Kelly S. ’21

Jay S. ’19 Simone G. ’17

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Rhiannon ’15

Aisa C. ’17

6th Grade Studies of Henry Moore

Cara W. ’21

Abbey P.-P. ’20

Caroline R. ’19

The poems below were created as an offshoot of 7th Grade English class and the Wildflowering L. A. program. After studying a poem by Yamabe No Akahito (789748 A.D.) about going out to the spring meadows to gather violets and spending the night there, students observed the Wildflowering L.A. garden at Orange Grove Boulevard and State Street for inspiration for their own poems. evening

by lucinda c. ’20

And when the sun shines on you I have hope that it will shine on me too Because your black satin petals Say I’m no longer in despair Oh Dahlia I hear your voice Telling me that life’s just a choice And to remember to live some And to put you in my hair Avery M. ’23

Garden by Alenna Z. ’20 I wait again For the sun to sleep To huddle in curiosity To grow and disappear A cycle, I wait for the flowers Never have I seen beauty As exotic as this I wait in the valley of lavender Shifting

Abbie K. ’16 Dylan J. ’15

From the breath of wind I close my eyes And stare at darkness with admiration.

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Perfection by Serena L.’22 It’s touch, soft, kind, elegant Full of happiness and grace Comforting It sways a little to the music of the wind Its kin follows willingly Waiting for the next whistle Its bright white petals were like silk Soft as a blanket Smooth as paper It spread out its arms Letting the sharp rays of sunlight bathe it While stretching far and wide Mara R. ’17

Its face was made up of beautiful imperfections It was almost as if its imperfections Made it perfect

Sophie T. ’15

Patiently It stood Waiting for more visitors

Kalin V. ’15 Sophie P. ’21

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Summer G. ’19

The Best Part of Me by Rachel K. ’22 The ocean shines in my eyes.

Like waves crashing on a smooth black shore.

An ocean surrounded by pearly white, With gray-blue water galore.

Amazing for gazing, My eyes see the world. They see; Vivienne L. ’17

Mom, Dad Years of light.

Every season shining bright.

You, all my friends, Every animal too, Seeing hope, love, peace, and beauty through and through.

And inside my eyes which can hold so much joy, Is a life unfolding.

Filled with light and merriment, Taking every book, every toy.

Sarah A. ’19 Jezebella K. ’15

Jaden I. ’22

Inside that ring of green kelp, inside all those waves, Is that island of life.

Twinkling with laughter, swelling with pride, It holds hope, peace, and mirth in that jubilant gaze.

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administrative team updates

Laura Caron, Mary Tuck, and Margaret Shoemaker

updates from Around Campus and our Community

Susan Bowers, who has served as

Interim Director of Advancement since November 2014, will continue as Westridge’s Director of Advancement overseeing all aspects of philanthropic support for the school. She brings 40 years of fundraising experience to Westridge, and most recently served as Interim Chief Development Officer at the Idyllwild Arts Foundation.

After 12 years at the helm of the Middle School, Laura Caron left Westridge at the end of the 2014-2015 school year to become the Head of Brookwood School, a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Eight school on Boston’s North Shore. At Westridge, Laura was instrumental in developing studentcentered, interdisciplinary programming and creating meaningful ways for each girl to develop — and believe in — her own voice. We congratulate Laura on this significant undertaking and thank her for her caring and thoughtful service to our girls.

With Laura’s departure, Mary Tuck, director of the Lower School since 2000, has expanded her responsibilities to serve as the Director of Lower & Middle School. In announcing the appointment to parents, Head of School Elizabeth McGregor said that the move made great sense in light of Mary’s experience at Westridge and previous Middle School experience. Before joining Westridge, she was with Polytechnic School for 22 years, where in addition to teaching in the Lower School, she oversaw the Middle School Block Program, Poly’s Middle School experiential program, and taught 8th Grade American History. Centralizing the administration of the Lower and Middle Divisions also allows the school to further its efforts to clearly articulate the scope and sequence of work in grades 4-8, in creating interdisciplinary projects across grade levels, as well as its efforts to enhance girls’ transitions from grade 6 to grade 7.

This summer also marks a transition in Upper School leadership at Westridge. In keeping with a career plan set out when she joined the school, Margaret Shoemaker, Director of the Upper School since 2010, will shift to a new post in 20152016, working part-time with the school’s leadership team to assist with strategic initiatives, including college counseling, enrollment management, and the full development of the Upper School Community Action Project. She will also be a valuable resource for Gary Baldwin, new Director of the Upper School (see page 13).

Pitcairn House Restoration Pitcairn House, one of the oldest and most architecturally significant buildings at Westridge School, underwent an exterior restoration project this past year.

The building remains true to the design elements of Greene & Greene, the renowned architecture firm that built the original Craftsman house in 1906.

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curriculum

updates Middle School Adds Advanced Math Offerings Beginning this fall, Advanced Algebra I-7 and Advanced Algebra I-8, a two-year sequence designed to meet the needs of students ready for abstract and advanced work, will be instituted. The courses will move at a faster pace, pose more challenging problems, delve deeper into the theory behind the skills, and explore advanced topics.

Students in either sequence of courses in the Middle School will have access to the broad range of Upper School course offerings, beginning with either Axiomatic or Integrated Geometry when they enter 9th Grade. The placement process for each of the Advanced Algebra classes is based on a number of factors, including current progress in mathematics, placement testing, testing records, teacher recommendations, and a student survey of comfort level and enthusiasm for mathematics.

Voices in Literature Conference Spins Off Upper School Elective In its fourth year, the Voices in Literature Conference will expand from an extra-curricular program to a two-semester elective course in the Upper School. Called Voices in Literature and Culture: Memoir and Documentary (the name will change annually with the conference theme), the class is an interdisciplinary course rooted in literary analysis. The first semester will focus on creating a literary foundation for the conference theme. During semester two, students will focus on conference preparations. In addition to working on their own conference presentations, students in the course will be responsible for the production of all aspects of the English Conference, from drafting the Call for Papers and organizing the panels to leading logistics on event day.

“We feel the conference is a place for students to share their creative and analytical work outside of the classroom and that the themes each year challenge them to think creatively about their own intellectual ideas,” says Upper School English Teacher Jessica Bremmer. “As students continue to assume more of the responsibility of the conference through the formal course, we also hope that the conference will emerge as an opportunity for student leadership as well.”

Westridge Welcomes Three New Board Members, Names Three Trustees Emeriti

This summer, three new board members join the Westridge Board of Trustees. Holly Bowyer (left above) is president of Media Marketing Minds, a consulting company that develops and executes marketing and sales strategies for corporate clients. She also serves of the Board of Trustees for Inner-City Arts. Bowyer holds a B.S. in marketing from California State University Los Angeles and an MBA in marketing and strategic planning from Claremont Graduate University. She is the mother of Madelyn Bowyer ’14.

Sigrid Burton ’69 (center above) is a professional artist whose work has been included in more than 30 exhibitions in major galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has a B.A. from Bennington College and has studied at UC Berkeley, UCLA and Columbia University. Burton has been very involved in the school as an alumna, including serving as the school’s inaugural Artist-in Residence and as an alumnae class representative. She also supports the Sigrid Burton ’69 Gallery in the Performing Arts Center, and is stewarding a 50th Reunion Endowment Campaign for the Class of 1969.

Mark Marinella (right above), Leader-Investment Resources Group at the Capital Group, is an investment management executive with more than 25 years of experience. He holds a B.A. in economics from University of Massachusetts, and an MBA in finance from Boston College. He currently serves on the University of Massachusetts Board of Visitors and on the board of the university’s Foundation. His step-daughter, Davan, is in the class of 2021.

The Board of Trustees also recently named three trustees emeriti: Judith K. Gain (daughter of Kathryn Robison Gain ’34), David G. Mgrublian (Kathryn ’07 and Madlyn ’09), and Shaw B. Wagener (Sophia ’13). This designation recognizes extraordinary service to the school’s board of trustees.

The Westridge community extends is heartfelt thanks to its board members who retired in June — Camilo Becerra, W. Torrey Sun, and Shaw Wagener — for their time and expertise in supporting the school.

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Westridge Honored by The Alliance This spring, Westridge was honored with a Founder’s Award at the Independent School Alliance Impact Awards Dinner for its role in the 1985 establishment of the organization. The Independent School Alliance is an organization of 54 private, independent elementary and secondary schools that endeavor to increase their diversity. The Alliance informs members of racial communities presently underrepresented in independent schools of the option of independent school education; identifies applicants from these communities and assists them in the application process; and, provides on-going support programs for students and their families. Elizabeth McGregor, head of school, accepted the award on behalf of Westridge.

Challenging HER to be her BEST, BOLD SELF… Inspiring HER to change the WORLD. W

e

s

t

r

i

d

g

e

Sch o

o

it all starts here.

l

How will you contribute to HER journey?

Support the educational enrichment that will prepare her for college and the world beyond.

The Westridge Annual Fund is more than simply a collection of gifts from alumnae, parents, and friends — it represents a shared confidence in Westridge School and the girls who will become community innovators and leaders.

Your generous contribution to Westridge helps the school continue to challenge and inspire young women.

It all starts here, with you. www.westridge.org/annualfund 24

Elizabeth McGregor, Laura Olinski, June Diarra

Summer Opportunities Fair volunteers Dads’ Club led a clean-up day at Mothers’ Club.

Westridge Parent Association:

Building Community June Diarra Assumes Role of WPA President

June Diarra is the Westridge Parents Association (WPA) President for the 2015-2016 school year. She has taken on many WPA leadership roles over the past five years, including Lead Room Parent, VP of Middle School, Multicultural Parent Collaborative Co-Chair and Chair, and WPA President Elect. Diarra, who works in real estate, is the mother of new Westridge alumna, Maimouna ’15, and a rising junior, Laurence.

