All Saints Magazine 2023

CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

PRESCHOOL - GRADE 8

The Magic of Learning Gratitude & Grace

The

Kristin Templeman

DISCOVER THE

BY SCOTT FUJITA

When Sara Brown and I announced the upcoming Head of School transition, I made a point of mentioning that it wasn’t time for any big goodbyes. I say this because I believe All Saints is on the precipice of something transformational, and I look forward to remaining involved in a new role as Chair of our Board of Trustees. Yes, our campus has undergone quite the transformation in recent years, and it has been one of my proudest personal and professional achievements to help lead this effort. But the upcoming shift I’m referring to speaks to the student experience.

Every organization has its “seasons,” and I believe it’s important for schools in particular to match the needs of each season with the right teams and skillsets to meet each challenge and opportunity. We make every decision with our students and families at the center — that’s our job. As Sara regularly reminds our faculty, we of course place a high importance on delivering excellence in our academic program, but at the end of the day our highest calling is to care for students and families. That’s a tremendous responsibility, and it’s one that she and the All Saints team take seriously.

And that’s why the timing of this change in seasons is not only appropriate, but necessary. Sara and her team get to take what has been built and drive the school forward with continued positive momentum. We talk often about discovering the magic here at All Saints, and there’s undoubtedly magic to be discovered everywhere — in our classrooms, on our stage, and on our playing fields. And lucky for me, for you, and for future generations of All Saints families, our children will be the beneficiaries of Sara’s leadership.

So, in what is likely my final written submission for the All Saints Magazine, I’d like to go back in time and share a bit about my journey, which hopefully helps articulate why I’m so excited about all the magic that lies ahead…

… In January 2012, we were looking into schools for our daughters Isabell and Delilah (four years old at the time), and my wife Jaclyn signed me up for an admissions open house at All Saints Day School. She had heard about the tight-knit school community, had already been on campus, researched the program, and met the early childhood teaching team. In short, her decision was already made, and she made it clear to me that my visit to campus would be merely procedural in nature. Checking the box, so to speak. This is where she intended to send our girls to school, and she wanted me to discover the same magic she felt when stepping onto campus just three months prior.

I had just finished up my 2011 football season in Cleveland. We were the Browns, who of course hadn’t sniffed the NFL playoffs in many years. Not long before, I was in the middle of a Super Bowl championship run with the New Orleans Saints. So my journey from peak to valley floor had been a swift one. I was on an early January flight back to Monterey, where I’d rejoin my young family and begin thawing out from the bumps and bruises of another long football season.

On my flight from Cleveland, I sat next to a gentleman named David Schaeffer. We struck up a conversation, discussed our lines of work, and of course, the subject of family came up. When David learned I had young children, he offered a suggestion: “When you start looking around at schools, be sure to check out All Saints Day School.” It turns out David was a member of the school’s Board of Trustees. As luck would have it — I shared with David — I’d be visiting All Saints the following week. Then he made a comment I’ll never forget: “Just wait until you see

that campus and meet the product.” I found David’s use of the word “product” interesting, as it’s not commonly used to describe children. But I think I knew what he meant, and it undoubtedly piqued my curiosity.

The day of the Open House arrived, and David’s prognostication was on full display. Seated in the library, I recall watching a middle schooler named Emma welcome a room full of adult strangers, confidently looking us square in the eye, sharing her All Saints testimony. There is perhaps no better portrait of a school’s value than seeing its “product” shine. I remember thinking to myself: “When my girls are in middle school, I want them to be able to do that.”

Then I stepped outside, and what I saw literally took my breath away — a vast, sun-filled green space, nestled at the foot of the Santa Lucia mountains, with the Carmel River flowing through the rustling birch trees below. I consider myself someone who draws energy and inspiration from the magic of the outdoors, and I knew this is where I wanted my children to spend their days.

The years that followed found me stepping away from a long career in football, longing for the opportunity to connect more deeply to our new home community here in the Carmel Valley. Regularly attending morning Chapel and Songfest, my campus visits were often followed by casual chit-chat with peer parents in the school’s parking lot or meandering walks through the school’s backyard, where I’d continually marvel at how fortunate we were to call this place home.

My path at All Saints began to evolve in rather unconventional ways — from parent, to volunteer, to the Board of Trustees, to Athletic Director, and then, to Head of School. At each turn, I couldn’t escape the feeling that our campus, while glorious in its natural beauty, was being underutilized. We are fortunate to live in a community with a number of great school options, but it became clear to me that a key differentiator for All Saints was our incredible campus. We’d been blessed with an outdoor learning environment teeming with potential, but we weren’t effectively leveraging it to the benefit of our students, teachers, and school community.

My first day on the job as athletic director in 2018, I called friend and longtime All Saints teacher, Thad Sigourney, seeking advice and a few “pro tips” as I started this new role. I also asked him about the unused acreage I’d discovered on the eastside of All Saints’ expansive campus — an open pasture with a few acres of waist-high brush. Thad confirmed for me that this was in fact part of the All Saints campus, and he sort of dared me to find a way to explore its potential. So I walked the perimeter of the pasture, parting my way through the tick-filled brush, careful not to roll an ankle in one of the many gopher holes. Then a thought occurred to me — that felt like 400 meters. That afternoon, I reached out to a buddy with a tractor and asked him to meet me on campus the following morning. I showed him where I wanted the brush cleared and a trail blazed, and to my delight, my GPS watch confirmed that this new path was exactly 400 meters!

Two things were accomplished in that moment. First, this marked the birth of our cross country and track teams, programs I had hoped to introduce to the slate of athletic offerings at All Saints. But perhaps more importantly, this simple 400 meter path provided a clear visual representation of just how much space we had at our disposal. That began one of the most exciting games of mental Tetris I’ve ever played…

What if we put a new athletic field here? What if we expanded the parking lot over there? Can we bring the organic garden back? Why don’t we create some shaded outdoor learning spaces here, here, and here? An outdoor amphitheater would be pretty cool… maybe over there? How might we begin utilizing the Carmel River and the Outdoor Chapel again?

The process of asking “what if?” and “why not?” continued, and I turned over my stack of brainstorming doodles to a landscape architect I’d previously worked with, convincing him to donate a few hours of his service to the school. The ask was clear: Put the whole wish list on paper, make it to scale, and see what fits. The resulting design would become the first iteration of the school’s new campus master plan, something our Board could point to as we looked toward the future.

During my first year as Head of School in 2019, in close partnership with our Board of Trustees, we developed a new strategic plan, Imagine 2020, to guide the school’s efforts into the future. A key element of our plan was to continue the campus master planning process and identify the steps required to finally and fully optimize the potential of the All Saints campus.

Knowing this would be a project of enormous scale, to be funded by philanthropic contributions (not tuition dollars), it was critical to assess the real appetite for such a campaign. Tapping into the energy, intellect, and wisdom embodied by the entire school community — past and present — we tested and re-tested all of our assumptions. And we learned across the board that people were thrilled at the prospect of optimizing our campus, and it became clear that the priorities and “campus wish list” we outlined were aligned with those of our community.

Student and faculty voices also helped shape our plans. Faculty engaged in creative small and whole group breakout sessions, brainstorming aspirational program opportunities to best leverage our campus. Sixth grade science students presented their ideas, to address problems they had identified concerning environmental sustainability. Students met with our business office to understand the school’s energy costs and environmental impact and framed their presentations accordingly. They challenged us to install a synthetic turf field to reduce our water use, to install solar panels and the infrastructure needed for electric vehicle charging stations, and perhaps my favorite, to “plant a whole bunch of trees to capture a whole bunch of carbon” (an edict which included a list of specific tree varieties and carbon capture calculations).

And then, the Imagine Campaign was born! We designed this campaign to be holistic in nature and with “something for everyone” — new outdoor spaces to extend the student learning experience beyond our classroom walls; stateof-the-art athletic facilities; updated infrastructure (including new sewer,

PG&E service, solar, water management, stormwater controls, etc.); expanded playgrounds with new and improved equipment; new outdoor amphitheater and an improved Outdoor Chapel; a reimagined Early Childhood Village for our “Littlest Saints”; and of course, campus wide safety improvements, including a new parking lot, security fencing & gates, and safer campus entry and exit points (no more white-knuckle“ Jesus take the wheel” turns onto Carmel Valley Road!).

Construction began (mostly) on time, has stayed (mostly) on budget, and progressed (mostly) on schedule. Of course, with any project of this size and scope, obstacles and surprises were sure to present themselves. But what do we always say? Obstacles don’t block the path; they are the path. We discovered a 22” active water main running deep below our parking lot, which was constructed and installed in 1882! Working around this required some civil engineering ingenuity. An abandoned agricultural well, which likely provided irrigation for the pear orchards that once filled this land, needed to be carefully removed. Then there was the winter of 22-23, which delivered rains of biblical proportions!

Through all this, the familiar through-line connecting each step of the process was adaptability and resolve — from our partners with Granite Construction, our faculty and staff, our Board of Trustees, and of course, our students and families. It was the anticipation and excitement about what was to come that kept everyone laser focused on what needed to be done. When we embarked on this journey, we were often told that this would be a 4-5 year project and couldn’t be completed in our desired 12-16 month timeframe. But this was the Imagine Campaign, where we dreamed of making the impossible, possible!

Turning a project of this nature from concept to reality, at the pace we hoped to move, required meticulous planning and execution, collaborative partnership with all players involved, and enormous support from those who believed in the vision and could help make this dream financially viable.

I am so grateful to everyone whose enthusiasm pushed this project forward.

When this article goes to print, the dust of the Imagine Project will have mostly settled. I already miss seeing our friends from Granite — Mr. Brady, Mr. Kenny, and team — who brought so much passion to the job site each day. I miss seeing our Littlest Saints lined up along their playground fence, oohing and aahing as bulldozers and excavators shook the earth around them. I miss seeing Board Chair Bill Dorey regularly walking the site to gauge the progress, proudly admiring all that has been accomplished.

Mr. Dorey often asks us, “What’s next?” Well, what’s next is really, really exciting. As I transition into the Board Chair role next year, I can’t wait to see Sara Brown lead our school community and further realize All Saints’ potential.

To see our students explore every corner of this resource-rich campus is a treasure. To see our faculty design programming to leverage the outdoors and augment the student experience is inspirimg. And to see our families and broader community enjoy this campus — which we hope can be a hub for connection, exploration, and joy — is everything we have imagined.

It has been a joy and a privilege to imagine what’s possible and see so much magic come to life. The best is yet to come!

MEASURING

BY SARA BROWN

Measuring Student Success — Beyond the Numbers

A magical year starts with a solid academic foundation and support for each student that allows them to stretch and build their academic muscles. But alongside science, math, reading, and writing is something more. We want our children to feel confident in who they are as people, in their ability to understand their feelings and the feelings of others. To advocate for themselves and to speak their minds. To learn how to say they are sorry, and how to accept an apology with grace.

