MAGAZINE O F T H E BUC KLEY SC H O O L
COMMUNITY JUNE 2018
Giving students the tools, resources, and freedom to explore what they love COMMUNITY | 1
INSIDE
1 Interim Head of School 2 Transition Process 4 Griffin Gab 10 Athletics 12 Performing Arts 14 Student Work 18 A Day in the Life 22 Passion & Purpose Meet in the Middle 28 DIY: Drama 32 Seen On Campus 33 85th Anniversary Celebrations 36 Legends 38 Parents’ Association Updates 39 Commencement 40 Class Notes 42 Coming and Goings 44 In Memoriam 45 Key Dates
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Front 2 | cover: JUNEUntitled, 2018 by Emily K. ’22
www.buckley.org
Q & A WITH THE INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL Please join the Buckley community in welcoming Andrew Wooden as our new interim Head of School. He comes to us from Marymount of Santa Barbara where he has been head for seven years, and before that from Saint James Episcopal in Los Angeles, where he served a one-year interim headship. Before that, was the first permanent head at a new school in New Mexico and worked at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut for many years, as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid and later as a Senior Dean. He is a graduate of University of Maine and received his masters of religion from Yale Divinity School and later an Honorary Doctorate from Berkeley Divinity at Yale. He will move into the head of school home this summer with his wife Molly and two springer spaniels. "I look forward to offering Buckley the best of my school and university experiences in order to allow students and teachers to do their best work together," he says. Who was your favorite teacher and what was his or her impact on your life? Let me describe my second most favorite teacher—and save my favorite teacher for anyone who wishes to ask. I already shared this with the Middle and Upper School students when I was last on campus. Let me tell you about my teacher, Peter Friend. I attended a wonderful independent school that reminds me of Buckley. My eleventh grade English teacher and English department chair took a special interest in what I had to say in class, and what I wrote. My senior year I did an independent study in creative writing and when I graduated from college with a major in English, he hired me for my first teaching position that launched my career. But it was not about career, it was about a passion for teaching literature with meaning, and a purpose of preparing another generation of young people to become thoughtful and literate citizens. What book have you recently read and enjoyed? I just finished two of the late Jim Harrison’s irreverent, but thoughtful, texts The English Major and Off to the Side. Both are wild tales about the struggles of being an American writer. If you want to tackle a 600-page brick, I also just finished Jonathan Safron Foer’s, Here I Am. This is a novel to be mentioned in the same breath as Phillip Roth. I dog-eared many sections. Here are a couple of examples of his thoughtfulness when he asks, “When people look at stars, they tend to whisper; I wonder why?” Later in the novel he suggests, “Things can be at the best and the worst at the same time.” These are questions that can engage us at any stage of our lives. You spent many years at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. What do think old east coast schools have to teach us? My strongest reaction to that question is, “with age comes wisdom.” Choate, the school that formed me as a teacher and leader, was founded in 1890 and there has been ample time to fine-tune and learn from mistakes when it comes to serving young people. When I was a research fellow at Yale I studied presidential inaugural addresses dating back to 1701. A common theme that resonates in Buckley’s mission is the hope that students find a passion and purpose in their work, so that they can make their mark in the wider world. As Marie Curry said, “You cannot hope to make a better world without improving the individuals.”
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Searching for a new permanent Head of School
In March 2018, James Busby stepped down as head of school and will not be continuing into the 2018–19 school year. The Board of Trustees immediately embarked on an inclusive, transparent, and multi-step process to find the next head of The Buckley School.
March 2018
The Board engages Resource Group 175, a leading independent school executive search firm that specializes in placing heads and interim heads of school, to lead the national search for our next permanent head of school. Deborah Reed, the retired Head of School at Polytechnic School, and Tom Hudnut, the retired Head of School at Harvard-Westlake, take the case! Job descriptions for both the Interim Assistant Head of School (IAHOS) and Interim Upper School Head (IUSH) are posted internally Two search committees are established internally: one for interim USH and one for AHOS
May 2018
Interim Head of School Andrew Wooden of Marymount of Santa Barbara is announced. He attends several events including a parent meet-and-greet, new parent reception, a Big Red assembly, and, on June 1, commencement on Gilley Field. The Head of School Position Statement—an extended job description—is developed by RG175 and approved by the Board of Trustees. The Head of School search page is launched on Buckley’s website, under the “ABOUT” dropdown menu. The Search Committee members are also announced.
April 2018
Candidates for IUSH and IAHOS are interviewed by search committees and attend “Super Days” in which they meet with constituencies of faculty, parents, students, and staff. Reed and Hudnut come to the Buckley campus for a multi-day “Discovery Visit,” in which they speak to many staff, students, parents, and faculty members. A survey is sent to all current parents and guardians, faculty and staff, students and alumni to ensure as many people as possible has an opportunity to participate in the discovery phase. Interim Head of Upper School and Interim Assistant Head of School are announced: Alexis Stern and Ron Kim (see next page for profiles)
June 2018
Andrew Wooden and Ron Kim move into their campus offices and begin collaborating with faculty and staff on plans for the 2018–19 school year.
August 2018
The Search Committee reviews dossiers as presented by RG175
September 2018
Semifinalist interviews and finalists selected
October 2018 December 2018
New Head of School likely to be selected and announced no later than December 2018. RG175 anticipates this announcement could be made as early as Thanksgiving.
Finalists visit campus. There will be opportunities for the community to meet the finalists and provide their input.
December 2018–June 2019 Transition period
July 1, 2019
New Head of School takes office 2 | JUNE 2018
TWO INTERIMS FILL TOP POSTS Buckley welcomes two interim administrative positions for the 2018–19 school year, vacated by Assistant Head of School Peter Reinke and Upper School Head Deborah Monroe RON KIM Interim Assistant Head of School Raised in LA, Ron spent most of his career back East. For the past year, he’s been at BASIS Independent McLean in Virginia, first as the associate head of school, and then as the head of school. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire—as a history teacher, associate dean of faculty, dean of faculty, and assistant principal, charged specifically with recruiting teachers of color and managing the hiring, evaluation, and duties of the faculty. At Exeter, he also served on the Equity and Diversity Steering Committee and on its Principal Search Committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and earned his master’s at the University of Chicago. Ron is a man of many interests—water polo player, published author, basketball coach, Bruce Springsteen devotee, wine enthusiast, and Dodger fan. He is excited about moving back to L.A. with his wife Theresa Kneebone and near his mother and his brother-in-law. His children, Maya and Sam, remain in school back east in college and at Exeter respectively.
ALEXIS STERN Interim Head of Upper School Alexis came to Buckley in the fall of 2015 as social science department chair and immediately became a booster for Griffin athletics, a member of the Critical Friends group, and an implementer of Teacher Rounds, which allows faculty across disciplines and grade levels to reflect and collaborate on teaching and learning practices. Before joining Buckley, Alexis worked for Boston Public Schools training district administrators on how to best support teachers, and as an advisor in the Teacher Education Program at Harvard University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Texas and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also spent several years as a teacher in Texas, where she taught at Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Newman Smith High School, and Richardson Arts, Law & Sciences Magnet. She was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Richardson Independent School District in 2014.
THE BUCKLEY FAMILY TREE
With the help of an independent archivist, the Buckley community explored, reflected on, and celebrated its 85-year history this year. On Founder’s Day, we were pleased to welcome back several members of Isabelle Buckley's family.
ISABELLE PALMS M. CHARLES BUCKLEY PETER M. MARY ALICE LISA
ISABELLE
AMANDA
NICHOLAS JUSTIN (Nasse)
TREVOR
MARY ANN
ISABELLE M. PAUL SIMQU
JODY ALICE
ALIX ANNE
EMILY
(O’Riordan)
FRANCES
(Merkley)
PIER THOMAS
PATRICIA CAROLINE (McConnell)
ELLEN BLAISE ISABELLE WILLIAM
KIRIL GRAY (McKee)
GINO
(Dowrelio)
Isabelle Buckley’s grandchildren at her home in 1966: Isabelle, Lisa, Kiril, Blaise, Alix, and Pier.
left to right: Emily Merkley, Isabelle Buckley, Alix Merkley, Peter Buckley, Jody Buckley O’Riordan, Gray McKee, Kiril McKee, Pier McConnell, and Blaise Simqu, on Founder’s Day, October 6, 2017. COMMUNITY | 3
GRIFFIN GAB On any given day in the Middle School Makerspace, one student could be making a leather bracelet while another tries out the new Virtual Reality headset. And in another part of the room, two students work together to swathe a raw egg in as little material as possible so that it won’t crack when dropped from the second story of the Math and Science Building. It’s the Makerspace in action—part crafting, part coding, part cutting and printing—but all exploring, designing, creating, and experimenting. Buckley established two Makerspaces this year—one in the Lower School and one in Middle School, awakening young brains who just want to mess around with stuff.
