Bishop's Magazine Spring/Summer 2018

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BISHOP’S A MAGAZINE FOR THE BISHOP’S SCHOOL FAMILY AND FRIENDS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

The Bishop’s School

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID The Bishop’s School

7607 La Jolla Boulevard La Jolla, California 92037-4799

parting shots

Then…and now. Bishop’s theater in the 1930s and in 2017

The Greater Good

Endowed Scholar-in-Residence Caroline Kennedy Parents of alumni, if your child no longer maintains an address at your home, please provide an updated address to the alumni office. (858) 875-0505 • Fax (858) 456-2681 • tbsalumni@bishops.com

Aimeclaire Roche Habits of Leadership


table of contents

BISHOP’S

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FEATURES

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The Greater Good

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Getting to Know Ellen Browning Scripps

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A magazine for The Bishop’s School family and friends

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy encouraged students to make a difference in the world.

Spring/Summer 2018 2016 ••Vol. Vol.15, 13,No. No.22

Credits Editor Suzanne Keri Peckham Weiner Assistant Editors Managing Editor Keri Heisel Jen Peckham Cathy Morrison Contributing Writers Jeffrey J. Carmel Contributing Writers Kathy Jen Heisel Day Zach Jones ’01 Melissa Kenyon Keri Peckham Cathy Morrison Trisha Keri Peckham J. Ratledge Joe Tash Trisha J. Ratledge Jared Joe Tash Scott Tesler Suzanne Jared Scott Weiner Tesler Diane Y. Welch Graphic Design GraphicPerspective Design Design Design Perspective Contributing Photographers Contributing Pablo MasonPhotographers MelissaMorrison Cathy Kenyon PabloPeckham Keri Mason Dave Siccardi Brock Scott Michael Dave Siccardi Samale Michael Spengler Katelyn Zamudio ’17

Bishop’s history comes to life with alumna Molly McClain ’84.

Aimeclaire Roche: Habits of Leadership Eleventh head of school demonstrates vision and care in her leadership.

12 Portraits of Excellence The annual Ellen Browning Scripps Celebration honored three community members.

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14 Accreditation: Learn, Plan, Grow As we wrap up our year of self-study, what’s next?

The Bishop’s School The Bishop’s School Head of School

15 Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens

With School Year Abroad and Global Online Academy, students engage across cultures and around the world.

18 Courtney Flanagan Takes a Final Bow

Drama teacher established a comprehensive theater department and nurtured generations of creative explorers.

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20 From the Bishop’s Stage…

to the National Stage

Four alumni describe Bishop’s influence on their careers in the dramatic arts.

22 Tilling the Soil Retiring Chaplain Brian Fidler reflects on his 35-year career in schools.

24 Quinn Leaves His Mark on

Knights Soccer

Players, colleagues and alumni appreciate his impact on the program and their lives.

26 BAMBOLEO,

a Knight in Spain, Olé! The Bishop’s Auction, a party with a purpose

28 Faculty Notes 29 family matters: class notes, transitions and photos

Aimeclaire Roche Head of School Aimeclaire Roche Assistant Head of School and Chief Advancement Officerand Assistant Head of School John Trifiletti Chief A. Advancement Officer John A. Trifiletti Director of Alumni Relations Sarah Garro Director of Alumni Relations Sarah Garro Bishop’s is published two times a year by Bishop’s The Bishop’s is published School. two times a year by The Bishop’s School. We welcome your feedback. Please Letters:send We welcome story ideas your to comments. keri.peckham@bishops.com Please send letters for possible publication or to weiners@bishops.com contact us at (858) 875-0790. or contact us at (858) 875-0735. The Bishop’s School 7607 The Bishop’s La Jolla School Boulevard La 7607 Jolla, La CA Jolla92037-4799 Boulevard La Jolla, CA 92037-4799 Phone: (858) 459-4021 Fax: Phone: (858) (858) 459-3914 459-4021 Fax: (858) 459-3914 www.bishops.com www.bishops.com Mission Statement The Mission Bishop’s Statement School is an academic community The Bishop’spursuing School is intellectual, an academic artistic, and community athletic pursuing excellence intellectual, in the context artistic, of andthe athletic Episcopal excellence tradition. in the Wecontext are dedicated of the Episcopal to offering tradition. the highest We are quality education dedicated to aoffering diversethe student highest body quality and education to fostering to a diverse integrity, student imagination, body moral and toresponsibility fostering integrity, and commitment imagination, to moral serving responsibility the larger and community. commitment to serving the larger community. Cover Photo Photographer From the Editor: We apologize for omitting the Dave Siccardi name Cindy Weiler from the board of trustees list in the fall/winter 2015 issue of Bishop’s. Mrs. Weiler is a current trustee and serves as the board’s secretary. Please note: Craig Higgs ’62 is the board’s legal counsel.

Susan Howell PATTY ANDMallory MARC’72BRUTTEN

COMMIT $1 MILLION TO FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM

Patty and Marc Brutten have been an integral part of The Bishop’s School community since their children, Charlotte ’12 and Grant ’14, were students. They gave both time and treasure to Bishop’s and remained involved in the life of the School, even after their last child graduated four years ago. Philanthropy has always been a priority for the couple, who have directed most of their giving to causes relating to education and children. The Brutten’s focus on educational philanthropy goes back decades, to their founding of the UC San Diego Student Foundation with a $100,000 gift to their alma mater in 1999. When the Bruttens met last fall with Chief Advancement Officer John Trifiletti, it quickly became clear that their next gift to the School would be to the need-based financial aid program. Their $1 million gift to the Reaching Higher Campaign will be designated to financial aid. Patty shares, “Marc and I are passionate about providing resources that will allow future generations to benefit from a Bishop’s education, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.” A robust financial aid program is integral to Bishop’s, increasing the School’s ability to build an exemplary community based on intellectual capacity, quality of character, and individual talents and skills.

“Every gift is meaningful, but this gift is a special one for us, as it shows how committed our families —past and present—are to the School’s endowment programs, particularly financial aid,” says John. When Charlotte and Grant were students, Patty was active in the Bishop’s Parents’ Association and co-chaired the 2012 auction, “Say You Will,” which raised approximately $1 million for financial aid and faculty professional growth. Charlotte graduated from Boston College and is now working for Prudential in San Francisco. Grant will graduate from Boston College this year. “Our children’s education at Bishop’s set them on a great path for life,” says Marc. “We’d like to give more students the same opportunity.”


on the quad with AC

Sincerely,

Aimeclaire Roche Head of School

1 on the quad with AC

On the first day of school this year, I recalled for our students and teachers the words of the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” It seems to me that the work we embark upon every school year—indeed the whole of our educational journey—could be safe and comfortable, if we stayed close to shore, did activities that we enjoy, perfect that at which we are already proficient and sought out comfortable relationships that are familiar. That all would be fine; it would be easy; it would be, though, boring. It is always more engaging, challenging and broadening of our horizons when we summon Aimeclaire Roche with Endowed Scholar-in-Residence Caroline Kennedy courage and wade out into a new ocean, taking advantage of opportunities that stretch us. I am so proud that at Bishop’s this is exactly what we ask of our community members: Think about and imagine what lies beyond the horizon we can see, that we know so well already. Our students wonder about and engage with new ideas and new perspectives; develop new skills; meet new people, discover new oceans. Well prepared, they, as alumni, continue to do that long after graduation. On these pages, you will read about the new oceans our community members are courageously exploring. These adventures make me very proud. As I embark on my own new adventure, leading a new school, know that the support and care of the Bishop’s community has buoyed me throughout my tenure here. I am profoundly grateful for the friendships I have among Bishop’s alumni, colleagues, students and families. Most importantly, I am proud of the work we together have done to support Bishop’s students in every endeavor, as they courageously discover and passionately enjoy every new ocean.


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The Greater Good 2

t a time when Bishop’s students are beginning to discover the responsibility of civic engagement and the power of fighting for the greater good within their community, Caroline Kennedy—author, attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Japan—brought to the School a message of encouragement, enlightenment and empowerment.

2018 Endowed Scholar-in-Residence Caroline Kennedy urges civic advocacy: “If history teaches us anything, it’s that ordinary people really do have the power to shape the life of our nation.” By Trisha J. Ratledge

“We all have the power to send forth what my Uncle Bobby (Kennedy) called a tiny ripple of hope,” she told Bishop’s students and faculty at an all-school assembly on Feb. 2. She continued the quote, “Crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” “That sounds pretty lofty,” she added. “But when you look at the world, and you don’t feel like you have much power, it’s important to remember that when we work together we can change the course of history.” As the 2018 Endowed Scholar-inResidence, Ambassador Kennedy joined The Bishop’s School for a two-day residency on Feb. 1 and 2, 2018, in which she worked with history classes, met informally with groups of students and faculty, delivered a community lecture and addressed an all-school assembly. The Endowed Scholar-inResidence Program, established in 2007 through the generosity of an anonymous Bishop’s family, brings to campus experienced and gifted scholars from a wide range of disciplines to inspire students and faculty alike. Among Ms. Kennedy’s messages were lessons on U.S. diplomacy in Asia from her ambassadorship, an exploration of

the First Amendment and a resounding call to public service. For a generation of students poised on the precipice of their own futures, Ms. Kennedy’s words rang sure and true. “It really meant a lot to see someone of her stature,” says Simran Deokule ’18. “It definitely is inspiring. She said that even if you don’t vote or can’t vote, you can always stand up for whatever issue matters in your community.” “It made me think about how I could do better for my community,” adds Alyssa Bilinsky ’23. “She mentioned that she has privileges, and she can give back to the community, so I thought that I can also start to give back to the community a little more.” “As we look at students leaving our school after grade 12, we have an obligation to help them with regard to civic engagement and being citizens in this country,” says Rich Del Rio, history and social sciences teacher, and one of the event organizers. “We thought Caroline Kennedy would be inspiring in that sense to help further their commitment to public life. The students appreciated her optimism, her urging them to step forward and to not sit on the sidelines. Her message wasn’t partisan; it was about being a public-spirited citizen.” A lifelong proponent of public service who heeds her own call, Ms. Kennedy most recently served as the United States ambassador to Japan from November 2013 to January 2017. During her tenure, she helped realize the United States military’s return of land on Okinawa to the Japanese government—the largest land transfer since 1972—and President Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima. The author or editor of 11 New York Times best-selling books on law, civics and poetry, Ms. Kennedy also serves as the honorary president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and honorary chair of the senior advisory committee of the Harvard University Institute of Politics. From 2002 to 2011, Ms. Kennedy was vice chair of the Fund for Public Schools, dedicated to engaging the private sector in school reform and encouraging New Yorkers to volunteer in public schools.