We also want them to understand they are part of something bigger than themselves, part of a community. And to know and feel that a community cares for and supports each other, joyfully plays together, and reaches out to those outside our school community who need our help.

Confidence, character, community — these things we want for our children. Together, as families and teachers, we walk alongside our

children on this journey of growth and discovery, as partners who strive to create a place where children and adults feel seen and loved.

The annual class overviews provided by our teachers in the following section describe a thoughtfully designed curriculum that emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and a love of learning.

As a school, our primary goal is to ensure that we fulfill our Mission by providing students with a joyful and spiritual environment in which they thrive academically and emotionally. The success and well-being of every student under our care require a multifaceted approach that includes both data driven metrics and the recognition of intangible factors. While quantitative data plays a crucial role in assessing student success, it is essential to acknowledge that some aspects of a student’s growth and development cannot be accurately measured with numbers alone.

Academic performance is the most apparent way to measure student success. Standardized tests, grades, and assessment scores provide valuable insights into a student’s proficiency in various subjects. These metrics help identify areas where a student excels and where they may need additional support. At All Saints, we use data as early as Pre-K (4 years old) to inform our approach to content and instruction. Key data points can provide crucial information that helps teachers identify areas where early intervention or enrichment can impact a student’s success and how they feel about themselves as young scholars.

All Saints has a great deal of evidence that shows our students’ success in the academic arena. All Saints students’ median score on the NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) standardized test, MAP (Measure of Academic Progress), is above the national norm at each grade level in all three subject areas (math, reading comprehension, and language usage). In math, students’ median scores can be two or three grade levels above their peers on both regional and national levels. Our middle school students excel in the annual History Day and Science Fair competitions, regularly taking home special awards and being honored as County winners while moving on to be recognized at the State level. Our students’ performance on the National Spanish exam shows their level of proficiency in a second language as well. Finally, we find that each year All Saints graduates are honored as valedictorians at several of the local high schools. Yet, these measures of success only paint a partial picture of a student’s overall development.

While standardized tests can assess academic abilities to some extent, they often fall short in measuring a student’s ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and adapt to real-world situations — skills that are fostered at All Saints. Each student has unique passions and interests that can’t be measured on traditional or standardized tests. In classrooms, on the stage, and the playing field, students develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness and self confidence, and the ability to form healthy relationships, all of which are vital to their future success and happiness. A student’s involvement in community service, volunteer work, and their sense of civic duty are not easily quantifiable but are essential aspects of an All Saints educational experience and fostered through our character education and advisory programs, as well as the many outreach and school wide community service projects.

As educators, our ultimate goal is to nurture not only academic achievement but also the personal growth and character development that will empowerour students to thrive in an ever-changing world.

MEET SARA BROWN

After receiving a BA in Economics and an MA in Education from James Madison University in Virginia, Sara began her educational career in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she taught middle school for eleven years before moving to the Monterey Peninsula and joining the All Saints faculty in 2004.

Many alumni will tell you, Ms. Brown quickly became a favorite among students and parents alike, for her skill, kindness, humor, and sharp intelligence, in a way that her students consistently appreciated, year after year.

She continued teaching middle school at All Saints before becoming the Head of the Upper Grades in 2017, and then the Assistant Head of School in 2019. As Assistant Head of School, Sara oversaw the school wide academic program at All Saints, guiding the adoption and implementation of curriculum, supporting and mentoring teachers, and connecting with students and families to ensure students thrive both emotionally and academically.

In 2017, Sara was presented with the KSBW Crystal Apple Award, which recognizes educators making a positive impact, and in 2019 the Carmel Valley Rotary Club presented her with the Paul Harris Fellow Award for those who have made a significant positive impact on their community, joining an impressive group of notable figures who have been named ‘Paul Harris Fellows’, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN SecretaryGeneral Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer, Jonas Salk.

Throughout these years in her career in education, Sara’s abilities to help forge the curriculum, keep it current without losing what has given All Saints its strong academic reputation, and continue her own professional development while helping her peers do the same have consistently served the school, exceeding expectation at every stage. In short, the entire All Saints school community has observed Sara’s progression through her career here to this stage with gratitude and a sense of great fortune to be able to count her among our own. This reaches beyond academics, to her participation in all aspects of All Saints life and work, from day one, including student outreach and service to those in need. From her first moment on campus, Sara Brown has taught the core ideals of All Saints Day School to her students, and has been an example of them.

Sara has two daughters, Emma, a freshman at Vassar College, and Abby, an eighth grader at All Saints.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Throughout the year, and after graduation ceremonies are complete, All Saints teachers have several opportunities and in-service days to assess where their classes are, and to confer with their colleagues over the school-wide and class-by-class curriculum. This is also when they take the time to provide annual snapshots for each grade.

Preschool

For our preschoolers, it’s all about playing. For their teachers, it’s something more. Play-based education at this age is fundamentally about creating a warm, caring, and joyful environment ideal for planting the seeds of a lifetime of learning.

The ASDS emergent curriculum for preschool helps teachers plan clear objectives that foster engagement and thinking skills based on each student’s own, rapidly evolving interests. Language, math, science, and social skills unfold at a natural, logical pace.

Some examples from this year’s preschool include learning about becoming “super friends,” introducing skills like sharing ideas and listening to each other, as well as expressing feelings through role-play… allowing imagination, creativity, language, and social development to soar.

Throughout the year, our Littlest Saints got to play in all sorts of ways, through enrichment classes and excursions that include music, motor development through movement, art, library visits, garden exploration, and much more.

In Pre-K, students learned their letters and sounds, and many started reading their first words and books. They enjoyed rhyming, word play, and using pictures, words and sentences to express themselves.

They learned to count to 30, write to 10 and recognize numbers to 20. They learned about shapes, sorting, patterns, and gained numbers sense through many different hands-on experiences and manipulative materials. Pre-Kindergarten learned how much this group enjoys games, competition, and project based learning.

As that abbreviated summary indicates, Pre-K represents an enormous blossoming within each child’s mind. The key is not just the extraordinary knowledge absorption that expands during this time, but teachers framing many lessons in a way that encourages active listening, cooperating and communicating, while also developing early skills in independent learning. All Saints Pre-K teachers seek to instill each child’s own unique Growth Mindset that will serve them no matter how they choose to shine. Through it all, they learn to be kind, and to be respectful to peers, teachers, and their environment. Everyone is included, nobody left out, and each student is encouraged to be their best self in any situation.

Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten

Our Kindergartners? Well, it’s safe to say they don’t slow down. Hitting the ground running, they got into group projects, creating and exploring with peers, and conquering new challenges on the playground.

As always, this year’s class worked hard to master new concepts in reading and math groups and gained a strong sense of independence during center activities. Their joy for learning was evident during their author and illustrator sections. Their study of Mo Willems and his book characters was a favorite memory this year.

The subject of science really lit their fire, as Kindergarteners transformed into engineers who designed and created their own pinball machines, and scientists as they investigated what monarch caterpillars needed to survive in a fictional community called Mariposa Grove.

Field trips, of course, become a fast favorite for our Kindergarten. They visited Pizza My Heart, employing their knowledge of shapes to make their own pizzas. York School welcomed them for a private matinee of their play, The World According to Snoopy, and students showed off their own acting skills during their traditional Kindergarten birthday plays, where families were able to watch them shine.

Through it all, our Kindergarteners continue to learn they are valued and important. A common theme of parent feedback is how much their children’s All Saints teachers have gotten to know each individual student, and how well they prepare them for the next grade up.

First Grade

First grade conquered new challenges like adding and subtracting groups of tens; narrative, informative, and opinion paragraph writing; researching and presenting animal and plant defenses projects; and learning Spanish and new science concepts. One of their favorite memories this year was the field trip to the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum.

First graders took the next steps in developing their public presence, singing and performing on stage in the play, The Wack-A-Doo Zoo at the Spring Fiesta. When All Saints speaks of the importance of theater in education, it’s about the kind of repeated experience that builds on itself, and magnifies. The early start in speaking and acting on stage before a supportive audience gives All Saints students something almost indefinable, which helps them in predictable and unpredictable ways, for the rest of their lives.

All in all, first grade is a time of counting lost teeth with awe and giggles, and countless milestones. From achievements in reading and writing to mastering math concepts, much progress can be measured, while much is better simply appreciated. When it’s time to move on, they do so knowing how proud their teachers are of them, both for what they’ve accomplished and who they are. The handoff to the next grade continues, with students growing in sophistication and possessing confidence in their abilities to take on the challenges ahead.

Second Grade

This year’s second grade class embraced a special motto: “We can do hard things.” And they proved it. This is particularly relevant to second grade, as teachers at this level must deftly introduce the concept: success doesn’t always come easy. It requires effort, resilience, and a belief in oneself.

For this year’s class, the word “persist” became a guiding star. They worked through difficult math problems, tackled tricky spelling words, and conquered complex stories. As the field trips continue, and outdoor lessons and play grow bigger, stronger, and faster along with them, second grade is a time of carefully blending in new levels of challenge on top of what has come before. Enough to keep that spark of growth going strong, but not too much to dampen the joy of achieving new things.

Beyond academic growth, second graders demonstrated tremendous personal growth as well. Building on earlier lessons in kindness, they learned to lend a helping hand and to embrace differences. As a class, they supported, encouraged, and uplifted each other.

As always, their teachers prepared them for the next level, and asked them to remember these lessons in persistence and looking after each other.

Third Grade

The astonishing unfolding occurring within our students’ minds at this age only continues and increases in third grade. It can be particularly apparent in math, but really all subjects and endeavors are in on it, building on previous experience like compound interest. Some of the fun involved relay race math, emphasizing multiplication and division. Students gained depth and understanding in estimation, measurement, geometry, and fractions as applied in real world situations.

In language arts, third graders read and wrote voraciously as they studied The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Its universal themes of unconditional love, determination, and bravery resonated as students contemplated how advancing technology will continue to play a role in their lives. Social studies delved into the three branches of the U. S. Government, and traveled back in time to study the Ohlone people who once populated the ground upon which All Saints now stands. The year culminated with each student writing an in-depth research report on a national park… an All Saints third grade tradition that never fails to impress their parents. Performing arts maintained and advanced confidence already developed, with presentations of The Glory of Christmas and The Lion King, Jr

Fourth Grade

In their reading challenge this year, our fourth grade read 545 books They created California relief map cookies, learned in-depth of native tribes in the four geographical regions, and studied the 21 Missions of California. After a class visit to our own Carmel Mission, each student selected a mission to research and present to the class.