Makerspaces: The New Woodshops
“Makerspaces are important for students because they provide a space to exercise their creative thoughts without fear of making mistakes and having a grade assigned to the creative process,” says Rich Edelen, eighth grade science teacher who supervises the Middle School Makerspace. Some of the more popular Middle School Makerspace challenges this year have included the Egg Drop and the Paper Weight challenges, in which students were tasked with holding up a heavy metal plate using nothing but paperclips and notecards. In Lower School, students are given the option of going to the Makerspace during recess. “Sometimes it’s a tough sell,” says third grade teacher Albert Park, who runs the Lower School Makerspace. “Next year I hope we can find a way to build designated time for it in the schedule.” Students in grade five used the Lower School Makerspace, swinging between low and high-tech, and everything from Play Doh challenges to using the program Little Bits to create their own R2D2s. “A critical aspect of the design process is that it is an iterative process,” Edelen says. “Students get to explore new possibilities upon modeling, prototyping, and testing. It’s been a great addition to the Middle School as it has created a space for everybody to congregate, but also because it’s afforded our students opportunities to see learning in a different manner, take risks, and communicate their experiences.” “I like coming to the Makerspace because you can relax and make whatever comes to your imagination,” says sixth grade student Dylan W. “There are no rules.”
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<CODE_WARRIORS> Computer Science team places first in state
Juniors Lillian L., Nathan T., and Charlie Cryer ’18 made up Buckley’s three-person, senior division American Computer Science League (ACSL) team this year. They placed first in California and seventh in the U.S., as well as seventh place in the national All-Star contest, held this year in Providence, Rhode Island. Most remarkably, Nathan was one of two American students to achieve a perfect score on all four of the contests this year, and has a solution to one of his coding problems featured on the ACSL website. He was also commended by The College Board for the distinct honor of being one of 112 students in the world to earn every single point possible on the AP Computer Science A exam, and one of only 511 students who earned every point possible on any AP exam across all subjects. Nate T. ’19 and Lillian L. ’19, ready to code at the American Computer Science League competition
SOCIAL JUSTICE SYMPOSIA
Year-long program replaces Diversity Week Diversity programming took on another form this year with a curated series of “Social Justice Symposia” that ran throughout the school year, instead of a one-off Diversity Week. The symposia featured student-led panels, alumni, and guest speakers, with the goal of engaging the community in courageous conversations, and charging the community to “lean into discomfort.” Environmental justice, gun control, first-generation experiences, intersectionality, the LGBT experience at Buckley, the #MeToo movement, divisive language such as the use of the N word, and mental health and wellness were some of the many topics brought to the surface through the symposia. Alumni Nia Cooper ’14 and Chase Holliday ’14 participated in the Being Black at Buckley symposium (#BBB), and Jillian Halperin ’16 served as a panelist along with professor, Taj Frazier, PhD, from USC’s Annenberg School of Communications for an evening screening and discussion of Get Out, Jordan Peele’s academy award winning film. “We wanted students and the whole community to feel that these issues are more interwoven in the curriculum and their everyday lives,” says Director of Equity and Inclusion Ralinda Watts. Student leaders from Diversity Club, a group of roughly 25 students, planned the symposia topics inspired by their participation at December’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in Anaheim, the largest independent school gathering of student leaders and advocates for social change.
Diversity Club (only some members pictured) and Ralinda Watts, director of equity and inclusion, chose the topics for this year’s symposia
“Our symposium had a thought-provoking as well as a unifying impact,” says German Shabanets ’18, who participated in the First Generation Experience symposium. “We asked students to raise their hands if they belonged to immigrant or first-generation communities, and more than a half of the hands went up!” In the Mental Health Symposia at the end of the year, Watts and Abi Basch, director of experiential learning, put together a program that created space for meditation and reflection, and welcomed guest speaker Ross Szabo, a mental health advocate and author of the book, Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health. “It’s important that we don’t just pause for one week to discuss these critical issues,” says Watts. “These are topics that are pressing and relevant, and can be incorporated into the curriculum. We need to normalize these conversations so that students become comfortable in their identities and using their voices to create change.”
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THE POWER OF LISTENING
(left to right) Sara B., Emily C., Sarah H., and Taylor Shabani ’18 offer peer support for teens in trouble
Taylor Shabani ’18 was in ninth grade when she applied to become a listener at Teen Line, the call- or text-in peer mentoring service run out of Cedars’ Sinai Medical Center. Teen Line is the oldest teen-to-teen hotline of just six in the country. “A family friend suggested I apply,” says Taylor. “It appealed to me because it was a way I could use my voice as a teen who has struggled in the past to help other teens who were struggling.” Since then, three more Upper School students—Sarah H., Sara B., and Emily C.—have followed suit and undergone the 65-hour training, to spend what they describe as two deeply gratifying nights a week talking to teens who feel alone or just want someone to listen. With the guidance of resource associates (R.A.s), Taylor, Sarah, Sara, and Emily have not only learned the power of simply listening without judgment, but they’ve saved lives. “One girl thanked me for saving her life and told me that I had forever changed her perspective about the world and was going to try to live,” says Sarah H., who mentions that listeners will frequently get feedback from callers via email or text. “Reading that email filled me with unexplainable happiness.”
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“Someone called in and said she had pills and alcohol by her side,” says Taylor. “I was determined to find that part inside of her that told her to call in that night—the part inside of her that didn’t want to die. As I was assessing her coping mechanisms, the girl told me she enjoyed drawing and organizing things. Jokingly, I suggested that she throw a bunch of colored pencils on the floor and organize them in color order. She laughed at my suggestion, and at the sound of her giggle we both knew she wasn’t going to kill herself.” This year, Taylor received Teen Line’s Teen Hero award, the organization’s highest honor, given to one or two listeners annually who have “done outreach at our schools and carried mental health forward,” says Cheryl Eskin, director of Teen Line. When a Buckley student took his own life this year, Taylor was overwhelmed with grief, she says, but jumped into action. “I went to the administration and told them to contact Teen Line.” They sent a team of trained facilitators the next day, who helped teachers, staff, and students process their grief in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. “It’s so important that people are heard and not judged for what they’re going through,” says Emily. “And that they’re taken seriously when they reach out for help.”
Dr. G and her husband Fred Serricchio hosted a Mars Rover tent at The Buckley Fair.
Future Astronaut Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio How do you become an astronaut? Ask Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, science teacher, department co-chair, and director of S.T.E.A.M., who joined the team of Solar System Ambassadors this year, a program run through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “Becoming a Solar System Ambassador is a really good way for me to get my name out there in the scientific community, show that I can connect with people, and prove how valuable I would be as an astronaut,” she says. Each Solar System Ambassador is required to host events in order to act as a bridge between the space exploration community and the general public. In May, Dr. G spoke at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Awards Dinner about the Mars 2020 mission. She also gave a talk about the mission at John Muir High School in Pasadena. At Buckley, she set up an interactive station at the Buckley fair on May 12, where she hosted a tent with a smaller version of the Mars Rover, an inflatable Mars Rover, engineers from the Mars Curiosity mission and the Mars 2020 program as well as photos and memorabilia from previous missions. Dr. G will apply to become an astronaut in August or September, so she’s hopeful her work as a Solar System Ambassador will prepare her for the process. “I would love to be on the International Space Station," says Dr. G, "so I can continue my current research on pain reception, how neurites grow in the absence of gravity, and if we can train them.”
Chloe V. Makes All-State Orchestra Rising tenth grade student and violin player Chloe V. was selected for the California All-State High School Orchestra. Eighty-one students are chosen state-wide, largely from public schools, to play in this prestigious group, only 17 of them violinists. She was also recently accepted at the Luzerne Summer Music Academy in Albany, New York, and composed an original song which was performed at CalArts. “Chloe is a remarkable student who is kind and helpful to all,” says orchestra director Vince Houser. “She personifies the Buckley Commitment.” COMMUNITY | 7
March to End Gun Violence
Three sophomores, Jasper C., Mason L., and Jack B., organized Buckley’s student walk-out on March 15, 2018, one month after 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were killed in a mass shooting. Jasper, Mason, and Jack sold bright orange T-shirts (200—and they could have sold more!) in front of school every morning the week of the walk-out, and led the event during second period that day, coinciding with the national effort. Students in the Middle and Upper Schools silently and peacefully left their classrooms and gathered in the crosswalk by Commons. Jack held up an iPad counting down 17 minutes—one minute for every life lost in the shooting—while Mason and Jasper read bios of the students who were killed. "I wish youth action was not the path we had to take," says Mason. "But in light of all these shootings, it is necessary that we be the ones to advocate and to get voters into the polls—not only to pass legislation, but to elect officials that represent us." On February 21, Jasper and Mason also appeared on KTLA news speaking about youth activism and gun violence.
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GRIFFINS AWARDED FOR WORK ON STRESS, BIOLOGY
On the heels of a stellar 2016–2017 academic school year, where the science department raked in robotics awards, perfect scores in calculus competitions, and a California Science Fair Teacher of the Year award, its students continue to go above and beyond. This year, in various categories, Buckley students scooped up awards at the Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair and California State Science Fair, and Jessica Bushman ’18 placed first with her project examining the extent and effect of school burnout on adolescents. Her paper caught the attention of Six Seconds, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to support and promote issues of emotional intelligence. School Burnout: The Adolescent Affliction is now published on its website, www.6seconds.org. Panna Gattyan ’18 also nabbed second place in the Zoology division at the California State Science Fair, with her project focusing on the behavior of microorganisms. She also earned third place in the Behavioral/Social Sciences category with her project “Synapsin Family Behavioral Effects in Caenorhabditis elegans after RNAi Soaking” at the Los Angeles County Science Fair. Rounding out the winners at the Los Angeles County Science Fair, junior Ana Paula G. took honorable mention in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with her project, “Stop Stressing Out!” “You can definitely feel the intelligence in the room,” says Jessica of participating in the county-wide science fair. It was at the event that she connected with an emotional intelligence therapist who became her mentor and collaborator on her paper. Emma Chusid ’18 also found an opportunity through a conversation with a science fair enthusiast, and was offered a fellowship through the Earthwatch Institute, an international nonprofit focused on creating “citizen scientists” who can “promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.” Emma will study endangered sea turtles with scientists in the Bahamas this summer. “I love biology and I love the ocean,” she says. “This will allow me to work with a real scientist who is making real progress in this field.”