Kelly McFarlane ’21 engages with Ambassador Kennedy during a First Amendment case study.


The Greater Good 4

At The Bishop’s School, Ms. Kennedy opened her residency by leading a simulation of a hypothetical Supreme Court case on freedom of speech with middle school students serving as justices, followed by another class of upper school students. To prepare, the students explored the Bill of Rights and First Amendment issues, referencing Ms. Kennedy’s book, “In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action.” “The Bill of Rights is applicable to all grade levels,” says Rich, who developed the simulation and helped prepare the students for the inevitably complicated issues they would navigate. “When they were in the session with Caroline Kennedy, they were comfortable speaking up and contributing to the process.” “I did not know how difficult it would be to reach conclusions based on the First Amendment,” says Niamh Malhotra ’23, who participated in the first session. “It’s not clear all the time what we should do. I found that really interesting.” Katie (Crowley) Craig says her middle school students will incorporate their work on First Amendment and freedom of speech issues into the current events that they examine periodically. But that is not all the students gained from the experience. “They were really interested in the idea of trying to make a difference in the world themselves,” says Katie, history and social sciences teacher. “I have the Robert F. Kennedy quote that Caroline Kennedy read as part of her talk on the wall in my classroom. That idea of creating ripples of change is a powerful one for kids.” With a family legacy steeped in politics and public service, Ms. Kennedy emphasized throughout her residency the importance of understanding the lessons of history and the potential for change within each citizen. “We have a set of promises from the Declaration of Independence and every generation has the responsibility to make sure to keep them,” she noted in her address to the community. “It’s hard to do that unless we understand our

commitment to nuclear disarmament started the long journey that culminated in President Obama’s visit. It left me with a profound sense of personal responsibility.” Interested in engaging the Bishop’s community, Ms. Kennedy encouraged interaction at every event and invited questions at her large addresses, prompting topics from the obstacles that had to be overcome in the return of land to Okinawa to advice she has for young women interested in law, government and diplomacy. Questions went both ways, such as when Ms. Kennedy asked during a Upper school students with Ambassador Kennedy classroom visit who the students would nominate for a Profiles in Courage past. Learning and reconciling history Award. The annual award, created is really the way to build a better future.” by the Kennedy family through the Recalling the famous incident in John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, which her father’s PT boat was sliced in recognizes public officials who take a half during World War II by the Japanese stand for the public good, however destroyer Amagiri, Ms. Kennedy unpopular that might be. recounted the eventual reconciliation Small-session lunches with students between two former enemies and two centered on student-driven, opennations. After the war, John F. Kennedy ended conversations, giving them the corresponded with Kohei Hanami, opportunity to delve into targeted topics commander of the Amagiri; and later, of interest with this expert in law, President-elect Kennedy invited history, public service and more. Mr. Hanami to his inauguration. He “She was amazing to give her time to had hoped in his second term to be talk to us about her experiences. It was the first sitting president to visit Japan, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ms. Kennedy recalled. says Evan Peng ’18 about attending As ambassador to Japan, Ms. Kennedy Ms. Kennedy’s upper school lunch. “It’s met Mr. Hanami’s widow, which she great to be able to see potential career called “one of the most moving moments paths, to meet people who probably I experienced as U.S. ambassador.” She came from about where we are now and also played a central role in President to get their insights on the world.” Barack Obama’s visit to Japan, where he Weaving stories of her family’s legacy became the first sitting president to visit throughout the two-day conversation, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Ms. Kennedy referenced her family’s “As I stood at the eternal flame in belief that “no one is too old or too Hiroshima’s Peace Park listening to young to get involved in public service President Obama speak about our and try to make the world better for capacity to choose love instead of those around them. violence, to work for peace instead of “Most of the time in our family that war, I thought about history, about the meant politics and most of the time that thousands of individual acts of courage, meant for men, but we all know that sacrifice, kindness and friendship that women are the people who make the transformed the relationship between political system work and certainly our two countries from one of adversaries that’s true of my family,” she added to to one of allies in a global partnership rousing applause, while describing her for peace and prosperity. I thought about grandmother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, President Kennedy and how his who first campaigned at age 10 for her


5 The Greater Good

father to become mayor civility, empathy and of Boston in 1900 and acts of appreciating continued her passion other cultures; and until her death at age 104. championing what’s Just as generations right in our Constitution. of women looked up At Bishop’s, we are trying to Rose Kennedy and to educate the mind, Jacqueline Kennedy but we’re also trying to Onassis, many educate the soul. We young women want good people to at Bishop’s saw come out of this who Caroline Kennedy understand their as a role model for commitment to the possibilities they their community and too are capable of in to their nation.” Above: Ambassador Kennedy works on a case study with middle school students. their futures. As Ms. Kennedy Below: Middle school students enjoyed lunch with Ambassador Kennedy. “It’s not every day emphasized throughout that you meet a woman of her stature,” fields I’m interested in are journalism her visit, that commitment can start at says Shelby Maier ’19. “I want to become and politics, and both can really change any age and youth is not a constraint. a business owner and this put into the world.” In fact, it can be quite the opposite. perspective how it is possible to climb At The Bishop’s School, Caroline “Your generation has more that high with hard work if you put Kennedy’s message that everyone can power than any previous generation your mind to it.” participate in our democracy resonated to make real and lasting change. “I’ve never met a female in politics with faculty as well, who build lessons That’s why public service is so before so this has been a really great of conviction and consequence into important. experience,” adds Isabelle Kenagy ’19, academics. “If you don’t want somebody else who has long admired Jacqueline “Talking about the opportunities to determine our future, now is the Kennedy Onassis for her civic and that the students have to give back is time to look around and see what political work. “It’s only inspired me such an important message of hope in matters to you. Vote, get involved more to get into politics and public a democracy,” says Kamal Assaf ’88, and make sure all of your friends do service because Caroline Kennedy history and social sciences teacher. the same. We really can’t take our emphasized her father’s call to public “It’s the idea of citizens not just being democracy for granted. I look forward service and how young people can informed but also being committed to to working with you to hold America actually make a difference. The two dialogue; being committed to acts of true to her promises.”


“She trusted in the future of science and the creative power of the human mind.”

G e t t i n g

t o

K n o w

ELLS Speaker Molly McClain 6

Ellen B ro w ning S c ri p ps By Cathy Morrison

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ishop’s students, faculty and staff welcomed alumna Dr. Molly McClain ’84 to campus on Dec. 8 as the featured speaker for the 2017-2018 Endowed Leadership Lecture Series. The subject of her talk was also the subject of her recently released book, “Ellen Browning Scripps: New Money & American Philanthropy.” Chapter 10, “Educating Girls,” focuses on the founding of The Bishop’s School in 1909. Although Molly first heard of Miss Scripps when she was an 11-year-old seventh-grader at Bishop’s, research began in earnest when Assistant Head of School John Trifiletti approached her to see if she could find any information about Miss Scripps that could be shared during Bishop’s 2009 centennial celebration. Miss Scripps’ papers are held at Scripps College; Molly explained, “When I got to Scripps College, there was this amazing collection—70 cubic feet of material!” (A typical file box contains 2.5 cubic feet.) Intrigued, she spent the next 10 years working on the book. Molly says, “I feel deeply honored to be invited to campus to speak with students about the vision and history of Bishop’s founders. My first dorm room was on the second floor of Scripps Hall, where history and world language classes are


and community engagement. They championed women’s rights and political reform. And they chose an architectural modernist—Irving J. Gill—to design a campus that reflected their optimism about the future of the School.” Students were thoroughly engaged; in addition to the Q&A, some, including Nathan Wu ’19, spoke with her personally afterward. Nathan says, “It was so great to have Dr. McClain speak to us about a woman who had such a great influence on our School and La Jolla. I’m really interested in her work, especially because of the Knights’ Kronicles newsletter that the History Club and I publish. It’s vital that we know the history of our School. Also, it’s always fun to hear what Bishop’s and La Jolla were like a century ago!” History teacher Kamal Assaf ’88 added, “Students were amazed at the enormity of her gifts—The Bishop’s School, Scripps Clinic, Scripps Hospital, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the La Jolla Recreation Center, the Women’s Club, Scripps College. I reminded them she was the first woman to grace the cover of Time magazine and that she made most of these contributions before women could vote! Hearing stories about people like Ellen Browning Scripps humanizes them. Students talked about Ellen offering her car to neighbors and riding public transportation well into her 80s. They loved hearing about Virginia’s eccentricities as she made her way around La Jolla and Bishop’s campus.” Indeed, students enjoyed the Virginia stories—how she would scold the pastor during the service at St. James if she thought a sermon had gone too long, how she was known for cleaning the streets of La Jolla with her wheelbarrow and shovel, and how she disliked the “mess” caused by trees and was determined none should be planted on campus. Molly closed her remarks saying, “She shed the trappings of class and the boundaries of race, extending her philanthropy to institutions that promised to transform both culture and society. She trusted in the future of science and the creative power of the human mind.” Thanks to the generosity of donors, all current Bishop’s families received a copy of Molly’s book. Head of School Aimeclaire Roche told the students, “It’s a quick and fascinating read, not just about Bishop’s and La Jolla, but the wider neighborhood and how San Diego became a community always looking forward, that the idea of one person with a big vision can do something great. You, every day, get to experience a piece of what Ellen Browning Scripps had in mind when she began her philanthropic journey.”

ABOUT MOLLY MCCLAIN ’84 Molly McClain is a history professor at the University of San Diego. She specializes in California history, British and Atlantic history, and has written two other books, “Beaufort: The Duke and His Duchess 1657-1715” and “Schaum’s Quick Guide to Writing Great Essays.” She has also co-authored several books and is currently the co-editor of the Journal of San Diego History. You can view Molly’s talk at Bishop’s on the School’s YouTube page.