In keeping with the themes of the era, fourth graders prepared their own list of supplies for a covered wagon trip, shook cream into butter, and experienced Gold Rush adventures through the class play, Gold Dust or Bust. Fourth grade is the perfect age for All Saints students to gain this deeper understanding of the challenges of life in early California. Their imaginations latch onto the history and tales that have emerged from that era in delighted fascination, and historical facts only enrich the immersion.

In mathematics, they mastered their multiplication facts and multiplied and divided large numbers, learned the relationship between fractions and decimals, and strengthened their analytical skills by solving complex logic and word problems. In science, they integrated critical thinking through the scientific process, and played with simulations exploring vision, light, and energy conversions. They also wrote in-depth animal reports.

Through it all they continued to develop what they learned from the beginning: supporting each other, always showing kindness, using words, which all work together to both show others that they matter and to reinforce the knowledge that they themselves are unique and special.

Fifth Grade

There is a natural kind of leadership that emerges from all that has come before the fifth grade in an All Saints student’s experience. It’s the kind of behavior that has a forthright self-confidence, which is a hallmark of an All Saints graduate. This means an instinctive understanding of how to contribute to a solution in a group, as one member of it, and also when it’s time to step up and do. When we speak of preparing our students for their whole lives ahead, and graduating leaders for tomorrow, the key is that they do it by example, each in their own individual way. Because when people are kind, yet confident, adept with words and solving problems, and know in their bones what it is to be a great friend to others, that leads to other people listening, paying attention, pulling together: leadership. In this way, core skills that are universally positive combine in a way that is absolutely unique, because each human being is absolutely unique, and we celebrate that.

Why mention all of this here? Because fifth grade adds one thing onto the constant, mind-boggling growth of children during these years: an awakening of a new maturity that was, in most cases, not nearly so apparent before. Along with a new level of self-awareness comes a widening sense of care and responsibility for others. And through more and more opportunities to get together with and help out younger students, greater depth in community service and outreach, and more explicit discussion of what it is to strive to become our best selves, All Saints fifth graders continue planting the seeds in their own fields that will grow for the rest of their lives.

Fifth graders explored history, read tough novels, and tackled math concepts that might even make their parents’ heads spin. From mastering place value to tackling percentages with ease, they applied math while taking on different roles in the classroom, including podcaster, strategizing revolutionary, inventor, actor, and even courtroom officials.

They had a chance to release their wild side on the annual fifth grade camping trip to the All Saints campground in Big Sur. Floating down the river, jumping off the rock, and making s’mores — all contribute to a strengthening of class bonds that will serve them well as they prepare to take on the challenges of middle school. In case it might be a bit overshadowed in all the discussion of achievements, All Saints takes a back seat to no one when it comes to the healthy concept: work hard, play hard. And if you want to see leaders by example on that front, fifth grade certainly shines there, too.

Fifth graders are the epitome of curiosity and creativity. Reaching new depths due to new levels of self-awareness and growth as individuals. They’ve been prepared for whatever middle school throws at them, including pop quizzes or other unexpected situations. Their teacher’s send off at the end of the year? “Keep being awesome, come back to tell us what you’re doing, and continue to spread kindness wherever you go!”

Sixth Grade

The transition from fifth grade to All Saints Middle School is a big deal, but students have little time to dwell on it, because it starts rockin’ and rollin’ from day one. Athletics become competitive and students start to represent their school in team sports all over the county. Community outreach grows as the schoolwide tradition of bean bagging continues, but the sixth grade adds a partnership with the Rotary Club of Carmel Valley: this year, they researched 22 local non-profits, before choosing to focus on G.I. Josie, serving women who have suffered trauma as a result of military service.

At Camp Ocean Pines, they connected with the natural world, wading knee-deep in tidepools, hiking through the flora, both native and invasive, and observing indigenous species, some stuffed, some slithering. On another annual trip, San Jose’s Rosicrucian Museum revealed Egyptian artifacts, topping off their studies of ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean world.

Strengthening their Spanish skills and acquiring cultural knowledge, students discussed the idea of identity beyond their own community. All Saints earned 10 medals in the National Spanish Exam. Novels read in Language Arts afforded students the opportunity to unpack personalities, motivations, and turning points of fictional characters and turn their findings into structured, exploratory essays.

Math focused on further developing a growth mindset and mathematical curiosity. Students were encouraged to embrace challenges, question with confidence, and view mistakes as a growth opportunity. Science included various opportunities to act as scientists, including an oceanography unit, studying endangered abalone populations, and migration routes of sea turtles. Lab experiments examined the cell biology of leeks, onions, and potatoes, as well as the genetic structure of DNA.

History paralleled art history, with students exploring civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and Greece, examining social structures, religion, and lasting achievements, including works of art from those civilizations. They even tried their hands at several of the techniques that were used to create Paleolithic artworks.

On top of all that, middle school comes with much greater opportunities for substantial roles in the school plays. Sixth graders take on larger public speaking opportunities and greater responsibility during schoolwide ceremonies, presentations, and chapels.

Seventh Grade

The seventh grade at All Saints really tends to put the “ultimate” in penultimate. While eighth grade combines so many traditions of transition, involves such preparation for the future and large goodbyes, seventh is the year in which we solidify their transition from students to scholars, a year of taking things in stride and continued progress, all in the context of so much All Saints experience and their own growing maturity that they know how to make every challenge fun.

In English, the widely regarded All Saints student’s facility with words is honed, and re-honed. This year they learned how to add power to their arguments in persuasive letters, entered contests, wrote short fiction and essays, and created beautiful poetry. In math, independence was emphasized along with becoming comfortable taking risks in problem solving. Science trained the conducting of labs, and gathering and maintaining meticulous data, both indoors and out, including at Nature Bridge camp. Art history – which receives special focus at All Saints in sixth through eighth grades – took students through Japanese sumi-e drawings and saw them completing exams in San Francisco museums.

And then there’s History Day. The All Saints’ history program that emerged under the leadership of Forbes Keaton continues to deliver its massive expansion of academic rigor, research techniques (including primary source interviews), diligence, knowledge exploration, and new discovery to our seventh graders, each year. This year’s national theme: Frontiers in History. Months of dedication and hard work paid off, with over half of our students making it to the California State finals.

Beyond academics, students immersed themselves in sports and showcased their talents as they took on leading roles or explored theatre tech as part of our performing arts productions. As always, each grade brings new and greater opportunities for more challenging roles, including in the school musical, and the All Saints Shakespeare production, now in its 35th year. The student band created to augment this year’s Shakespeare production of Much Ado About Nothing was able to highlight this class’ particularly musical persuasion, adding a student selected soundtrack including Bon Jovi, Kenny Loggins, Billie Eilish, and more, to enliven the prouction.

And, at the end of the year, seventh grade students got to experience the middle school Latin Feast from a completely different perspective. They took on the roles of entertainers, dazzling everyone with their dancing, gladiating, music, comedy, and gymnastics.

Eighth Grade

The culmination of it all. Like all truly valuable rites of passage in history, the only way to really understand what eighth grade is like at All Saints is to live it. Academic, social, and individual growth continue at the great speed to which they’ve become accustomed, but there is so much more. And that “more” comes in all the little details, in a year punctuated by all the traditions they’ve grown up learning, then leading… and in several events, ceremonies, and experiences that are reserved exclusively for our eighth graders. They’ve earned it, and nothing in our day and age represents a more well-designed element of a child’s education than the way All Saints sends off its graduates to the next stages of their lives. It’s a year-long process, which serves to inspire and empower these remarkable young adults as they prepare to launch into high school.

This year included formal debates, building Latin villas, Romanticism writing, final exams, and creating their own virtual art museums as their Capstone project for art history. Students honed their critical thinking and creative problem solving skills in math as they journeyed through algebra, factoring quadratics and solving systems of equations. Students also spent the months of April and May completing the eighth grade tradition of writing their graduation speeches, before delivering them to the entire All Saints community on the big day.

Science fair projects required dilligent work employing the scientific method, creating displays, and ultimately presenting their findings through interviews. Every member of our graduating class was honored as a finalist at the Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair.

Athletics and performing arts also reach their pinnacle in eighth grade. Complete leadership, the most challenging roles, and the highest celebrations punctuate each season of the year.

This includes quite a few memorable field trips. They demonstrated dedication and diligence at the Food Bank, where they boxed over 1,000 bags of food and gained an awareness of some of the issues people face on the Monterey Peninsula, and how All Saints can serve to make the world a better place. They toured the Tor House in Carmel—poet Robinson Jeffers’ home—played his piano, climbed the Hawk Tower, and read his poetry.

The traditional Yosemite trip continued to deliver, as the class got to spend significant quality time together off campus amidst one of the most magnificent natural wonders on the planet. They experienced more snow than recorded at Crane Flat in over 20 years, snowshoeing and cross country skiing on pristine powder.

And as always, the All Saints art history final exam, which occurs in the museums of San Francisco proved to be one of their most memorable, treasured experiences from their entire career as a student.

The final hallmarks of the eighth grade experience — Recognition Night and Graduation at All Saints’ church proved yet again to be an emotional as well as festive culmination of their time here at All Saints!

STUDENT AWARDS

When students pour their effort into any subject for the first time, they have no way of knowing what to expect. At times, the results of their hard work and perseverance can be an extraordinarily rewarding surprise, almost as though they’d accomplished something magical. So often, achieving a level of excellence is a matter of taking a kind of leap of faith, believing that the daily work and improvement, one piece at a time, might result in something great, which can’t actually be seen in advance. This “productive struggle” is a mindset All Saints students learn to embrace, building their muscles to persevere, as well as their ability to appreciate delayed gratification.

While achieving recognition in the form of awards is not the purpose of putting in effort, it certainly can add to the gratification students experience over a job well done. And when it comes to awards, no single trophy case would be large

enough to hold what All Saints students have garnered. In every subject, ranging from math and science, to history, language, literature, and arts, participating in schoolwide, statewide, or even national academic competitions, All Saints students have a reputation going back decades for outstanding achievement. For students, encouraging them to participate in competitions can provide extra motivation, a goal oriented approach, and a chance to achieve well-earned recognition from the entire school community, and beyond. And competition deadlines often have a different feel than homework, tests, or class projects. Whether near or far off, they can help students achieve new levels of organization, time management, and planning ahead.

Competitions and awards are both a positive component of an all around education, and one of those measurable, tangible outcomes that serve as one piece of the larger picture.

MATH LEAGUE

Each year, all our fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders participate in the Math League competition at All Saints. Top scorers in each grade then compete against students and schools in our region.

Our region consists of Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Monterey, Placer, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Ventura, and Yolo counties.