Diarra steps into the role capably and warmly handled last year by Laura Olinski.

Join the school in thanking Laura for all of her efforts on behalf of Westridge and wishing her a year of fewer meetings as she enjoys her daughter Grace’s senior year.

Community Building with Hoops and Movies

One of the key goals of the WPA is to create community among the adults and families at Westridge and this year, the group expanded its lineup with the very popular Dads’ Club pick-up basketball games. Held monthly in the Hoffman Gymnasium, the games drew a regular crowd of dads eager to play. Also new this year was the wildly successful All-School Family Movie Night hosted by the WPA’s Multicultural Parent Collaborative (MPC) committee. Despite the rain and a last minute shift to an indoor

screening, more than 100 families turned out to see “The Hundred-Foot Journey” and enjoy appropriately themed dinner options from food trucks offering savory Indian food and sweet French crepes.

Summer Opportunities Fair

In its 24th year, the Summer Opportunities Fair was again sponsored by the WPA and brought to life by a large and dedicated committee of parent volunteers. The Fair annually brings to campus more than 100 summer programs, enabling parents and the broader community to interact directly with representatives of the programs and consider summer options for their children.

The fair is a fun-filled day of great food, games, entertainment, baked goods and parent involvement that results in community building, information shared and funds raised to support the many activities of the WPA throughout the year.

WPA Raises $20,000 for School Endowment

A quartet of WPA presidents past and present (Laura Olinski, 2014-2015; Allison Obico, 2013-2014; Sheri Bender, 20122013; and Kazue McGregor, 2011-2012) teamed up to present the school with a $20,000 contribution for the Westridge Endowment. According to Obico, “This was a collective fundraising effort over the last few years, and we proudly raised this momentous ‘thank-you gift’ for the school’s endowment.” Accepting the gift, Head of School Elizabeth McGregor, remarked, “I take to heart how significantly this gift will sow the seeds for future generations. With continued support, the girls will be touched in extraordinary ways and the school will stay strong for another 100 years.”

SAVE THE DATEs: New Parent Reception

august 27 2015-2016 Opening Parent Association Meeting

SEPTEMBER 29 25

alumnae day 2015 Westridge welcomed alumnae back to campus on Friday, March 13, for a full day of festivities, including coffee and mingling, presentations and performances in the Braun Music Center, and reunion photos. Lunch in Herrick Commons followed, with The Ranney Award, Herrick Bowl, and Owen Trophy awarded, and reunion classes recognized. Alumnae spread out around campus in the afternoon for various optional activities including tours, video interviews, Master Classes, and a lively lacrosse game on Frank Field, before returning to Pitcairn House for a cocktail party to cap the celebration.

50th Reunion Class of 1965 members pictured at Alumnae Day include, front row, from

left to right: Diane Fujitani, Nancy Rose Bushnell, Sheryl Pruitt Farris, Susan Tripp Snider and Tita Pechanec Ancheta. Middle: Jean Davidson, Kathy Gilbert Levin, Libby Sinclair and Mary Douglas. Back: Enid Elliot, Nedenia Kennedy, Patricia Mullin Jakle, Laurel Babeaux, Barbara Brown Millington, Ann Higginbotham, Linda Ledeen Schwartz, Martha McCook, Alison Webster Sansone, Paula Case Alexander, Gay Groth-Marnat, Paula Goody McGinnis and Sarah Greene.

Class of 1945

Robin Knight Spear and Polly Hunter Turpin 26

Class of 1950

Class of 1955

Linda Pauling Kamb, Cynthia Cronkhite Jones, Hunter Foster, Nancy Copeland Lissaman

Front: Ann Moore, Nancy Rhodes Burrows, Janet Morse Stanford, Jenifer Paul Bode. Back: Jennith Gilbert Knox, Amanda Nyce McIntyre

Class of 1960

Class of 1970

Judith Fuss Adell, Janet Bartoli Kennington, Marny Ennis Elliott (back)

Lynn Morgan Cutter, Brooke Larsen Garlock, Barbara Hall Millar, Candace Caldwell Smith

Class of 1975 Front: Brier Turpin Allebrand, Pamela Schachter, Kate Wheeler Rock; Back: Libby Maynard, Lisa Anderson Kelley, Smooch Repovich Reynolds, Carol Morse Stuller, Betsy Everett Martin

Class of 2010 Sharon Woo, Cassandra Iroz, Katie Leu, Allie Burke, Chelsea Leu

Class of 1980 Pamela Carter Bryant, Pamela Wilson McNeely 27

Class of 1965

meets the

Class of 2023 In keeping with the beloved Westridge tradition of pairing the 50th Reunion Class with the 4th Grade class as pen pals, the Class of 1965 and Class of 2023 met face to face on Alumnae Day. Joining together for cookies and lemonade, the two generations shared perspectives on Westridge then and now, leaving 4th graders with a lasting impression of what it means to be an alumna.

African Descent Alumnae Group Alumnae Day this year marked the first gathering of the African Descent Alumnae Group. Similar to student affinity groups, this group grew out of Westridge’s commitment to creating a community that values and supports a diversity of cultures and voices.

Front row: Alison Taylor ’80, Andrea Mills ’72, Lea Lambert Walker-Clark ’72 Back row: Danae Howe, Azizi Williams ’96, Elizabeth McGregor, Alexandra Hardy Scott ’02

The Madrigals performed at Alumnae Day.

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6th Grade students presented on the 1-to-1 tablet program instituted in their class this year.

Bonnie O’Conor DeWitt ’58 and former faculty member Rosemary Lonergan

Kristan Browne ’86, Eric Williams, Jennifer Schultz Bertolet ’86

Save the Date Alumnae Weekend

March 11 & 12, 2016 The following classes are celebrating reunions: Jossalyn Turner Emslie ’83, Ann Morrison Wachter ’83, Scott Wachter

1941 – 75th 1946 – 70th 1951 – 65th 1956 – 60th 1961 – 55th 1966 – 50th 1971 – 45th 1976 – 40th

1981 – 35th 1986 – 30th 1991 – 25th 1996 – 20th 2001 – 15th 2006 – 10th 2011 – 5th

Helen Park ’99, Betty Cole, Irene Park ’01 29

Nancy (Ophelia) Ennis Follett ’59 2015 Winner of the Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna Award The 2014-2015 Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna Award recipient is Nancy (Ophelia) Ennis Follett ’59.

Nancy, known as Ophelia in England where she has lived for nearly 50 years, credits Westridge for her life-long passion for intellectual and physical exploration.

Since graduating from Westridge, Nancy has maintained an unwavering quest for knowledge and deep appreciation for literature, archaeology, art and architecture, education, travel, and adventure. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern University in 1962 and her master’s in comparative literature from Columbia University in 1963, Nancy completed a second MA in classics in 1968 from Claremont Graduate School, all while raising her first child, Daena, teaching, and pursuing her passion for drama.

In 1968, Nancy made a life-changing decision to obtain her PhD in classics at Kings College, London, unaware that she would never return to the U.S. By the time her son, Saul, arrived in 1972, she had founded The Dolphin School, a K-8 English preparatory school, and her ties to the UK were solidified. In addition to leading Dolphin, she initially taught numerous courses including English, History, Latin, Greek, and Classics.

Nancy is the 30th recipient of the Mary Lowther Ranney Distingushed Alumna Award, created in 1987 to honor an alumna whose life embodies the Westridge motto, Surgere Tentamus — We Strive to Rise.

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Always true to her Westridge roots and spirit of Surgere, Nancy has remained steadfast in her belief that girls should have the same opportunities as boys. At a time when most heads of school were male, Nancy wasn’t intimidated; she was simply unwilling to accept the unequal playing field for women. She developed a unique cross-curricular field trip program that has been copied world-wide, became a trained Mountain Leader, devising a pioneering mountain walking program for Dolphin and teaching adult classes in subjects ranging from Renaissance art to mediaeval castles. Though technically retired, she serves as Chair of Governors, Editor of the Delphic Oracle, organizer of the Old Delphinians, and leader of the art and architecture trip to Italy for which she wrote the handbook, in addition to supporting numerous philanthropic and community endeavors.

She lives a music-filled life with Brian in a historic Tudor house, regarding herself as its ‘keeper,’ where she has entertained loyal classmates, and enjoys the company of her children Daena, Saul, Morgane, Thea, and her grandchildren.

Travelling extensively during the past 25 years, Nancy has documented her treks in far-flung places, sharing stories (via her blog http://threepenguins.wordpress. com/zanskar/) about being stranded in the Sahara, discovering untouched Buddhist cave art in remotest western China, dodging avalanches at Annapurna base camp, and visiting the 2000-year-old civilization of Zanskar while traversing the Himalaya at 18,000+ feet, literally striving to rise. Westridge School applauds Nancy’s adventurous spirit and values the many contributions she has made as an educator. She is truly the epitome of lifelong growth and learning.

2014-2015 Alumnae Board

(l-r.): Rebecca Synott ’06, Emily Ko Wang ’93, Andrea Mills ’72, Julie Chen Woo ’93, Kristan Browne ’86, Susan James ’63, Michelle Tyson ’86,Tara Friedlander ’02, and Madeleine Russell ’15 at the August 2014 Alumnae Board meeting.

Westridge School wishes to thank our Alumnae Board members for their strong commitment and unwavering dedication to their alma mater.This year, the group focused primarily on fundraising, networking, and storytelling, while upholding programs such as the Alumnae Phonathons that support the Annual Fund, encouraging participation in campus events and Alumnae Day festivities, and fostering new programs like the Alumnae Ceramics Course.