Panna Gattyan ’18
Jessica Bushman ’18
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ATHLETICS WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME
Anthony Mezzavilla (left) joined forces with Middle/Upper School assistant Rae Basmagian and seventh grade English teacher Clarissa Shinn (right) to lead varsity volleyball to its first CIF finals since 1978—when Rae was head coach!
Induction to the Athletic Hall of Fame at Buckley is not easy. The criteria is strict, and the pool of athletes is wide (pun intended). Out of an astonishingly large group of 35 senior athletes this year, three were recognized for their immense contributions to Buckley and their individual athletic programs. Four years ago, Buckley switched its system of recognizing athletes from retiring their jerseys to inducting them into the Athletic Hall of Fame. From Buckley’s earliest days until 2014, jerseys were chosen to be retired under the general discretion of the athletic director. In 2014, the Athletic Hall of Fame was created and dedicated to the late alumni parent Robert Lobel, father of Alex ’00, Katy ’05, and Tony ’11. BUCKLEY’S NEW HALL OF FAMERS VOLLEYBALL: Caroline Bloch Caroline Bloch ’18 joined the girls varsity volleyball team in 2014 as a freshman. It became quickly apparent that she was a strong player, particularly skilled as an outside hitter. As a captain her senior year, Caroline helped lead her team glide through the Liberty League tournament, ultimately winning the championship, and then onto the CIF finals, leaving with the championship trophy in hand. In her four years on the team, Caroline was named Team MVP every year, she was named Independence League MVP as a freshman; as a sophomore she was chosen as an All-League selection; as a junior she was chosen as a member of the First Team League and First Team All-CIF; and wrapping up her high school career, as a senior she was named First Team All-League for the second time, was named CIF Division 8 Player of the Year, and capped it off as a member of the 2018 CIF Division 8 Volleyball Championshipwinning team. "I will never forget watching Coach Anthony build a force of female athletes who would stop at nothing to reach our goal of winning the championship,” says Caroline. “From the first day of pre-season to our final bus ride home, Coach Anthony and my teammates provided me with the most humorous and memorable experiences."
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Michael Goldfeder ’18 signed his letter of intent to wrestle for UNC Chapel Hill at an assembly last fall.
WRESTLING: Michael Goldfeder Michael Goldfeder ’18 will always hold a special place in Buckley’s history books. As the only wrestler in Buckley’s history, Michael worked with coaches and co-athletic directors Fraser Allan and Kerry Kulisek, who both ensured that he was given every opportunity to excel in his sport. Michael has signed to wrestle for the Tarheels at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the fall. Michael will graduate Buckley with an astounding number of accolades—local, state, and national. As a freshman Michael was named Liberty League Freelance Champion and qualified for the CIF tournament. As a sophomore, he participated in the Clovis World Challenge and the Tournament of Champions. Michael was once again named Liberty League Freelance Champion his junior year, made it to the CIF Southern Section Masters, and competed in the CIF State Championship. As a senior Michael was named Heritage League Champion, placed second in the CIF Southern Section Masters, and competed once again in the CIF State Championship, ending his season with a record of 40–6. Michael has represented the State of California on the Junior Duals team and on the Junior Freestyle team for USA Wrestling. As of graduation, Michael is ranked fourth in the State of California in the 160-pound weight class.
SWIMMING: Lachlan Wappet Lachie Wappet ’18 holds three Buckley records as well as four Liberty League records—as a junior, he broke Buckley’s 500 Freestyle and 400 Free Relay records, and the 100 Backstroke record as a senior. Lachie currently holds the Liberty League records in the following events: the 200 Medley, the 200 Freestyle, the 100 Backstroke, and the 200 Free Relay. As a freshman he was named Rookie of the Year; as a sophomore he was named to the All-League team; as a junior he was named Team MVP; and he was named All-CIF and AllLeague for both his junior and senior years. “Lachie doesn’t just embrace the Buckley Commitment, he is the Buckley Commitment,” says Coach Keri Hehn. “He is a loyal team member, self-reliant, very passionate about the sport, and encourages team involvement. It’s going to be tough finding someone who will fill his shoes.”
Lachie Wappet ’18 broke several Buckley swimming records during high school.
Since 2014, your jersey is retired if you have: • Competed in four years of varsity athletics at Buckley • Exhibited individual accomplishments within your sport • Significantly contributed to the success of your program and team • Garnered All-League recognition or All-CIF recognition • Worked with your team to support the school.
Congrats to the 7th/8th Grade Varsity Red boys basketball team for winning the SFVL Championship and beating Faith Baptist 50–29.
2017–2018 CIF Playoff-bound teams Baseball Girls Volleyball Girls Basketball Boys Basketball Boys Soccer Swimming Boys Tennis
2017–2018 Liberty League Champions Girls Volleyball Boys Soccer Boys Golf Boys Tennis Swimming Baseball
EQUESTRIAN: Caroline Bersch Caroline Bersch began riding horses when she was seven years old, and started competing when she was 12. Caroline has represented Buckley at equestrian competitions near and far since her freshman year. Over the course of her high school career, Caroline was named Varsity Hunter Champion, Varsity Equitation Reserve, Overall Varsity Division High Point Champion, Varsity Medal Final winner, and the winner of the IEL Senior Scholarship. “She’s an amazing student and athlete, she represents the Buckley mission, and she reflects the best qualities of a Buckley student,” says Mara Tapia ’93, Caroline’s equestrian advisor. “She was also riding a new horse this year, and watching the two of them be so successful together was fantastic.” Caroline plans to continue riding next year at Tulane University, both individually with her coach and on the equestrian team. “I would love to one day make it my career,” she says.
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PERFORMING ARTS CELEBRATING MOVEMENT Buckley’s dance program led by Laura Bamford continued to grow this year, exploring new styles, themes, and spatial relationships. The annual off-campus World Dance Workshop in October featured special instruction in New Jack Swing (taught by Buckley parent Bradley Rapier), Broadway Jazz , Indian fusion, Afro-fusion, Commercial Hip-Hop, and Salsa Rueda. The fall musical The Little Mermaid, gave dancers a chance to spin around the stage on Heelies (sneakers with built-in wheels), to mimic swimming.
World Dance Workshop
The year culminated with Spaces Between, the annual dance festival which showcases every Middle and Upper School dance student. This year’s theme, according to the program, alluded to “vast spaces between us” in the current world climate, “not just geographically, but philosophically, politically, spiritually, emotionally, and personally closing those gaps can be empowering in growing our sense of shared understanding and community.” In addition, Bamford organized “Work It Out Wednesdays,” in which students, faculty and staff members could meet after school for lessons in a variety of genres.
World Dance Workshop
Spaces Between
Spaces Between
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The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
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STUDENT WORK The new Quinn Martin Building and accompanying Visual Arts Studio (formerly science and most recently, English classrooms) inspired and fueled student artwork this year—with a complete darkroom, video classroom and screening room, pottery wheels, electric kilns and air brush torches. Digital photography also flourished, with 36 students earning Scholastic Awards in the photography category. In Lower School, favorite traditions such as creating a version of Chris Burden’s Metropolis and the Day of the Dead Village returned, along with black-and white kindergarten portraits, painted by their fifth grade buddies. Buckley’s literary magazine the Oxford Comma came out with its second annual issue, this time launched in conjunction with a lunchtime reading by students. And junior Nick G. read his essay "America Is Haunted" at Archer School’s Lit & Festival (see next page for an excerpt).
Aiden & Bastian S. ’30
Natalia N. ’21, Self Portrait
Ark L. ’20, Origin
Max Berger ’18
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To Board a Train By Jem B. ’21
A single station roof Out of the dust Just -Shade in six thousand miles of sun And that one road Tracks over the hard parched earth. Lining the trail to Oblivion I am lost here. Haze on the horizon A smudge of mountain In the distance A farmhouse All I have ever known This dust Stars like city lights Twinkling in my eyes At night. The silence of back-roads dust Whirling in autumn wind. Am I ready to fogo this place? My calloused work boots rest on wood Waiting the dress I wear is the only one I own. Eyes-Pointed forever towards the tracks. Pocketbook Gloved hands Hat - To shade my face from the wind that blows dust up into your eyes.