OUR TOP 5TH GRADERS & 5TH GRADE TEAM

Caleb Goshorn, Sebastian Braga, Erick Tuesta, Connor Darmawan, Christian Simonsen

OUR TOP 6TH GRADERS & 6TH GRADE TEAM

Sam Sibley, Ross Plainse, Sophia Wetzel

OUR TOP 7TH GRADERS & 7TH GRADE TEAM - 2ND PLACE

Ryan Weil, Griffin Hurd, Daniel Kurz, Ava Rheim

OUR TOP 8TH GRADERS & 8TH GRADE TEAM

Donilo Shivers, William Keszler, Christian Brown

7th grader RYAN WEIL placed in 2nd place overall in our region.

NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM AWARDS

The National Spanish Exam is organized by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese. This year nearly 85,000 students competed across the country. All Saints students took varying levels of the exams depending upon their proficiency. The results have been exemplary. In total, they earned 34 medals!

PREMIO DE BRONCE / BRONZE

Brooks Honegger ‘25

Avery Mazzuca ‘25

Amelia Munson ‘25

Layla Ibessaine ‘24

Raina Patel ‘24

James Archer ‘23

PREMIO DE PLATA / SILVER

Allison Darmawan ‘25

Ross Plainse ‘25

Sam Sibley ‘25

Sophia Todd ‘25

Chloe Weil ‘25

Charlotte Wilson ‘25

Sienna Archer ‘24

Zoe Dean ‘24

Sydney Farahmand ‘24

Luke Georis ‘24

Daniel Kurz ‘24

Zhanna Stevens ‘24

Amy Cappo ‘23

William Stratton ‘23

PREMIO DE ORO / GOLD

Andrew Boyce ‘24

Abigail Brown ‘24

Griffin Hurd ‘24

Henry Reneker ‘24

Ava Rheim ‘24

Ryan Weil ‘24

Aly Cappo ‘23

Alijandro ElChaarani ‘23

William Keszler ‘23

Teagan Nguyen ‘23

PERFECT SCORE

Julien Hermans ‘24

Aiden Peng ‘24

David Yeh ‘24

Christian Brown ‘23

ALL SAINTS SPELLING BEE

After 20 rounds and 139 words, MORGAN HARMS ‘25 was crowned the ASDS champion by spelling the word RESERVATION correctly.

1st Place - MORGAN HARMS ‘25

2nd Place - SOPHIA WETZEL ‘25

3rd Place - JAMES ARCHER ‘23

COUNTYWIDE SPELLING BEE

On Saturday, March 3, 2023, 24 students from schools across Monterey County competed to move on the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

Our 6th grader MORGAN HARMS, a member of the class of 2025 finished in first place at this year’s Monterey Countywide Spelling Bee.

After six rounds of spelling words like exercise, performance, mortician, heiress, quota, innovator, illusionist, windbaggery, commerce, vaccine, squander, and steppe, Morgan won this year’s Spelling Bee with the word CAMPANOLOGY, the art of bell ringing.

This is the second year in a row that an All Saints student has won the Monterey Countywide Spelling Bee. Last year, ISABELL FUJITA , a member of the All Saints Class of 2022, won the Bee.

HONORABLE MENTION

FATIMA JIMENEZ ‘25 chose the Level 4 exam and self-declared as bilingual, electing to be graded more rigorously. Fatima challenged herself and completed her exam with honors!

MONTEREY COUNTY HISTORY DAY - Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas

Once again, our seventh graders, the Class of 2024, researched topics in depth, conducted interviews, researched primary and secondary sources, and learned how to immerse themselves in a topic. Their tenacity paid off and they earned 18 special awards, 13 county winners, and 2 honorable mentions at the Monterey County History Day competition.

HISTORICAL PAPER WINNERS

LUKE GEORIS

The Revolutionary Invention of Kevlar

JULIEN HERMANS

The Ironclad: Frontiers in Naval Warfare

AIDEN PENG

The Murder of Vincent Chin: How it Changed Asian American Rights and Justice in the Courtroom

INDIVIDUAL WEBSITE WINNERS

RAINA PATEL

Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis

AVA RHEIM

Fast Food: Its Origins & Its Effect on American Eating Habits

ZHANNA STEVENS

Valentina Tereshkova: The First Woman in Space

Honorable Mention - JUDE EPEGA

INDIVIDUAL EXIBIT WINNERS

ANDREW BOYCE

How GPS Has Enhanced Safety and Saved Lives

RYAN WEIL

Promises & Betrayals: The Creation of the Country of Israel

Honorable Mention - CHRISTOPHER BORDONARO

INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTARY WINNERS

WESTON BAILEY

How Processed Foods Changed America

SYDNEY FARAHMAND

How Amazon Has Revolutionized Online Ordering

LAYLA IBESSAINE

Native American Residential Schools

Honorable Mention - DANIEL KURZ

INDIVIDUAL PODCAST WINNERS

SIENNA ARCHER

The Wright Brothers Take to the Air

ABBY BROWN

DNA: A Frontier in Crime-Solving and Forensic Science

CA-STATE HISTORY DAY

ABBY BROWN won Honorable Mention for her podcast DNA: A Frontier in Crime-Solving and Forensic Science.

For his paper, The Ironclad: Frontiers in Naval Warfare, JULIEN HERMANS received the Special Award ‘First Place by the National Maritime Historical Society.’

SPECIAL AWARDS

FAMILY HISTORY

Aiden Peng

MEDICINE IN HISTORY

Zoe Dean

INDIVIDUAL IN HISTORY

Aditi Desai

MILITARY HISTORY

Luke Georis, Julien Hermans, David Yeh

PEACE AND FREEDOM

Peter Stratton

POPULAR CULTURE

Sydney Farahmand, Ava Rheim

SPORTS IN HISTORY

Hamilton Lathrop, Peter Stratton, Christopher Bordonaro

TURNING POINTS IN HISTORY

Daniel Kurz, Abby Brown, Henry Reneker

PRIMARY SOURCE

Christopher Bordonaro

NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR COLONIAL DAMES

Zhanna Stevens, Weston Bailey

MONTEREY COUNTY SCIENCE FAIR

Each year, students are challenged to go beyond classroom studies to do independent project-based research working independently or in teams to address questions in a wide variety of scientific fields. After the initial virtual qualification round, every single member of the Class of 2023 was invited to present their projects in person in the finalist round. CHRISTIAN BROWN placed first in the Microbiology division.

ANIMAL SCIENCES, JR. DIVISION

WILLIAM STRATTON AND JAMES ARCHER

Are You Salty or Fresh?

(Freshwater Microorganisms VS. Saltwater)How do freshwater microorganisms in the lagoon react to salty water?

CHEMISTRY, JR. DIVISION

TRISTAN ROBARE

Candy Chromatography

What makes those colors?

Do Skittles and M&M’s have similar dyes?

ENGINEERING, JR. DIVISION

CASEY BOONE

Weapons of the Future in the Present Are they Worth the Cost? Testing Unguided Munitions to Find Out Their Cost Effectiveness

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE/ TOXICOLOGY, JR. DIVISION

WILLIAM KESZLER AND DONILO SHIVERS

Pesky Pesticides - Are herbicides detectable in the Carmel River?

HEALTH SCIENCES, JR. DIVISION

TEAGAN NGUYEN AND ALY CAPPO

Effectiveness of Sunscreens

Testing ranges from SPF 30-70 - Does SPF 50+ provide better sun protection than SPF 30?

JANESSA WHITE AND PIPER MAY Pimple Patches: How Effective are they?

PAXTON DOREY

Energy Drinks & Sport Performance

Caffeinated energy drinks are guaranteed to improve sport performance, says the research but does it really?

PLANT SCIENCES, JR. DIVISION

AMY CAPPO

Sweetness Testing: How Does Sugar Content Increase During Fruit Ripening?

How does temperature affect the ripening of fruit and is mango truly the sweetest fruit?

MICROBIOLOGY, JR. DIVISION

CHRISTIAN BROWN - 1ST PLACE

To Clean or Not To Clean?

What surfaces at our school have the most bacteria? Is there resistant bacteria? What is the bacteria resistant to?

ALIJANDRO ELCHAARANI

Investigating The “Five Second Rule” Is the “Five Second Rule” a valid method for determining whether food is safe to eat if dropped on the floor?

SOCIAL SCIENCES, JR. DIVISION

GENEVIEVE HEDGES

Opt for Organic

Why do people prefer to buy organic or non-organic foods? Can people taste whether food is organic or not?

CA-STATE SCIENCE FAIR

WILLIAM KESZLER and DONILO SHIVERS were invited to present their project

Pesky PesticidesAre herbicides detectable in the Carmel River?

in the Environmental Science / Toxicology division at the California State Science Fair.

Middle School Science

If active experimentation is the best way to become stronger problem solvers, and it is, then what better place to do that than All Saints? Nestled amongst the oak savanna woodlands and riparian habitat, with access to the Carmel River, it is a living laboratory for our students to explore, observe, and get to know and appreciate the ecosystems and watershed we are a part of, and we take full advantage. We nurture our young people’s naturally curious and creative spirits as they yearn to explore, while observing their reactions and learning from them their own best ways to achieve critical thinking proficiency. This inspires scientific thinking and creative problem solving in each individual, and we work to create ample, constant opportunities for our students to observe the world around them and ask questions that genuinely interest and challenge them. Students complete the middle school science program with a foundation in biology, natural history, physics, chemistry, design thinking, and engineering.

As you can see from the class write-ups on the previous pages that provide a glimpse of the All Saints education program as a whole, each grade receives engaging exposure to the wonders of science, tailored for their age, and scaffolded so that it builds upon itself from year to year, challenging them to think and act as mature scientists.

SIXTH GRADE

As middle school begins, so does the next level of exposure to the scientific method, employing it to solve problems and help students discover the why and the how of phenomenon they observe. Sixth graders learn about the vast biodiversity of California and the underlying reasons we are in one of the world’s hotspots in terms of species richness.

Through their studies of topics such as physical oceanography, plate tectonics, marine ecology, cell biology and genetics, students gain experience with the various tools used in science to develop a better understanding of observed phenomena and innovation in technological solutions.

SEVENTH GRADE

During the seventh grade year, our scientists gain extensive laboratory safety and technique practice. Covering a variety of topics within physical chemistry and engineering, students work collaboratively to communicate their questions, hypotheses, experimental procedures, and findings. The use of careful planning, data collection and organization, and basic descriptive statistics are emphasized to strengthen their scientific scholarship.

They also examine the multidisciplinary real-world approach to environmental problem solving through case studies in California water management and hydrological engineering.

EIGHTH GRADE

Culminating with the Science Fair (see more on the right), eighth graders achieve the pinnacle of preparedness for high school, college, and life beyond.

Taking what they’ve learned over their All Saints career, the eighth grade is guided through the process of applying existing knowledge, indoor and outdoor laboratory techniques, and problem solving methods to the imaginative application of a new, in-depth experiment, and presenting their findings to the world. In this way, every eighth grader realizes at a new level something we have been building toward from the beginning: with the right amount of effort, any knowledge can be achieved.

