Burke's Magazine Fall 2022

Buzz at Burke’s: Events and Happenings on Campus

Burke’s mission is to educate, encourage, and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.

ON THE COVER

OPENING SHOTS

Go Burke’s!

Faculty and staff gathered during Opening Meetings to celebrate the beginning of our first year working on goals from Burke’s new five-year Strategic Plan: Experience. Connection. Growth . Stay tuned for updates on our Strategic Plan in Action and view the complete plan at www.burkes.org/strategicplan.

Larger Than Life

Kindergarten takes special field trips throughout the year. Last year, kindergarten classes went to SFMOMA to learn about the works of Joan Mitchell and Tatiana Bilbao. Students went off on a scavenger hunt in the “Tatiana Bilbao Estudio: Architecture From Outside In” exhibit, then had some time to sketch several of her artistic elements for use in on-campus design collages.

Look Closely

Group collaborations, hands-on activities, and a growth mindset were on hand in last year’s eighth-grade science class.

Book Exchange

There is nothing better than a good find at the annual Book Exchange! Lower and Upper School students had the opportunity to browse tables of community book donations to find their next great read.

Snow Day Sing-Along

The weather was delightful at the Snow Day Sing-Along on the Blue Top at last December’s All-School Assembly before the Winter Break.

Pansy Day

The Class of 2022 were showered with pansies by Burke’s alums and siblings at the close of this beloved event.

International Women’s Day 2022

Burke’s had the honor of hosting Judge Abby Abinanti at our 15th annual International Women’s Day Assembly. Judge Abinanti is a Yurok Chief Judge and an enrolled Yurok Tribal member. She holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of New Mexico School of Law and was the first California tribal woman to be admitted to the State Bar of California. Judge Abby intentionally chose to present and engage with the students in a conversation circle. Knowing your community and having conversations to get to know one another and resolve issues have been tools she uses often in her practice of justice. Many hands were raised and students asked questions such as why she became a judge, what to do if someone repeats their bad behavior, and what to do when someone refuses to take responsibility for their actions.

Greetings

from the Head of School

A MESSAGE FROM MICHELE WILLIAMS

We are in our 114th year of educating, encouraging, and empowering girls, and I am feeling joyful energy in every part of our campus. We are back together in all our communal spaces, our Makery and science labs are bustling with hands-on, collaborative activities, and our classrooms and arts spaces are filled with creativity and discussion. I hope you enjoy this issue of Burke’sMagazine filled with our traditions, special events, and academic highlights.

Our feature article details our rich professional development program and how intentional support of faculty and staff in their continued learning reaps great rewards for our students in the classroom. The reinvention and reimagining of our classrooms would not be possible without our culture of growth mindset and readiness to learn. It is a core institutional value that every member of Burke’s faculty and staff is committed to continued professional growth.

In other news, I hope many of you saw our five-year StrategicPlan:Experience.Connection.Growth, when it was launched last February. The Strategic Planning Committee membership was deliberately composed of alumnae along with faculty, staff, trustees, and parents to encompass a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Our alumnae community is such an important part of Burke’s — I am grateful to have your voices reflected in our path forward.

As a first point of focus, we are working on creating a Center for Wellness, whether a physical or programmatic space, that will coordinate all of the school’s efforts that focus on student wellness, personal agency, and leadership. I look

forward to sharing updates on this initiative along with our other strategic priorities. This plan will be our road map in the coming years and I know great things lie ahead.

We missed gathering last year due to health and safety concerns, but we hope you will save the date for the annual Alumnae Reunion Luncheon on Friday, April 28 at the Presidio Golf Course and Clubhouse. Many more details will follow and please reach out anytime to Elena Hobden, Associate Director of Advancement at elena.hobden@burkes.org with questions.

Speaking of our alumnae community, this issue highlights the Pansy Day and Commencement celebrations for both the Class of 2021 and 2022. As Covid restrictions slowly lifted, we were able to move from a virtual commencement in 2020 to a masked outdoor celebration in 2021 and back into the gymnasium last June. We missed an in-person celebration with the Class of 2020 (now juniors!) but were thrilled to welcome them back to campus in August to connect in person. Look for photos in the Class Notes section!

Thank you for your support and engagement as we continue our work to educate, encourage, and empower our students.

Warmly, MICHELE WILLIAMS Head of School

Our Goals

Our goals are outlined in the branches of this tree — rooted through our mission and values, and interconnected with each other.

CONNECTION:

CaringforourCommunity and Planet Develop graduates who embrace differences and belonging, work to sustain their natural environment, and inspire their communities to join them as change-makers. GROWTH: FortheCommunity and Institution Ensure financial sustainability for the institution, increase affordability for families, and provide meaningful compensation for faculty and staff.

Keep up with all the happenings at Burke’s in real time on our social media accounts!

facebook.com/katherine.delmar.burke.school twitter.com/burkesschool instagram.com/burkesschool

UPPER SCHOOL SING-ARET!

What’s better than a Winter Sing or a Cabaret? A SING-ARET! Under the leadership of Upper School Music Teacher Rachel Allen and Upper School Drama Teacher Pamela Rickard, the two wonderful traditions were combined last spring for vocal performances from fifth and sixth-grade students as well as seventh and eighth-grade students in vocal and songwriting electives.