Nathaniel F. ’19, Watery Eyes
A lonesome sounds Like a coyote howling across the vast empty plain Eyes on the track drifting to that curled smoke-Dragon’s breath. Tearing through the countryside claw scrape-scrape-scraaping the roots of my story, all our stories into a new scarred shape. To board a train is to leave all this behind. Screech into the station Blast of hear. I stand: I am a tree-supple and strong now torn by this Wind. Open doors Stationmaster’s call --
Joey L. ’20, studies in scraffito
Jem B. ’21, To Board a Train, from this year’s Oxford Comma
To read the latest edition of Buckley’s literary magazine, Oxford Comma, visit www.buckley.org/Engage/ Student-Activities Camden ’20
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STUDENT WORK
Arleigh H. ’19, Lily
Teagan Wells ’18, Deer in the Headlights
Naomi Bortnick ’18, Piece’s of One’s Identity
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Talei ’25
America is Haunted By Nicholas G. ’19
Playa Vista is very close to my happy little nests in Ladera and Culver City. Mama Bird lives in Culver City, and a biking distance away resides Papa Bear in Ladera. Playa Vista is a fair distance away from both houses, a fine little triangular domain. In Playa Vista there are bright apartment buildings much taller than they are wide. Next to these Jenga-styled abodes sits a shopping center with many fine restaurants and other commodities. Perhaps the most important is the theatre. We arrive an hour before our scheduled showing, our party consists of me, my sister, and father. After driving in circles searching for a parking spot, we come across a space with two signs telling us, “Parking for moving trucks only.” My dad, refusing to give up when a piece of plastic tells him to, states, “Go move the sign.” He seems to of forgotten where we are, so jokingly I respond, “This will either end in me getting shot, or your car being towed.” He cranes his neck to give me the look that says move the gosh darn sign, except he doesn’t mean gosh darn. Hesitantly, I step out of the car and secure this all sought out for parking spot. When we walk into the food court it smells of bread, meat, and cheese. The lights are strewn across the skyline, reminding me of some sort of fair. The braziers are lit and the children waltz around the glass walls. I wish I could say it was all walks of life, but the place is populated by many white families, nothing I haven’t seen before of course. We were the second family of color in the burger place, and the rest were all servers. We settle down next to a fountain show. The streams of water unenthusiastically arc out of the exposed faucets, although there is a color to the water, its color is spotty at best and fades the longer one stares. The fountain slaps against the water as my sister tells me about her day, “Today in class we talked about police brutality.” Things have just taken a serious turn, from a fun night out at the movies, to another one of the more mature and serious days, where we get to sit down and talk about our standing in the country. My sister cuts back into my thoughts, “So this girl said, ‘We should just get rid of all police,’” of course I expected her to naively agree with the girl, so I butt in, saying, “Well, you know we need police officers to keep law, however.” She snaps back with a smirk as though she had beaten a chess master at her own game; “I know, we need the police to keep order.” Almost happy with how the conversation is going, I mention one very important fact, “Although we could do without the racist ones.” When I bring race into things, many people sigh as if to say, “Oh my God, we get it, you’re Black,” but it is not my fault so many aspects of my everyday life are intertwined with my race and ethnicity. It is a subject that is a part of me whether I like it or not. I notice throughout the night my experience that night would of been different had I not been aware of my Blackness, If I weren’t Black, I would have went in having no conversations about race with a young future leader, If I weren’t Black I would not have witnessed the trailer for Black Panther as out of the ordinary. My race impacts me more than most, but if I can share my experiences then perhaps I can open eyes to what it is like to talk about these topics constantly. For now, I will continue talking about my experience being biracial, and after the night I realize how important its presence is for me. I will continue to talk about these issues until they no longer affect me. America is haunted.
Nicholas G., ’19, America is Haunted, Excerpted from the essay “America Is Haunted,” which was selected by and read at Archer’s “Literature &” annual conference on March 15, 2018.
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A Day in the Life
N
o week in the Lower School is ever the same, but in the next few pages we offer you a glimpse into one exciting, creative, charming, and playful day in the lives of our youngest students. Join our kindergarteners as they ring the bell to signal the start of the school day, jump into morning meeting with first grade, and visit our third graders as they take a snack break. Spend lunch with our Lower School student council, and then pop into a Culture Club meeting. As you continue through the day, you’ll dive into math with our fourth graders, trek up to Gilley Field to practice baseball with fifth grade, and have some quiet reading time with second grade. Finally, when the day is almost done, you’ll pack up your backpack and hop on the bus, or head off to an afterschool class.
“When we build the schedule, we have the mindset that the minutes we have in a day are like dollars in a budget,” says Head of Lower School Adrienne Parsons. “We only have so many minutes, so we better spend them wisely. The schedule is fully intentional.” “We start each day with community at morning meeting, and close each week with community at our Lower School assembly,” says Adrienne. “Our days start with optimism and our weeks end in celebration.”
Ringing in the New Day
The Bell Tower isn’t just symbolic; each morning Lower School students hurry from the play yard to join kindergarten teacher Mr. Ayers to ring in the new day, with three tugs on the bell. After the creation of the Buckley Commitment in 1997, the three tolls have represented three of its words: kindness, integrity, and love of learning.
“The look of anticipation on their faces, and pride in their participation, is priceless. I have my regular bell ringers and I have those who watch from a distance with their ears covered—all of them truly fond of the daily ritual.” —John Ayers, kindergarten teacher
1st
GRADE
Morning Meeting
Morning meeting is one of two times in the day (the other is lunch) where every Lower School student is doing exactly the same thing: gathering with their teachers and classmates, welcoming each other with a greeting, and preparing for the day ahead.
“Morning Meeting helps us create a sense of community more than any other time. It helps students find their voices and feel safe— which in turn allows them take chances in their learning because they feel confident among their classmates.” —Maurice Adkins, first grade teacher
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Hello Farmer June!
Lower School classrooms visit with Farmer June from Farmscape on a rotating basis. Students learn about different fruits, vegetables, and flowers; about insects and their role in gardens; about sustainability; and then eat some of the produce they’ve grown!
“I like when she brought us ladybugs and we let them go in the garden. And the other day we saw at least two ladybugs on every leaf. The ladybugs are good for the garden because they eat the little black bugs, I forget what they’re called but they try to eat the plants, so that’s why we like the ladybugs.” —Samantha K., second grade
2nd GRADE
Take a Walk Up to Gilley
Lower School students take P.E. five times a week. For kindergarten through fourth grade that means games, activities, learning the fundamentals of sports, competing against one another, and just having fun. In fifth grade, students choose an interscholastic team to join. Fifth grade athletes on all of our teams— baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, swimming, and volleyball—are cheered on by Griffin Pride, a club made up of kindergarten through fourth grade fans.
“I think having P.E. every day allows us to really delve into the skills and teach them the whole sport or activity. Also, by getting outside and running around, we find they enter their classrooms more calm and focused than they would have without the exercise.” —Jon Klay, physical education teacher
5th GRADE
Off to Writing Workshop Fourth grade students spend time in Writing Workshop four times a week. Throughout the year they write poems, short stories, fiction, non-fiction, and work on grammar and spelling.
4th GRADE
“Ms. McKenzie is a really good Writing Workshop teacher, she’s really good with literature, so she knows a lot about it and knows how to teach it really well. Since I want to become a writer when I grow up, it’s really fun for me to learn a lot of these things and to be able to write so much in class .” —Sofia N., fourth grade
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Meet you in the Library
The Lower School Library and Tech Center hold much more than books and computers. Inter-grade friendships are grown through the Buckley Readers Club, a world of opportunity is presented at the bi-annual Book Fair, and students learn new skills during tech time.
2nd GRADE
Lunchtime!
It is a very busy place! The students are always eager to do whatever learning activity I have planned. The little ones especially love checking out the decorations every month. The things the students pick out in the books I read are quite remarkable. Little ones are so observant.” —Randee Borgrebbe, library and technology specialist
Math Groups
Students bring their lunch or have it brought to their classrooms by Freshlunches, and each grade eats in their classrooms, from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Students are chatting, swapping lunch items with their friends, and then often will have free time when they’re finished eating.
3rd GRADE
As Lower School students enter third, fourth, and fifth grades, the entire class is split up into differing math groups. It’s a time when students are able to meet in smaller groups and receive more attention from the teacher, allowing them to develop their math skills in a deeper and more lasting way.
“I would definitely have to say pizza day is my favorite day.” —Peter T., third grade
Our mathematicians are building their growth mindset. When students make a mistake in math, their brains grow. “Synapses fire and connections are made.” —Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Stanford University
Music to My Ears K
Beginning in Lower School, students are introduced to music, dance, and theater. Every week students take music, dance, and theater class, allowing them to practice, practice, practice. In music, kindergarten through third grade students take class with Becky Bailey, learning how to play instruments like the recorder, chimes, and drums, and practice singing for the winter and spring concerts. In fourth grade, students choose whether to take orchestra, chorus, or band.
“I’m always amazed at the passion for music, singing, and rhythm that my incoming kindergartners have each year. They love having the chance to perform with their class and take real pride in what they have learned all year.” —Becky Bailey, music teacher
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ALL
LS
Friday Assembly
Just as morning meetings provide a daily ritual for students to settle themselves into the day ahead, Friday assemblies allow the Lower School to gather as a community to celebrate the end of the week. After the pledge of allegiance, the Lower School Student Council President and Vice President demonstrate the assembly greeting, then the entire Lower School greets one another. Birthdays are celebrated and business is taken care of. More often than not, the assembly ends with the Buckley Fight Song.