SCIENCE FAIR

Our eighth grade scientists apply their knowledge and experience with the scientific method in a culminating research project of their own choosing.

It is an opportunity to learn a great deal about a topic that deeply interests them, then ask probing scientific questions about this subject and design an innovative experiment to test their hypothesis. We guide our students through the process of researching and completing a literature review, thinking through the types of evidence needed to address their scientific questions, and designing a series of experiments and tests of their hypotheses. Finally, each student analyzes their results and presents their findings to our community. Seeing this process through from start to finish is a highlight in their All Saints science learning journey.

Many of our students are invited to compete as finalists at the Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair and some move on to compete at the state and national level in their topic categories.

Science Fair helps ignite a lifelong quest for developing a deeper understanding about the world around us and becoming strong communicators and project managers along the way.

ECOSYSTEMOLOGY

The root of the word ecology comes from the ancient Greek oikos: an extended family unit that consists of the house, members of the family, farmland, and all property. And the word system means a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network.

Hence the title for our new integrative learning course that launched in August 2023.

Taught by our science faculty in tandem, we explore the connections amongst the many systems and habitats that make up our beautiful campus and apply our knowledge to improving our care of this place and all of its inhabitants.

Through hands-on activities and projects, we develop skills and serve as a team of outreach specialists on sustainability and campus habitat health.

PLACE BASED NATURE STUDIES

Starting with our lab and classroom, we take every opportunity to discover by doing.

Our classroom hosts an Eastern Box Turtle, Shelby, Red Eared Slider, Sheldon, two Leopard Geckos, Laffy & Taffy, a Bearded Dragon, Louisiander, a male tarantula, Harry, and several species of freshwater fish and many plants.

The care and close observation of animals is an important aspect of creating a culture of caring for our earth.

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.”

- Baba Dioum

MEET DR. CAT MEYERS

Caterina is a native of Cadiz, Spain. She has lived in Texas, Oregon, French Polynesia, Panama, and the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Carmel Valley in 2020. She started a Great Outdoors Club while in high school to pursue her love of nature and spending time outside, and majored in biology at U.C. Berkeley as an undergraduate. The scientists she met there, and the opportunity to participate in coursework and field research about Pacific Giant Salamanders and sustainable agriculture inspired her to dedicate her career to teaching and practicing science.

After working as a field biologist for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, she taught middle school science in Oakland and returned to Cal to complete a doctorate in Environmental Science, focusing her research in population genetics and conservation biology.

Starting with her first teaching position in 1999, Caterina has enjoyed learning alongside students from fifth grade through college. She is a big believer in experiential education and treasures every opportunity to be outside with students, reveling in the wonders of this beautiful planet.

Prior to joining the faculty at All Saints Day School as the Middle School Science Teacher, Caterina served as Vice President at the Conservation Society of California, Oakland Zoo, where she oversaw the education department and volunteer programs.

She lives with her husband, two children, and many pets in Carmel Valley. Her hobbies include reading field guides and trail maps as well as reading historical fiction and spectating at her children’s many sporting events.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION SERIES

As an extension of our science classroom and campus place-based investigations, we foster a greater sense of adventure and exploration as well as develop outdoor leadership skills throughout the middle school years.

Our sixth grade class attends Camp Ocean Pines, in Cambria. Lessons are immersive and handson, designed around concepts integral to Next Generation Science Standards. During the day, students enjoy a first hand look at coastal Monterey Pine woodlands, oak grassland savannah, go kayaking in a local estuary experiencing the incredible wildlife of Morro Bay and, tidepooling along the rocky coast. In the evenings, students explore the 100-gallon marine invertebrate touch tank, meet a live great horned owl, and dissect their own squid.

In seventh grade, our students explore the Marin Headlands with the Nature Bridge Golden Gate Campus program. On this adventure, students learn the natural and cultural history of the San Francisco Bay and visit historical military installations from the 1930s and 1940s as well as a variety of unique coastal ecosystems. Divided into small groups, our seventh graders explore, experience, and discuss the basic principles of ecology and one’s relationship to our natural environment.

During the eighth grade winter, our scientists explore the Sierra Nevadas at Nature Bridge Yosemite. While visiting some of the world’s oldest and largest trees in the Tuolumne Sequoia Grove and learning about the many high altitude plant and animal adaptations, we build community and learn new skills such as snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The memories that are made amongst these unique and majestic settings last a lifetime, and our students learn about themselves and each other as much as they learn about the flora, fauna and ecology of their incredible state.

LEARNING THE

An All Saints student learns about leadership not simply through facts, data, and explanations, but by seeing, experiencing, and doing. We emphasize the concept of being a lifelong learner, and we lead by example with our faculty and staff. In fact, beyond all other practical, effective reasons that the school makes Professional Development a high investment priority, it is that key element: to assure that our teachers and staff are equipped to lead by example.

Educational conferences bring together professionals from diverse backgrounds and the benefits of collaboration lead to the development of innovative teaching strategies, the sharing of resources, and the creation of a supportive community of educators. Whether in person or remote, All Saints teachers have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of programs to grow their knowledge, stay up to date on the latest technology and tools that can enhance their teaching, and gain exposure to the newest techniques for improving classroom instruction, management, assessment, and engagement.

Whether math and science, reading and writing, executive functioning skills, performing arts, or sports, last year All Saints teachers did what they always teach: they packed their brains full while having a good time doing it.

Laura Hewitt, our Performing Arts Director, attended the Broadway Teachers Workshop, an annual conference designed to inspire teachers and directors with new teaching methods, enhanced production skills and an exchange of ideas with peers and professional Broadway artists, behind the scenes on Broadway in New York City.

Over three days, participants saw four Broadway shows and had their choice of 18 workshops and master classes with some of Broadway’s finest artists, while connecting and sharing ideas with peers from all over.

Workshops offered a unique blend of inspiration, creative replenishment, and methodology/best practices from Broadway — with one-on-one instruction focused on helping each school Director apply new knowledge to their program for enhanced classroom learning.

Ms. Hewitt took new knowledge and inspiration from this professional development experience in New York and applied it while bringing The Lion King Jr. to the All Saints stage for the first time ever.

In Santa Barbara, Tim Miller, one of our lower grade associate teachers, attended the Learning & the Brain conference, where he chose to take a deep dive into Executive Skills in the Classroom.

Mr. Miller got a chance to explore the latest discoveries in how executive functions impact the behavior and academic production of young students. Participants explored evidence-based methods to help children and adolescents improve their use of executive functions, including how to discuss these functions with children, parents, and other staff.

Special emphasis was placed on helping students find their own way toward improved focus and participation, on how to help them “orient,” so they are able to move from being externally controlled to internally self-regulated, through the use of bridging strategies. The seminar was limited to 40 participants in order to provide each attending professional hands-on assistance in tailoring new knowledge for their own classroom and school.

“The Learning and the Brain conference inspired me by learning that training your brain with clear intentions, repeated reps of dedicated practice, and a positive outlook can help anyone to accomplish their goals.”

- Tim Miller

“Attending the Broadway Teachers Workshop was a dream come true. Listening to industry professionals, attending Broadway Musicals, and meeting other Performing Arts teachers from around the world was inspirational and educational and solidified what a meaningful performing arts program we have here at All Saints.”

- Laura Hewitt

Our Art Teacher, Melanie Klaumann attended the 2023 TAB Art Conference in Boston, MA over the summer.

In the evolution of art education, a paradigm shift is occurring — one that redefines the traditional role of the artist and revolutionizes the art classroom into a vibrant studio space. No longer confined to prescribed techniques and rigid guidelines, the contemporary art classroom is a playground of creativity, with the child at its epicenter — the artist, the innovator, the storyteller.

As art educators, the primary mission extends far beyond teaching techniques and artistic theories. It encompasses nurturing the very essence of creativity within each student. This shift in perspective recognizes the child as an artist in their own right, with unique viewpoints, ideas, and creative impulses waiting to be discovered and cultivated.

“Allowing students to find their own artistic voice and create art about things that matter to them is very important to me as a teacher. I want all of our students to have opportunities to explore and create, while learning about different art skills and materials.”

- Melanie Klaumann

Our Learning Specialist, Linda Popp and Preschool - Grade 2 Division Head, Jennifer Vanoli attended The Reading League, Show Me The Science of Reading conference in Sycracuse, NY this fall.

The focus of the 7th Annual Reading League conference was progress monitoring and strategies for implementing interventions and enrichment programs for students.

All Saints has earned its reputation in the realm of letters. Graduates are known for a proficiency in reading and writing that is well beyond their grade level. And the key is starting early. The Reading League focuses on early literacy, and All Saints has long understood that building foundational skills allows students in lower grades to become fluent and proficient readers, who are able to access information in all disciplines. What further attracted All Saints faculty to this Professional Development opportunity was the Reading League’s emphasis on a scientific approach.

Over five decades across the world, derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages, the “science of reading” as compiled by the Reading League organization, helps teachers hone the latest understanding in mentoring students to proficiency in reading and writing, gives them added tools in recognizing why some have difficulty, and refines how they can most effectively assess, teach, and help students improve their results. The Reading League applies this multidisciplinary trove of research to teacher professional development, as the core element of their mission to see every child learn to read. With a track record of positive, productive experiences for All Saints faculty at the Reading League, another group of our teachers will attend the spring conference in San Diego.

Seven of our teachers attended the Writing Revolution Conference via Zoom, where they compared and shared some of the latest studies in teaching writing with their own All Saints experience. The focus of this seminar emphasized that writing, thinking, and reading are inextricably linked. All students can become proficient writers through practice, repetition, and supportive and instructive feedback.

Other Professional Development experiences for several of our teachers and staff included:

Strategies and practices for using Responsive Advisory Meetings to support the unique needs of adolescent students

Growing Up in Public: Mentoring our Students on the New Digital Milestones, taking a positive, proactive rather than fear-based approach on handling digital issues in a social media era

GRATITUDE & GRACE AWARD

Conceived in 2012, The Gratitude and Grace Award honors members of the school community who personify our core values, through time. As such, it is not presented annually, but represents an opportunity to thank those who have made an abiding difference.

The five previous times this award has been granted bear witness to the recipients’ tireless effort and selflessness in dedication to our school.

This year’s honoree joins their ranks as a pillar of All Saints history, and its future. As presented by Nancy Zweng and Mike Thomas, it was our great privilege to grant the newest Gratitude and Grace Award to Forbes Bastian Keaton.