7 Getting to Know Ellen Browning Scripps

held today. I never imagined that—40 years later—I would be an expert on Ellen Browning Scripps, much less an Endowed Leadership Lecture Series speaker. It is a great honor and a pleasure.” She shared several “then and now” images and memories that connected the present-day students to her own experience at Bishop’s, then guided her audience back in time to the early days of La Jolla, San Diego and the School. Students were amazed to see that bustling Girard Street was once a dirt road lined with eucalyptus trees, that Miss Scripps’ first La Jolla home was considered “modest” and quickly recognized her second house as what is now part of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Molly told students how Ellen Browning Scripps grew up in poverty in Illinois and strayed from the path of conventional behavior by attending Knox College (the school colors of which inspired the purple and gold teams for generations of Bishop’s students). Miss Scripps studied science and math and became a teacher before going to Detroit in 1865 to work for her brother’s newspaper, the Detroit Evening News. She invested her salary back into the paper, eventually becoming a very wealthy woman with a net worth of $30 million (approximately $4 billion in today’s dollars). As Molly explained, “If she were alive today, she would invest in things like Google or Facebook.” Never acting the part of the wealthy woman, Miss Scripps resolved to give all of her money away. Having moved to San Diego with her brother E.W. and sister Virginia, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was one of her first philanthropic projects. The Bishop’s School for Girls was next. Molly hopes the students “took away a sense that their School was founded as a modern and progressive place. The founders believed in the importance of good health and physical activity, innovative educational techniques


AIMECLAIRE ROCHE: Habits of Leadership

By Trisha J. Ratledge

Bishop’s 11th head of school masterfully guides the community into the next century.

Aimeclaire Roche: Habits of Leadership 8

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he came to lead a school, but, oh, she did so much more than that. As the 11th head of The Bishop’s School, Aimeclaire Lambert Roche touched hearts and minds alike, and led with a clear moral compass that not only commanded universal respect but inspired confidence in decisions that always considered the students’ welfare as the No. 1 priority. Aimeclaire—known informally as AC—joined the Bishop’s community in 2009 with a simple assertion sent by text: “I am Bishop’s.” With that, she accepted the baton from longtime headmaster Mike Teitelman and heeded his advice to be herself as she carefully began shepherding the School into its second century. In her new role, AC carried the collective wisdom of her predecessors, from co-founders Ellen Browning Scripps and Bishop Joseph Horsfall Johnson to beloved heads of school such as Rosamond Larmour Loomis and Mike Teitelman, as she started to address the challenges and celebrate the joys of a Bishop’s education in the 21st century. From the start, she strode strong and sure into a learning community filled with talent and passion, at once understanding the mission and envisioning the possibilities. In a tenure that fell just a year shy of a decade, AC presided over a campus that underwent not only physical transformations to both heart—the library—and hearth—the dining and student center—but also critical schedule modifications that helped students bring

balance to their scholarship and their lives. The establishment of the sixth grade ushered in a new era, completing the full progression of study at Bishop’s. During AC’s administration, the annual fund brought in more than $11 million with an average 98 percent participation rate and the endowment grew from $21.6 million to $53 million, ensuring the financial stability necessary to support essential faculty and student initiatives. She also brought The Bishop’s School to a larger stage with her roles as president of the board of directors for the California Association of Independent Schools, vice chair of the board of trustees for School Year Abroad and an active member of The Headmasters Association and the National Association of Episcopal Schools. AC’s ability to connect one-on-one has left an indelible impression with individuals across campus, transcending age and position, from the middle school student who describes her as a “really friendly character in my life” to the alumna who says her cohorts as a whole “feel like she’s our headmaster” to the administrator who declares, “She has so much integrity that it creates a culture where anything less than that stands out.” In conversations around campus, it’s clear that AC’s success at Bishop’s is rooted in habits of leadership that she has mastered in both her day-to-day work and in her strategic efforts to secure the future strength and well-being of the School.

EXPERIMENT “(Ellen Browning Scripps) believed that schools should be ‘an open door to knowledge’ and that educational methods should reflect the ‘experimental age’ in which they lived.” —Molly McClain ’84; Preface, “The Bishop’s School: 100 Years and Beyond” Today, a contemporary review of the “experimental age” in the Bishop’s classroom has meant refocusing the teacher-learner perspective so that every student has a place—and a voice—at the table for their contributions to carry substance and weight in the lesson. As with every decision on campus, the adoption of new pedagogy methods starts with the question of how students will benefit. “When we talk about student-centered learning, we are looking at what’s happening in the classroom not through the teachers’ eyes, but through the learners’ eyes,” AC says. “It assumes a real respect for the perspectives that each of your students brings to the table, which is a shift. You allow the energy of the students to create the dance that happens in the class. It’s their responsibility, shared with the teacher.” The Harkness method, in which teacher and students are seated around a large table for an open-ended, studentdriven exploration of the day’s lesson, figures prominently across Bishop’s campus. The School’s implementation of the Harkness method has been so successful that Phillips Exeter Academy, pioneer of Harkness learning, held its first off-campus teachers’ conference, Exeter Humanities Institute, at Bishop’s in July 2017.


EXPAND “If you can have a solid three years of a strong middle school program, you’re really going to be able to do almost anything with your students.” —Carol Barry, Head of Middle School While the sixth grade was approved by the board under Mike Teitelman’s tenure, its implementation fell under AC’s with the inaugural sixth grade class starting on Aug. 17, 2009. With the full sixth through eighth grade progression in the middle school, Bishop’s teachers have been able to deliver curricula in developmentally appropriate stages in order to challenge and support this age group, and set them up for success in upper school. “We recognize that the middle school has its own dynamic, that those ages have their own needs, their own strengths and curiosities,” AC says. As Head of Middle School Carol Barry shares, it’s crucial to be able to launch students on a strong academic path at a pivotal age when many are beginning to gauge whether it’s cool to be enthusiastic about studies. “The sixth-graders are very invested,” she adds. “If you watch them in the classroom, they are all leaning in, really excited to be there. Getting them through the eighth grade, even if they left Bishop’s, I think they are really well-suited to find success wherever they go.” The larger middle school program has created opportunities to further differentiate between the middle and upper school with separate leadership opportunities, alternate experiences with guest speakers, tailored athletics experiences and more. “I can’t imagine the School without the sixth grade,” AC says. “You know you’ve done something right when you can’t imagine life before.”


EVOLVE

Aimeclaire Roche: Habits of Leadership 10

“AC’s focus is always on the student experience and how we can improve it. It’s reassuring to know that that’s the orientation of your head of school.” —Michael Beamer, Dean of Students The changes to the daily schedule and the calendar have been major shifts at Bishop’s during the past nine years, from schedule 1.0, as AC refers to it, implemented in 2012 with its six-day rotation—Wednesday late start and the X period—to schedule 2.0, implemented in 2017 with a seven-day rotation, daily late start, standardized class periods and more. As always, the changes were made to improve student well-being and success. The X period has been instrumental in giving middle school students a dedicated time that they can concentrate on athletics or the arts—such as choir, orchestra or studio art—or catch up on schoolwork in a proctored study hall. “We really want the students in middle school to feel like this is a place where they can try something and find a passion,” says Joel Allen, director of athletics, who says middle school athletics ran into scheduling problems when they were offered after school. “The X block gave us designated time— uninterrupted time—when the facilities are freed up.” For everyone, starting each day a full 50 minutes later as part of schedule 2.0 has soothed the frenzied momentum of prior years. “It is restorative,” AC says. “The families and the School are on the same page regarding adolescent sleep, so those morning hours are for starting your day in a place of calm.”

ENVISION “The board is responsible for the long-term financial health of the School, so we think 20 years down the line.” —Annette Bradbury, President, Bishop’s Board of Trustees Prudent planning by the board of trustees, in partnership with the head of school, sets ideas for major initiatives

in motion—from the campus master plan to the strategic plan—and careful fundraising brings individual projects to fruition. During AC’s tenure, for example, the new Manchester Library & Learning Center and the renovation of Ellen Browning Scripps Hall were funded and completed on time and on budget, all while the economy was slowly rebuilding from the worst financial crisis in the United States since the Great Depression. “When you are fundraising, you need that person who can be the visionary,” says Annette Bradbury, president of the Bishop’s Board of Trustees. “AC is so good at expressing the vision of what those funds can do. She’s played a crucial role in our efforts.” “AC has taken Bishop’s to the next level,” says John Trifiletti, assistant head of school and chief advancement officer. “At any number of library campaign dinners, she spoke to the critical need to get the project completed and successfully raised the money to do that. She would describe what a library is to her, always thinking in terms of the classics. ‘It’s a place of congress,’ she would say.” Investment in the most important resource on campus—the quality of the students and the quality of the faculty— can’t be overlooked. The endowment supports the forward momentum made possible through student financial aid and faculty initiatives.

AC prioritized the School’s need to support the faculty and their need for increased collaborative time. One of the most far-reaching of her programs is the “80/20 initiative,” which enables faculty members in every department to spend 80 percent of their time teaching and 20 percent collaborating with colleagues on pedagogical and content issues, as well as working on the curriculum to ensure it is always evolving and improving. “There’s no greater gift that AC has given the community than the ability to hone our craft,” says Michael Beamer, dean of students. “She understands that one of the most important things a school can have is faculty who feel secure and cared for, and who have the time, space and energy to do their job well.” A healthy student financial aid endowment helps the School open its doors to students from all walks of life, with the current endowment supporting at least 20 percent of the student body annually in varying degrees. At the same time, diversity within the student body has increased during AC’s tenure from 33 percent to nearly 50 percent this year. AC’s mission to serve the students has been the enduring hallmark of her tenure and to honor that commitment,

Top, center: AC with Ariana Gallegos ’15 and Tara Vogel ’16; Above: AC and some young friends enjoyed the ceremonial first dig for the Manchester Library & Learning Center in 2011.