“It’s interesting what rituals such as morning meeting and Friday assembly do for school spirit and pride in the community. We always reflect on the Buckley Commitment or the mission statement, and try to weave it into everything we do. Ultimately we like ending the week on a high note.” —Adrienne Parsons, head of Lower School
Until Tomorrow ALL
LS
After a busy day, Lower School students are dismissed. Waving goodbye to friends and teachers, some hop on the bus, some walk home with a parent or guardian, and others clamber into their carpool.
“My personal hidden “perk” about greeting the bus riders each day for all these years is that I am able to watch our Lower School students grow in to Middle then Upper School young adults. Many of them will talk with me each morning and keep me apprised of their “doings.” What a gift!” —Deborah Mayer-Goldberg, third grade teacher and transportation coordinator, retiring this year (see page 38)
Afterschool Programs The fun doesn’t have to end after class is over! Many students opt to take a class through our Afterschool Programs, which include everything from baking to robotics, and Jedi training to knitting!
ALL
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“The courses offered are designed to allow students to explore academics, sports and special interests outside of our daily classroom environment. Small class sizes allow for individual growth and accomplishment, as well as providing opportunities to socialize with peers and work with our highly supportive faculty. Plus, they’re fun!” —Roslyn Perez, Afterschool Programs Coordinator
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P
icture a class in which one student is writing poetry, another is wearing headphones and composing music, and another is using a flight simulator on his laptop. The class is Passion Projects, a program piloted this year by 20 eighth grade students who drafted proposals to spend a year exploring their passions—with no assignments, no tests, and no grades. Partially based on a program for employees at Google (called the 20time Project), in which employees are encouraged to spend 20 percent of their work time on a personal interest, the program took several twists and turns, ending in a myriad of life lessons. “These are skills you can’t learn in a textbook,” says Katie Convoy, who, along with Middle School Assistant Head Gregg Sacon, served as co-advisor to the Passion Project students. “They dealt with everything from when an idea hits a roadblock, to working with outside people, to meeting a deadline. These kids got to see firsthand what it takes to finish a task.”
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Ryan S. and Nicole N. both liked baking, so they decided to join forces and start a catering company. Their first hurdle was the name—Bakeology was taken, so they settled on Cookology. Their cake pops and cookies were a huge hit at the Middle School dance, and continue to delight palates at other school events. Their biggest lesson? They’ll tell you in unison: “Never underestimate the hunger of Middle Schoolers.”
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For her project, Dakota G. knew she wanted to tap into her interest in ecology by promoting environmental awareness, and started by researching who her audience would be. Rather than speak to those who are already aware, Dakota went after the environmentally apathetic. “My goal is to make them interested,” she says. Her resulting website, wildernation.com and social media outlets inspire and advise on how to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Anyone questioning whether the humanities are alive and well need only experience Emily K.’s Four Seasons, for four meticulously crafted paintings and their musical counterparts.
Eliana S. set out to build a tiny house in her backyard. After meeting with a contractor and an architect, she realized the earth upon which she wanted to build wasn’t satisfactory. Instead, she became a scholar of tiny houses—researching their reduced impact on the environment, their potential as an affordable housing solution, and their role in the future of uber-efficient habitation.
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Vale R. heard the word “passion” and immediately thought “aviation.” This included everything from driving to Cal Poly to hear Captain Sully speak to logging countless hours on a hyper-realistic 737 flight simulator. His denouement? Piloting a Cessna 172 around the Malibu coastline.
Charlie W. took some deep and normal Middle School feelings—sadness, heartache and confusion—along with some big questions such as, What is love? What is happiness? What is happening in the world? and threw in a dose of ambition and creativity. The result? A book of poetry. Enlisting eighth grade English teacher and poet Irie DeLilly as her mentor, Charlie ended up publishing Deviating from the Center. She then printed copies and distributed them to her peers for free.
The Passion Projects Expo on May 22 in The Center for Community and the Arts celebrated the culmination of the year’s program and allowed students to share their ideas, struggles, and triumphs with friends, faculty, and family. After three-minute presentations by each student, audience members were able to visit their booths and learn more about their projects.
Cosmo C. set out to build a computer for, as he’ll tell you, “the low, low price of free.” While collecting parts from friends, family, Buckley’s technology department, and Craigslist, he gradually constructed a fully functioning desktop computer, making a statement about sustainability, e-waste, and the amazing doability of building something from nothing.
Patrick L. set out to build a "moduello," a modular cello, and hit several hurdles along the way. He’ll gladly tell you about the amp not working, and his difficulty in cutting the wood using a ShopBot. But in the end, he did it! Voila—the world’s first modular cello.
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S
eventh grade Global Studies teacher Chuck Neddermeyer developed a year-end project for his class when he started at Buckley four years ago—and it’s been a tradition ever since. Instead of a final exam, students are charged with integrating a passion or interest with a theme. He’s done water, women’s issues, immigration and refugees and this year’s guiding topic was “homelessness and displaced peoples.” The results are always creative, eye-opening, and a testament to what can be unlocked when passion meets purpose. This year’s projects included a sock drive (one student’s research revealed that homeless veterans are most in need of clean socks); interviews with volunteers who serve the homeless; a greeting card company in which proceeds go to a family shelter; and a Fortnite competition, in which the entry“fee” to play the game was a blanket.
Students held events and created logos, branding, and presentations for their seventh grade Global Studies’ Community Action Projects
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F
or the first time this year, Buckley seventh and eighth graders entered videos into the TED Ed project, an educational initiative that features videos from students across the world in the style of Ted Talks, the video version of an encyclopedia entry. Seventh grade Global Studies teacher Chuck Neddermeyer heard about the idea at National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference this year in Anaheim, and felt immediately determined to bring the program to Buckley. Several students applied and, once confronted with the amount of work involved, a few dropped out. But the eight who followed through delivered their “talks” to friends, family members, and teachers in an assembly at the end of the year.
Tyler A. – Transformational vs. Transactional Education Audrey G. – Why We Need LGBT-Friendly Curriculum Archer B. – Solutions for Income Equality Ashley K. – Beauty Comes From the Inside Leela A. – Why Young Girls Need to be Seen in Politics Lily M. – Growing Up in the Vast World of Tech & How to Use it for Good Yasmine P. – Kindness and the Power of Words Leila M. – Misogyny in Music
The TED Ed Exploratory class printed T-shirts (above) and posters (right) and held an event in the CCA, attended by Middle School students and faculty
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DIY: DRAMA Playwriting’s the thing at Buckley these days! Several pieces this year were penned by members of the Buckley community-–-students, a teacher, the parent of an alum-–allowing for engagement in every aspect of a work’s production and multiple collaborations between writer, director, and actors. “It builds on the notion of Buckley being a Makerspace,” says theatre teacher Steve Totland, who wrote the spring drama, A Matter of Conscience. “Our tools and materials are words and emotions.” This year, three original plays were showcased in the Middle and Upper School.
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The cast of A Matter of Conscience
Steve Totland (l) and Neil Nash (r)
A Matter of Conscience, by Steve Totland Based on the novel Cousin Henry by the late nineteenth century British novelist Anthony Trollope, A Matter of Conscience takes place in modern-day California. An wealthy, elderly landowner is sewing up his legacy, and there’s dispute of inheritance between one devoted niece and another who bears his name. Issues of loyalty, honesty and devotion swirl about a missing will, a love affair, and much more! Communications Associate Dana Shepard sat down with Lower School theatre teacher and playwright Dr. Totland and Neil Nash, chair of the theatre department and the play’s director, to talk about the process of producing an original play. Here’s an excerpt from that conversation:
the idea of me being a part of the writing process for one of the plays?” and I said “That would actually be great for the spring drama, would you consider writing something?” And he said, “Well I already have…” (laughter) What has it been like for you, Steve, working with the director, and you, Neil, working with the writer? That collaboration doesn’t happen very often. NN: This is going to sound like mutual admiration society, but Steve has been so generous in asking for feedback, I felt safe. He’s been so willing all along the way to seek me out and consider my thoughts. Every now and then I’ll throw out something and he’ll say mmm yeah, maybe not, in his very kind, generous, and diplomatic way. But, I feel like I can be honest with him.
How did you decide to write an original play for Buckley? Steve Totland (ST): Cousin Henry was a novel I had known for a while and really admired, and I always had it in the back of my mind that it might make a good play. And then over the summer I was thinking about the fact that [last year in Campus Moonlight Theatre] Ms. Basch had brought to the students her passion and knowledge, and I thought, I would love to do that with what I know. Her example gave me the courage to approach Neil. Neil Nash (NN): I got an email from Steve maybe half way through the summer and he said “Hey, what do you think of
ST: And Neil very kindly and very honestly told me what he thought about the play. There was one moment where he said you stop the scene just when it gets interesting, you need to press on. It’s okay if the characters are mean to each other. So I did, and I think those scenes are much better because Neil pressed me to go farther with them. He kept asking me, “Doesn’t somebody want to say more? Why would they walk away at this moment? Don’t they want to continue the conversation?” And by the same token Neil has been very generous in letting me say “What about staging it this way?” Sometimes I work with directors and they don’t want to hear that.
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Michael Spound (center), directing Middle School students in this year’s plays.