Kristan Browne ’86, Chair Priscilla Dunn Flynn ’47 Tara Friedlander ’02 Susan James ’63 Andrea Mills ’72 Lynne Tsuboi Saito ’63

Catherine Christian Schultz ’71 Dorothy McCay Scully ’54 Michele Shibuya ’86 Rebecca Synott ’06 Dhari Balvin Thein ’86

Michelle Tyson ’86 Emily Ko Wang ’93 Azizi Williams ’96 Julie Chen Woo ’93 Madeleine Russell ’15 (ex officio)

Meet Lisa Vandergriff Lisa Vandergriff Director of Alumnae Affairs Lvandergriff@westridge.org 626.799.1053 ext. 244 Lisa Vandergriff joined Westridge as the Director of Alumnae Affairs in August 2014. Prior to Westridge, Lisa worked at Caltech, Foothill Family Service, and served as the former Community and Schools editor at The Outlook. A member of the Pasadena community for nearly 20 years, Lisa has served numerous roles in the nonprofit and education sectors, following a 10-year career in TV production. Lisa is also a new member of the Westridge parent community — her daughter, Natalie, will join the 7th Grade Class of 2021 this fall.

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WESTRIDGE ALUMNAE

regional events boston | november 7, 2014 Attendees: Amelia Brooks ’11, Megan CampbellRisen ’92 (host), Holly Mead Delaney ’92, Nina Guo ’11, Suford Hereford Lewis ’61, Lauren Murphy ’06, and Sarah Zaia Rome ’91.

Amelia Brooks ’11, Suford Hereford Lewis ’61, Megan Campbell-Risen ’92, Holly Mead Delaney ’92, Lauren Murphy ’06, Sarah Zaia Rome ’91, and Nina Guo ’11 in Boston.

boston | february 27, 2015 The timing of this gathering, planned at the end of the National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference, allowed Head of School Elizabeth McGregor, Assistant Head of School Jemma Giddings and Director of Lower School Mary Tuck to attend and meet alumnae.

Above: Alicia Henry ’01 and Allie Myers ’14 in D.C. Left: Kate Kountzman Wessel ’03 and Elizabeth Carlton ’03 with Evan Garlock ’09 (back) in D.C.

Attendees: Amelia Brooks ’11, Megan CampbellRisen ’92, Nina Guo ’11, Julia Longmate ’12, Lisa Matthews ’72, Lauren Murphy ’06, Anne Robertson ’63, Alden Sorenson ’06, and Leslie Wheeler ’63.

new york | march 1, 2015 Attendees: Adreinne Bowles ’08, Elizabeth Cho ’97, Cynthia Chow ’97, Grace Han ’94,Yan Ho ’01, Emily Hudson ’08, Ella Kidron ’08, Carly Oscar ’14, Alexandra Pastron ’12, Catherine Readick ’11, Reena Russell-Nasr ’94, Sheila Sitaram ’11, Genevieve Ko Sweet ’96, Bridgette Tolbert ’14, Lauren Tom ’12 and Emily Townsend ’08.

Emily Hudson ’08, Adrienne Bowles ’08, Emily Townsend ’08 and Ella Kidron ’08 in New York.

washington d.c. | march 2, 2015 new york gathering

Attendees: Elizabeth Carlton ’03, Dierdre Coppage ’80, Sushan Demirjian ’84, Brooke Larsen Garlock ’70, Evan Garlock ’09, Alicia Henry ’01, Catherine Hillard ’61, Elizabeth Kincaid ’06, Kate Moore ’69, Alexandria Myers ’14, Genevieve Ruffner-Stirling ’48 and Kate Kountzman Wessel ’03.

Above left: Alexandra Pastron ’12, Carly Oscar ’14, Bridgette Tolbert ’14 Above: Grace Han ’94, Reena Russell-Nasr ’94, Left: Genevieve Ko Sweet ’96, Elizabeth Cho ’97, Cynthia Chow ’97

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Westridge

goes east East Coast Alumnae Gatherings were held in Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York, allowing college-age alumnae to meet fellow Westridge alumnae who are working, raising families, and settling on the East Coast.

The first gathering was held in November 2014 at the Newton, MA home of Megan Campbell-Risen ’92, where alumnae from 1961-2011 bonded during dinner over a mutual love for science, music and memories of the Westridge Glee Club. In late February, fortuitously in between heavy winter storms, Head of School Elizabeth McGregor and Director of Alumnae Affairs Lisa Vandergriff invited alumnae to dinners in Boston and D.C. and to brunch in New York. While the faces and places differed for each gathering, the common thread was the broad range of interests East Coast-based alumnae are choosing to pursue, and the warm feeling that ensues upon seeing alumnae from various class years connect.

The Young Alumnae Circle connects alumnae who fall within 10 years of graduation from Westridge through social activities and programs targeted to the Classes of 2005 to 2015.

Gatherings included a wine tasting in November 2014 at Everson Royce in Pasadena for the 21+ YAC members and, in December, a brunch at the Golden residence, hosted by Sheila and David Golden, and daughters Cassidy ’13 and Erin ’14.

The group’s mission is to recognize recent graduates who make annual gifts that set the standard for other young Westridge alumnae; to create opportunities for young alumnae to network, socialize, and build relationships; and to ensure a strong alumnae community among our recent graduates.

If you would like to host a Westridge alumnae event in your city, please contact Lisa Vandergriff, Director of Alumnae Affairs, Lvandergriff@westridge.org, 626.799.1053 ext. 244.

(above, l-r.): Cassidy Golden ’13, Stephanie Thatcher ’13, Marilyn Loubier ’13, Isabela Becerra ’14

(above): Kristy Koperski ’12 (left) and Jill Eisenberg ’12

(below): Jena Carter ’06 (left) and Kate Ross ’05

(above): Laura Gardiner ’09 (left) and Kimi Mok ’09 Elizabeth McGregor with Lisa Matthews ’72 in Boston.

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(left): Kristan Browne ’86 presents to juniors and seniors.

Alumnae Luncheon Speaker Series Welcoming alumnae back to Westridge to share their experiences through the Alumnae Luncheon Speaker Series allows Upper School students to explore numerous fields of interest and connect with the alumnae community. During lunch, alumnae join juniors and seniors to talk about their careers, education and experience, followed by a casual question and answer session.This year’s speakers represented diverse fields, but shared common ground as each described the path to their chosen career as not necessary a straight line, but rather a series of experiences and choices leading to the meaningful careers they are immersed in today.

Coincidentally, the first two speakers were Kristen Brown and Kristan Browne, both from the Class of ’86. It had been decades since the two connected, and in December Alumnae Board Chair Kristan Browne was there to welcome Kristen Brown, who talked about her collegiate journey from Westridge to the east coast and back home again. After earning a B.A. from Smith College, Kristen studied architecture at Parsons School of Design in New York and architectural history at the University of Virginia. She discovered a passion for marketing as she gained valuable knowledge about innovative branding initiatives and multi-platform marketing programs through her work at the American Film Institute, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Nestle USA, and finally, Caltech, where she is the assistant vice president for marketing and communications.

In March, Kristan Browne discussed how she tapped into the entrepreneurial spirit of her early teen years to launch her own business.

She now runs Attriniti, working with clients to create Wealth Rooms and inspirational work spaces. Armed with a B.A. in Fine Art and a B.A. in Geography from Middlebury College, Kristan draws upon the creative and organizational skills she honed while working as an event 34

Jessie Seiler ’04 (back row, fifth from left) and students.

Caltech’s Kristen Brown ’86 (second from left) with Westridge students.

planner and landscape designer. Recognizing that current students will need to move from a full-size bedroom to a much smaller space in college, Kristan gave a useful presentation on setting up a dorm room work space to enhance productivity and maximize potential for success.

In April, Jessie Seiler ’04 took the speaker spotlight after returning from three and a half years of Peace Corps service in Senegal, West Africa. Aside from Jessie’s colorful stories about living in a remote village of 300 people while working as a health education volunteer, the biggest takeaway from her talk was her non-bio-based approach to medical school. Following Westridge, Jessie earned a B.A. from St. John’s College in Annapolis, where she double majored in philosophy and the history of math and science, and double minored in classics and comparative literature.

Her experience leading Peace Corps Senegal’s new USAID-backed malaria eradication program inspired Jessie to pursue higher education and a career in public health. Jessie is relocating to Israel this summer to begin her medical school education through Columbia University’s Medical School for International Health.

If you are interested in participating as a speaker, please contact Director of Alumnae Affairs Lisa Vandergriff at 626.799.1053 or lvandergriff@westridge.org.

Classmates Kristen Brown and Kristan Browne reunite.

Lauren Gibbs

Westridge Welcomes Olympic Hopeful Back to Campus As part of the Alumnae Speaker Program, Westridge proudly welcomed back Lauren Gibbs ’02 to campus in April to speak to students, faculty, and staff about her Olympic dreams and experience training with the U.S. Women’s Bobsled National Team.

Gibbs addressed a sizable crowd gathered after school in the Performing Arts Center, where she shared stories and videos offering a bird’s eye view from her position of “brakeman” during 57-second runs down the track at speeds of 80 mph. Gibbs gave a humorous account of the journey that took her from Westridge to Brown University and Pepperdine for her M.B.A, peppered with details of the string of unusual sales jobs she’s held along the way, the most recent of which led to an unexpected job transfer to Denver, CO. Bobsledding was never part of her initial plan; it was suggested to her in passing while doing Crossfit training in a gym in Denver, CO. But if all goes according to her current plan, Gibbs will compete in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Talking through the specifics of her daily bobsled training regimen, Gibbs said she’s been training very hard yet, “having the time of my life!” Although remarkably new to the sport – she started bobsledding less than a year ago – Gibbs has already been selected to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Lake Placid, NY this fall.

A life-long athlete, Gibbs was known to climb out of her crib at eight months.