Celebrating a CIF title with the 2010 football team

supported by the School. I give a lot of credit to AC. She makes you want to come back and be involved.” Similarly, Clarke Eastman-Pinto ’18 recognizes that in his role as ASBC president, his meetings with AC are necessary to their stable partnership on campus issues. “When there are controversies on campus, it’s very important that the administration and ASBC are on the same page,” he says. But perhaps the highest praise comes from Charlotte Banta ’23, who has shared jokes and informal downtime with AC with some regularity. “I’ll just miss knowing her as a friend,” she says of the coming change.

R

ENGAGE “Her commitment is just exceptional.” —John Trifiletti, Assistant Head of School and Chief Advancement Officer With a calendar that is packed with staff, faculty and board meetings, as well as the myriad daily responsibilities of an administrator, AC still makes time to warmly embrace members of every constituent group. Many on campus comment on her ability to seemingly attend every event on the calendar, but it’s the special interactions and her personal touches that leave the longest impression. Individually signed Christmas cards, weekly communications with faculty every Sunday afternoon and lunches with every senior advisory group in the spring are just a few expressions of

AC’s commitment to each member of the Bishop’s community. Hasant Moses-Hillman ’18 was impressed when AC showed up as a guest lecturer in his Greek Mythology class, but it was her meeting with his mom that he still talks about. “She made a connection with my mom, who absolutely loves her,” Hasant says. “She not only connects with the students, but also with the parents and that’s a hard thing to do. She knows the whole family is part of the community.” Often in the front row at theater, choir and orchestra performances, academic league competitions and cheering on Bishop’s athletic teams while wearing her honorary Bishop’s letterman’s jacket, AC is a true fan. “She loves competition, and she knows what it means to love a team,” Joel says. Alumni events are just as important, and AC actively supports reunions, the annual EBS Celebration, young alumni receptions and more. Her participation is noted. “I’ve been involved with the alumni board for the last 10 years,” says Julie Zures Turner ’95, president of the Bishop’s Alumni Association Board. “Over that decade, I’ve seen it evolve into a really strong force that is well

11 Aimeclaire Roche: Habits of Leadership

trustee Ann White and her husband, Phil, established the Aimeclaire Lambert Roche Financial Aid Endowment in September 2017. She is humbled by the gesture, says John, but more importantly, “It’s at the core of what she believes, which is providing the best education possible for every child regardless of their socioeconomic status.”

As AC readies for her new position, in Michigan, as Director of Cranbrook Schools, one of the nation’s largest independent, college preparatory day and boarding schools, she takes stock of her work at Bishop’s. “Ellen Browning Scripps loved to talk about the ‘experimental age’ and that the School needed to use the best methods available,” she says. “I think we’ve hearkened to that with our unwillingness to be complacent, to build new buildings, to refurbish old spaces, to add new classes, to change the schedule. “We’ve taken on a lot of things in the last nine years, and I think it’s tapping into a very deep stream here. That’s good because the road ahead is going to demand that schools not be complacent; particularly strong schools, because it’s very easy to rest in strength. It’s much harder to take the initiative to say, ‘Where are our weaknesses?’ ‘What’s down the road?’ ‘What could we be doing even better?’ “I think Ellen Browning Scripps loved the idea of experimentation: that educational institutions needed to have that as part of their marrow. The world we live in is a place where technologies are evolving at a tremendous pace, and we have to be practiced in experimentation as an institution. I hope she’d be proud. I think she would very much recognize what’s going on here today.”


Portraits of Excellence

The theme of this year’s Ellen Browning Scripps Celebration, Portraits of Excellence, paints a perfect picture of the honorees. Tom Wornham ’78, Louise Carmon and Roy Perkins ’08, respectively, exemplify the civic engagement and philanthropic commitment of Ellen Browning Scripps, founder of The Bishop’s School; the transformative and visionary leadership and thoughtful direction of Michael W. Teitelman, former headmaster; and the passion, energy and effectiveness of an inspirational role model for today’s and tomorrow’s alumni. On March 17, past EBS honorees as well as current and former parents, faculty and administrators, joined many alumni for this annual event on campus. Here, we get to know each of the 2018 honorees a little better.

By Jared Scott Tesler

Tom Wornham ’78

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA The first male Associated Student Body Council President in Bishop’s history, Tom Wornham ’78, proudly follows in the footsteps of his mother, longtime Bishop’s Admissions Director Rosalie “Pinkie” Wornham, a previous EBS Award winner. At his Bishop’s graduation, Tom—who would go on to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley—was awarded the Loyalty Cup in recognition of his moral integrity, spiritual sensitivity, academic excellence and contribution to the community-at-large. Since then, he worked his way up to executive

For more photos of the EBS Celebration, please see pages 30-33.

vice president and regional manager of Wells Fargo Bank, where he retired after three decades. Tom has sat on numerous boards, including Bishop’s Board of Trustees.

How did your Bishop’s education inspire your passion for serving the city of San Diego? Our family motto was “Care, Share, Be Aware.” As a native San Diegan, I feel each of us have one equal share in its success or failure. Bishop’s taught me that by listening, leading and collaborating, there’s nothing we can’t achieve. It’s our duty to “leave the campground better than we found it.”

What does the Ellen Browning Scripps Distinguished Alumni Award mean to you? I’m humbled to be recognized by the Alumni


Association as my mom was in 2003. But in my case, it was a team effort. I am who I am because of my family—an amazing group of people who live life with purpose, humor, humility and vigor.

How did you become interested in the financial services industry? What motivates you at work? I’ve always been most interested in people, finance and politics. I decided as a senior in high school to become a banker. I was blessed to have had the greatest bank CEO, Carl Reichardt, as a mentor. Carl transformed the industry and my view of the banking world. “Run it like you own it.” Eventually, that would lead me to develop my own ethos, and our bank would adopt three simple yet vital words that define our corporate DNA: “Relationships, Solutions, Trust.” I work because I love to make things better. I love the satisfaction hard work brings. Working with great people and achieving a team goal that benefits all constituents is awesome.

You’ve enjoyed a long and successful career. What are your goals—personal and professional—for the future? I plan to keep working as long as I can add value, increase shareholder value, and grow people and assets. As for personal goals, live every day with my wife, Lisa, making each other happier than the day before.

Louise Carmon

RETIRED FACULTY (CHORAL MUSIC)

You’ve had a transformative impact on the lives of your students. What did they teach you in return? They challenged me every day, and as a result, I was made a much better person and music teacher. They showed me a tremendous work ethic and a determined attitude, always reaching for the best and loving each moment we had to create beautiful choral music together. They were a significant influence on my life, and my fulfilling and rewarding career.

What does the Michael W. Teitelman Leadership Award mean to you? I had come to several Ellen Browning Scripps Celebrations to honor fellow teachers and staff for whom I had the utmost respect. I couldn’t believe the Alumni Association thought I belonged to this prestigious group of individuals. Mike hired me in 1990, and he and I worked together to develop and build the choral music program and performing arts department. I always found him to be encouraging, supportive, fair and honest. I have the utmost respect and admiration for him and his leadership and feel honored and humbled to receive this esteemed award in his name.

What were some stand-out moments throughout your time at Bishop’s? I began the tradition of the “Candlelight Carol.” Alumni of the Bishop’s Singers would return for one of our Christmas concerts to sing this traditional carol with us on stage. I loved watching their faces as

How do you wish to be remembered by members of the Bishop’s community? I’d hope that people remember me as a teacher who was passionate about what she taught and displayed joy and love in what was presented. I always strove to do the very best in my teaching and challenged my students to do the same.

Roy Perkins ’08

THREE-TIME PARALYMPIC SWIMMER Despite being born without hands or feet, butterfly and freestyle swimmer Roy Perkins ’08 has represented Team USA at three Summer Paralympic Games—2008 in Beijing, 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro—and won a grand total of 10 medals, including two gold, four silver and four bronze. Last year, Roy kicked off the Peer Support Group’s Acceptance Week as an Endowed Leadership Lecture Series speaker during an all-school assembly, where he shared his personal journey and success story and was presented with the Bishop’s Medal by Head of School Aimeclaire Roche. He is on track to receive his bachelor’s degree in earth systems from Stanford University later this spring.

We recently learned of your upcoming family vacation to Scandinavia. What are your hopes for this trip? I’ve traveled all across the world competing but am usually so wrapped up in swimming and having to stick with my team that I’ve only seen a fraction of what you’d hope for when going to all of those places. So, taking a real vacation overseas is a novelty for me, along with being able to do something over several weeks without thinking of the ramifications to training.

What does the Young Alumni Award mean to you? It reminds me where I started and how intertwined my life was at Bishop’s, with the trajectory of my swimming career and life in general. It’s humbling to be selected.

What sets you up for success at worldwide competitions like the Paralympic Games? Preparation and motivation are big components but also finding ways to make adjustments to training and re-motivate are critical for repeating and building on success. What stood out for me in Rio de Janeiro in particular was mental focus and preparedness. Some of it was experience and familiarity with the training and competition process, but I also made deliberate efforts to expand my mental approach to both swimming and life.

You’re an outstanding role model for future generations. Who has been your greatest inspiration? My parents have been role models, and they helped me a ton along the way. As far as inspiration, most of it comes from within my sport. My teammates over the years have been great athletes and friends.

13 Portraits of Excellence

Louise Carmon, former director of choral music, chair of the performing arts department and holder of the Marlene Teitelman Department Chair in Music, was a beloved and devoted member of The Bishop’s School faculty for 25 years. During her remarkable tenure, Louise established the instrumental music program and four choirs: Bel Canto, Knights Chorus, Select Ensemble and Women’s Chorus. Upon her retirement in 2015, an endowed choral music award was established in her name.

they joined their voices with us, and I enjoyed talking with them after the concert to see what they’d been up to at college. During my last year, I was able to bring Corina Campos, a Cuban choral director, to Bishop’s to work with the choral music and Spanish classes. She was an inspiration to all of us, with her ability to communicate the music without speaking any English. She taught us so much about making music, loving what we were doing, life in general, and Cuban people and culture.