Forbes’ impact on All Saints has been nothing less than profound. Building on the existing art history curriculum, Forbes took it to a level that to this day is mentioned by alumni as something that helped them through their entire academic careers. One of the most heard pieces of advice from alumni has long been: “save the art history binder you made for Ms. Keaton. It’s the best study guide you’ll ever get.” How grateful we are to have the traditions she established passed on and carried forward, with binders built, museum tours in San Francisco for both seventh and eighth grade classes, including final exams and tea rooms, and more. And this doesn’t touch on the ways Forbes wove in ancient history leading up to our annual Latin Feast, nor History Day.

Which gets to some of the contributions Forbes made to the All Saints reputation of helping others that have been difficult to track down. Why? Because she refused to talk about them. Thankfully, others did not. Stories of how she went to children who had been afflicted by maladies that kept them home, or in the hospital, to make sure they would not fall behind. In at least one case, she did this for well over a year for one student. Of people from other schools who took the time at History Day regional finals to take our parents aside and ask for a moment to say something, so they could tell our parents that without Forbes, no one in their school would have participated in the great annual national academic challenge. Not only was she teaching All Saints students how to

Mike Thomas — presenter

Forbes Keaton

Nancy Zweng — presenter

research, interview primary sources, build the large, detailed, and formal bibliographies required, but — for those who needed help and were willing to put in the effort, no matter where they went to school — Forbes stepped up. And that was all she required in return: if a student showed he or she was willing to put in the effort, so was she.

Nobody would deny Forbes could be strict, yet the only stories that matched in frequency those of her helping others, were of her sense of humor. Her comic timing? Impeccable. From late nights backstage when everyone was tired and the play had to go on, to walking by her office in the hall, hoping she might not be about to remember homework, Forbes could fire off a legendary quip. Usually it came with a very literary foundation, so perfect for the moment yet working on so many levels, those who’d heard would laugh again hours later. As one former student remarked: “First it was shock, then relief, then you’d realize how funny it was, and when you were done laughing you might figure out later you really didn’t even get it.”

From History Day to Art History, from Latin Feast to the Archeology of the Bible, and most of all from the example of giving and excellence that she presented every single day through all of her years as Teacher, we are so proud to grant Forbes Bastian Keaton the Gratitude and Grace Award, as a reminder of what she did for All Saints, and what we will carry on because of her.

HONOREES

2013 - Karen & Reid Woodward

2014 - Sara & Christo Bardis

2015 - Laurie Boone Hogen

2016 - Father Paul Danielson

2018 - Chrissi & Mike Morgan

2023 - Forbes Keaton

The frenetic pace of our daily lives often makes it difficult for us to slow down and evaluate and reflect. However, for me, the All Saints magazine provides a yearly pause — a dedicated time to consider the past year and the wonderful things that make All Saints Day School so special.

What would All Saints be without small class sizes? Amazing performing arts and music programs? Inclusive athletics? Field trips? Community service programs? Opportunities for our passionate educators to grow professionally?

The tremendous philanthropic support we receive each year is both humbling and awe-inspiring and is also what makes All Saints Day School a truly magical place for all who walk through our doors.

It is impossible to capture the full impact of philanthropy at ASDS on these pages because your support is everywhere. It radiates through physical spaces like the remodeled Upper Grade Hall, the Chrissi Morgan Learning Commons, and on the new playground equipment and athletic field. It helps bring innovative programs, talented new hires, and professional development opportunities to our community. It’s also behind lively classroom discussions, triumphant goals on the field, budding friendships, and all the magical moments that happen at ASDS.

And speaking of magical moments, it goes without saying that one of our most magical moments was when we broke ground on the Imagine Project. The campus improvements that are part of this project will leave a legacy on our school, and none of it would have been possible without the support of our Board of Trustees, families, alumni, and the community at large. And for those who saw the vision of the project and helped make it happen, there are no words to fully express our gratitude and appreciation.

As you read in this year’s magazine, I hope you gain a sense of the true impact of your giving — the intangible effects of your generosity that extend to every student, every faculty and staff member, and every corner of our campus. It allows us to say “yes” to new opportunities that empower students to pursue their passions, promote student learning, foster character development, and develop confidence and leadership skills. We are grateful to be surrounded by our parents, grandparents, alumni, and the broader community that generously support our mission and vision. Our students thrived in the 2022-23 school year, with access to more resources and opportunities than ever before, because of you.

Thank you for all the ways you support All Saints Day School. I am proud to work alongside all of you as we grow students with an appreciation for the power of community, a curiosity about how the world works, and the empathy to serve others.

BY LAURIE MACHADO

“We give to the All Saints Fund because it is an investment in not only our children’s education, but also an investment in all future Saints students, which ultimately benefits the community as a whole.”

- Amelia & Brian Poma (Stella ‘27 and Colin ‘29)

Laurie Machado and Fenway, one of the All Saints therapy dogs

Reid Woodward - May 12, 1928 - September 20, 2023

Reid was a pillar of our school community for over 40 years. First as a school parent, then as an educator, devoting himself to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning, and later as a mentor and supporter of the performing arts program, especially the Shakespeare program he started alongside his wife, Karen, and friend and All Saints teacher, Steven Crain. Many of our students can trace their success and passion for the performing arts back to the transformative experiences they had acting in one of our productions on the All Saints stage.

Reid remained an integral part of our school family, championing our school’s involvement with Nancy’s Project (and often leading the bean dance), regularly sharing his love of the outdoors, his expertise of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and his knowledge of the history of the Ohlone people with our students. His dedication to the performing arts program was unmatched. He understood the profound impact the arts can have on a person’s life, and tirelessly advocated for its growth and development.

Furthermore, he leaves a large green, Grinch-shaped hole in our hearts and Christmas chapel at All Saints will never be the same. We will of course never forget his final appearance as the Grinch, when after sharing his message of kindness, he stood up from his wheelchair to a booming standing ovation which was surely heard all across Whoville to the peak of Mount Crumpit. We will all be sure to keep the Grinch and Mr. Woodward in our hearts as we continue to reach for our beloved Grinch pens.

As we bid farewell to Reid, let us remember him with smiles and gratitude for the countless lives he enriched and hearts he helped inspire to grow. May his passion for education and the performing arts continue to inspire us all.

CONTINUING

BY MICHELLE DOMINGUEZ

While most people think of a school as a place, I think of ours more as a feeling. If you’ve been on campus, you’ve likely felt what I mean. The place is a remarkable one, to be sure, nestled between the hills and the river and nearly always bathed in sunshine, but it is the heart of this place that really makes the magic — a magic that I’ve been lucky enough to experience since I walked in the doors of what was then known as ECU in 1987. The charms that made indelible marks on my younger self remain vivid memories, not only because of their meaningful impact on me then, but because I have the unique opportunity to witness the same All Saints magic as it continues on a daily basis today.

While the faces have changed over the years, the feeling of warm welcoming joy is as strong as ever and I find myself lingering each morning at drop off as I watch students eagerly rush into their classrooms. As a parent, I have learned that one of the best feelings is seeing the evidence of your child feeling secure and loved by others, and this is an integral part of that magical feeling that we experience at All Saints. Our teachers legitimately love their students and love where they work. Our students feel this subconsciously and see it demonstrated overtly day in and day out as they are celebrated by their school family. In this way, we live our mission of maintaining a joyful environment that allows students to be seen and celebrated in a way that I have yet to see replicated elsewhere with the same authenticity.

What was present way back when I was a student remains woven into the fabric of the All Saints experience today — the inherent respect for every individual, the acknowledgment of each member of our school family, the celebration of childhood amidst a world trying to usher us all through it as quickly as possible. The magic is made amidst the culture we have collaboratively created and nurtured these past 62 years. The many traditions that have become so beloved over the years — from bean dances and birthday blessing bookmarks to Pet Blessings and Fall Festivals and snowy trips to Yosemite — have endured, evolving yet remaining and thus, the magic persists undiminished to the delight of each new class of students that joins us each year. And as such, we all become a part of something much larger than ourselves as these traditions serve as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future of our school’s family.

I’m known to say that I can’t believe I actually get paid to show up here on a daily basis, and this is something I reflect upon each day as I arrive at our little slice of heaven with my own two little Saints in tow. The importance of community, the involvement of families, the continuation of traditions — these are the magic ingredients that have helped us to enchant families year after year as our school family continues to grow.

The concept of community at All Saints isn’t just a marketing buzzword but a lived reality. Teachers are not just educators — they are adults who respect and cherish each child for the individual they are. Parents are not just spectators — they are partners in the growth and development of their children. From serving hot lunch, planning movie nights, acting as a room parent, teaching a middle school elective, sharing their expertise with a class, interviewing our eighth grade scientists as they prepare for Science Fair, styling hair and makeup for the musical, singing along at Songfest (complete with hand motions when the song calls for it) to cheering “Go Saints” at the top of their lungs on the sidelines of whatever the sport of the moment is, the involvement of our school families creates an atmosphere of support and encouragement that extends well beyond the academic realm. This connection between educators and parents fosters an environment where students feel not just educated but truly nurtured. This is such the norm for All Saints that these moments are commonplace, but these seemingly ordinary aspects of our community are what create the magic moments that are truly extraordinary.

As an alumna turned employee and parent, I am especially grateful to play a part in our school’s magical journey, where the spirit of All Saints lives on. The laughter of children, the camaraderie of families and the enduring bonds of friendship create an enchantment that transcends what most would think a small school such as ours would be capable of. This year, I have the pleasure of being reminded of this on a weekly basis as I watch my daughter, Prudence, with her big buddy, Ilee, who happens to be the daughter of Erin Moses ‘89 who was MY big buddy when I was in first Grade. Erin and I regularly delight in the fact that our already 35 year long friendship is continuing with our daughters.

In a time of life that has collectively begun to pay much more attention to the concept of belonging, I feel immense pride to belong to a school family that has a time honored reputation of creating lifelong community and connection that spans generations.

As we say — once a Saint, always a Saint!

Thank you for your role in continuing the magic of our incredible school, and know that you have a standing invitation to come experience more of that magical feeling anytime you wish.

ONCE A SAINT...

ACHIEVE....

The first step for our graduates after ASDS is, of course, high school. It is our privilege and honor to witness their ongoing academic achievements and adventures, and...