At Westridge she played soccer, volleyball, and participated in track and field and was inducted into the Westridge Hall of Fame during last year’s Centennial celebration. At Brown University, Gibbs was the captain of the volleyball team and won All-Ivy League Academic and Second Team All-Ivy. Gibbs doesn’t mind the rigors of training that come with being a competitive athlete. “When I want something, I really want it and then it doesn’t seem that hard.” Her parting advice to students was “to decide if it’s something you want and if it’s worth it, you’ll find a way to do it.” With her Olympic dreams still three years away, Gibbs’ dedication and enthusiasm should help her achieve her goal, and perhaps even gold, with the Westridge community cheering her on.

Photo Credit: Johnny De Ceulaerde Fotografie Lauren Gibbs and Jamie Greubel-Poser

Find Lauren on social media: Instagram and Twitter: lagibbs84 Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ Lauren-Gibbs/1567437463492605 Fundraising Page: www.gofundme.com/ez5wcc

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alumnae auth or s

Class of ’97 members Annie Manion, Leslie Parry, Lillian Burrow, and Eve Wight at Vroman's.

Church of Marvels, by Leslie Parry ’97, transports you from the Coney Island seashore to Lower East Side New York, in what has been hailed “a ravishing first novel set in vibrant, tumultuous turn-of-the-century NYC.” Leslie, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop now living in Chicago, visited Pasadena in May for a book signing at Vroman’s Bookstore. In addition to the recent acclaim for Church of Marvels, Leslie has received an O. Henry Award, a National Magazine Award nomination and an honorable mention in The Best American Short Stories 2013.

Let Westridge alumnae authors round out your summer reading list!

The Royal We, by Jessica Morgan ’93 and writing partner Heather Cocks is said to be a humorous and heartbreaking peek behind the public veneer of a royal romance. Not only has The Royal We been featured on the USA Today Bestseller’s list and on the Washington Post hardcover bestsellers list, but according to People Magazine, “Nick and Bex’s love story is so fun and dishy, you’ll hope for a sequel – with royal babies.” This acclaim comes as no surprise to Westridge, since Jessica was voted “Most Likely to Write a Romance Novel” and while The Royal We is women’s contemporary fiction, it is, at its heart, a love story, said Jessica.

Jennifer Clark Leighton ’90, author of How to Be a Goddess, credits Westridge as the place where she learned to love writing. “After years of wanting to write while unsure of what to write - I eventually found myself blogging and writing for various websites about relationships and dating advice,” said Jenn. “A monthly magazine column soon followed, and soon after, a published book.” How to Be a Goddess (A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Woman Men Dream About) is based on Jenn’s firm belief that women should hold themselves in high regard, not settle for improper treatment of any kind, and refuse to lower their self-worth merely to gain the attention/approval of men.

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Westridge Alumnae Readers Susan James ’63 had this to share about her latest work, Women’s Voices in Tudor Wills, 1485-1603: Authority, Influence and Material Culture: “For generations of historians writing about the lives of women in the 16th century, documents processed through male-dominated structures of the court system, pamphlets written by men, or information gathered from men’s wills have been primary sources of information.Yet the largest body of documents describing women’s lives across the socio-economic spectrum, their occupations, investments, property transactions, how they felt about their families and their communities were expressed in their own voices in their wills.” James conducted an intensive study of over 1,200 wills, the results of which led to her new book, a study which she hopes begins a new chapter in exploring and referencing women’s lives through their own words.

Book Group Westridge alumnae are invited to join what are sure to be interesting discussions of seven titles, carefully selected by the book group. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Leslie Clarke Gray ’62 Alumnae Living Room, Pitcairn House, on the Westridge School campus. Remember, no matter where you are in the book, you’re always welcome to the meeting.

September 16, 2015

Agnes Grey

by Anne Brontë November 18, 2015

Team of Rivals

by Doris Kearns Goodwin January 20, 2016

The Lowland

by Jhumpa Lahiri March 16, 2016

Silent Spring

by Rachel Carson Leslie Wheeler ’63 has penned a short story, Reds, based on her memories of growing up in Southern California during the McCarthy era. Reds appears in Best New England Crime Stories 2015: Rogue Wave, published by Level Best Books, where Leslie has served as a co-editor for the past five years. Leslie has also published three books in her Miranda Lewis “living history” mystery series, the most recent of which is Murder at Spouters Point.Visit her website, www.lesliewheeler.com, for news of a standalone suspense novel slated for publication in the near future.

May 18, 2016

The Shipping News

by Annie Proulx July 13, 2016

The Paris Wife

by Paula McLain and

A Moveable Feast

by Ernest Hemingway *meeting begins early to see the movie Gigi

These book selections are available to alumnae at Vroman’s Bookstore for a 20 percent discount. For questions, please contact Barbara Davis Reynolds ’72, bwdr@pacbell.net.

Vroman’s | 695 E. Colorado Blvd. | 626.449.5320 37

Westridge Alumnae participants with staff members include (front row, from left) Assistant Head of School Jemma Giddings, Elizabeth Hutton ’13, Anne Dorsey Long ’76, Julie Chen Woo ’93, Kacey Riley Richards ’83, Kirsten Hansen ’83, Karen Huante ’79. middle row: Susan James ’63, Director of Alumnae Affairs Lisa Vandergriff, Diane Link ’64, Sigrid Burton ’69, and instructor Juanita Jimenez. back row: Susan Hauk ’64, Head of School Elizabeth McGregor, Dudley Jones Thatcher ’78, Ann Cutting ’78, Lindsay Wright ’96, Sarah Tenaglia Taverner ’76, Raleigh Renick Young ’80, Jeanne Thiel Kelley ’81, Ann O’Mara ’81, Gretchen Seager ’84. not pictured: Tenaya Stewart Custer ’59, Karen Ma ’96, Sally Hunter Mann ’80, Nicole Vanore Tebo ’97, and Jennifer Vanore ’93.

Westridge Alumnae Return to Ceramics Class In January and February, Westridge School alumnae returned to campus for a three-week ceramics course led by beloved Upper School art teacher and 44-year Westridge veteran, Juanita Jimenez.

Presented by the Westridge Alumnae Board as a pilot program, the course posed a substantial commitment — twice a week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.―But as word spread, the roster filled with 23 alumnae from various class years.

Opening the studio’s large glass doors to alumnae on the first night at the end of January, Jimenez provided a history of the evolution of the studio, dating back to a “pre-garage” era that pales in comparison to the ample space now housing 16 wheels, multiple sinks, and a large kiln.

“The ceramics department was my life at Westridge,” said Jeanne Thiel Kelley ’81, a cookbook author, food writer and food stylist who found that art has a lot to do with food presentation.

The 54-year age gap between the youngest and oldest alumnae was soon bridged as they shared recollections from their Westridge days and reasons for taking ceramics today. From renowned artists to those who haven’t done artwork in decades, the course rekindled artistic abilities and sparked new friendships.

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Juanita has talked about an alumnae class for many years, and the idea came to fruition when the Alumnae Board needed an alternative space to hold a meeting last fall. Exhibiting her signature open door policy, Juanita hosted the meeting, during which details for the ceramics course finally took shape.

Months later, the studio has provided Westridge alumnae with a space to create and a renewed sense of community. Dudley Jones Thatcher ’78 was about to collapse the large conch shell she had spent hours shaping when classmates intervened and instructed her to “step away from the clay!” With guidance and encouragement from Juanita and her peers, Dudley finished the shell.

Sally Hunter Mann ’80 still has the ceramic blueberry pie she made in Juanita’s class by rolling little balls of clay.

“The wheel freaks me out,” said Mann, “but I want to surpass that pie!”

Juanita found the course to be a heartwarming validation of her efforts as a teacher. “I’m an okay teacher,” said Juanita. “They remember everything!”

Karen Huante ’79 experienced similar frustration at the wheel. She was ready to quit when she was told, “You can’t quit at Westridge.

Where else will you find such a welcoming learning environment?”

Weeks later, she had produced an array of pieces ready to be fired.

Gretchen Seager ’84 was quick to tout Juanita as more than okay.

“We all have those teachers that you remember as being the best you’ve ever had, and you’re one of them,” she told Juanita.

The finished products aren’t being graded this time around, but as Head of School Elizabeth McGregor exclaimed while visiting the studio, “Everyone gets an A in this class!”

money wise Westridge Women Westridge recently offered alumnae the opportunity to return to campus for two evenings to brush up on financial fitness and explore the significance of women’s financial influence.

Westridge alumnae from classes spanning 1964-2004 attended the two-part series on Women and Money. On January 14, Linda Davis Taylor, Chair and CEO of Clifford Swan Investment Counsel shared her perspectives on how to avoid the top-five financial traps that can hold women back from reaching their goals.

On April 8, Theresa Oldknow ’76, financial advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, addressed the importance of understanding one’s individual investment personality and investing based on goals and purpose. Both evenings were enthusiastically attended with requests for similar opportunities in the future.

Theresa Oldknow ’76, Sylvia Holmes ’76

Theresa Oldknow ’76

Lysa Kristensen, Keegan Leopold Nordan ’93, and Fiona Baerveldt Wertheimer ’94 39

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1944

Katharine Nevins Schwarzenbach (Pomona, CA): “Same news; live at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in winter and go to Islesboro, ME from May to October. Still play lots of golf (in a cart). Talk to Jo Carter Duff in Santa Barbara about twice a year.

Where (if alive) are any members of the Class of ‘39? There were 18 of us. Had English tea with Elizabeth McGregor. She is the best!!!”

Emilie Hubbard Kimball (Chatham, MA): “Still living alone and loving Chatham in spite of a difficult winter.”

1940 Rosemary Hadden Hayes (Santa Rosa, CA): “Westridge has grown into a much more exciting, challenging and productive school than when I attended in the 1930s.

I am deeply impressed and wish I had another chance!”

1943 Ansley Newman Carnahan (South Burlington,VT): “I received my B.A. in Law & Justice May 17, 2014 from Burlington College, VT. I am currently enrolled to the Individualized Masters of Arts at B.C. I have student loan debt and am acquiring more.”