Accreditation: Learn, Plan, Grow

Institutional Purposes and Core Values

Educational Program

By Cathy Morrison

Faculty and Pedagogy Climate and Community

T

Accreditation: Learn, Plan, Grow 14

Student Learning Experience

Teaching and Learning

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.—Aristotle he 2017-2018 academic year was the start of our accreditation work with the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Accreditation is a process of continuous improvement; a recurring cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and reassessment, intended to develop clearly-defined goals and objectives based on mission and philosophy. Excellence is encouraged through careful analysis and reflection. The gold-standard of accreditation is seven years, we were last granted accredited status in 2012-2013. In our current self-study period, The direction in which began last August, we’ve engaged in which education an introspective deep-dive into 16 standards starts a man will that encompass every aspect of the School. determine his future This integrated internal dialogue articulates in life.—Plato strengths and opportunities and identifies the projects and challenges we want to devote our resources to over the next seven years. The final draft of the year-long self-study, a key component in the accreditation protocol, will be submitted in December 2018, followed by a peer review from a CAIS/WASC visiting committee in spring 2019. After the committee submits its report, and Bishop’s receives accreditation status, work will begin on Bishop’s “Future Planning Document,” to be submitted in December 2019. This work aligns with our strategic planning and will serve as a roadmap for our new head of school. STEERING COMMITTEE Carol Barry Catherine Beamer ’95 Clara Boyle Jessi Chrystal Rich del Rio, self-study coordinator Francis Donald Ian Hayden, self-study coordinator Catherine Ivey Lee Marianne Kullback Barbara Kyrillos Jane Mattox Janice Murabayashi Aimeclaire Roche, head of school Tony Trumbo Julie Zures Turner ’95

Mission

Advancement

Operations

Facilities: Buildings and Grounds Health, Safety and Wellness

Institutional Stewardship and Leadership Institutional Improvement and Sustainability

Governance Administration

Self-Assessment and Decision-making

YEAR 6 Begin CAIS/WASC self-study

YEARS 1-7 Future Planning Document implemented

YEAR 7 CAIS/WASC committee visit and report

Staff Students Administration Parents Alumni Trustees

Finance

Human Resources

Faculty

CAIS/WASC Self Study Team

Admissions and Enrollment

Financial Stability

YEAR 7 New accreditation cycle begins

YEAR 7 Future Planning Document developed


Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens Global Online Academy and School Year Abroad programs offer a window into other cultures and perspectives. By Joe Tash

O

“It’s really neat for students this age to think in that global context,” says Gretchen Gleason, director of college counseling at Bishop’s and liaison to both the SYA and GOA programs. “It fits our mission of raising globally aware citizens.” The Bishop’s School is among the leading independent schools in the U.S. and abroad that are members of both the SYA and GOA organizations. Under the SYA program, Bishop’s students can elect to live for a full academic year in Italy, Spain, France or China. Students live with a host family, and they take academic courses such as math and English to meet their graduation requirements, while also having the opportunity to take electives in the language of their host country. Financial aid is offered on an as-needed basis both by Bishop’s and SYA. Bishop’s offers classes in Chinese, French and Spanish, as well as Latin, so students may have some experience

with the language of their study abroad country, although that is not required. GOA also connects Bishop’s students with people and places around the world, although they never have to leave campus. Due to the School’s membership in GOA, Bishop’s students can take GOA classes at no cost. The courses are taught online, with interaction between students and teachers via video programs such as Skype, as well as online texting and chat services. For the current school year, five students are studying abroad through SYA, while 13 are taking online courses through GOA. The number of students participating in the two programs varies from year to year. Following are the stories of three students who are studying abroad this year: Sofia Rubio ’19, France; Cameron Devoe ’19, China; and Kiara Jackson ’18, Italy. Photo of the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, by Kiara Jackson ’18

15 Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens

ne pillar of The Bishop’s School program is preparing students to thrive and become leaders in today’s inter-connected world by providing them with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to be global citizens in the 21st century. Two programs offered to upper school students—Global Online Academy (GOA) and School Year Abroad (SYA)—allow students to interact with people across the U.S. and in countries around the world, deepening their understanding of other cultures and enhancing their ability to use technology as a learning tool. The two programs give students the flexibility to pursue their interests, whether they want to fully immerse themselves in another culture or dip a toe in the water by taking an online course with an international roster of students and teachers.


city. I learned more on that trip than I would have learned if I was forced to do things because every monument and museum I went to was my choice to visit. “The love, tolerance, patience, strength, character and positivity I have gained (during the year abroad) will influence every decision I make for years to come.”

place over several days, were held in the family’s hometown outside of Beijing. He and other family members wore ceremonial white robes and headpieces during each day of the observance. Among the rituals were large feasts for mourners, an all-night vigil with the grandmother’s casket, the burning of yellow slips of paper to represent money

Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens 16

Cameron Devoe ’19

Sofia Rubio ’19 FRANCE

One of the attractions of studying abroad for Sofia Rubio ’19 was “the allure of a new start.” She liked the idea of going to a place where no one knew her, and she also wanted to immerse herself in a new culture. “I love San Diego and Bishop’s—that has never changed—but I wanted to see more. I wanted to live somewhere else, not visit somewhere else.” For Sofia, the best thing about SYA is the students’ ability to take cultural excursions during their year abroad, which not only expand their knowledge of French life and culture, but allow them the freedom and independence to explore the country on their own terms. “What is great about these trips is that our hands aren’t being held,” she says. “On a trip to Paris, we were given a Metro pass for the five days of the trip, money for food and free range of the

CHINA

Cameron Devoe ’19, who had not studied Chinese before arriving in Beijing for his year abroad, says he opted to participate in the SYA program to widen his world view. He would definitely recommend the program to his fellow Bishop’s students, sharing, “The experience you can gain from these nine months is life altering. I will never be the same, in a very positive way.” One of the most memorable and moving experiences was participating in the funeral for the grandmother of his host family. The ceremonies, which took

in the afterlife and a procession for mourners through the village, complete with a military truck, as fireworks were set off along the parade route. At the end, the grandmother was cremated, and her ashes interred at a family gravesite. “I believe I am one of an incredibly small number of SYA China students to ever attend a funeral with their family,” Cameron says. “The Chinese friends I have made are some of the most enthusiastic, loving and hilarious people I have ever met. I will stay in contact with them for life.”


OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Kiara Jackson ’18 ITALY

teaches AP Psychology and Modern World History at Bishop’s. Karri, who has been teaching a gender studies class through GOA for three years, says the online program has helped her grow as a teacher. “For me, the cool thing about working for GOA is that it has helped me appreciate more creative ways of helping students learn and to better understand how technology can be leveraged in a positive way.” She’s also found that the gender studies course is different every year due to the students’ input into class discussions, whether through video chats or written posts. Karri shares that, “They drive the conversation, nuancing our discussions with personal observations, news articles, photos and interviews from their respective communities.” Finally, Karri feels that her partnership with a teacher from Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City has been rewarding. The two have worked together over the past several years to finesse the gender studies course. “GOA prioritizes teacher collaboration and creates spaces, both online and in-person, for teachers working at a variety of independent and international schools to share ideas, design courses and discuss the latest in educational research. It’s a fun group to work with because there’s a lot of experimentation going on.”

To learn more about GOA and SYA, visit www.globalonlineacademy.org or www.sya.org.

Karri Woods, in her Bishop’s classroom with Camden Rider ’19

17 Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens

As she approached her senior year at Bishop’s, Kiara Jackson was ready for a change. As she says, “I wanted to have fun, adventure and do something with my life. Pushing myself to do something as crazy as going to Italy for senior year seemed right.” Kiara has enjoyed meeting her fellow students, her classes, and the opportunity to travel and see more of Italy. Among her favorite courses is agroecology, in which students learn about gardening and make a variety of foods including bruschetta, pizza, bread, cheese and wine. The discussions in her global citizenship class have provided her with new perspectives on world issues and events. One of the highlights of her time abroad was a spring trip to Verona, which included day trips to Venice, Sirmione and Bologna. “It was really nice to have the freedom to do what we wanted when we wanted, and the teachers trusting us enough to do so. “What I’ve learned here will stay with me for life.”

In the past, Bishop’s sent two or three students per year to the SYA program, but that number has grown, perhaps because of the positive reviews given by returning students, Gretchen says. Six students have been accepted for next year. “For a student who’s ready, it’s a nice growth opportunity. I wish I had known about it in high school,” she says. For students who don’t want to commit to a full year abroad, SYA has summer programs available. The GOA program is another alternative for students who don’t want to travel so far from home. Simran Deokule ’18 is taking her fifth GOA course this year and encourages other students to give the program a try. “It’s really rewarding and interesting. You get to meet people from around the world.” Although the classes don’t satisfy Bishop’s graduation requirements, they are electives, and the students’ grades are calculated into their GPA. One advantage of GOA, in addition to allowing students to work with peers from other countries, is the program offers classes that are not available at Bishop’s. Simran says she has taken such classes as Prisons and the Criminal Law, Medical Problem Solving, and Music Theory and Digital Composition. The courses satisfy her natural curiosity and interests, and have helped her think about potential future career paths. Teachers also benefit from working with the GOA program, says Karri Woods, who


COURTNEY FLANAGAN Takes a Final Bow By Melissa Kenyon

In 1984, theater teacher Courtney Flanagan was former headmaster Mike Teitelman’s first hire. Since then, Courtney has led the development of The Bishop’s School’s Theater Department, growing it into a robust program that provides students with boundless opportunities for creative exploration. After 34 incredible years, we are sad to see Courtney take a final bow, but we are excited for her as she enters this next life chapter. While she is retiring at the conclusion of the spring semester, we won’t say goodbye. She plans on returning to see as many shows as she can.

From the 24-Hour Play Festival, to leading Acting Workshop, to developing lasting relationships with students, Courtney Flanagan has made her mark at Bishop’s.


Do you remember your first day on the Bishop’s campus? It’s a funny story. The week before I was supposed to start, I had to get my wisdom teeth out. Well, the situation took a turn for the worse. I unexpectedly got a fever and ended up having emergency surgery, leaving me unable to talk or teach. I couldn’t speak and it’s my job! When I did finally start, I was so relieved. That school year, I taught a speech unit in every English class, from seventh to twelfth grade, and directed plays after school.