NASA COMES TO SECOND GRADE

Last May, second graders experienced a unit exploring women that have made a difference such as Jane Goodall, Katherine Johnson, and Mae Jemison. They learned about women in space and had a special visitor – Greta Studier from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Ms. Studier is a Systems Engineer who designed the sample tubes that the Mars Perseverance Rover is using to collect soil during its exploration of the Red Planet. Her work continues with the design of a storage unit (also known as the “parking lot”) to hopefully bring the samples back to Earth in the future.

In response to the question, “Do YOU think there’s life on other planets?” Studier told the class that no one really knows yet. She challenged them to become scientists when they grow up and find out for themselves. Finally, Studier ended with a special surprise look at the duplicate of the Perseverance Rover, one that JPL uses to conduct experiments on Earth before executing them on Mars. The awe of the children was audible as some spotted the NASA logo in the background and uttered, “Woah, she’s really there!” The cherry on top was when an engineer running a test on the rover broke out into a dance (the floss to be sepcific)! As you can imagine, lots of second-grade laughter ensued - scientists know how to have fun too!

GRANDPARENTS’ & SPECIAL FRIENDS’ DAY

After two years apart, we were thrilled to welcome all our Burke’s grandparents and special friends back to campus last May! Everyone enjoyed special asssemblies, classroom visits and the wonderful feeling of bringing our larger Burke’s community back together again.

FOURTH GRADE PLAY: ONE LAUGH AT A TIME

In their return to the Campus Center stage, fourth-grade performers brought life to, One Laugh at a Time: The Legacy of Lucille Ball, a story about determination, vision, and pushing boundaries. Lucille Ball did not start out to change the world, but in her journey to become a star, she revolutionized television and paved the way for women in front of the camera, in business, and in the art of comedy.

The live theater experience gave our fourth-grade students the chance to explore playwriting, improvisation, acting, directing, singing, dancing, and mime. Lower School theater teacher Nancy Gold designed the experience as a true ensemble project with students involved in every aspect of the show, including building the sets and costume pieces in the Makery, and handling set changes during the performance.

A SCIENTIFIC SCAVENGER HUNT

Upper School students and faculty enjoyed a viral scav enger hunt as they interacted with the innovative robotic virus projects created by Burke’s fifth graders. (Don’t worry — none of the viruses were contagious in their existing forms!) Students worked in teams to write pro grams for their pathogen while learning about virology basics during the unit on immunology.

FACULTY PROFILE:

Genaro “Gino” Castillo Third-Grade Teacher

Third-grade teacher Genaro “Gino” Castillo grew up in Mountain View, and he started working in the classroom early as a volunteer alongside his mother, a long-time instructional aide. It was during this time he realized that not only did he have the patience and temperament to work in lower elementary, but he also really enjoyed it. Prior to joining Burke’s he had been teaching for six years, with the first five in the Oakland Public School District.

His experience teaching in Oakland drew Gino to Burke’s. As a teacher, he is strongly motivated by social justice, and Burke’s focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender equality is hugely important to him: “Burke’s mission made me feel like I could come to a different school, and still work with populations and causes that motivate me,” he said.

Gino earned his B.A. in philosophy at UC Berkeley, and the well-rounded approach of that degree inspired him to teach multiple subjects. One of his favorite subjects to teach is social studies: “Third grade is an age where students start to make more sense of the world around them,” he said. “I love teaching students about their local history, the Ohlone, local change-makers, and landmarks.” He appreciates students’ natural curiosity, and how it motivates them to ask questions as they continue to learn more about the world. “The social-emotional curriculum at Burke’s, around gender and pronouns, and seeing that kids are growing up learning about these social issues is amazing,” he added.

Third grade is a big transition year when students build more academic independence and gain more peer-to-peer learning opportunities. One of Gino’s favorite activities is “class jobs,” which allows students to take ownership of their environment and workspace. “It’s not super obvious to kids that they can take responsibility for a piece of their learning environment. Seeing them do that is impressive,” he said. “It’s awesome to see stu dents take more initiative and build skills that they can take into their future, and hopefully even their professional lives.”

A long-time resident of the Peninsula, Gino enjoys jogging through San Francisco in his spare time. Some of his favorite places include Crissy Field, Alta Plaza Park, and Fisherman’s Wharf – if it’s not crowded. He joined Burke’s DASH for the first time in fall 2021, and he had a great time!

FACULTY PROFILE:

Charlee Jones

Upper School Physical Education Teacher and Fifth-Grade Advisor

Charlee Jones, Upper School physical education teacher and fifth-grade advisor, is a San Francisco native, born and raised. She describes her childhood as “always active, always climbing a tree, riding a bike, or playing a game.”

Charlee attended the French-American International school from grades 3-12, and earned a B.A. in international business at California State University, Fullerton, where she played Division I basketball. She played professionally overseas with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) for four years before returning to her hometown. “I’m

proud to be one of the city kids who are still here. San Francisco is a place I really want to stay, and I’m happy to be back teaching at Burke’s,” she said. “I grew up in independent school systems, and am now teaching in them, so I’m bringing it full circle.”

Before joining Burke’s, Charlee was a teacher and the athletics director at Hamlin. With a smile, she recalled that “Burke’s would always challenge us in sports, and I had always heard great things about the school. I’ve always appreciated the school’s mission to educate, encourage and empower its students.” While Charlee has been teaching for eight years, she has been coaching sports since she was 18, and her favorite part of teaching P.E. is the moment when students achieve a goal they’ve been working hard to reach. “I really love that P.E. at Burke’s is very skill-based with the goal of making sure all of the students are competent in the different sports and activities that we offer,” she said. Some of her favorite class activities are badminton, basketball, dodgeball, and double dutch: “It’s really fun, and it helps students with rhythm, pace, sound, and attention to detail, as well as confidence and perseverance.”