Nancy Pellissier Fine (Palm Desert, CA): “Still living in Palm Desert at Ironwood Country Club. Active in Art Group, the Desert Putters Association and Tri Delta Alumnae Group.”

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Emily Angle Wallis (Pebble Beach, CA): “I have often thought of my fine days and good friends at Westridge, 1940-1944. It was a wonderful experience for me. Now I have three darling grandsons to help take the place of my only son, John, who died in an auto accident 10 years ago. All my attention goes to them.”

1945 Teresa Treat Kaneko (Davis, CA) has a granddaughter on the UCLA gymnastics team!

1949 Elizabeth Banning Ames (Santa Monica, CA): Liz and two classmates, Jean Morgan Burns and Katharine (Kathy) Keith Salsbury celebrated their 65th reunion at the Centennial Alumnae Day in 2014.

She said they had a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute of it!!

1951 Sherry White Bullock (Huntington Beach, CA): “I’m still commuting to MD Anderson in Houston for my leukemia. I found that I have cousins there and we get together for dinners. I was sorry to miss the alumnae luncheon this year.”

Mary Hibbard (Downers Grove, IL) remarried in 2003 to a friend whom she had known 43 years ago.

Linda Fisher Laine (Honolulu, HI) has retired from teaching and now designs and makes clothes.

Nancy Laine Thompson (Oshkosh,WI): “On a Danube River cruise I met Lauren Yang ‘09 (and her brother). She is an impressive young woman and Westridge must be proud of the quality of its graduates. Winter in Wisconsin is extremely cold, so I’m looking forward to my usual three months in the Sonoma Valley.”

Eleanor Gramatky Wolf (Applegate, CA): “Four days a week at the gym. Last year went on a river trip. This year, a fun train trip.”

1952 Susan Davis (Carmel, CA): “Still trotting between Carmel (culture) and Mendocino (trees, coast and... chickens) with excursions, volunteering and keeping up with issues both local and global, in addition.”

1953 Valerie Thom Read (Capistrano Beach, CA): “We still travel on our own; trip to Samoa and Kauai in 2014. Not ready for cruises yet!”

Susan Grandin Taylor (Ross, CA): “My sister, Nancy, passed away on February 5, 2015 at her home in Pebble Beach. She had been ill with a lung disease for a few years. I shall miss having a ‘Big Sister’ very much. We have a new puppy that has taken over my life! Hunter, an Australian Labradoodle, is full of fun and love, with a bit of mischief too.”

Harriet Fincke Woakes (Wales, UK) and Head of School, Elizabeth McGregor, caught up on Westridge in July over lunch at the Castle Tea Rooms in Ludlow, England. Elizabeth was in the area visiting her family during her vacation and delivered the two Centennial books: A Centennial History and Her Chosen Path.

1955

1959

1961

Amanda Nyce McIntyre (Carpinteria, CA): “Every Christmas season the local ‘55ers gather in Pasadena for a festive lunch. We look great for our decade!”

Cynthia Nash Hummel (Billings, MT): “My husband and I celebrated our 51st anniversary just before Christmas 2014, along with the 3rd birthday of our only grandchild, Charlotte, who lives with her parents in Missoula, Montana. Our other son, Eric, just turned 45, is a lawyer in Kalispell, MT, where he also substitutes for four judges. He is hoping to be a judge himself one of these years. Dave and I have now been to 141 countries (are we counting?)! In 2014 I returned again to India and Germany. During May we flew to the southwest area of the Indian Ocean, visited six islands, four of which are independent nations: the Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Mayotte and the Comoros Islands. In September we were in Croatia, then continued on to Italy. I won the grand prize in a photo contest run by Grand Circle Travel. With the $10,000 in winnings Dave and I signed up for their trip to Patagonia during October and November, during which we were able to visit Chile and Easter Island, Argentina down to Patagonia and Cape Horn, then Uruguay and Paraguay. We capped this off with a Christmas visit to Barbados. Mid-January I escaped to India for a month with my Australian sister-in-law. Dave has recovered from back surgery in late February, has to have a hip replacement in early May, so all travel has been put on hold for the moment. We have, however, booked a cruise for the month of November, sailing from Lisbon to Cape Town. Meanwhile I continue to enjoy photography, my German connections (friends, food, visits, language), tennis, and living in my adopted state of Montana. I was sorry to miss the Alumnae Day celebrations, when Nancy Ennis Follett from our class was recognized for her efforts to found a school near London, where she lives. Congratulations to her.”

Alice Myers Brown (Palo Alto, CA): “We still live in our Palo Alto home that we bought in 1971 for $45,000. We have all seven grandchildren - ages 3 to 12 - in our area so are very involved. We do lots of sports, school events, weekend overnights and art projects, plus lots of painting and gardening. I am in two street fairs this year, so am painting most days.

Our youngest, Emily (35), lives and works in Boulder and imports beautiful ceramics from Spain, Mexico, France and Italy.

We went on a buying trip to San Miguel, Mexico, with her in May.” (www.emiliaceramics.com)

1956 Deborah Andreson Burns (Santa Paula, CA): “After 56 years together, my husband Vince died in June 2014. I continue to split my time between Rincon Point and Santa Paula. There is much to do in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in support of habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring. I participate in several projects, which are fun and involve dedicated, interesting people.”

1957 Margaret Dickson Gitelson (Palo Alto, CA): “Loved seeing so many of our classmates at the Centennial Celebration last spring. It was a beautiful event, and brought back so many happy memories.

Buzz and I are happily settled in Palo Alto (at the Vi Palo retirement community adjacent to Stanford) and spend about four months every winter at our home in Palm Desert. Our kids (and three grandkids) are in Minneapolis and London, so lots of traveling. We are happy, healthy and feeling very blessed.”

1958 Poppy Copeland (Boulder, CO) serves on the board of directors of Pursuits, a broad-based Life Coaching and Wellness Network. “We just celebrated our fifth year in Northern Thailand with our Photo Pal Project. We found that the theme of ‘nature’ brought out deep feelings both of the Burmese refugee kids and their partners in Colorado. It demonstrates that there is a “universal consciousness.” (www. poppycopeland.com)

Margaret Pohlman Schweizer (Aurora, CO): “A big hello to all of my classmates! I continue to have a wonderful time here in beautiful Colorado.”

1962 Cheri Colby Langdell (Pasadena, CA): “Hi, my husband Tim is a hospital chaplain who has just finished his M. Div. (master’s in Divinity) at Claremont School of Theology. Our son, Sebastian, finished his doctorate in British Literature at Oxford University in England last September, and is teaching at Somerville College, Oxford.

He and his wife Anna are coming back here to live in June. Our daughter, The Rev. Melissa Campbell-Langdell ’99, is the rector of All Saints, Oxnard. I’m teaching English, ESL and Humanities at East LA College, where each of my classes has over 40 students!”

Alumnae Updates Westridge is proud of its alumnae and know there are many great updates to report. Keep the school informed of your experiences and accomplishments and share them with fellow alumnae!

Please send Class Notes and photos to alumnae@westridge.org.

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1963 Patricia Baird (Vancouver, BC): “I am a Marine Biologist living in Vancouver BC (now a Canadian citizen). I work with seabirds and shorebirds and use them as indicator species for the health of the planet.” Patricia had this to say about former teacher Rosemary Longergan’s visit to campus on Alumnae Day: “I still talk about her way to remember how to do cosines, sines, and tangents.”

Leslie Wheeler (Cambridge, MA): “I completed my fifth year as a co-editor at Level Best Books, an indie publisher that puts out an annual anthology of short crime fiction by New England authors. This year’s anthology was Rogue Wave. Also, busy with my own writing in the mystery field, and hope to have another book out soon. Son Nick graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, VT and now works as a software developer for a start-up in the Boston area. Continue to enjoy dividing my time between Cambridge and a house in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts.”

1964 Lucinda Cox (San Francisco, CA): “My saxophone playing is improving as is my tap dancing.”

Carol Richards (Steamboat Springs, CO): “I am currently recovering from some surprise medical issues. Expecting to get back to normal soon. Vacation trips and visiting my sister, Maggie Thomas (briefly class of ‘68) for fun. Maggie has two grandsons and lives just outside of Fresno. Retirement looks more attractive everyday.”

Elizabeth Safford (Carbondale, CO): “It was great to see everyone at the 50th Reunion.”

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Barbara Brown Millington (Indianapolis, IN): “Retired and busy as ever in Indianapolis. Love being close to my granddaughters. Dale and I travel quite a bit and enjoy seeing family and friends during our adventures.”

1966 Deborah Paul Barkley (Laguna Beach, CA): “Westridge needs to start a good boys school! We have three grandsons (newest in July). Great reunion in spring and planning another in July 2015 in Hawaii (Lynn Manildi Watanabe’s)!

Memories, so many made at Westridge; and they continue.”

Nancy Morton (Oakland, CA): “Keep trying to retire. Expect to finally succeed at the end of January 2015. Doing volunteer work with an organization partially run by Barbara Morse’s daughter, Sandra Morse Coleman ’54. Wonderful driving expedition from Brooklyn to Oakland via Santa Barbara doing genealogy. Fun reunion at Marcia Howe Adams and another at Michele Provost Harrison. Healthy, happy, and still single.”

Lynn Manildi Watanabe (Honolulu, HI): “Now six grandchildren/some looking forward to seeing Westridge. Classmates here in Hawaii this summer. Life is full of lots of grandkids, travel and volunteer work in Hawaii community and the Philippines.”

1967 Diane Spivey Rogers (Moorestown, NJ): “Starting to think about retirement, or moving on to something new. Very involved at our church along with my husband, Jon. Two children in their mid 20s still trying to find the good job and launch from the nest. Will it happen?”