When did you know that Bishop’s was home? It was in chapel. When I was a child, I went to a school with a chapel service, so being in chapel at Bishop’s felt familiar. I thought to myself, “I know this place. I am going to be happy here.”

I am amazed to see the ways in which they look at the world. They teach me just as much as I teach them. Second, they constantly exceed my expectations, taking on difficult roles and excelling. I am also amazed that kids press on and thrive despite difficulties they may be experiencing at home. And finally, they inspire me with their ability to lead, direct and present new ideas.

The Bishop’s Theater Department would not be what it is today without your leadership. What are your proudest accomplishments? Creating the theater program is my biggest

need to grow in all parts of their being. Theater helps them grow in empathy, in presence and in their willingness to be vulnerable. They learn to show their humanity and exercise their creativity.

Does it make you proud to see your previous students flourishing in their professional careers? Of course, it’s the best. I have flown to New York City and San Francisco to see my former students perform. When I retire, I will have more time to see their work.

The theater is filled with emotional moments. Do you have a special memory that comes to mind? When I turned 60, we produced “Crimes of the Heart.” One of the characters in the play celebrated a birthday, so it was a fitting production. All of a sudden, the kids were singing happy birthday and a cake with 60 lit candles was being carried by someone across the stage. My first thought was, “Oh my, that’s dangerous.” And then I practically had a small heart attack when I noticed who was carrying the cake. I didn’t know it, but the theater parents arranged for my son to come home from Northwestern. I was so emotional, and to top it off, the kids threw me a surprise party that same day. I was a mess.

As your time at Bishop’s is coming to an end, how are you feeling? What will you miss most? I will miss the kids, my

accomplishment. When I first offered an upper school theater class, I was told by the faculty that it would never work. A few years prior, an English teacher tried to offer a class, but only four students signed up and the idea was dropped. They were wrong! I am especially happy about the annual “Shorts Festival,” which allows students to speak directly with their own artistic voice, and which gives so many students the chance to try theater for the first time! Finally, it has been rewarding to direct productions that aren’t normally done in a high school.

colleagues, the art, seeing people at lunch and in the halls and of course, “Shorts.”

Looking back, how has the department evolved since you arrived? The department has grown tremendously and now offers

We know we will see you on campus from time to time, but what words would you like to leave us with? My hope is that

advanced level courses in acting and theater tech. We have also grown in staff. Jean Moroney, our talented costume designer, who started as a volunteer, has been a tremendous asset to the program, and I feel proud to have helped push for her hiring after her children graduated from Bishop’s.

the program continues to flourish under the direction of passionate leadership, forever engaging children and pushing boundaries. I want the program to always exist for kids who desire to go to the next level in theater, for those who want to have a new experience and for the people who love seeing the shows.

What is next for you? I will continue to do more theater as a director or actor. I want to learn how to golf. I’m not a great athlete, but I do like basketball and tennis. No gym though. I’d also like to be a docent at the San Diego Art Museum. Besides that, I might take Spanish classes, travel and get a dog. My son is getting married in December, so I will be involved in the wedding, and when the time is right, I am excited to be a grandparent.

19 Courtney Flanagan Takes a Final Bow

You’ve served as a mentor to so many students during your career. In what ways have the kids inspired you? Every day,

Why is it important to introduce students to theater? It is important because students


How Did Bishop’s Performing Arts Shape Your Future?

From the Bishop’s Stage…

to the National Stage

By Jen Heisel

STUART MARLAND ’77

RACHEL NAVARRO ’93

Stuart is living his dream. Since making his professional debut in Disneyland’s All-American College Singers in 1979, he has been a part of five Broadway casts, appearing in “Cyrano—The Musical,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” “Xanadu” and “Newsies.”

Rachel has been designing and making props and costumes for theater, television and film productions for two decades, with designs featured on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Myers” and “Saturday Night Live,” among others.

MICHELLE WONG ’03

JENN WONG ’97

While at Bishop’s, Michelle took advantage of every opportunity presented to her and ran with it, translating that go-getter spirit into a successful career as a television, film and theater actress with credits from “West Side Story” to “Scandal.”

Jenn is an established voice actress, lending her talents for characters in the mixed-media franchise “Yo-Kai Watch,” Treyarch’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” and commercials and additional characters for Procter & Gamble, Disney and Coca-Cola.

MICHELLE

The entertainment business is collaborative, and I learned that concept early on at Bishop’s. I felt like part of a family. We played a lot, but we also worked hard, always being challenged with tough material or projects that required us to use our imagination and technical skill. Doing theater at Bishop’s helped me believe that I was good enough to do this as a profession. What I took away wasn’t just confidence in my talent but also realizing that I liked how hard I had to work to succeed. I knew that if I had to work every day doing something, I wanted it to be this. Courtney’s teaching style, her personality and passion for the theater all played a part in why I am where I am now. She knows when to get out of the way and when to step in and push you, when to encourage and praise you but also when to give tough love. All of that prepared me for how much hard work goes into being successful in this business.


JENN

STUART

RACHEL

I always wanted to be in theater, but I never wanted to be on stage. I wanted to design. There was a technical theater class but only two of us were interested, so Courtney put me in contact with The Old Globe and other local theaters, for independent study. She was amazing. She mentored me but let me do my thing, which was wonderful. The teachers had confidence that I might not have had in myself, and they always pushed me to try. That’s what I deal with every day. When people call me for work, and I’ve never made something, I say yes with confidence. Courtney instilled that confidence in me because she wasn’t holding my hand. She was my cheerleader without me realizing it. I wanted to show her I could do it. Her faith in me made me figure out a way to make it happen. Find something you want to do and do it. The worst thing is waking up every morning and dreading your job. If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.

21 From the Bishop’s Stage…to the National Stage

In the 1970s, we were lucky to experience the growth and expansion of Bishop’s Performing Arts. We premiered the Wheeler J. Bailey Performing Arts Center, an auditorium with a small stage. Classes were held in the Scripps Drawing Room and beau parlors—now the dining hall and student center—so we made do with what we had and had a great time doing so. After a strange turn of events, I decided to apply to colleges as a theater major rather than an architecture major. I was supported by Bishop’s teachers and college counselors. Their advice was invaluable because choosing theater—almost on a whim—set my life’s course into motion. I was astounded by Bishop’s recent rendition of “Pride and Prejudice” thinking, “How did these kids have time to learn this play so perfectly, design and build the set, run the backstage aspects, learn the dances, and continue with their studies, sports and community service obligations?” It’s this dedication that makes people succeed in whatever path they choose to follow.

I was afforded so many opportunities at Bishop’s. I had great role models in the students who graduated before me as well as the faculty and staff. Because I saw older students succeed, I auditioned for shows outside of school, performing at the Old Globe and becoming one of the founding members of sdAART, the San Diego Asian American Repertory Theater. Bishop’s has always been a nimble program, allowing students who are interested and ambitious to write their own ticket. I was the first student to direct a musical at the School, “Little Shop of Horrors,” because Courtney saw potential in me, and because there was enough support in our class, the faculty and the institution to help us succeed. Everything in that production was student led, from the stage manager to the band to the musical direction and choreography. They let us do it all. Courtney’s greatest strength is giving her students agency and autonomy. She always let us choose our own adventure, which allowed us to discover where we excelled as well as giving us a safe place to fail. Because of her, I explored experimental theater and agitprop theater, discovered a penchant for directing and ultimately decided to pursue the arts as a career.


Tilling the Soil Chaplain reflects on life of faith and service as retirement approaches. By Joe Tash

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Tilling the Soil 22

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he Rev. Brian Fidler describes what brought him to his distinguished career as a school chaplain for 35 years—the last seven here at The Bishop’s School—as the “call within the call.” As Brian tells it, he felt called to the Episcopal priesthood during college, and he immediately entered the seminary after graduation. But he soon found himself in need of deepening his understanding of his vocation. So, he took a year off from seminary and focused on an internship at an independent school in Connecticut. “It was a great clarifying year for me,” Brian says. After his internship, he went back to divinity school at Yale, finished his degree, became ordained and completed a curacy at a parish for three years. “I then made my way to schools and have been in schools (as a chaplain) ever since,” serving over the years as teacher, athletic coach and spiritual guide for thousands of young people. Brian is set to retire at the end of the current school year. As he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his life, he has established a reputation, both at Bishop’s and across the country, as a man of God who has done his work with passion, humility and kindness. “He brings a quality of integrity and joy to every interaction he has,” says Amber Ray ’17, who worked with Brian as a member of her grade’s chapel council and also took classes that he taught. “He always has a smile on his face.” “He has a real heart for the life of a school. He loves being at a school and

all that involves,” says Rev. Daniel Heischman, executive director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES). “He’s had a profound influence on a lot of young people.” “I think of Brian as a master chaplain,” says Bishop James Mathes, who served as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego for 12 years, during which he chaired the Bishop’s Board of Trustees and worked closely with Brian. Brian says the work as chaplain has been so fulfilling due to its great variety, from helping to guide students on the athletic field, to the classroom and in the chapel. “There are so many different avenues to be part of the lives of young people. For me, that has been the allure of chaplaincy.” Those who know him say that he can also be a light-hearted presence, who carries out his work with a sense of humor as well as piety. “He’s fun to be with. He takes his faith seriously, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously,” says Bishop Mathes. One enduring image of Brian for Bishop Mathes is when the two clergymen presided together for several years at Bishop’s ceremonies to bless the animals, ranging from dogs to birds to lizards, and the joy that Brian radiated. “You get paw prints on your vestments on that day.” Soon after Brian came to The Bishop’s School in 2011, Head of School Aimeclaire Roche asked him to work on increasing student engagement and ownership of chapel services. Students are required to attend chapel, regardless

of their religion, spiritual tradition or life philosophy. Brian organized chapel councils for each grade level, recruiting students to help organize and plan chapel services. That effort has evolved to the point where much of what happens in chapel is now directed by students. “From the time we close the doors, they run the service from start to finish, with minimal input on my part,” shares Brian about the student chapel leaders. “I think it really has helped to increase the level of engagement. It’s been exciting.” Aimeclaire, who has worked with Brian both at Bishop’s and at his previous post at Groton School in Massachusetts, echoed his satisfaction at the reenergized interest in chapel by Bishop’s students. “Brian has played a key role in our community life nurturing us all—teachers, staff members and students—to mind our shared responsibility for one another. Among educators and clergy throughout the nation, Brian is known as an evenkeeled advisor, a humble discussant, and a caring and loyal friend. The Bishop’s community has been so fortunate to have benefitted from his care for us,” Aimeclaire says. Brian’s leadership through NAES has included helping to launch a support program for new chaplains. “He has been a great presence for us in mentoring new chaplains,” says Rev. Heischman. “He loves the business, so to speak.” Rev. Heischman hopes Brian will continue to be involved in the mentorship program after his retirement. “He’s too good not to be doing it.” Brian hasn’t completely settled his