In her free time, Charlee likes to read, be active, play basketball for the Olympic Club, and participate in national team tournaments. “I’m super excited to be working with students, and I hope that I can inspire young girls to become whatever they want to be in life,” she said.

FESTIVAL OF HEARTS

Last February, we traded in our fall pumpkins for a Family Festival of Hearts! We were so grateful that health and safety guidelines allowed us to open campus to our families, Burke’s grandparents, and alumnae community. This year we are excited to bring this beloved event back to October and open our campus up to our wider community of neighbors and friends.

FACULTY PROFILE:

Vedita Cowaloosur Upper School French Teacher

Vedita Cowaloosur has joined the Upper School faculty as the French teacher, and she brings with her more than a decade of teaching experience. She grew up in the island nation of Mauritius, then moved to England at 18 where she attended Durham University. After completing her M.A., she worked in publishing for several years in India, then returned to England to earn her Ph.D. in Warwick. She then moved to Stellenbosch, South Africa, an area known both for its wine country and as the former hub of apartheid, to work as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on literature of the South Asian diaspora in Africa, as well as race and ethnicity studies. It was during this time she met her husband through a college friend, which led to her current residence in San Francisco.

Vedita chose Burke’s because the school’s mission resonated strongly with her core values: “I really

see that we [Burke’s and I] are aligned in what we value, and what we want to foster in the next generation. I have a little girl and I feel personally invested in being in a position to be responsible for the growth of little girls in some ways,” she said. “I also went to an all-girls school, and I loved the lack of gendered boundaries. I like that Burke’s pushes students to explore their interests and strengths, without the pressures of trying to conform to a stereotype.”

Vedita is multilingual, with five languages under her belt: English, French, Hindi, Mauritian Creole, and Bhojpuri. She loves teaching languages as a way to share new perspectives on the world. “The Francophone world is not just France; it also includes countries that France colonized, including my home country of Mauritius,” she said. “I’ve run into a lot of curiosity about how a person of Indian origin speaks French as a first language, but French is a primary language for a lot of Mauritians. That history rarely gets taught. The Francophone world includes Indochina, Senegal, and so much more.”

She enjoys sharing Francophone literature with her students, and one writer she likes to share is Sudanese writer Leila Aboulela, who wrote The Translator, a book that touches on issues of moving between languages and cultures. “This storyline and the culture always interests students. They get to think about identity, and what it is to be French, and to represent a certain language and culture,” Vedita said. In her free time, she loves reading to her daughter, and for herself.

SONGWRITING & STORYTELLING

Burke’s students are exposed to a wide array of arts with an emphasis on helping to see themselves as artists, and building confidence in their unique creative visions.

In seventh grade all students take music, photography, sewing, drama, and visual arts, rotating through all five options. In eighth grade students can join the Yearbook team or choose sewing, photography, drama, or songwriting until the whole grade comes together to work on the Eighth Grade Musical in March.

Last year, a new songwriting elective was launched that focuses on the importance of storytelling and being able to share our stories with others. The class uses an independent creative approach, where the teacher acts as a coach and a guide, providing toolboxes for the students to explore the medium and learn, while also building their skillsets.

Rachel Allen, the Upper School Music Teacher says, “Music electives, especially in seventh and eighth grade are designed as a place for students to find their voices, explore how music can help be a storytelling tool and whether they want to tell those stories with or without words.”

The class begins with students writing past, present, and future letters to themselves as inspiration for their songs. Students are very creative and varied in their approaches: some students use verses and choruses, while others use the GarageBand software tool to evoke the feeling before they began writing lyrics. Students learn the foundations of crafting a song, with or without lyrics, how to use GarageBand and at the end of the class, each has a finished recording of their own song.

Regardless of their musical background, students have the opportunity to broaden their skills. Classically trained students are enjoying learning different musical styles, such as jazz and rock. The class also allows students who may not consider themselves musicians, the opportunity to use their creativity to tell their own unique stories, and to learn from the challenge of the songwriting process.

Allen’s core belief is that “I want everyone to feel like no matter where they are in their skill level, that they can create a song. It can be as simple as writing a poem, and the student can get support to create a melody and chords. It can be a student who already plays an instrument, and they can receive guidance in production and using technology. It’s not prescriptive; the elective is formulated so that anyone can come in and say, ‘With the skills and knowledge that I have, I can write a song.’ That empowerment piece is important.”

BURKE’S CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHTS

www.burkes.org/snapshots

What’s happening in Lower School Science? What is the math curriculum in fifth grade? Take a peek into the classrooms through Burke’s Curriculum Snapshots! The snapshots are updated each year to provide grade level overviews across all academic and social-emotional areas.

Burke’s academic program is grounded in edu cational best practices while also meeting the evolving needs of our students. As a school that values effective delivery of a dynamic and relevant curriculum, Burke’s empowers its teachers to work collaboratively with their professional learning community to continually reflect upon, revisit, and re-envision what and how they are teaching.

The foundation of our K-8 curriculum development is the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework. This model begins all lesson designs with “endur ing understandings,” which are statements sum marizing important ideas and core processes that are central to a discipline and have lasting value beyond the classroom. Launching learning expe riences by considering the big picture vs. focus ing on what content and activities students will engage in is an essential practice when Burke’s teachers design curricula.