The 2023 valedictorians

2023

CRAIG CHIU ‘18

Co-valedictorian at Stevenson

Brown University

SOPHIA CHO ‘19

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

Rice University

ALEX COOK ‘19

Co-valedictorian at Stevenson

Yale

2022

AMALIE HANSCH ‘18

Valedictorian at Santa Catalina

Montana State University

CAILIN TEMPLEMAN ‘18

Salutatorian at Santa Catalina

Boston College

2021

TYLER BIANCHI ‘17

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

University of Colorado Boulder

WILLIAM LANGMANN ‘17

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

UC Berkeley

IVOR MYERS ‘17

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

UC San Diego

HEIDI HANSCH ‘17

Valedictorian at Santa Catalina

Hillsdale College

COURTNEY HAND ‘17

Valedictorian at York School

College of William & Mary

2018

JOE JOHNSSON ‘14

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

California Polytechnic State University

2017

MADELEINE FONTENAY ‘13

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

College of the Holy Cross

MATTHEW LUCH ‘13

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

George Washington University

2016

JILLIAN EMPEY ‘12

Co-valedictorian at Carmel High

California Polytechnic State University

EMMA MORGAN ‘12

Valedictorian at Stevenson

Stanford University

2014

SCOTT WEISMANN ‘10

Salutatorian at Carmel High

Chapman University

2013

CHARLOTTE ANDERLE ‘09

Salutatorian at Carmel High

UC Davis

2012

CAROLYN BRUCKMANN ‘08

Valedictorian at Stevenson

Harvard University

2011

MATTHEW BRUCKMANN ‘07

Co-valedictorian at Stevenson

Harvard University

CLAIRE MARGOLIS ‘07

Co-valedictorian at Stevenson

Stanford Medical School

ALWAYS A SAINT!

CELEBRATE....

... we invite them back to celebrate at a special All Saints campus gathering!

An annual event just for our graduates, they get a chance to reconnect as a class and we get to wish them all a warm bon voyage as they head off to college.

Our Saints from the Class of 2018 are attending the following colleges and universities: Boston College, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Montana State University, Monterey Peninsula College, San Francisco State, Southern Methodist University, Stanford University, Texas Christian University, UCLA, University of Colorado Boulder, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of San Diego, USC, among others.

Our Saints from the Class of 2019 are attending the following colleges and universities including: Bowdoin University, Brown University, Cal Poly SLO, Michigan University, Rice University, Santa Clara University, Southern Methodist University, Tulane University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, UC Davis, University of Puget Sound, University of San Diego, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, Yale University, and more.

ALUMNI

We love hearing from our alumni and encourage everybody to share their adventures, achievements, businesses, and life events! The All Saints family loves supporting our Alumni community!

DR. NICOLE DAUPHINE ARCILLA ‘86

Nicole is the President of the International Bird Conservation Partnership and is an Affiliate Fellow of the University of Nebraska and has been conducting research in bird ecology and conservation for over 20 years.

BRIAN GARNEAU ‘87

Brian is the owner of Carmel Lahaina Utility Services, Inc., and can help out with anything related to wells and water systems

GABE GEORIS ‘92

Gabe and his family are on a yearlong culinary adventure in Biarritz, France. 5th grade teacher Mandy Georis is taking a sabbatical, and Charlie ‘29 and Luke ‘24 are attending school in France.

CLASS OF 1993

We had the distinct pleasure of welcoming back our Class of 1993 who came together to celebrate their 30-year reunion!

Classmates, children, parents, and faculty reconnected and enjoyed each other’s company. Such a very special afternoon! We cannot wait to see everybody on campus again soon! If you are interested in hosting a reunion event here on campus, please reach out and let us know. We’d love to help!

HEATHER LAZARE ‘94

Heather published the memoir her husband’s great-grandfather dictated to his caretaker in 1979—My Life in Pacific Grove by W.R. Holman (Mr. Holman of Holman’s Department store). Heather had been encouraged for years by local publisher Patricia Hamilton to write an introduction and ‘re-publish’ it. She is an editor by trade and worked at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster in NYC before moving to Pacific Grove in 2013 with her family. She now works as an independent editor and had fun putting this book together working with former colleagues from Penguin Random House who designed the book and created the ePub.

ANGELIQUE CABRAL ‘93

Angelique is the voice of Queen Amaya in WISH the latest Disney animated film, which premiered in theaters on Thanksgiving. She says “This project has truly been a dream come true. Cannot wait for you all to see this beautiful movie.” She was excited to perform the song “Knowing What I Know Now” with the Wish cast. You can check it out on Spotify.

KELSEY MCCALLISTER ‘94

Kelsey is on a mission! She is set to save the Weddington Golf Course in Studio City which her family used to own and operate for 57 years. She has produced a documentary ‘Golfingly Yours’ that screened at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Visit saveweddington.org to learn more. Kelsey owns her own production company called McYoLo.

KARL RICE ‘96

Karl is the seventh and current president of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company. And according to Beach Boardwalk blog “Karl’s leadership guides the team that makes the world’s best seaside amusement park run seamlessly so that guests can create memories that last a lifetime.”

Yet another reason to visit the fabulous Santa Cruz Boardwalk!

DR. CASEY GROVER ‘97

Dr. Grover visited our 8th grade science class and gave an exceptional presentation on current issues surrounding teen health and substance abuse prevention. He discussed the health impacts of substance abuse and provided age appropriate information about how to avoid the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. We were honored to welcome Dr. Grover, an expert on this topic.

Dr. Grover is Chair of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. He is also an attending physician in the Emergency Department, Vice Chief of Staff for the hospital, and serves as Physician Champion for the Monterey County Prescribe Safe Initiative.

ULI RIEBE ‘97

Uli was appointed Chief Financial Officer for Senté,a privately held specialty dermatology company dedicated to delivering novel science-based skin care products targeting a range of skin discoloration concerns. Founded in 2007 and based in San Diego, California, Senté products are available through its exclusive network of physicians and medically supervised spas and on its website at www.sentelabs.com.

ALUMNI

ILSE RIEBE COLBY ‘98

In 2016-17, All Saints Day School’s leadership team and Board of Trustees began conversations around updating the school’s marketing strategy. Concurrently, the school went through its accreditation process with the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). CAIS issued a series of recommendations to the school, one of which called for the development of a clear branding and marketing strategy articulating the school’s key differentiators.

With this call-to-action, the school developed a Marketing Committee to lead the rebranding effort. This committee was composed of school leaders, faculty, trustees, members of the All Saints’ Church Vestry, and alumni. Together, they surveyed the All Saints community, developed a new marketing plan, updated the school’s mission statement, and began to explore the creation of a new logo.

The research and conceptual design phase for an updated logo paused during the pandemic. In early 2022, the process resumed with several meetings with Ilse Colby of Ilse Colby Creative, with a series of conceptual design revisions. Concepts were shared with focus groups consisting of current parents, alum parents, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as the Communications Director, Associate Head of School, and the Head of School.

Ilse attended All Saints from ECU through eighth grade. After graduating from Santa Catalina she received her B.A. in Communications Design with a minor in English from Syracuse University and continued her educational and design journey at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and London, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

Ilse has over 15 years of experience working for national and global companies and brands she genuinely believes in and admires, such as Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Michael Osborn Design, Sephora, and Levi Strauss. She founded Ilse Colby Creative in 2006 and has worked with countless local and national clients. She loves having the opportunity to work with people who are just starting something new, as well as those who are nurturing long-standing businesses. You can find examples of her outstanding work at ilsecolby.com.

Ilse is not only a proud All Saints alum but also a current parent of Oona, one of our “Littlest Saints” in the class of 2033. She lives with her husband Elijah in Pacific Grove.

We feel blessed that Ilse found time in her busy schedule to work with our team at All Saints and reimagine a new logo that is consistent with the school’s mission and the goals of the Marketing Committee.

“It was an honor to redesign the All Saints logo and a pleasure to do so as both an alum and ASDS parent. Particularly as an alum, I’m very aware of the attachment many of us have to the old logo, and that was certainly on my mind throughout the process.The focus for the new logo was to incorporate the pillars of our school; inclusion, growth, spirituality, service and the increasingly unique beauty of our campus. We maintained the same circular footprint, same color palette, and hopefully the same sense of community and kinship which were shown in the original logo.

When the eighth graders graduate, they are sent off into the world with the Gaelic Blessing, which begins “May the road rise to meet you... May the sun shine warm upon your face.” This send off represents a hope for our students that the love and support of our school will follow them out into the world, and that they will feel prepared when they get there. The concept for the new logo was born of this idea. The sun on the horizon illustrates both the beginning and end of the day, which represent the passing of time, the history of the All Saints community and the students’ journey through the school. The lower half of the mark illustrates the river and foliage, which surround us, while the upward-pointing tree is a nod to both spirituality and growth. My hope for the new logo is for it to grow with the school and continue to serve it well. I also just want it to become a logo that the school community - and particularly the students - can be proud of.”

- ILSE RIEBE COLBY ‘98

ALUMNI

ALEX BRANT ‘99

Alex and wife Ala welcomed their daughter Lilian Elizabeth or ‘LilLil’ on May 27, 2022 at CHOMP in Monterey.

Alex is a realtor for Compass here on the Monterey Peninsula.

JENNY ROSENBAUM ‘99

Jenny and husband, Brad Miller welcomed Miranda Grace Rosenbaum on May 23, 2023. Big brother Felix was delighted to welcome his little sister as well!

SAM HILLER ‘00

DJ Sam Hiller returned for a one-off House and Disco DJ set at Barmel Christmas Eve 22. He transitioned from his years-long career in music & artist management into Head of Talent Buying & Artist Relations for event production company JJ-LA and its flagship LGBTQIA+ live music events brand OUTLOUD.

WHITNEY GALL WILLIS ‘02

Whitney has settled in Monterey with her husband of 7 years, Mitchell Willis, Owner of AMW Express, LLC. In recent years, she has taken a step

JULIET HARTFORD DEL PIERO ‘02

Juliet received her medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, New York. She completed a transitional year internship at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado prior to her ophthalmology residency at Baylor College of Medicine/Cullen Eye Institute in Houston, Texas. Juliet joined her parents’ practice Hartford Optometry

DAVID BENJAMIN ‘04

David works as Google’s Creative Lab Insights Lead in New York.

Our middle schoolers were delighted that he was able to spend time with them and talk about his carreer at Google as well as following one’s passion. He was happy to be a part of our Upper Grade Speaker Series.

BRITA SIGOURNEY ‘04

Brita qualified for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Brita solidified her third Olympic Winter Games with a 3rd place finish at Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain. She did so in her classic style, featuring an alley-oop that even gave most of the men a run for their money for the biggest air of the day. She also won the silver medal with a highly technical run in her twelfth X Games performance in Aspen.

In 2023, after 13 years on the US Ski team, three Winter Olympics, an Olympic Bronze medal in PyeongChang at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, five World Championships teams, a World Championships bronze medal, four world cup wins, 13 World Cup podiums, five X-Games, five X-Games medals, a FIS Junior World Ski Champion, and as the first woman the land a 1080 in a complete halfpipe run, on March 7, 2023, Brita announced her retirement from professional halfpipe freestyle skiing.

Not only has she inspired generations of athletes but definitely all of us here at All Saints. And while we’ll miss cheering her on and seeing her incredible tricks in the halfpipe, we cannot wait to see what comes next for Brita and we’ll most definitely follow along and keep cheering her on!