Scraps of Paper, by Michael Spound One of the Middle School plays this year (there are typically two one-acts) was written by Michael Spound, father of Zach Spound ’07, who acted at Buckley and is currently in an off-Broadway production. Having directed many Middle School plays in the past (he and Nash alternate years). The title refers to a box the rabbi at his temple (Judy Greenfeld at Nachshon Minyan Synagogue) has with biographies of people who died in the Holocaust.
While he says he downplayed the fact that he wrote the play he was directing, he says that he did find himself sticking up for the writer at times. “When they’d be sort of off-script, I told them that writers choose their words carefully and there’s a reason why they write what they write,” he recalls. “I told them, ‘You need to say these words as written and you need to make them work.”
Jordan is a 13 year-old boy preparing for his bar mitzvah and is asked to choose a child from the box to honor. Spound found the names of real children for the play, along with their ages, dates and places of death, and names of their parents. Then he fleshed them out as characters—modest, brilliant, feisty, and principled.
Having worked as an actor in television and on the stage for years, Spound has more recently turned to writing and plans to tackle a second act to Scraps this summer, making it “a full evening of theatre,” he says.
“I just started to create lives, I’m not sure where some of it came from,” says Spound.
It was such a moving experience,” he says, of directing his own play. “The kids were so good and put a lot of work into it. Bravo to them.”
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Campus Moonlight Theatre Rather than simply focusing on their acting skills in Neil Nash’s theatre classes, in a collaboration between Nash’s Theatre III class and Mitch Kohn’s English class, students performed work written by their peers. Student work was also showcased at the Campus Moonlight Theatre (CMT) in May, an event started in 2015 that brings theatre off the stage and into unexpected and out-of-the-way spots on campus. Last year, students performed Blood Wedding, by Federico Garcia Lorca, with the audience following the performers as they moved from the CCA courtyard to the stairway hugging the hillside and back down again.
Olivia was also a part of a collaboration earlier this year in which Mr. Nash’s Theatre III acting students performed scenes written by Maria O’Driscoll’s Women and Dramatic Literature class. Although on that occasion Olivia was on the acting side, she knew she wanted to write something. “My dream is to be on Saturday Night Live,” she says of her comedic aspirations. “And I know that you need to be to able to write.” The result? An ode to John Hughes, new wave music and all.
This year, CMT once again treated audience members to a moveable feast—but instead of trailing the actors through one piece, they moved around from one-act to one-act. Senior Olivia Rubin wrote a short scene performed in a 1967 Dodge Dart convertible. A love letter to the 80s (“I think I was born in the wrong era,” she says), the scene depicts “the end of a date gone wrong.” A couple played by Olivia and senior Mackenzie Morris exits a movie theatre (stand in: The Center for Community and the Arts) and heads to the parking lot. Seniors Caleb Brunman and Kate Baylock also wrote original scenes for CMT. Playwrights Caleb Brunman ’18, Olivia Rubin ’18, and Kate Blaylock ’18
Olivia Rubin ’18 and Mackenzie Morris ’18 perform in Olivia’s original scene written for Campus Moonlight Theatre on May 24.
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Seen On Campus
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Alumni spotted: 1 (Left to right) friend of an alum, Michael Pelenghian ’10, Ryan Rodef ’13, friend of alum, Dean Mandile ’06, Nick Cashdan ’15, Jesse Paul ’15, Hussein Habibi ’07, Daniel Hasson ’06 and after a game of pick-up basketball. 2 Encore! performers Stephanie Stenta-James ’96, Daneille LePon Ryckman ’98, Pamela Wylie Samuelson ’95, and Conservatory teacher Rhea Fowler celebrate after the show. 3 Chase Holliday ’14, Director of Equity and Inclusion Ralinda Watts, and Nia Cooper ’14. 4 Oliver Ghadoushi ’14 visited Spanish teacher Afsaneh Nury. 5 Kiki Harris ’07 subbed for Mr. Reagan’s art classes. 6 Trustee and alum Karen Richardson ’95 spoke at a Social Justice Symposium. 7 Allegra Conway ’17 stopped by to see Coach Keri Hehn. 8 Chris Niklas ’75 points to his name on the tennis banner in Disney Pavilion. 9 Dance teacher Laura Bamford and Michaela Murphy ’13 revisit their Grease days. 10 Athletic trainer Mel Wright, Josh Miller ’16, Strength and Conditioning Coach Rob Wright, and Daniel Fuhrer ’16 reunite in the Pavilion. 11 Artists Jordan Seprevivo ’17. Teagan Wells ’18, and Ark L. ’20 oversee installation of their World Languages mural on March 6. 12 Orchestra director Vince Houser greets Jason Gold ’11.
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85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
The Welcome Back Bash kicked off the 85th Anniversary year by inviting families to Gilley on a Saturday afternoon that included an archival display of photos and memorabilia, bake-off, ice cream, and water balloons!
Founder’s Day was extra special this year—every student received a T-shirt to wear for that day and all faculty, staff, and students painted wood circles for a future installation. Several members of the Founder’s Family (including Dr. Buckley’s only living child, Peter Buckley) joined the festivities, and rode in vintage cars in the parade!
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We welcomed many Buckley alumni at the Great 85th Gala this year!
The Great 85th Gala at the Skirball Cultural Center brought together many alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and members of Isabelle Buckley’s family, with proceeds benefitting endowment and financial aid. Special thanks to Gala chairs Ponti Lambros and Anita Otaño for hosting such a lovely event.
Sabine Abadou ’89 Ponti Lambros ’89 Paulina Quintana ’90 Austin Chen ’91 Jackie Goldberg ’91 Taj Jackson ’91 Elaine Sir ’91 Christine Gindi ’92 Henry Capanna ’93 Ran Pink ’93 Eric Biddle ’94 Karen Richardson ’95 Suzanne Ekerling Fitzmorris ’96 Melissa Fuess Meyer ’96 Alexana Lambros ’97 Chad Lasdon ’97 Saul Rostamian ’97 Derya Guny ’99 Justin Dickerson ’02 Kristen Lecong ’02
The Fair—with a “Be A Hero” theme—was back on Gilley Field this year for our milestone anniversary. PA President Bridget Smith, Fair co-chair Maria Gonzalez, and their team of volunteer parents and guardians added an Upper School Lounge, zip line, and a Bingo booth—run by none other than Middle School Head Neal Roden. Thanks to our sponsors and all who joined us on Gilley, the PA raised significant funds to support faculty and staff professional development.
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LEGENDS Every attendee of Buckley’s Gala at The Skirball Cultural Center recevied an album honoring the school’s history. One section included the name and photo of every current faculty and staff member who’s been at Buckley for 20 years or more.
Steve Rollman: since 1988
Ellen Mahoney: since 1981
n:
Curtis Covingto Since 1996
Shawn Romero: since 1988
Susan Cole: since 1997
Jon Klay: since 1996
Dan Kelleher: since 1998
John Holland: since
1989
Christine Braunschweiger: since 1994
Laura Bamford: since 1992
Mario Gutierrez: Since 1990 Afsaneh Nury: since 1995
Kitt 36 y| Hum JUNE phr 2018ey: Since 1992
Tami Woldman ’84: since 1990
Dale Bartels: since 1986
Daniel Barrera: Since 1998
John Ayers: since 1995
Abel Martinez: Since 1996
Thomas Marino: since 1993
Neil Nash: since 1999
1990 chele McKenzie: since
Mi
Vincent Houser: Since 1980
Mario Hernandez: Since 1996 Tom Henderson: since 1989
Rae Basmagian: since 1973 (with a 20-year break in the middle)
Randee Borggrebe: Since 1978
Susan Sherman: Since 1986 Rob Wright: since 1997
Neal Roden: since 1989
Rosendo Garcia: Since 1996
Matt Cano: since 1995
Adrienne Parsons: since 1988
Patrick Gomez: since 1998
Susan Wlcek: since 19
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Rector: since 1994 BrianCOMMUNITYâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;37
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION UPDATES CELEBRATIONS AND SERVICE MARKED THE 2017–18 PA YEAR The Parents Association, led by PA President Bridget Smith, went all out for Buckley’s 85th year. The 2017–18 academic year kicked-off with the 10th Annual Bake-Off at the Back-to-School Bash on Gilley Field and a spirited Founder’s Day Parade, led by the Founder’s Family and where all students donned special anniversary Buckley T-shirts. Parent and alum Ponti Lambros ’89 organized a community-wide art project, in which students, faculty, and staff painted wood slices for a future installation. The celebratory momentum continued through the winter months with the Great 85th Gala at the Skirball Cultural Center, and culminated with the return of The Buckley Fair to Gilley Field.
In December,the PA answered the call when fire season hit Los Angeles hard, forcing school to close for three days due to the proximity of smoke and flames. The 405 was also temporarily shut down, hindering access to and from campus. In a brilliant move, the PA and Buckley’s catering service Fresh Lunches donated student meals that had been ordered but would not be eaten to first responders. Students and families showed up early in the morning to feed dozens of hungry firefighters and relief workers in West L.A.
The PA also set up the very first “Boo”ckley Halloween booth in front of the school’s gates, welcoming the robust and steady flow of neighbors and trick-or-treaters on Stansbury and handing out thousands of pieces of candy, pencils, and glow bracelets. Those who stopped by also had the opportunity to take a photo in front of a step-and-repeat, and later in the evening, the Naked Juice truck stopped by, with smoothies for everyone. The tradition will continue this year, so please stop by!