Ann Crary McCormick (Redmond,WA): “Lots of changes in 2014 - I got remarried August 27, my daughter was married August 3, and son Johnny married December 20- three weddings in one year! I changed jobs from Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S. where I was a civil defense litigator for almost nine years - now the Executive Director of Human Resources at The Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Thanks to Catherine Christian Schultz for her steadfast committment to Westridge.”

Katherine Sterling (Oceanside, CA): “My husband, Don, retired and we moved to Oceanside. I am still adjuct faculty at PCC and commute by Metrolink and gold line. Love my job teaching in the Fashion Department.”

1972 Alenka Cisar Podbevsek (Golnik, Slovenia) is still living in Slovenia, where “time is running so fast and I am not too good in keeping contact. We are all well. Family is growing. My second son got married this summer and I am expecting my fourth grandchild next year. We are still traveling and next year we are planning to go by ship through Panama and visit LA again.”

1973 Louisa Crowley (Los Gatos, CA): “It was wonderful seeing classmates at our 40th reunion. I moved back to my home in Los Gatos August 2013, about a year after my last parent died. I emptied the old house in Linda Vista and then it took about a year to sell it. I still visit Pasadena several times a year since my sister, Sylvia Crowley Holmes ’76, and one of our brothers still live there, along with five nieces (all attended Westridge) and one nephew.”

1965

1971

1976

Nancy Rose Bushnell (Laguna Beach, CA): “Loved being with so many of my classmates for our 50th. We had such a good time together that many were talking about attending the reunions leading up to our 55th! I’m planning on being there!”

Debbie Lawrence (Pasadena, CA): “I’m a city planner for Los Angeles. I spend time with my Quarter Horse, Carley, whom I keep at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. I continue to spend time with my Westridge classmates, for many years now.”

Brynne Montgomery Staley (Piedmont, CA): “Almost empty nester. Evyn living and working in Brooklyn, Henry junior year at Brown, Teddy junior at Piedmont High. If ever in the Bay Area, please don’t hesitate to connect. There are quite a few of us Westridge gals up north now!”

Join the Westridge School Alumnae Network To grow a strong network of support and connectivity for all Westridge Alumnae, we would like to add an element to our Web site, www.westridge.org, whereby alumnae can find contacts by profession, college and/or city/state/region or country. Please contact alumnae@westridge.org to let us know what area you would like to be included as a potential source for information.

1978

1982

1988

Mary Wheatcroft TenBroeck (Redwood City, CA): “Started working for big data analytics company in 2013 in San Francisco. Enjoy keeping up with classmates on Facebook.”

Elizabeth Dunton Gould (Phoenix, AZ): “Well, I hit the big 5-0 this year! To mark the occasion, I went on a cruise to the Mediterranean! France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. Truly amazing sights.

My kids are now grown: Carolyn graduated University of San Diego in criminal justice and still resides in S.D. My son, Jay, turned 21 and is a junior at Seattle University majoring in photography.”

Alicia Dwyer (Monrovia, CA) is excited to share the news of a new project she is producing: the world premiere of POCHA (Manifest Destiny), which sold out on June 14 at the Los Angeles Film Festival! Alicia adds, “I find myself thinking of Westridge, because we are celebrating women in front of and behind the camera in this beautifully filmed, taut thriller and western with a breakout female lead.” POCHA won the Audience Award for Best Fiction Film.

1983

1991

Blair Adams Carty (Rossmore, CA): “Son is graduating high school! Accepted to several colleges.”

Monica Oller (Los Angeles, CA): “My husband and I live in Echo Park with our two daughters, Sabina (8) and Fiala (5).

We are looking forward to seeing Sabina start in the 4th grade at Westridge in the fall! Our whole family enjoyed reconnecting and making new connections with the Westridge community during the Centennial celebrations. My mom, Erika Hoeneman ’60, still lives in Pasadena and is enjoying working on art projects with her granddaughters.”

1979 Karen Huante (Altadena, CA) is still taking dance classes and selling real estate for Coldwell Banker. No longer feeding adult sons, Kameron (26) and Kirk (28).

Joan Griffith Malloy (Alhambra, CA): “After more than 20 years of living away from California... I have moved back!

My daughter, Bayley, is living with me while Griff is a freshman at SLO (San Luis Obispo). Fun to be back... love seeing so many old friends!”

Mira Bogen Sanchez (Davis, CA): “Living on sprawling land with rivers running through it. Still a veterinarian with grown sons; one living in NY and the other in Los Angeles.”

1980 Susan Anderson (Oakland, CA) has been working in the Alumni & Development office for over seven years at Head-Royce School in Oakland. Her youngest, Ben, will graduate in 2016, and oldest son, Sam, is in his second year at UC Santa Cruz.

Pamela Carter Bryant (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA): “I’m a nana! My grandson, Gavin, was born on my mom’s birthday, November 9. He will be two this year. I really enjoy working in College Health as the Nurse Practitioner.”

Lauri Blanchfield Frontino (Sierra Madre, CA): “Doing marketing at Berkshire Hathaway. Son is 17 and in the 11th grade at Maranatha, a history buff. The other is 11 and in 6th grade at St. Christian. Adjusting to middle school.”

1984 Elizabeth Moreno Stellwagen (Pasadena, CA): “Staying busy with kids: In the fall Henry, 18, will be a freshman at USC, Emma, 16 will be a Jr. at Flintridge Sacred Heart and Jack, 14, will be a freshman at Poly.”

1986 Mary DeWitt Wilson (Manhattan Beach, CA): “Oldest left for college this year and youngest in high school and driving! Life is good.”

1992 Kiesha Ramey Presner (San Francisco, CA): “I live in San Francisco with my husband, Brad, and our son, Dylan, 5.

Brad and I have lived in the Bay Area since graduating from Stanford, and spent the last 15 years in San Francisco, specifically.

After many years in high-tech, including eight at Google, I became a Bar Method instructor. I manage teachers at the San Francisco flagship studio, and travel around the country evaluating franchise studios and teaching staff. Life is great!”

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1994

2000

2004

Grace Han (Forest Hills, NY) is a design liaison at NYC Department of Design and Construction.

Natalia Olarte de Staunton (San Marino, CA): “I got married on March 28, 2015 to Vincent Staunton, a San Marino High alumnus. We were introduced by mutual friends. My ballet teacher’s husband worked with Vincent and set us up. The ceremony was held at Holy Family church in South Pasadena and the reception at the Jonathan Club.”

Elizabeth Farley Anderson (Glendale, CA) Liz and her husband Jon Anderson gave birth to a baby boy on April 13, 2015.

This is Liz and Jon’s first child. Both mom and baby are doing well and enjoying quality time together.

Reena Russell-Nasr (New York, NY): “My favorite memory from my Westridge days is times with friends I am still in touch with.”

1996 Genevieve Ko Sweet (Forest Hills, NY) is a food writer/cookbook author.

1997 Elizabeth Cho (New York, NY) is a writer (fairytales) and works in fundraising. “My favorite memory of my Westridge days is lazy afternoons in Pitcairn House, taking naps with the afternoon sun streaming in, like a contented cat.”

Cynthia Chow (Long Island City, NY) is the founder of Qualiia Quantitative Strategies.

1998 Brooke Atkinson Yohalem (Pasadena, CA): “I’m still living in Pasadena with my husband, Mark, and taking care of my young girls (Eleanor, 5 & Alice, 3) full time!

Katie Rosedale Enney and I get together every week with our kids for play dates.”

1999 Stephanie Luh (Santa Monica, CA): “I joined Guggenheim Partners in Santa Monica in 2014 as a Vice President in Client Relations and Business Development, focusing on growing and servicing the public pension fund business. I’m also a board member at the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Society of Los Angeles and launched one of the first CFA Institute’s Women’s Groups, providing a supportive network for women in finance and helping them achieve their highest potential in management roles. I occasionally run into Ms. Connor who lives near my parents; she looks exactly the same as when I left Westridge, and her memory is amazing!”

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2001 Dana Icaza Banta (Pasadena, CA) and her husband, Jimmie, moved back to Pasadena from New York City this past fall. They are thrilled to be back. This spring, Dana, along with her sister, Catie ‘04, opened The Monogrammed Home. Their shop sells personalized gifts for all occasions. (www. the-monogrammed-home.com) Yan Ho Lee (New York, NY) is a resident physician at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Her favorite memory from her Westridge days is the Madrigals and pottery class.

Katherine Rutledge-Schiappa (New York, NY) and her husband are medical residents at Manhattan hospitals and were busy with the overflow of evacuated patients from other hospitals and clinics when Hurricane Sandy occurred.

2003 Morgan Muir (San Francisco, CA): “I am living and working in San Francisco, where I run my own law practice and also work full-time for UCSF negotiating clinical trial agreements. In my free time, I enjoy singing a cappella with The Loose Interpretations (or the Loosies, for short), an all-female group based in SF.” Michelle Vu (Los Angeles, CA): “After finishing medical school at BU, I went to Cedars Sinai for residency and am currently starting the final year of my gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA.”

Nicole Pansky Beresford (Alhambra, CA) “My husband and I will be celebrating our five-year wedding anniversary this year in August. We were living in Covina, but at the beginning of this year we moved into a bigger home in Alhambra. We just had our first son, a beautiful boy, Brayden, on February 22, 2015. I spent five years managing multimillion dollar cleaning companies gaining invaluable experience along the way. For the past year, my husband and I have been working together as the third generation of my family’s business-- Pip Marketing, Signs, and Print in Downey.”

2005 Kate Ross (Brooklyn, NY): “There are countless memories from my days at Westridge. One of them is the general bravery and camaraderie we felt in the theatre playing female and MALE roles! I’m also grateful for the enduring friendships and intellectual curiousity I gathered at Westridge.”

Olivia Sajjadieh (Washington, DC) is the Assistant Director of Admissions at American University. Her favorite memory from her days at Westridge is plays in Braun.