LOWER SCHOOL STEPPING UP

Each year the Lower School holds a special student-centered ceremony when each grade is invited to “step up” to the next grade and fourth graders celebrate their final day in the Lower School. Students come together singing and fourth grade and their little siblings exchange gifts and hugs.

Alice Moore, Director of Lower School sent off last year’s students with these words:

“I love our Lower School community and here is why:

• You are patient, kind, and helpful to each other and to your teachers.

• You work hard and you love to learn! That is a wonderful gift!

• You are funny and silly and you make Burke’s a joyful place.

• You care about your friendships, and when there are issues, you try to work them out.

• You care about making the world a better place.

Bring your patience, and your love and care for others into the world with you. Notice when someone needs a friend or an ally. Stand up for others when you can.”

A Schoolwide Commitment to

THE JOY OF LEARNING

THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CRAFT OF TEACHING

At a time when educators around the world are grappling with the scope and extent of pandemicrelated learning loss, Burke’s has been wellpositioned to identify learning gaps and provide the tools to ensure our students thrive. This school year’s Professional Development (PD) schedule includes more than 45 afternoon meetings and three Professional Development Days for faculty to collaborate with their peers and build out classroom experiences.

What’s up in the HUB?

A comfy couch, extra seating, and a large table to gather around are at the center of the HUB, home to Renita LiVolsi, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and Fran Yang, Director of Curriculum and Innovation. These two admin team members intentionally share an office to collaborate and innovate on the K-8 curriculum and interdisciplinary projects throughout the year with a strong DEIB lens. It is appropriately named as it is often a hub of interaction and conversation between admin, teachers, staff, and others on campus who stop by or walk through and chat about anything from the day’s events to the execution of an innovative

“

idea. Overlooking the Lower School Blue Top with the cacophony of student laughter in the background, its location offers a constant reminder of Burke’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower our students with a focus on joy.

Prioritizing Professional Development (PD) Head of School Michele Williams likes to say, “Our commitment to PD runs deep. We walk the talk. We create the time for faculty and staff to engage in professional development and provide two times what many of our peer schools allocate towards PD.”

Utilizing an internal Burke’s PD website, faculty and staff are able to seek and apply for on-and off-campus professional development opportunities, connect with others about what PD they’re engaged in, and learn about innovative classroom practices and instructional strategies. They are also able to find resources from past guest speakers, consultants, and in-house presentations. In the summer, teachers can engage in conferences or workshops, apply for a summer grant to work collaboratively on a curricular project or engage in an Idea Lab to further develop an idea for the coming year.

When I came to Burke’s 10 years ago, the Board was focused on building a strategy to recruit and retain excellent educators. My response at that time was that when teachers are learning, students are going to learn more effectively.

— MICHELE WILLIAMS, HEAD OF SCHOOL

A few Idea Lab examples in action are:

● Upper School Math Department: The math team met to plan a pilot for the Connected Mathematics Project’s fourth edition as part of a trial group. The group got early access to the updated curriculum and are working to incorporate open-ended questioning, high-ceiling and low-floor tasks (tasks that all students can access but that can be extended to high levels), increased differentiation, and group work. The team is looking forward to exploring some of the CMP4 investigations with students over the course of the school year.

● Upper School Makery/Language Collaboration: A collaboration between the Upper School Makery teacher and the Spanish department, this project is designed for eighth graders and incorporates three parts: a written biography, a podcast, and a creative poster in the style of the Fillmore. Spanish teacher Anthony Sabedra said, “Music is one of my passions and I wanted to incorporate the presence of women in music from the Spanish-speaking world.”

● Lower School Teacher’s College Phonics: A facilitator from Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project spent the day with the K-3 teachers and those who support language arts instruction in the Lower School during an engaging full day workshop. New instructional and student materials and books were purchased for the program, and the first-grade team - along with Lower School Learning Specialist Kelly Shea - developed a fall implementation plan. Some faculty attended summer workshops on this curriculum, and some will attend the fall TC Phonics Institute to further their understanding. The phonics program will provide important scaf folding for students’ reading and writing throughout the school year.

Over my career, I have seen what happens when teachers become inspired through transformational professional development experiences. That inspiration translates into powerful classroom experiences that benefit students in a myriad of ways.

- Alice Moore, Lower School Director

(Top) Faculty and staff used a beach ball toss to model using play as a vehicle for connection.

(Bottom, Left) Faculty and staff take a survey during nationally recognized antibias and antiracist educator Liz Kleinrock’s session.

(Bottom, Right) Faculty get a lesson on how to integrate Makery tools such as the laser cutter into their classroom projects.

Professional Development Institute (PDI)

Summer doesn’t start for our faculty and staff when the final school bell rings! Each year, faculty attend the Professional De velopment Institute (PDI), which brings leading trainers and or ganizations to Burke’s for on-campus professional development the week after graduation. Offerings at past PDIs have included an Investigations Math training, an “Inclusivity by Design” work shop, differentiation of learning, the Burke’s EdTech summit, and a Service Learning Institute that integrated on-campus PD and service projects across the city. The time is used to collaborate on changes, additions, or innovations they plan to pursue in the coming school year. The projects and trainings from last June’s PDI included:

● DEIB Training: Jabari Lyles Consulting held faculty/staff training on gender inclusion, and Lower and Upper School worked in breakout groups to learn how to approach gender inclusion in developmentally appropriate ways. Jabari Lyles also provided a training session in October for parents/ guardians to learn how to support students across the gender spectrum.