23 Tilling the Soil

plans for retirement, but he does have ideas. He plans to stay connected to the people at Bishop’s, but he wants his successor to have time to become established with the School community. “My relationship with the School will continue because I love Bishop’s, but for the first year I will be pretty invisible,” he says. He and his wife want to travel, and Brian says he will try his hand at writing historical fiction. And he also has a new hobby, using a metal detector to search for buried “treasure” at the beach. “Maybe I’ll find something and maybe I won’t, but I’ll have spent a couple of hours on the beach in the solitude of my own thoughts.” As for his legacy both at Bishop’s and in the world of chaplaincy? He is gratified to hear from former students around the country, who say they appreciate how he demonstrated what a life of faith looks like, and he is humbled when they ask him to officiate at weddings, baptisms and memorial services. He refers to a passage written by Princeton theologian Kenda Creasy Dean, noting that the job of the church—as well as that of a chaplain —“is to till the soil, prepare the heart, ready the mind, still the soul, and stay awake so we notice where God is on the move, and follow.” Brian says that if he has helped members of the School community cultivate their spirituality, “then I will be glad. I will feel like I have done what I was called to do.”


Quinn Leaves His Mark on Knights Soccer By Zach Jones ’01

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o be clear, this is not the way Brian Quinn envisioned the last 13 years unfolding. When Norma Lunney, mother of former Bishop’s soccer player Lorna Lunney ’06, approached him about coaching the girls’ soccer team at Bishop’s in 2006, his answer was a list of names—and his wasn’t on that list. “I gave her names of three prominent coaches in San Diego who I thought were qualified. She said, ‘Would you be interested?’ and I said, ‘No, I’ve never even thought about it.’ I was just too busy.” At that point, the man from Belfast had already made a huge name for

Members of the Knights girls’ soccer team celebrate Coach Quinn’s 13 years at the helm.

himself in American soccer, with a playing career that eventually put him in the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame, not to mention the 48 caps for the national team. He’d already coached the hometown San Diego Sockers, as well as the San Jose Clash of MLS and headed a well-established youth club in San Diego. In short, Brian wasn’t exactly shopping for a new gig, but he agreed to a conversation with Headmaster Mike Teitelman. “We talked for probably 45 minutes about everything except soccer,” Brian says, laughing. “He said that girls’ soccer should be a priority sport at the school,


Above: Coach Quinn on the Toreros’ sideline Right: Lucy Rickerson ’17 on the Bishop’s pitch

and recruiting. When the Bishop’s team enjoyed a glut of players along the defensive back line, Lucy was able to move from her usual center back position to center midfield to fill the gap, which “let me exercise a different set of skills that I was able to bring back to playing center back.” Away from the field, Brian has built relationships with his players that reach halfway around the world. Playing for a women’s club team in Derry, Ireland after her senior year at Yale, Geny Decker ’13 reached out to her former coach from a pub more than 5,000 miles away. “Two minutes after I sent the message he FaceTimed me,” she says. “He was super happy for me and wanted to help in any way, which is a great feeling.” When Athletic Director Joel Allen first met Brian after taking over the School’s sports programs in 2009, he knew Bishop’s had someone special on its coaching staff, and it had nothing to do with Brian’s massive soccer resume. “The name Brian Quinn didn’t necessarily ring a bell for me,” Joel says. “I hear we have this great soccer coach, and I go out to a game, and I was shocked. He’s coaching them at a really high level, and you could see the respect and the care the players had for him.” Evan Rossin ’16 played four seasons at Bishop’s as well as with Brian’s club team, San Diego Soccer Club, and calls him “one of the best coaches I ever had,

25 Quinn Leaves His Mark on Knights Soccer

and I said, ‘Let’s try it for one year and see how we end up, and we’ll go from there.’” That first season ended about as well as it could have—a shared section championship with Francis Parker after the two teams finished in a scoreless tie in the title game. But it wasn’t the wins and losses that made Brian believe Bishop’s could be a long-term fit. “I loved the whole atmosphere of the School, and I loved the commitment of the students,” he said. “I didn’t feel that there was any pressure on me or the kids that we had to be the champions. I felt that the goal was to improve the girls, and the results were going to take care of themselves.” Perhaps it’s that attitude that has made upper school soccer such a memorable experience at Bishop’s over the last decade-plus. “I think that speaks a lot to Brian, because Bishop’s is a relatively small school,” says Lucy Rickerson ’17, who recently completed her freshman year at Princeton, including an Ivy League championship and a run to the Division I quarterfinals. “He always manages to get a really great group of people out there and teaches us so much while at the same time making sure we all have a lot of fun. My best friends are people I played high school soccer with.” For Lucy, part of that fun came with the flexibility of the high school atmosphere, removed for a few months from the higher stakes of club teams

both on the field and off.” Brian says one of the difficult aspects of club soccer is to develop leaders, particularly on teams where the players are the same age. “The way I used strong players at Bishop’s was that I gave them lots of responsibility at key positions and from their freshman year, they would get better. By the time they became seniors, they really embraced the leadership role within the team.” Evan has continued her soccer at the club level at Boston University and still feels the effect of her old coach’s philosophy on leadership. “He made me much more confident in myself and as a leader,” she says. “He made a huge impact on me as a person, not just a player.” In a bittersweet turn for Bishop’s, Brian now starts a new chapter as the head men’s soccer coach at the University of San Diego, where he has been the coachin-waiting for several years behind longtime USD coach Seamus McFadden. Joel recalls that the more he learned about Brian as a coach and former player, the more fortunate he felt to have him as part of the Bishop’s community. Brian says the support he received has made Bishop’s an easy place to stay for all these years. “Without the daily involvement of David Johnston, Yuki Zeigler and (previously) Lu Snyder, we could not have had the success and fun we did.” More than a decade after trying to find somebody else for the job, Brian says he’ll miss having that job belong to him. “I enjoy driving into La Jolla, seeing the ocean, and I enjoy driving out, seeing the ocean,” he says. “It’s something I’ve done for 13 years, November through February. I always look forward to coaching at Bishop’s. It’s not a job. It’s just a fantastic opportunity to coach motivated kids.”


The Bishop’s School and the 2018 auction chairs are deeply grateful to the following underwriters who made generous commitments to BAMBOLEO, A Knight in Spain, Olé!

PRÍNCIPES

Cecilia and Santiago Aguerre Patty and Marc Brutten Lisette and Mick Farrell First Republic Bank Alex and Greg Johnson Sherry and Rick Manoogian Ann and Philip White

DUQUES

Cari and Bassam Massaad Martha ’88 and Mark ’89 Sottosanti Terri Lundberg and Arnold Whitman

MARQUESES

Destiny Innovations and Supply Susan Brown Lawson ’71 and Duane Lawson Bridget and Anthony Musante

CONDES

Sundance Stage Lines La Jolla Chevron

IN-KIND SPONSORS WINE PARTY RECEPTION Dawn and Ralph Birchmeier, Hosts Baked in the Sun Chuao Chocolatiers Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering Karl Strauss Brewery Landa Vineyards Susan and Merle Richman WINE ENTHUSIAST RECEPTIONS Debby and Wain Fishburn Jennifer and Paul Cayer VOLUNTEER DINNER Sara Sweet’s Kitchen

By Jen Heisel

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ith entertainment abound, the campus was alight with excitement at the annual auction that supports the School’s Financial Aid and Faculty Professional Growth Programs, BAMBOLEO, A Knight in Spain, Olé! Upon arrival, guests were treated to sangria from a strolling flamenco table, Spanish bagpipers and a picador. The silent auction in Eva May Fleet Athletic Center kicked off the evening, where attendees enjoyed live Spanish guitar music and passed tapas. The crowd then moved into a tent on Bishop’s Quad, where a flamenco performance started the live program. Following dinner, guests danced the night away at Club Ibiza, the BAMBOLEO after-party. Co-chaired by Lisette Farrell (Camille ’22, James ’24) and Cari Massaad (Matthew ’17, Daniel ’19), the auction annually nets approximately $1 million in direct support of these crucial programs, allowing the School to foster a community focused on diversity, enrichment and growth. “We created a multi-sensory experience for our guests that would transport them, in one wonderful night, to the sights, sounds and colors of Spain,” says Lisette of the auction’s theme. “We hope that by pampering our guests with entertainment throughout the night, from the moment they arrived until they left, that we created a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.”

Cari agrees, “I believe everyone was wowed by the menu, the entertainment and the camaraderie the night brought, while raising money for financial aid and professional growth opportunities that truly create the special atmosphere at The Bishop’s School.” Ben Cooper, a member of the Class of 2007, graduated from the University of San Diego’s law school in 2017 and serves as a graduate law clerk at CaseyGerry. He spoke about the impact Bishop’s had on his life. “I have my teachers at Bishop’s to thank for showing me how to apply old knowledge in new ways,” Ben shared, “and for showing me that we shouldn’t be afraid to discard old methods of thinking, if those methods have outlived their usefulness.” “Helping raise funds for financial aid will support students from a broad range of economic backgrounds, make their academic dreams come true and deeply enrich the Bishop’s student body,” Lisette said. “Also, the auction proceeds provide 100 percent of the annual budget for professional growth, which ensures that the faculty is well-prepared and energized to educate all of our children.”


5:30 p.m.