Emily Schweickhardt (Los Angeles, CA): “I’m starting medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine this fall.

After I left my position Gagosian Gallery, where I worked for two years after graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2009 (English and Psychology double major, minor in Art History) and Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London (Masters degree in Contemporary Art), I enrolled in a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at USC, and finished in 2014. While I applied to medical school this past year, I worked as the research coordinator for a UCLA orthopedic surgeon.

Finally, I got engaged recently. My fiancee, Nicholas, and I plan on getting married next summer!”

2006

2009

Catherine Falzone (Altadena, CA): “I will be finishing my master’s in Library and Information Science this fall.”

Mari Amend (San Francisco, CA) works at Mother Jones where she is chair of the Union. She is currently working on a project to create an oral history of the California Drought.

2007 Gibson Banta (Pasadena, CA): “I completed my M.A. in art history from Texas Christian University in 2014. I currently work at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for the Annual and Major Gifts team at the Foundation.”

Rebecca Benshoof (Glendale, CA): “After receiving her M.A. in Art History from Richmond University, London and working in London, Rebecca is back in Pasadena and has been interning at Saatchi Art in Santa Monica.”

Clare Sherman (Pasadena, CA) is currently in her second year at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, NY.

2008 Adrienne Bowles (Brooklyn, NY) works at the Clinton Foundation as Commitments Data Associate. “My favorite memory from my days at Westridge is lunch time! Sitting outside and talking with friends.”

Emily Hudson (New York, NY) is a recruitment assistant at NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development. “My favorite memory from my days at Westridge was my friends and the lunch table outside that we claimed as our spot!”

Ella Kidron (New York, NY) is an excutive at Brunswick Group. “My favorite memory of my days at Westridge is eating lunch outside on the tables.” Ella notes that her little sister, Zora Kidron ’15, recently graduated from Westridge.

Emily Townsend (New York, NY) is a senior account manager at Cement Bloc. “My favorite memory of my days at Westridge is All School Day.”

Alexandra Chindris (Washington, DC): “I am currently a second year law student at George Washington University in DC. I currently work for the Innocence Project and will be working for the Orange County Public Defender this summer!”

Emilie Hahn (Pasadena, CA): “Worked at TV show Robot Chicken, now Digital Media Assets at Herzog & Company coordinator.”

Allison Martinez-Davis (Washington, DC): “Currently working as a Partnership and Policy officer at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Graduated in May 2015 from Georgetown’s Masters of Conflict Resolution Program.”

Claire Miller (Sierra Madre, CA): “I’m a public relations associate for the Dodgers and started in February 2014. I assist the PR department with an array of tasks such as researching stats for our coaches, players, and baseball operations department, prepare game notes and press releases, contribute articles to the Dodger Insider blog and magazine, conduct player and celebrity interviews, prep the press box prior to each home game and assist Vin Scully with stats and headlines for the games.”

Maia Mosse (Stanford, CA): “I’m writing to thank the Westridge community for helping to cultivate my commitment to service, while developing the intellectual and practical capacity to address pressing issues that call to me. I have fond memories of Union Station service learning with Ms. Cole. Westridge also gave me creative flexibility to design a senior project that influenced my academic career going forward; I went to a clinic in rural Mexico to serve as an interpreter for medical team, and wrote and published articles to raise funds for opening a Women’s clinic.

For the past five months, I’ve been living on the island of Roatan starting a diabetes education program through Fulbright and scuba-diving and enjoying the beach

after hours. I’m excited to share that the non-profit I have helped direct for five years, SCOPE (Student Clinical Opportunities for Pre-Medical Experience), just won the 2015 Stanford Community Partnership Awards for our volunteer medical interpreting services at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Our volunteers bridge cultural and language barriers between underserved patients and their emergency department doctors, nurses and staff. If our volunteers weren’t there on weekends and overnight shifts, there would be no in-person interpreters in the hospital. I’m thrilled to continue leading the program when I go to Stanford Medical School this fall. If you or someone you know is interested in making a tax deductible donation to SCOPE, please visit http://beagooddoctor.org/donate and scroll to the bottom and click the “Paypal” button on the following page. Your support truly makes a difference. We couldn’t do what we do for the local community, or provide the learning experience for so many student volunteers, without your support.”

Taryn Nagata (Los Angeles, CA) works in marketing at Disney Junior/Disney Channel.

Avni Shah (St. Louis, MO) is in her second year of medical school.

Morgan Sorenson (Altadena,CA) is currently a second year student in clinical psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary.

She will receive her M.A. in Psychology in June 2015.

Megan Wasson (Pasadena, CA): “UVA Law ’16.”

Maud Waterman (Pasadena, CA) graduated with the Class of 2012 from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Lauren Yang (Pasadena, CA): is currently living back in Los Angeles after a year abroad and is excited to attend UCLA Anderson School of Management this fall.

2010 Megan Mountford (South Pasadena, CA) “I just graduated from USC in December.

I am now a publicity coordinator at NBC Universal.”

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Grace Pai (Chicago, IL) has now survived five Chicago winters and loves the city too much to leave -- although the bonechilling winters do make her wonder why she decided to stay after graduating from UChicago in 2014. She works as a community organizer and feels lucky to be able to say that she loves her job.

2012

2011

Carrie Honn (Goleta, CA): “My favorite memory from my days at Westridge is the different events that Westridge put on, like Interim Week and when I went to El Salvador.”

Amelia Brooks (Boston, MA) “I will be graduating from MIT in June 2015 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and starting my Master’s in MechE at Purdue University in the fall.”

Nina Guo (Boston, MA) graduated from New England Conservatory of Music this spring with a degree in classical voice. Her final graduation requirement was a solo recital, featuring music she has been working on for the past four years, including some very old Italian music (Monteverdi from the 1600s), harmonically rich French songs (Messiaen and Scelsi), songs about animals in English, and a few modern, avant-garde pieces in German and nonsense language (Kurtág and Berio).

Chloe Obico (Pasadena, CA) graduated from Emory University in December 2014 and now works with a company called This Bar Saves Lives as their Social Media and Content Manager. This Bar Saves Lives is a social enterprise company — for every granola bar they sell, they give a life-saving nutritional packet (called Plumpy Nut) to a severely malnourished child. As a matter of fact, Herrick Commons at Westridge sells these bars to our students! (www. thisbarsaveslives) Catherine Readick (Bronxville, NY) is studying art history and literature at Sarah Lawrence College, worked for NPR last summer and her favorite memories from Westridge are plays with Mr. Wright, costuming with Ms. Hawk and reading Mrs. Dallaway junior year.

Sheila Sitaram (Providence, RI) works at Vogue as a Sittings and Research Assistant, and is studying International Relations and Modern Culture & Media at Brown. “My favorite memories from Westridge are 7th grade English with Mr. Cross and talking with Juanita in the ceramics studio.”

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Elinor Haddad (Los Angeles, CA): “I am just finishing my third full year at USC, and have made Dean’s List all six semesters that I’ve been here. I also was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa this past semester.”

Metzli Mejia (South Pasadena, CA): “My favorite memory from my days at Westridge is the Student Diversity Leadership Conference and going to China for Interim. Now, four years later, I paid for my sister and I to go back to China for a month.”

Cassandra Nufable (Los Angeles, CA) is a junior majoring in Business Administration and Cinematic Arts at USC. “Currently, I am studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal and am having a wonderful time traveling and learning about international business.

This past weekend, I traveled to Belgium and reconnected with a former Westridge teacher, Kari Doyle! She taught me 9th grade Biology at Westridge in 2008-2009, and we reconnected just yesterday in Antwerp, Belgium as her family relocated to Europe a few years ago. It was so nice seeing Dr. Doyle after such a long time apart, and in such a vibrant place of Europe. My experience at Westridge truly did allow me to build meaningful relationships with my faculty/mentors that have clearly extended beyond my high school years and across the world!”

Alexandra Pastron (New York, NY) is studying politics and journalism (with an emphasis in food writing) at NYU. Brenda Soto (Los Angeles, CA): “My favorite memory from my days at Westridge is the opportunity to go to Italy with new friends.”

Lauren Tom (New York, NY) is studying computer science and architecture at Barnard College.

Amy Voorhees (Tuscaloosa, AL) is interning with MHA Media in LA this summer and will be graduating with honors from the University of Alabama in December with a B.A. in Advertising.

2013 Cassidy Golden (Philadelphia, PA) is on the Varsity Swimming and Diving Team at UPenn.

Kai Grayson (Boston, MA): “I have just returned from completing my sophomore year of college at Arcadia University in London for a semester and am back in Pasadena for the first time in 10 months to eat copious amounts of In-N-Out before I go back to Emerson College in August.”

Stephanie Thatcher (Pasadena, CA) is majoring in Philosophy at Santa Clara University. “Ethics bowl 3rd place!”

Christine Ulin (San Marino, CA) attends Emerson College. “I’m actually currently pulling out of the port in Cochin, India on a study abroad program called Semester at Sea. Basically we circumnavigate the globe on a ship and visit 12 different countries in four months.”

2014 Erin Golden (Davidson, NC): “This has been a crazy semester; I joined an eating house (equivalent to a sorority at Davidson) and was voted the class president for my eating house pledge class. I also made it through the grueling process of becoming a tour guide, which is a super great job, especially coming from Westridge. I have been extremely busy with my sports marketing job because Davidson was dominating in basketball heading into March Madness.”

Sophia Moritz (Saratoga Springs, NY): “I miss you all so much! Hope everyone is accomplishing great things in college!”

Bridgette Tolbert (New York, NY): “My favorite memory from my Westridge Days is the 4th grade Greek and Roman initiation.”

In Memoriam Nancy Bayly Watts ’33 Nancy died peacefully at her home at Valle Verde, Santa Barbara, CA on December 19, 2014. At Westridge she was President of Crop and Spur Club and Secretary of the Welfare Association. After Westridge she attended UCLA. As a young woman, she rode hunters and jumpers at the Flintridge Riding Club.