● Upper School Advisory Program & SEL: This year, as we focus on the Social Emotional needs of students, faculty worked with consultants from the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL) around using SEL practices to continue to build our Upper School Advisory program. A se ries of parent workshops is being offered over the course of the year to provide greater insight into what SEL looks like in Upper School as well as provide tools to use at home.

● Learning Target Development: Specialist faculty and fourth grade teachers have been pursuing a project around learning targets and curriculum mapping under the guidance of Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs. The development of the Burke’s curricu lum map provides faculty and staff with an important tool of communication about the progression of skills through the years at Burke’s. The Curriculum Committee is made up of faculty from various departments in both divisions as well as the Academic Admin team and will oversee the work through out the year.

Opening Meetings

Opening Meetings are the official kick-off to the new school year for faculty and staff. This year’s sessions featured nationally recognized antibias and antiracist educator Liz Kleinrock as well as Trauma-Informed Teaching organized by Burke’s Lower and Upper School Counselors in conjunction with Grace Dearborn of Conscious Teaching. Time was also spent preparing classrooms, completing mandated reporter training, and working together by division and department to brainstorm ways to integrate Makery technology, library resources, and expertise of the specialists into classrooms.

Curriculum Conversations

Faculty gather monthly under the leadership of Fran Yang, Di rector of Curriculum and Innovation, to engage in conversa tions about curriculum, new project ideas, and collaborations across subject areas. Each session begins with a series of prompts that include questions such as “what is a cross-grade or cross-disciplinary collaboration that would be exciting to see happen?” or “what is an aspect of student life at Burke’s that could connect to the greater community around us?” This year, faculty looked at student performance and any patterns that may have changed or been impacted by pandemic-re lated factors. It is an opportunity for the Lower School and Upper School divisions to share observations and ideas. Out of these conversations great things happen.

Burke’s educators are dynamic professionals, dedicated to continually pursuing opportunities to deepen their practice, extend their expertise, and collaborate with others to ensure that our students are engaged in learning experiences that encourage them to be their best authentic selves.

- Fran Yang, Director of Curriculum and Innovation

Burke’s Academic Admin Team

The Academic Admin Team is made up of the Head of School, Director of Curriculum and Innovation, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and Upper and Lower School Division Directors. This team meets togeth er and in smaller configurations to drive and facilitate Burke’s strategic vision around curriculum and professional development. Topics range from organizational planning of all professional development (in-service days, outside speakers, the June Professional Development Institute); managing and considering changes to and/or the adoption of new curricular initiatives; and coordination of the scope and sequence of the K-8 curriculum.

As the eighth Head of School at Burke’s, Michele Williams holds an extensive background in inde pendent school education, including more than a decade as the Head of Stevenson’s Upper School. Born to a family of educators, Michele grew up in New York and received her undergraduate degree in American Studies from Smith College, where she was a varsity athlete. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management. She began her career teaching history at Suffield Academy in Connecticut. Michele joined Stevenson in 1991 and held positions of increasing academic and admin istrative responsibility, including Director of Residence and Dean of Students, before being named Head of the Pebble Beach Campus in 1998.

Renita Livolsi is in her second year at Burke’s as Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. She has dedicated her career to creating access, inclusivity, and community in a variety of insti tutions, which include non-profits, government, and education. She is also a co-facilitator for the course “How to Talk About Race” with Rise for Racial Justice through the University of San Francis co and a DEI consultant with Alma Partners. Renita is a native of Detroit and a student of Waldorf schools in Detroit and in Wilton, New Hampshire.

Alice is beginning her tenth year at Burke’s. Before coming to Burke’s, she was a third-grade teacher, K-5 science teacher, Director of Environmental Sustainability, and Director of Curriculum and Pro fessional Development at Marin Country Day School. Before that, she taught at an all-boys school on the East Coast. Alice has a professional background steeped in curriculum design and has spent most of her career leading change in schools using a systems thinking approach. Her expertise in strategic planning and execution has been critical to the success of the last plan at Burke’s as well as the formation of the current plan. Her own educational journey began at an all-girls school, and she is loving being back in an all-girls environment.

Sheena Tart-Zelvin is beginning her third year as Upper School Director. Entering education in 2005, she spent nine years at The Hamlin School where she wore many hats, and before that she taught middle and high school students in Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico. She says, “I am grateful to work with a talented faculty that is dedicated to the school’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower. Even still - the moments that I get to spend with students like greeting them in the courtyard, stop ping by a class, or helping to answer a question about a math assignment - are the highlights of my day and the joy at the center of my role.”

Fran Yang is in her third year at Burke’s having joined as Makery Facilitator and Technology Integra tion Specialist and moving into the role of Director of Curriculum and Innovation in 2021. She has been an educator for more than 30 years, both as a K-8 classroom teacher and an instructional coach. She approaches faculty and staff professional development in a way that aims to ensure learning experiences are both timely and relevant to boost engagement, which then translates to meaningful classroom practice application. Fran oversees the library, Makery, and technology team and enjoys spreading her appreciation for technology as a tool for teaching and learning as well as supporting teachers to develop integrated learning experiences for students.

PANSY DAY

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 marked our Pansy Day to celebrate the outgoing eighth graders. It was a joy to return to campus for this beloved Burke’s tradition. Physical distancing required a new location and a new way to handle the tossing of pansies — but the day remained filled with joy!