Feeding firefighters
Buckley’s “Boo”ckley booth
Bridget Smith and Caroline Macaulay
Many thanks to Bridget, her executive committee and every volunteer for first and foremost working to build community and bring everyone together in his anniversary year. We look forward to working next year with Caroline Macaulay, the PA President for 2018–19, as we continue to collaborate and celebrate our wonderful community.
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COMMENCEMENT
An excerpt from the Valedictory Speech, June 1, 2018 German Shabanets “We, the class of 2018, have something priceless. We have time. And teenage fearlessness. And the combination of the two makes us feel more powerful than ever. That’s why today, along with thousands of other students across the country, I’m donating the next 60 seconds of this speech to take a pledge for our future. In the next four years, 17 million of us will be eligible to vote. That makes Generation Z this country’s largest swing state. Not red, not blue, but human. And together, we have the power to shape the world we want to live in. So, today I’m pledging to vote on three basic human rights: equity across race, gender, and sexual orientation, safety from gun violence, and action on climate change. I’m calling on all high school graduation speakers across the country to take the pledge with me. If you care about the world we’re inheriting, I urge you to text “Donate60” to 64336. Together, we can create a healthier, safer, brighter America. We are the adults now.”
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CLASS NOTES
GORDON MOORE, 1962 Gordon is retired, and still riding competition at age 72. His philosophy is: "You don’t quit riding because you get old, you get old because you quit riding." DEREK PENSLAR, 1975 Derek returns to the United States, after living for many years in Canada and the United Kingdom, where he now teaches at Harvard. He and his wife Robin still maintain a house in Toronto, where one of their children resides, and also spends time in Ottawa, home to their other child, his wife, and their six-month old granddaughter. Derek will be on sabbatical in the coming academic year, but after that, if you find yourself in Cambridge, Massachusetts, give him a shout. You’ll find him in the department of history and the center for European studies at Harvard University.
STEPHANIE KRAJCHIR, 1980 Stephanie celebrated 30 years with the LAPD in December and was selected to a special cadre of officers to attend the California Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony honoring the California’s six officers who were killed in 2017. She also received the Nancy Dyer Sportsperson of the Year Award for achievements in golf and bowling at the United States Police and Fire Championships (USPFC) and World Games. Stephanie won a gold medal in golf at the World Games in Los Angeles last August, and was inducted into the USPFC Hall of Fame for over 20 years of competition in more than 10 ten sports. In more personal news, she found her birth mother’s family and headed to Milwaukee Wisconsin mid-June to meet her last surviving aunt and the rest of the family. LIZ MILLER, 1989 Liz welcomed future Griffin, Reagan, in March of 2017. At 13 months old, she has already met her Griffin family: Aunt Sloane (Lucas ’89) and Aunt Tara (Tremaine ’89). Mom, Dad, dog-sisters Sachi & Mari, and Reagan are living in San Jose, CA, getting regular advice from the Class of 89 on Facebook! Thanks Guys! JEN KOONDEL DAVIDSON, 1993 Jen Koondel Davidson joined Scalar, a Utah based independent valuation firm as principal, leading the opening of their Los Angeles office. She is responsible for overseeing valuation and transaction advisory engagements.
ANTHONY SILVESTRI, FORMER FACULTY Anthony is currently teaching history at Washburn University in Kansas, writing choral music, and providing lyrics for choral composers all over the world. His latest project is a major work with composer Eric Whitacre to be premiered in February 2019 by the LA Master Chorale. Anthony remembers his time at Buckley fondly and sends blessings to all Griffins everywhere! His son Thomas Silvestri, 2016, is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, majoring in accounting. This summer he is headed to Italy to take classes at the CIMBA business program north of Venice.
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SAUL ROSTAMIAN, 1997 Saul and his wife Michelle welcomed a son in the summer of 2017.
AMANDA ZAR, 1999 Amanda Zar (Friedberg) serves as the Director of Individual Giving—Midwest Region for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She lives in Chicago and celebrates her 10th anniversary with her husband Robby this summer along with the two littlest men of her life, Asher and Everett. ALEXANDER ROSS, 2000 Alex is a partner in the New York-based contemporary art gallery Downs & Ross. Regularly featured in The New York Times, Artforum, Frieze, and other leading publications, the gallery both represents artists and works closely with significant institutions internationally including, most recently, The Whitney Museum, Serpentine Galleries, Malmö Konsthall, MAMCO Genève, and Foundations Louis Vuitton, among others. JONATHAN HUNG, 2001 Jonathan graduated from the Wharton School with an MBA in May 2018. WILLIAM CHAE, 2002 William is the director of Operations for Octopus Restaurant Group and is currently overseeing the operations 32 restaurants for the restaurant franchise.
MOLLY BERNSTEIN, 2008 Molly took over her cousin’s business, Pieces of Bali, importing and selling beautiful handmade sterling silver jewelry from Bali. You can check out our products online at www.piecesofbali.com. EMILY ZUCKER, 2008 Emily graduated from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. In June, she will begin her residency in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
YUSUF ALWATTAR, 2010 Yusuf graduated from the Pepperdine University School of Law in May 2018. SUZANNE CIMOLINO, 2011 Suzanne is working at NBCUniversal in Film Brand Development. Fun fact: Ryan Shaul (’09) and Natasha Super (’12) also work there. Check out Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, in theatres June 22! FRANCESCO JIMENEZ, 2011 Francisco is working for Lufthansa at their American headquarters in New York City.
ALLYSON HELLER, 2009 Allyson began a new job as an associate attorney at a successful law firm in the San Gabriel Valley. BELINDA WILLIAMS DAUGHRITY, 2002 Belinda has completed her first year as an assistant professor in the speech-language pathology department at California State University, Long Beach.
Flynn Adams ’98 spoke at Buckley’s National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on April 16, 2018. She is the co-founder and CEO of Semantiq Technologies, a company that builds and implements first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (A.I.) that identifies, mitigates and prevents harassment, hate speech, discrimination, violence, and bullying in both the workplace and schools. Here is an excerpt from her remarks. “Sometimes it only takes one person to raise the bar. Even when that bar is human decency. And if you have the means and you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, you don’t need permission. You just do it. So today, I would like to leave you with this: Some of us have clearer paths than others. Some of us, not so much; our paths are more accidents than ‘on purposes.’
VERA GOLOSKER, 2005 In October 2017, Vera joined MGM Television in Beverly Hills as a production attorney in the unscripted department. After working as an entertainment litigator at a boutique law firm for three years, Vera moved in house to MGM Television for an opportunity to work on some of the company’s dynamic unscripted content, which includes television shows such as “The Voice” and “Shark Tank.” CATHERINE KNIGHT, 2007 Catherine graduates May 2018 from Keck School of Medicine at USC with a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Practice.
But no matter what you do, there is always a risk with any challenge or endeavor you take on, no matter how small you might think it is at the time. And a lot of the time, the odds are going to be stacked against you. But that’s the good stuff. It’s the stuff you’re made of. And how you choose to navigate through those challenges, something you have all already proven you can do, and can do well, is what makes you who you are. And that, is forever. To answer my younger self, ‘What does this all mean?’ I can say that what I do everyday is a reminder of a commitment that I made to myself and to others in a room just like this one, but a little further back on campus, a long long time ago. It was a promise I will make again with you today and hope that you will continue to make with each other. Take today with you and remember why you are here. Continue to be brave, be kind and always be curious. Set the bar high for yourself and for others, and continue to embrace the opportunities afforded to you. Don’t ever tempt Mr. Roden’s ability to give you a uniform violation for novelty socks you think are really funny, but do always ask questions and know that it’s okay to push appropriate boundaries. Be inspired, be fearless, and be relentless in your pursuits. But above all else, be okay with getting it wrong sometimes. You never know how an accident might work out.”
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COMINGS AND GOINGS Our community said many hellos and goodbyes this year
BIRTHS
First grade teacher MAURICE ADKINS and his wife Dani welcomed Emilia Lyn Adkins on April 16, 2018. Emilia joins big sister Gianna.
RETIREES
Database Manager ISAAC MOORE and his wife Sabrina welcomed their first child, Amelia Leah on December 12, 2017.
KAREN ERDY
Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid KATIE PATTERSON gave birth to a girl, Josephine Hope, on January 24, 2018. Josie was welcomed by dad Masa and big brother Jude.
Trustee KAREN RICHARDSON ’95 and her husband Lamar Baker welcomed Cady in the fall of 2017.
NEW MUSIC CHAIR INVIGORATES CHORUS
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JOHN TOUCHTON joined Buckley last fall as the new choral director for Lower, Middle, and Upper School and became music department chair in January. He is a conductor and keyboard artist who holds music performance degrees from Baylor University, the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. At all three institutions he held accompanying assistantships, and he continues to work as a conductor, collaborative pianist, adjudicator and coach throughout the United States. Touchton served as the choral director, arts department chair, and Arts Center director for the past 14 years at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. He is married to Roccie Soscia, and they have four children: Matthew, Ryan, Gabrielle, and Julia. “I’ve loved getting to know the performing arts faculty and so many bright, talented, and passionate students,” he says.