Nancy and her second husband, Leslie C. Watts, designed and built their house on Lida Street in the Linda Vista area of Pasadena where they raised their three children. Nancy had a 30-year career in the field of children’s art. She was Director of Children’s Art Education at LACMA and the Norton Simon Museum, as well as a teacher at Pasadena City College and Pacific Oaks School. During retirement, she was a volunteer and curator of Asian textiles at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. She is survived by her children Joan Haradon ’56, Fritz Howard Haradon, and Luis Guevara Watts; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Cornelia Longley Hull ’42 Cornelia died July 1, 2014 in Seattle, WA. She was born in Los Angeles and moved to Pasadena in 1931 where she lived until 1946. She attended Westridge for her junior and senior year where she was Chairman of the Library Committee. She graduated from Pomona College in 1946.

Cornelia met her husband, Bob, on a cruise ship bound for Alaska and was married in 1950. In 1956 she ‘retired’ from the Telephone Company to assist her husband in their business, Tiny Tankers Oil Delivery, a career that lasted nine years. During this period their sons were born. In 1968 she helped to found and organize the Washington Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. Later she became an active volunteer with Senior Rights Assistance.

She is survived by her sons Charlie Longley and Millard Thomas; and three grandchildren.

Hazel Bilton Lyon-Farrell ’44 Hazel passed away peacefully on September 6, 2014 in Santa Barbara, CA. Born in England, she lived with her family in Pasadena until World War II when they returned to England. While at Westridge she was Associate Editor of the Inlook and a member of Mask and Brush. In 1946 she married George Lyon in Pasadena before venturing forth to Johannesburg, South Africa. After the birth of two sons they moved to Santa Barbara. After her first husband died she married Bill Farrell in 1994. She traveled extensively and was a member of the Christadelphian church for 73 years. She is survived by children Carol-Anne Lonson, Jonathan and Karen Lyon, and Kitty Lyon; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Janet Rouse ’45 Janet died January 12, 2015 in Pasadena, CA. Born in Michigan, Janet and her family moved to Pasadena when she was a year old and she spent the rest of her life there. At Westridge she was Head of Welfare and performed in “Our Town” as Professor Willard. She also delighted her classmates with her lifelike caricatures of them. She attended Bennington College and UC Berkeley, the University of Hawaii, and Stanford University.

For a time she led foreign tours and then studied landscaping at UC Berkeley. She later worked for Polytechnic and Buckley Schools.

She is survived by her cousin Mollie Howell Eschen ’44 with whom, in 1986, she established the Mrs. Arthur Llewelyn Howell A. F. S. Scholarship Fund at Westridge School.

Nancy Lou Grandin Hutchinson ’47 Nancy passed away February 5, 2015 at her home in Pebble Beach, CA. She was born in Pasadena and attended Polytechnic School before boarding at the Katherine Branson School in Ross, California for two years, then returning to Pasadena to graduate from Westridge School. She was Business Manager of The Spyglass and a member of The Westquestriennes and Welfare Committee. Nancy attended Stanford University and graduated in 1951.

At Stanford she met her husband, Karl Hutchinson, whom she married in 1952. They lived in Connecticut for 24 years where they raised their three children. In 1989 they retired to Northern California where they spent time on or near the water. Nancy was an avid tennis player, enthusiastic gardener, experienced world traveler and dedicated volunteer. She is survived by her sister, Susan Grandin Taylor ’53; her three children, Jim Hutchinson, Pete Hutchinson, and Bonnie Zellerback; and six grandchildren.

Helen Hayes Kintz ’49 Helen passed away on August 24, 2014. She was one of three sisters who attended Westridge, Judith Hayes Farley ’47 and Dorothy Hayes Paulson ’45 (deceased).

Judy Baker Hartwell ’51 Judy died of congestive heart failure on December 25, 2014.

While at Westridge, Judy was a member of the Glee Club and the Welfare Association.

Barbara Glover Tucker ’55 Raised in Pasadena, Barbara passed away on November 23, 2014 at her home in Aptos, CA of cancer. She was the granddaughter of California Governor C. C. Young (1926) and attended Westridge before going on to Stanford University. She graduated from Stanford in 1959 with a degree in History. She and her husband Jerry moved to the Santa Cruz area in 1960, raising their family in Aptos.

Her last 10 years were spent mostly in Pahala, Hawaii where she spearheaded donation drives benefitting local residents, schools, and cultural festivals.

She is survived by her four children Jeanie Bell, Jeff Tucker, Jim Tucker and Linda Sossenheimer; nine grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.

Janis Young ’57 When Janis died on November 30, 2014 she was still routinely exercising in the gym and watching the world’s tennis tournaments on The Tube.

Born in Los Angeles Janis attended Westridge for her high school years. She was Student Body President, and a member of Glee Club and the basketball team. After graduating from Stanford 47

Linda Davidson McCann ’58 Linda died April 5, 2015 in Pasadena. Linda served as a Westridge Class Representative and was a member of the Westridge Alumnae Book Group. She is survived by her two sons, Casey and Murphy.

Westridge classmate Petra Seawell had this to say about Tami: “Though highly analytical, Tami was also one of the most compassionate people I have ever known. I asked her once in high school, ‘what do you want to be?’ She said, ‘an academic.’” Although she attained her PhD, she did not focus on didactic pursuits. Instead, she chose a career helping and treating the socio and economically disadvantaged mentally ill because she preferred the pragmatic application of knowledge through treatment. For most of her career, Tami chose to work in urban medical centers, focusing her work on those who were socially marginalized and disregarded, because she understood that was where her skills were most needed and where her work would be most meaningful.

Judith Jones Hally ’59 Judy passed away peacefully at her home in Pasadena, CA on March 14, 2015. Born in Hollywood, she lived in the Pasadena area most of her life. Judy was a passionate lover and supporter of the arts. She was an active member of the 9 O’clock Players, the Junior League of Pasadena’s Pipers singing group, and the Coleman Chamber Music Association. At Westridge Judy was noted for her sense of humor, skill in gym, and doing a “grand job” as Head of Music Assemblies. For many years she served as a Class Representative for the Class of 1959.

Tami’s exceptional courage and determination was not limited to the way she chose to live her life — it extended to the way she faced the inevitability of her death. Even up to her last moments, she chose courage over comfort, choosing to exit life in the same manner in which she lived it — on terms she defined rather than merely accepted. We will not say she lost her battle with cancer, because Tami was more defiant than cancer will ever be. We will say instead that she chose to graciously retreat, leaving to cancer what it was determined to have — her body — while her spirit remains with us and her soul has taken residence elsewhere.”

She is survived by her brother, Kenyon Jones; her sons, Mark and Craig; and five grandchildren.

Richard N. Frank Westridge Trustee Emeritus Richard passed away peacefully on May 20, 2015 at his home in Pasadena. He was 92. Born at Huntington Hospital in 1923, he was a lifelong Pasadena resident. His family was among the pioneer families of Los Angeles’ early business community. In his 65-yearlong career, Richard’s innovative efforts developed and built several thriving family businesses including Lawry’s Foods, Inc. and Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. The companies he headed are notable for their success, longevity, exemplary ethics, and employee morale.

Richard joined his family’s companies in 1947 after attending the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

University with a B.A. in Biology, she obtained a Certificate of Orthoptics from the University of California Medical School in San Francisco. She then moved to Reno, where she lived for over 50 years, and she joined Sierra Eye Associates.

Janis is survived by her brother, David Young, and three grandchildren.

Susan Schuh ’64 Susan lived in Hawaii and Orange County prior to her death (date unknown).

Carolyn Nichols Osborne ’65 Date of death unknown.

Carole Gardner ’79 Carole passed away November 14, 2013. She is survived by her daughter Mikaela Weber, and sister Anita Gardner.

Helene Lukasiewicz Kennedy ’82 Helene passed away March 30, 2015 from brain cancer and related complications – less than four months from diagnosis. Following a celebration of her life at Saint Marks Church in Altadena, CA, a dinner reception was held at her brother’s home.

Helen attended Westridge for Middle and Upper School before going on to Stanford University. She was a teacher by profession.

She is survived by her daughters, Marlene Kennedy ’07, Alison Kennedy ’11, and Kathryn Kennedy ’14; her husband Mark and a sister.

Tami Edwards ’93 Tami died October 30, 2014 of breast cancer in Brooklyn, NY. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, the only child of a life-long educator and the first African-American Magistrate in Houston, Texas. During her time at Westridge she was semifinalist in the Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding African American Students and graduated Cum Laude. Following Westridge, Tami received her B.A. in Psychology from Yale College. She then began her doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at New York University earning her Ph.D. in 2008. She is survived by Christopher Schwartz.

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Philanthropy, especially in education, was an important part of his life, and he lent his support to many worthy causes in the community and the hospitality industry. At Westridge, Richard served 24 remarkable years as a Trustee, from 1968 to 1992, helping to oversee the school’s growth and to transform its campus into one of beauty and openness with well-equipped facilities to provide an exceptional environment and means for learning. His vision for the school and its needs included the Laurie and Susan Frank Art Studio, the Richard N. Frank Field, and not least, the State Street parking lot, without which campus development could not have proceeded. His ideas and generosity were always proffered with modesty. He contributed in important ways to the deliberations of the Board of Trustees by infusing them with his own brand of common sense, his ability to focus on the central point of a discussion, and by his ever-present humaneness. He shared his thoughts honestly and openly, never taking umbrage at differing views. He was named Trustee Emeritus in 1993. Richard was also a member of The Madeline Society.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary Alice, and sister, Lorraine Petitfils. He is survived by his daughters Laurie Frank Wilson ’68 and Susan Frank ’71, son Richard R. Frank; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and grandniece Emma Diamond ’09.