Sarah Babcock Award

Saskia Petitt ~ Performing Arts

Skye Menning ~ Photography

Carys Kong ~ Visual Arts

Julie Song Award

May Hickey Award Sophia Gruhl

Patricia Franklin Swanson Writing Award Ariadne Vidalakis

Grace Hartley & Jane Levy

Head’s Award Zoë Flint Sophie Park Lilli Whelan Head’s Cup Audrey Ball Dorothy Chrisman

COMMENCEMENT 2021

We bade a fond farewell to the 45 members of the Class of 2021 on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in a beautiful outdoor ceremony with joy, music, and cheers. We hope high school is going well and their future is bright!

CLASS OF 2021 HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS

Bay School

Berkshire School (MA)

Branson School

Brentwood School (CA)

Cate School (CA)

Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)

Concord Academy (MA)

Convent of the Sacred Heart Crystal Springs Uplands School

Harpeth Hall (TN)

ICA Christo Rey Academy

CLASS OF 2017 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

Barnard College

Boston University

Brown University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Cornell University

Duke University

Georgetown University

Congratulations as well to the members of Burke’s Class of 2017, who wrapped up four years of high school. A list of some of their college destinations is included here.

Grinnell College

Harvard College

Middlebury College

Mills College

Northeastern University

International High School

Jewish Community High School

The Lawrenceville School (NJ)

Lick-Wilmerding High School

Lowell High School

Middlesex School (MA)

Millbrook School (NY)

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts

San Francisco Girls’ School

San Francisco University High School

St. Ignatius Preparatory St. Paul’s School (NH)

Urban School

Occidental College

Stanford University

Tulane University

University of Calgary University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine

University of California, San Diego

University of Florida

University of Maryland University of Richmond

University of San Diego

University of Southern California University of Toronto

University of Virginia

Vassar College

Washington University Whittier College

PANSY DAY

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 marked our Pansy Day to celebrate the outgoing eighth graders. Songs and speeches, smiles and tears, it was a wonderful way to close out the school year.

May Hickey Award

Patricia Franklin Swanson Writing Award

Sofia Susal

Sarah Babcock Award

PerformingArts

Rachel Kirk

Amiya Parekh Seetharam Photography Julia Perkins Visual Arts

Francesca Juliet Dizon & Jolie Zhang

Head’s Award

Cup

Nabwangu

Elizabeth Jeanne Landreth Reed

Julie Song Award

Adalia Elzie Byrd Carissa Joelle Satuito

Rosie Mays-Smith Sarina Patel Banker

COMMENCEMENT 2022

Back in our traditional location, we bade a fond farewell to the 46 members of the Class of 2022 on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in a beautiful ceremony. We wish them the best of luck in high school and beyond!

CLASS OF 2022 HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS

Bay School

Choate Rosemary Hall (CT) Convent of the Sacred Heart Drew School

Dunn School (CA)

International High School Lick-Wilmerding High School

Marin Academy Menlo School

Mid Peninsula High School

CLASS OF 2018 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

Barnard College

Ballet San Antonio - Apprentice Colby College

Columbia University

Cornell University Lafayette College

Loyola Marymount University New York University

Congratulations as well to the members of Burke’s Class of 2018, who wrapped up four years of high school. A list of some of their college destinations is included here.

The Theatre School at DePaul University University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder

Phillips Exeter Acadcemy (NH)

Phillips Anodver Academy (MA)

Suffield Academy (CA)

San Francisco University High School Stevenson School (CA) Suffield Academy (CT) St. Ignatius Preparatory Stevenson School (CA)

The Thacher School (CA) Urban School

University of Delaware University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of St. Andrews University of Washington University Wisconsin Madison University of Virginia Yale University

At Burke’s, we teach our students to learn by making. They make their own inventions. They make works of art. They make connections between what they’re studying and real life.

With a donation to Burke’s Annual Fund, you can make magic happen.

Support your alma mater, fellow alumnae, beloved faculty and staff, and generations of Burke’s girls. Donate to the Annual Fund now at burkes.org/give.

MAKE a gift to Burke’s. MAKE a difference for current and future students. MAKE sure that the legacy of your Burke’s experience lives on.

Every gift, of any size, makes an impact. MAKE yours today.

Alumnae Updates

Iam so excited to introduce myself as the new president of the Burke’s Alumnae Association. This role comes at the same time my daughter, Graham, begins her own Burke’s journey as an incoming kindergartener. I feel honored to take on this responsibility alongside my duties as a new Burke’s parent, and I look forward to strengthening our incredible alumnae community over the next two years. As I step into this role, I thank Lisa Harada ’03 for her incredible leadership over the past two years as board president.

I want to introduce Elena Hobden, Associate Director of Advancement, who is new to Burke’s. Elena will be spearheading alumnae relations and supporting the alumnae board work throughout the year. She comes to us from San Francisco University High School where she worked as the Senior Development Manager. Elena is a women’s college graduate and is passionate about all-girls education.

One of my goals this year is to ensure that our alumnae community has more opportunities to connect in person. Burke’s Reunion is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather as a community and reconnect. We get to hear about the exciting things happening on campus and the ways in which our Burke’s traditions continue. Unfortunately, Reunion 2022 had to be canceled. However, this year, we will be working diligently throughout the school year to ensure that Reunion 2023 will be a success. Please keep your eyes out for a save-the-date. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to Elena Hobden at elena.hobden@burkes.org.

While working towards these goals, I look forward to a fun, engaging year with all of you! If you’d like to connect or are interested in being more involved as a Burke’s alumna, you can reach me at darby.gaynor@gmail.com.