When Buckley was waiting for renovations to the new business office on Ventura Boulevard 20 years ago, Karen Erdy’s husband worked in same building. He told his wife she might want to looking into teaching there. “Twenty years later, here I am,” says Karen, who has been in the same second grade classroom the whole time, 15 of those with her co-teacher Laura Siciliano. “I’m going to miss Laura,” she says. “I’m going to miss being with my partner every day. [Second graders] are so fun to be around. They’re very responsive to what you’re teaching, they’re excited about learning and ask a lot of questions.” As a parent (her daughter Tayla is an alum, ‘07) Karen learned the same lessons she did as a teacher: “To just let it go,” she says. “You’ll have planned the perfect lesson and the day goes a completely different way. You just have to go with the flow.” Her retirement plans are very similar. “Wherever life takes me, that’s where I’m going.”
DEBORAH MAYER-GOLDBERG After 24 years teaching first and third grade at Buckley, Deborah Mayer-Goldberg is “unplugging.” Well, sort of. “I’m not really unplugging, I’m first on the Lower School substitute teacher list and I’m on the Middle and Upper School list too,” she says. Deborah earned a degree in education from the University of Illinois, as well as a degree in landscape architecture from UCLA. From there, she found her way to The Buckley School as a first grade teacher. “Every good aspect of my life has been celebrated at Buckley,” she said. “I’ve learned from everyone here.” Deborah and her husband have already made travel plans: a cruise from London to Barcelona, and another that departs from Beijing and arrives in Singapore.
What will she miss the most? Lifers, teaching cursive handwriting and math, and greeting students as they come off the bus each morning. “Children feed your soul,” she says.
DONNA MOORE After nearly 18 years as the Lower School Learning Specialist, Donna Moore retired shortly after spring break. She has begun a new chapter of her life in St. Augustine, Florida, where she is enjoying retirement among her closest friends.
NEIL ROCKLIN Lower School Principal Mrs. Toboco called psychologist Neil Rocklin in 1982—a boy in Madame Lepko’s ballet class was refusing to point his toes, and she needed help. “I came in to meet with her and I remember we drank tea and there were flowers on her desk,” says Neil. “I guess I did something right [with the boy in ballet] because from then on I consulted on a case-by-case basis.” He became known as “Dr. Wednesday” for his regular weekly visits, which eventually grew to twice a week. For years, Neil maintained a private practice in Woodland Hills and in his neighborhood, Camarillo, and was a university psychologist at Cal State Channel Islands, where he’s also taught for the last 10 years. This summer, he and his wife Pamela are leaving Southern California behind, taking a road trip across the country, and relocating to Washington D.C.
JOANNE RYAN On June 30, 1984, after 11 years teaching math in Montreal, Joanne Ryan started her new job at Buckley. The next day, she got married. “My ID said Joanne Campbell Ryan because they didn’t know what to call me,” she remembers. With a starting class line-up of Algebra II, pre-calc and computer science, Joanne grew from there, becoming math department chair in 1990 and implementing a host of programs and tools that includes math lab, math club, summer school math (Geometry was the first academic class to pack a year-long course into six weeks), TI-Nspire graphing calculators, and the flipped classroom. “Flipped learning is absolutely perfect for math,” she says, explaining that kids can watch a video at their own pace and get the reinforcement they need doing problems with her in the room. “There’s nothing worse than a student doing 50 problems incorrectly,” she says, adding that alumni still reach out and ask for her videos to help them in college. This summer, she and her husband Rick plan to travel around the Northeast and then settle down in Palm Springs. There will be frequent trips back to Sherman Oaks, however, where their daughter Theresa ‘08, a lifer, has a spare room for their visits. “I won’t miss getting up early or correcting tests,” says Joanne, of retirement. “But I will miss the kids. How often do retired people get to hang out with teenagers?”
RICK SMITH “The day school started at Buckley, a teacher didn’t show up,” says Rick Smith, who is retiring this year. “They gave me a call and I started the next day.” Thirty-nine years later, Rick can say he is the second longest serving faculty member at Buckley. He might also claim the most protean, having begun as a summer soccer coach, transitioning to full time as an earth and physical science teacher, and then becoming Junior High athletic director before landing in his current role as computer science teacher. “At one point I was coaching track and loved that I could put all of the team’s statistics into a computer,” says Smith. A teacher in the computer science department taught him coding, and then a teacher in the depart-
ment left mid-year—he swooped in and has been there ever since. “I’ll miss the camaraderie amongst the teachers the most,” says Smith, who plans to volunteer at the Children’s Hunger Fund and at his church. “To an incoming teacher, I would encourage them to get involved. Buckley offers a lot of opportunities outside the classroom, and it’s a great way to get involved in the community.”
SUNHUA YEH To his students, colleagues, and alumni, Sunhua Yeh has always been known simply as Mr. Yeh. After 10 years, Mr. Yeh has retired from teaching Middle and Upper School Chinese at Buckley. He was integral in helping build out Buckley’s Chinese program and students will always remember his infectious humor and energy.
After 20 years we bid a fond farewell to longtime teacher LAURA SICILIANO. Laura began working at Buckley “across the street” in the college counseling office. She then moved to the second grade where she taught with Karen Erdy for 16 years. Laura will be making a crosscountry move with her husband, where they plan to settle on the east coast.
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IN MEMORIAM JAMES FORMAN Dr. James Forman retired last year due to ill health, after 12 years at The Buckley School, and passed away in January. A true renaissance man, he taught both English and Chemistry (in summer school), and chaired the English department during his entire tenure here. In 2011, he was granted a Parents’ Association fellowship to return to the village in Nepal where he had taught English with the Peace Corps as a young man, and was able to reconnect with the family he’d lived with there. Dr. Forman was known at Buckley for his warmth, intellect, diplomacy, and an infectious laugh that could make bystanders feel in on the joke. In his Creative Writing class, his nurturing of budding writers and artists and respect for the creative process will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife Lisa and daughter Olivia ’11, who went to Buckley for grades 7–12.
ELLIOT BRABSON The Buckley School community was saddened and shaken by the suicide of eighth grade student Elliot Brabson in February. Sweet, funny, well-liked and a beloved friend to many, Elliot attended Buckley starting in seventh grade, coming from The Oaks in Hollywood. His on-campus remembrance in Buckley’s Center for Community and the Arts drew friends and family from across the city, and the independent school community across Los Angeles continues to grieve the loss of his young life. He is survived by his brother Bristol, who will begin his senior year at Buckley next year, a younger brother Seamus, and his parents Steve and Heather.
LLOYD DAVIS, became the graveyard security guard after temping as a summer camp guard in 2003. JEAN “DEE” KINKLE was the Lower School secretary and then the secretary to Upper School principal Jean Strom. She is survived by her partner of 44 years, Philip Siegal.
MARGARET SYRE worked as the textbook Purchasing Agent in the early 1980s. Her grandson Kevin attended Buckley. ALICE MAHONEY, mother of visual arts department chair Ellen Mahoney, passed away in April.
CLAUDIA HOOVER, mother of rising eighth grade student Alex H.-G.
ALUMNI
DAVID STREJA ’93 JAMES BISNO ’09 James passed away on October 5, 2017. He attended Buckley’s Upper School and was a member of cross country, the varsity swim team, and chemistry club.
At Buckley, David was a member of varsity club, boys varsity basketball and baseball. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way at the time of his passing.
WILLIAM ARMOND BECK III ’76 LUCAS JAMES DANIEL ’92 Lucas attended Buckley from second through twelfth grades. He played guitar and was a member of jazz band. He is survived by his wife April, son Ethan, mother Marti Daniel, and brother John Daniel ‘89.
Billy Beck attended Buckley at the Doheny campus from first through third grade, moved away, and returned his sophomore year to the Stansbury campus. He was part of an after-school band at Buckley, playing guitar and leading vocals.
KINSLEY (KIKI) HOLMES TERRY ’73 Kiki attended Buckley from senior year only, and joined the U.S. Army two years after graduating. Surviving family members include daughter Sarah, sister Karen, brothers Albert (Bert), Norm, and Doug, and mother Marilyn.
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Save the Date! FOUNDER’S DAY Friday, October 5, 2018 FALL MUSICAL: FACULTY AND ALUMNI PREVIEW Wednesday, November 7, 2018 ALUMNI WELCOME BACK AND GRANDPARENTS DAY Tuesday, November 20, 2018 THE BUCKLEY FAIR Thursday, May 23, 2019 COMMENCEMENT Friday, May 31, 2019 ALUMNI WEEKEND Saturday and Sunday June 8 and 9, 2019
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Shelly Schroth Director of Advancement sschroth@buckley.org
Katie Convoy Associate Director of Development kconvoy@buckley.org
Sally Sacon (editor) Director of Communications ssacon@buckley.org
Dana Shepard Communications Assistant dshepard@buckley.org
Joyce Jones Director of Alumni jjones@buckley.org
Isaac Moore Advancement Database Manager imoore@buckley.org
DESIGN SMOG Design, Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY Laura Bamford Ted Catanzaro Elaine Lee Sally Sacon Dana Shepard White’s Studios
Erin Fitzgerald Director of Parent Relations and Special Events efitzgerald@buckley.org
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