Congratulations on an incredible career, Brita!

BRIGHID GREENE ‘04

Brighid is producing a feature documentary film EVERYTHING YOU HAVE IS YOURS. The film centers on dance as a transformative medium for grieving, reckoning, resisting, and healing. She was a professional dancer in New York City, performing in the acclaimed show Then She Fell and has since transitioned to working in film. She choreographed for Josephine Decker’s hit film Madeline’s Madeline and produced Yara Travieso’s La Medea

SARAH JOHNSON HANSEN ‘04

Sarah and Greg Hansen were married in Monterey on May 5, 2023. Sarah just celebrated her fifth anniversary at YouTube working as a Legal Administrative Business Partner and she and Greg now live in Pacific Grove. They are excited to live closer to family and have been enjoying the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

ERIN GALL ‘05

Erin has been enjoying a change of scenery moving from California to the Pacific Northwest. She focuses on her growing family, her work as a Change Management Business Consultant, and her passion for living her best

ALUMNI

life! In 2019, she obtained her MBA in Positive Organizational Development. Most recently, she is furthering her education in Nutrition and Health Coaching with a focus on women’s postpartum recovery. It has been an insightful journey, both personally and professionally; she feels fortunate to operate in ways aligned with her values.

KATIE SCHULTHEIS ‘05

Katie and Jack Nelson tied the knot in Santa Monica on November 6, 2021, in front of family & friends!

VIOLET CARLSBERG ‘06

After more than seven years with Castle Hospitality Group she just started a new job as Head of Business Development for KBM Resorts, a luxury vacation rental company providing services to vacation rental homes and resort condominiums in Hawaii and Utah.

COURTNEY PAUL ‘06

Courtney and Anthony Sarno got married at the Holly Farm in Carmel Valley on Saturday, October 23, 2021, in front of family and friends. Courtney works as the Creative Manager at Jeremiah Brent Design and both Jeremiah and Nate Berkus were present to celebrate with Courtney and Anthony.

BRUCKMANN ‘08

OLIVIA SCHULTHEIS ‘07

Olivia works as the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program Director and Instructor for AIM Youth Mental Health in Carmel. She was very excited about their 3rd annual Symposium in April 2023 here in Monterey and their fabulous lineup of educators and speakers!

Stevenson presented the 2022 Samuel Kahn Award to Carolyn Bruckmann of the class of 2012. The Kahn Award is given each year to a member of the RLS 10th Reunion Class. Carolyn received the award just as she concludes her work with One Acre Fund, a non-profit social enterprise that helps address hunger and poverty at a global scale by providing resources and training to local farmers across Africa. Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University announced its 2023 cohort of 85 new scholars and Carolyn is one of them. Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate scholarship program. Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

On another note, congratulations to Carolyn and her Mom Nancy Zweng for completing the California International Marathon in Sacramento on December 4, 2022. Carolyn finished in 3:14:54 and Nancy in 4:38:12. Both qualified for the 2024 Boston Marathon!

Their daughter, Poppy, was the beautiful flower girl for the occasion. Courtney and Anthony are now living in New York City.

JACOB PAOLETTI ‘ 07

Jacob returned to his roots! We are delighted to welcome him back as one of our middle school math teachers!

CAROLYN

ALUMNI

After leaving is career in the Army, Grant has started in a new position as a Technical Project Manager at Belcan, a global supplier of engineering, manufacturing & supply chain, workforce, and government IT solutions to customers in the aerospace, defense, commercial vehicles & automotive, industrial, and private sectors. Belcan is supporting Blue Origin’s production of the BE-4 Engine. He lives in Tacoma, Washington with his wife, Adrienne.

In his free time, Grant loves running! He completed an Ultramarathon (50K or 31 miles) in Tacoma, WA.

The Monterey Peninsula has always held a special spot in Cody’s heart, and when the opportunity of working at Rheim Dermatology in Monterey as a Physician Assistant became available, Cody took it! Cody Osborn received his Bachelors of Arts in Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. He earned his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at MCPHS University, Worcester, MA. He loves working with Dr. James Rheim and Dr. Joe Rheim ‘85.

MADDIE ‘09 & JULIA CLARK

Maddie & Julia have started the Instagram account ‘Kitchen by the Sea’ to welcome you into their kitchen! The two sisters love to host and create community through elevated, family-style cooking. They are sharing tips and recipes on all components of entertaining from table settings, charcuterie, dinner, and, most importantly, dessert.

Check out their account on Instagram @kitchen_bythesea or their website at https://kitchen-by-the-sea.com.

After completing his Master’s degree in Physics, Tom is now living in San Diego and working for the international high-tech firm ASML, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chip-making equipment.

In San Diego, ASML focuses on the R&D and manufacturing of deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources for lithography systems, which are used to make microchips.

Allie has started a new adventure in the animal world and joined the business team at Veterinary Specialists of Sydney, Australia.

In July, Allie got engaged to Conor Davis in Queenstown, New Zealand.

BLAIR MILLER ‘10

Blair is a rising music business executive and the Founder & CEO of her own entertainment marketing agency called Chaos Creators Entertainment, where she and her team focus on disrupting traditional artist development and fan engagement in the digital space. She was just honored as one of Nashville Briefing’s “30 Under 30” for up-and-coming Nashville entrepreneurs.

Leslie graduated from the University of Washington with a Master’s in Education! She also completed a Certificate of Education for Environment & Community from IslandWood and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.

Cypress and wife CK Haddad welcomed their first child, Natanael Summer, on December 19, 2022 at Fort Hood, Texas where they are currently stationed!

Caroline got engaged to Patrick Kehoe over Christmas and is now busy planning her wedding taking place early next year! She is a Registered Nurse in the burn unit at Denver Swedish Hospital.

ALLIE LOOMIS ‘10

LESLIE GOBEL ‘11

CYPRESS HADDAD ‘11

CAROLINE KEITH ‘11

‘11

TOM KEATON ‘10

GRANT HEWITT ‘08

CODY OSBORN ‘08

MORGAN RECTOR ‘11

Morgan is a User Interface Software Engineer at Amber Kinetics, the industry leader in manufacturing long-duration flywheel energy storage systems. Morgan is also a featured wildlife photographer! seawithmorgan.com.

SHAYE WIDGER ‘11

Shaye is working a Community Marketing Equestrian Specialist at Yeti. She loves creating authentic relationships with top equestrian athletes, and sharing her passion for the sport!

TREVOR BIANCHI ‘12

Trevor is working as a loan officer for CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC in San Diego. He is also helping Mom, Susan Bianchi, a Coldwell Banker realtor, structuring loans.

ALUMNI

EMILY FELICE ‘12

Emily married Andrew Middlebrook at Bridal Veil Lakes in Corbett, Oregon on October 9, 2022. Classmate Rowan McKenna Gibson ‘12 was the proud Maid of Honor. Emily owns and operates Emily Claire Makeup Artistry in Portland.

READ REYNOLDS ‘12

Read is a First Assistant Golf Professional at Touchstone Golf at Lady Bird Johnson Gold course in Fredricksburg, TX, and was featured by Touchstone in their Tips & Tricks Tuesdays segment.

GRACE BAKER ‘13

Grace received her white coat at the White Coat Ceremony at Touro University on September 10, 2023. She just started medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

JOE GARELLO ‘15

Joe got engaged to Mckenzie Troutman on February 13, 2022, in San Diego at a beautiful sunset on the beach.

Joey also made the All-Marine basketball team! They competed in the 2022 Armed Forces Men’s Basketball Championships and ended the tournament winning the silver medal, with Army winning the gold.

KATHERINE HEWITT ‘15

Katherine graduated from California State University, Chico with a degree in Public Affairs Communications.

Since graduating, Katherine has started a job as Communications Associate at Chartwell School in Marina this summer.

MINNIE MILLS ‘15

Minnie contributed an article “Notable Asians and Asian Americans on living in the USA” for AAPI Heritage Month digital feature on Today.com.

Minnie starred alongside Sean Kaufman (Manifest), and Alfredo Narciso (The Dark Tower) in Amazon’s young adult drama The Summer I Turned Pretty based on the novel by Jenny Han.

MAYA PRUTHI ‘15 & MOLLY MANCINA ‘15

Maya and Molly were inducted into the University of Southern California’s Epsilon chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, representing the highest academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences.

Molly graduated from USC in 2023 with a degree in Psychology and Statistics and Maya majored in Art History and minored in Communication, Policy & Law, and American Pop Culture.

ALUMNI

LIMEI LOUIS ‘16

LiMei and her family went down under to check out Australia where LiMei will be studying criminal justice at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. They made sure to meet up with Allie Loomis ‘10 who lives, works, and plays professional water polo in Sydney.

J.T. BYRNE ‘17

After two years at Oregon State, J.T. made his way back to California and transferred to Cal Berkeley. He is excited to support the Bears as a tightend.

DEVANG PATEL ‘17

Dev completed a sales internship at PepsiCo over the summer. He collaborated with Sales District Leaders and gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of this industry-leading corporation. Dev is a student at Gonzaga University.

PIERCE NELSON ‘17

Private First Class Nelson graduated from the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on December 17, 2021. PFC Nelson successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at MCRD San Diego as one of 73 recruits in Training Platoon 1062. While in recruit training PFC Nelson was platoon leader, and meritoriously promoted to Private First Class.

Following 18 days home on leave he reported to Camp Pendleton for one month of Military Combat Training and then Military Occupation Specialty school at Camp Lejeune, NC.

KATE MORGAN ‘18

Kate finished her college freshman year at Stanford with a bang.

Kate and the Stanford Women’s Water Polo team won the NCAA Championship for the second time in a row and their 9th NCAA title overall.

CAILIN TEMPLEMAN ‘18

Cailin celebrated her 20th birthday by jumping out of a perfectly fine airplane, skydiving from 15,000 feet over Marina before returning to Boston College for her sophomore year.

FINNIAN VOGELPOHL ‘18

Finn is studying Business at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is in the process of obtaining his real estate license and has started his own photography business, Finnian Vogelpohl Photography, specializing in portrait and experimental photography. Check out his work at www.finnianvogelpohlphotography.com

TRISTAN PFLEGER ‘19

Under his pen name, Tristan Thoreau, Tristan published his first book. His poems have been published by others on different platforms, but The Words From The Mouth On The Street is his first book of poetry, and it contains never before published poems. Thoreau takes you on a melancholic dive into the underbelly of urban society touching on the themes of obsessive love, abuse, age, warfare, and addiction starkly contrasted with colorful symbolism, and bright imagery. He even shared his poems with the class of 2024 during an english class.

Tristan is studying Art History at Puget Sound University.

RYDER WESTON ‘19

Before heading off to Cal Poly, Ryder followed one of his passions, and spent his summer at the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, teaching young children all about sailing.