With gratitude,

DARBY GAYNOR GLICKMAN ’98 President of the Alumnae Board

Alumnae Board

Burke’s Parent Education

Jennifer Egan ’76e

Jennifer Egan’s 2017 novel, Manhattan Beach, was awarded the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. She is also the author of The Invisible Circus, a novel which became a feature film starring Cameron Diaz in 2001, Look at Me, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction in 2001, EmeraldCityandOtherStories, TheKeep, and A Visit FromtheGoonSquad, won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, and the LA Times Book Prize. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Harpers, Granta, McSweeney’s and other magazines. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, and a Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Fellowship at the New York Public Library. Also a journalist, she has written frequently in the NewYorkTimesMagazine . Her 2002 cover story on homeless children received the Carroll Kowal Journalism Award, and “The Bipolar Kid” received a 2009 NAMI Outstanding Media Award for Science and Health Reporting from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Jennifer Egan ’76e was born in Chicago and moved to San Francisco when she was seven, attended Burke’s from third through eighth grades, and then attended Lowell High School.

She has lived in New York since 1987 and in Brooklyn for the past 22 years, wherealong with her husband, a theater director - she has raised two sons who are now in college. She recently completed a three-year term as president of PEN America, an organization devoted to free speech and literary culture.

Her new novel, The CandyHouse, a sibling to A Visit From theGoonSquad, was published in April, 2022, and is on numerous Best of 2022 lists including Esquire, EntertainmentWeekly, TIME, and NPR and was recently chosen as one of President Obama’s favorite books of the year.

When you were a student at Burke’s, what did you dream you’d be doing at this point in your life?

I wanted to be a doctor, and in fact, I have a cringing memory of getting caught passing a note in class in fifth grade (Mr. Hinton) that expressed frustration with our science class by complaining, “I want to study the human body!” I also have a very powerful memory from Burke’s related to writing: a children’s book

writer visited the school when I was in fifth or sixth grade. I remember the encounter with such intensity: sitting in the auditorium in rows while she spoke to us. She gave us one piece of advice, “Write what you know,” and although I have mostly defied that advice throughout my career, it was incredible to meet a real, live writer at that age. My wonderment that she had actually written a book, which I could hardly believe a human being could do, has clearly stayed with me.

What three words or phrases come to mind when you hear “Katherine Delmar Burke School”?

Sweet. Fierce. Green.

Who was one of your favorite teachers at Burke’s?

Hmmm…this was a long time ago! The name I remember other than Mr. Hinton was Mrs. Hansen, who taught fourth grade. Mary Swope was a magnificent art teacher.

What is a favorite memory from Burke’s?

I have wonderful memories of playing tetherball and four square and other games in the Lower School courtyard. Also massive jump-rope performances. And listening to the Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” during P.E.

What advice would you give to a current Burke’s student?

Notice the physical world of your school: the fog, the cypress trees, the fields. You will likely remember them all your lives.

“Noticethephysicalworldof

Photos credit: Pieter M. Van Hattem

M. Leona Godin ’86

M. Leona Godin ’86 (pronounced like French sculptor Rodin) is a blind writer, performer, educator, and author of TherePlantEyes:A PersonalandCulturalHistoryofBlindness (Pantheon, 2021). Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, OMagazine, ElectricLiterature,Catapult, and other print and online publications. She produced two plays: “The Star of Happiness” about Helen Keller’s time performing in vaudeville, and “The Spectator and the Blind Man,” about the invention of braille. She is currently writing a script for a forthcoming feature-length documentary about blind culture directed by Max Lewkowicz. Godin holds a Ph.D. in English, and besides her many years teaching literature and humanities courses at NYU, she has lectured on art, accessibility, technology, and disability at such places as Tandon School of Engineering, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and the American Printing House for the Blind. Her online magazine exploring the arts and sciences of smell and taste, Aromatica Poetica (www.aromaticapoetica. com), publishes writing and art from around the world.

When you were a student at Burke’s, what did you dream you’d be doing at this point in your life?

The things I’m currently doing—writing, performing, teaching—are all things that I loved to do when I was at Burke’s and imagined myself continuing to do in the future. I did also want to be a marine mammal biologist, but, hard as I try, I can’t do it all!

What three words or phrases come to mind when you hear “Katherine Delmar Burke School”?

Great and dynamic friendships. Thoughtful and engaged teachers. World-expanding experiences, both in school and out with friends.

Who was one of your favorite teachers at Burke’s?

I adored so many of my teachers at Burke’s, but two stand out in my mind clearly because I can remember very particular moments in their classes:

Ms. Clark, our history teacher, told us this wonderful story of being on a dig with her archaeologist father, during which she’d found a tiny inconsequential bell and thrown it into a box, only to learn later that it was a precious artifact.

And Ms. Scattergood was, I think, our social studies teacher? Anyway, studying Greek mythology with her was great, not just because my mom is Greek, but also because I wrote a delightful play wherein I got my friends to enact the meanies Pandora let out of her box. That might be one of my favorite moments.

What is a favorite memory from Burke’s?

The happy memories from Burke’s are crowding about me, but perhaps it’s easiest to point to the amazing field trips we took, particularly the overnight ones, such as visiting the California Missions and sleeping on the C.A.Thayer . Not sure what possessed me, but for some reason, I got domestic when confronting the high-seas adventure and signed up for galley duty. I remember very clearly my salty-dog pals cramming the small door and banging their tin mugs demanding more stew!