Guests Arrive and Enjoy Silent Auction, Tapas and Spanish Entertainment

Lisette Farrell and Cari Massaad Chris and Kirsten Cramer

7:00 p.m.

Guests Move to the Tent Alex and Greg Johnson

Jason Ross, Corinne Perkins Ross ’97, Julie Zures Turner ’97 and Cort Turner

Live Auction and Dinner Clockwise from far left:

Mike Hoagland ’03 and Aimeclaire Roche Annette Bradbury Elspeth Myer and her son, Jonathan Myer ’87 Ben Cooper ’07 MaryAnne and Ted Pintar

27 BAMBOLEO, a Knight in Spain, Olé!

7:30 p.m.


Getting to Know… INCOMING HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL HARLAN KLEIN By Keri Peckham

TRAVELING TO OZ

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Faculty Notes 28

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: San Diego Unified School District for the past 20 years, most recently the principal at Muirlands Middle School in La Jolla EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degrees in economics and environmental studies (UC Santa Cruz), M.A. in cross-cultural teaching and M.Ed. in leadership studies (University of San Diego) CURRENT RESIDENCE: North County San Diego FAMILY: Wife (Nikki) and two children (Hayden, 8; Riley, 3).

Why Bishop’s? I was drawn to Bishop’s for the outstanding educational and social opportunities offered for students, in addition to the successful history in arts and athletics. I appreciate that students are at the heart of the institution. What are you most looking forward to? I look forward to knowing every student—their interests, dislikes and ambitions. I am also excited to immerse myself into all aspects of teaching and learning at Bishop’s—collaborating with colleagues and looking for ways that I can add value to what is already a stellar, comprehensive program. What might your first few months look like? I hope to know every one of the middle school students, initially by name, but quickly as unique individuals. I hope to establish and model mutual trust and respect for the Bishop’s community. I want to learn about the Bishop’s culture and will be invested in all aspects of school life. What do you do when you’re not at school? Hiking, biking, camping and traveling. I’m a lifelong LA Lakers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Padres and LA Kings fanatic. And I love live music. I also enjoy cooking and gardening. What should we know about your style? You can expect me to be a huge advocate for student needs. I welcome opportunities to work collaboratively in support of desired goals for achievement, character development and participation.

he Jacobs Prize offers a unique opportunity for faculty enrichment so when science department chair John Rankin was awarded one, there was no question where he would go. A former teaching colleague of John’s moved to Australia years ago, and John had been yearning for a visit with his “mate.” John and his wife, Maureen, took the long flight to Melbourne, arriving on Christmas Eve. After holiday celebrations with their friend, Jerry Hooper (and his family and friends), over the next week they toured Melbourne, followed the Great Ocean Road, rode a helicopter over the 12 Apostles and went to the Hooper family farm north of Melbourne. Their second week was spent in Queensland visiting the tropical rainforest of Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, taking a tram over the rainforest west of Cairns and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. John, the scientist, found wildlife and beauty at every corner of this diverse country. On the farm, “The birds were amazing—bright red parrots and flocks of noisy sulfurcrested cockatiels. Kangaroos were feeding in the paddocks.” In the Daintree National Forest near Cape Tribulation, they were in awe of trees, long thought extinct, that are found only there. John shares, “We took a boat on the Daintree River and a sign on the beautiful, deserted beach explained why people don’t swim in the ocean that far north. It is where the salt water crocodiles live!” After visiting the mountain village of Kuranda, they took a unique way back: an aerial tram over the rainforest. Trees were over 100 feet tall, often you couldn’t see the forest floor. John has watched the video of this 30-minute ride many times. “The last adventure of our stay was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I have been interested in marine biology since college. Seeing a portion of the reef is on the ‘bucket list’ of all who love the ocean. We loved seeing the fish and the coral formations in the warm, clear water. “This was truly a trip of a lifetime, and we thank The Bishop’s School for this wonderful chance to see ‘Oz.’”


table of contents

BISHOP’S

2

FEATURES

2

The Greater Good

6

Getting to Know Ellen Browning Scripps

8

A magazine for The Bishop’s School family and friends

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy encouraged students to make a difference in the world.

Spring/Summer 2018 2016 ••Vol. Vol.15, 13,No. No.22

Credits Editor Suzanne Keri Peckham Weiner Assistant Editors Managing Editor Keri Heisel Jen Peckham Cathy Morrison Contributing Writers Jeffrey J. Carmel Contributing Writers Kathy Jen Heisel Day Zach Jones ’01 Melissa Kenyon Keri Peckham Cathy Morrison Trisha Keri Peckham J. Ratledge Joe Tash Trisha J. Ratledge Jared Joe Tash Scott Tesler Suzanne Jared Scott Weiner Tesler Diane Y. Welch Graphic Design GraphicPerspective Design Design Design Perspective Contributing Photographers Contributing Pablo MasonPhotographers MelissaMorrison Cathy Kenyon PabloPeckham Keri Mason Dave Siccardi Brock Scott Michael Dave Siccardi Samale Michael Spengler Katelyn Zamudio ’17

Bishop’s history comes to life with alumna Molly McClain ’84.

Aimeclaire Roche: Habits of Leadership Eleventh head of school demonstrates vision and care in her leadership.

12 Portraits of Excellence The annual Ellen Browning Scripps Celebration honored three community members.

8

14 Accreditation: Learn, Plan, Grow As we wrap up our year of self-study, what’s next?

The Bishop’s School The Bishop’s School Head of School

15 Training Tomorrow’s Global Citizens

With School Year Abroad and Global Online Academy, students engage across cultures and around the world.

18 Courtney Flanagan Takes a Final Bow

Drama teacher established a comprehensive theater department and nurtured generations of creative explorers.

22

20 From the Bishop’s Stage…

to the National Stage

Four alumni describe Bishop’s influence on their careers in the dramatic arts.

22 Tilling the Soil Retiring Chaplain Brian Fidler reflects on his 35-year career in schools.

24 Quinn Leaves His Mark on

Knights Soccer

Players, colleagues and alumni appreciate his impact on the program and their lives.

26 BAMBOLEO,

a Knight in Spain, Olé! The Bishop’s Auction, a party with a purpose

28 Faculty Notes 29 family matters: class notes, transitions and photos

Aimeclaire Roche Head of School Aimeclaire Roche Assistant Head of School and Chief Advancement Officerand Assistant Head of School John Trifiletti Chief A. Advancement Officer John A. Trifiletti Director of Alumni Relations Sarah Garro Director of Alumni Relations Sarah Garro Bishop’s is published two times a year by Bishop’s The Bishop’s is published School. two times a year by The Bishop’s School. We welcome your feedback. Please Letters:send We welcome story ideas your to comments. keri.peckham@bishops.com Please send letters for possible publication or to weiners@bishops.com contact us at (858) 875-0790. or contact us at (858) 875-0735. The Bishop’s School 7607 The Bishop’s La Jolla School Boulevard La 7607 Jolla, La CA Jolla92037-4799 Boulevard La Jolla, CA 92037-4799 Phone: (858) 459-4021 Fax: Phone: (858) (858) 459-3914 459-4021 Fax: (858) 459-3914 www.bishops.com www.bishops.com Mission Statement The Mission Bishop’s Statement School is an academic community The Bishop’spursuing School is intellectual, an academic artistic, and community athletic pursuing excellence intellectual, in the context artistic, of andthe athletic Episcopal excellence tradition. in the Wecontext are dedicated of the Episcopal to offering tradition. the highest We are quality education dedicated to aoffering diversethe student highest body quality and education to fostering to a diverse integrity, student imagination, body moral and toresponsibility fostering integrity, and commitment imagination, to moral serving responsibility the larger and community. commitment to serving the larger community. Cover Photo Photographer From the Editor: We apologize for omitting the Dave Siccardi name Cindy Weiler from the board of trustees list in the fall/winter 2015 issue of Bishop’s. Mrs. Weiler is a current trustee and serves as the board’s secretary. Please note: Craig Higgs ’62 is the board’s legal counsel.

Susan Howell PATTY ANDMallory MARC’72BRUTTEN

COMMIT $1 MILLION TO FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM

Patty and Marc Brutten have been an integral part of The Bishop’s School community since their children, Charlotte ’12 and Grant ’14, were students. They gave both time and treasure to Bishop’s and remained involved in the life of the School, even after their last child graduated four years ago. Philanthropy has always been a priority for the couple, who have directed most of their giving to causes relating to education and children. The Brutten’s focus on educational philanthropy goes back decades, to their founding of the UC San Diego Student Foundation with a $100,000 gift to their alma mater in 1999. When the Bruttens met last fall with Chief Advancement Officer John Trifiletti, it quickly became clear that their next gift to the School would be to the need-based financial aid program. Their $1 million gift to the Reaching Higher Campaign will be designated to financial aid. Patty shares, “Marc and I are passionate about providing resources that will allow future generations to benefit from a Bishop’s education, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.” A robust financial aid program is integral to Bishop’s, increasing the School’s ability to build an exemplary community based on intellectual capacity, quality of character, and individual talents and skills.

“Every gift is meaningful, but this gift is a special one for us, as it shows how committed our families —past and present—are to the School’s endowment programs, particularly financial aid,” says John. When Charlotte and Grant were students, Patty was active in the Bishop’s Parents’ Association and co-chaired the 2012 auction, “Say You Will,” which raised approximately $1 million for financial aid and faculty professional growth. Charlotte graduated from Boston College and is now working for Prudential in San Francisco. Grant will graduate from Boston College this year. “Our children’s education at Bishop’s set them on a great path for life,” says Marc. “We’d like to give more students the same opportunity.”


BISHOP’S A MAGAZINE FOR THE BISHOP’S SCHOOL FAMILY AND FRIENDS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

The Bishop’s School

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID The Bishop’s School

7607 La Jolla Boulevard La Jolla, California 92037-4799

parting shots

Then…and now. Bishop’s theater in the 1930s and in 2017

The Greater Good

Endowed Scholar-in-Residence Caroline Kennedy Parents of alumni, if your child no longer maintains an address at your home, please provide an updated address to the alumni office. (858) 875-0505 • Fax (858) 456-2681 • tbsalumni@bishops.com

Aimeclaire Roche Habits of Leadership


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