What advice would you give to a current Burke’s student?

If Burke’s is anything like it was in my time, you are being encouraged to be curious, engaged, and open to new ideas. Try to take those things with you wherever you go. A fine education is incredibly powerful, but remaining humble in the face of all that you do not know is also beautiful and important in an ever-changing world so full of diversity.

“IfBurke’sisanythinglikeitwasinmytime, youarebeingencouragedtobecurious, engaged,andopentonewideas.”

Photo credit: Alabaster Rhumb

Save

April 28, 2023 Presidio Golf Course

Celebrating our alumnae from milestone graduation years ending in ’8 and ’3. Activities are open to all classes and will include special recognition of the classes of 1970 - 1973 in celebrating their Golden Reunion Years!

All Burke’s class years are invited and encouraged to attend.

We invite you to become involved with planning reunion by joining the Reunion Committee.

Please email Elena Hobden, Associate Director of Advancement, at elena.hobden@burkes.org for more information!

Upcoming Events

Alumnae Holiday Cookie Decorating Friday, December 2, 2022 4:30 p.m.

At Burke’s and in the greater world, we have all made it through the past few years because we did it as a collective, as a community. Thanks to so many of you, for helping to build our community into what it is today. As alums, Burke’s legacy is your legacy, one that you have stewarded and shaped. We are proud to continue to create a brighter future for Burke’s and for the whole world, as we educate its future leaders.

We hope many of you will be able to join us at this year’s Alumnae Reunion or another Alumnae event. Keep an eye out for registration information in your email box.

No more cookie decorating at home! Come celebrate the holidays at Burke’s for our annual cookie decoration event. Burke’s alumnae and family members are welcome. An invitation will be sent out in November with more details.

Four School Alumni Event Wednesday, February 8, 2023 6-8 p.m.

We can’t wait to bring back this popular event in-person. with alumni from Burke’s, Town, Hamlin and Cathedral. More details to follow!

2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD: LISA MCKNIGHT ’82

The Katherine Delmar Burke School Distinguished Alumna Award is given each year to an alumna who embodies the values at the heart of the school’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls. The

recipient exemplifies a life of learning, service to community, individuality, and the ability to make a difference in the world. The awardees are nominated by the alumnae community and voted on by the Alumnae Board.

Lisa McKnight ’82 is Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls for Mattel. Lisa oversees the entire Dolls portfolio for Mattel, leading a global team in brand strategy, product development, and marketing execution.

Lisa has been instrumental in evolving the iconic Barbie brand into the most diverse doll line on the market that is reflective of the world kids see around them. With tenets rooted in the power of purpose, empowerment, inclusivity, culture, and role models, the Barbie brand continues to inspire the limitless potential in every girl and has never been more relevant than it is today.

Lisa has led the charge in defining the brand’s global social mission with the launch of the Barbie Dream Gap Project – a multi-year initiative dedicated to leveling the playing field for every girl. Since the launch in 2018, Lisa has overseen the celebration more of

than 60 global role models and raised more than a million dollars for nonprofit organizations that have powerful vehicles in place to reach girls at a global scale.

Lisa is the 2016 recipient of AdWeek’s Brand Genius Award and serves on the boards of MAKERS Women and the Toy Industry Foundation, with a focus on the DE&I committee. Lisa is also the executive sponsor of Women of Mattel and and a member of Women In Toys, through which she serves a mentor to women in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries. In 2020, she was a finalist for WFA’s Marketer of the Year title, and in 2021, named to Business Insider’s most innovative CMOs list. Lisa is a frequent guest speaker at conferences such as the Cannes International Advertising Festival, Fast Company Innovation Festival, WFA Global Marketer Conference, Most Contagious Summit, Brand Innovators, and The Gathering Summit, which welcomed Barbie as a cult brand in 2021.

The following is excerpted from the speech given at the Pansy Day Ceremony on June 8, 2022.

Good morning, everyone.

I am deeply honored to be this year’s Burke’s Distinguished Alumna. And I am thrilled to be here with you today on Pansy Day 2022! My thanks to the Alumnae Board, and to the incredible faculty and staff of Burke’s, who made all of this possible. And to the Burke’s class of 2022, “woo-hoo” and “well done!” One day early.

As an alum, who spent kindergarten through eighth grade at this

amazing place, I remember what a rush this is. And as the mom of two girls, I know what this day means to those who love you. So, savor it and say yes to every pansy-petaled selfie and “usie” you can get. Katherine Delmar Burke opened this remarkable school in 1908, with a revolutionary idea - that the world would be a brighter, better place when girls and women participated fully. She knew that education was the way into the cultural, economic, and political conversation of the day. And that encouragement and

empowerment would keep us in that conversation, shaping the arc of progress with a diverse and important perspective. And of course, she was right.

Today, there is a ton of research from the U.S. Treasury to the United Nations that links the education and empowerment of girls and women to better outcomes for everyone. It’s inspiring to see girls and women from Greta Thunberg to Amanda Gorman and Alex Morgan leading and achieving like never before. You are growing into a world that’s in many ways more open to you and your talents than it’s ever been. A place where you and your ideas can be consequential because you can influence the conversation and shape the kind of progress you want to see in the world.

And let me tell you, there is tremendous good you can do when your career and your conscience align. I’m fortunate that mine do.

Every Burke’s alum has an inspiring story. As you will. And today I’m honored to share mine. I’ll start by saying that Burke’s means a lot to me. As a kid I had no idea how special this place was. For nine years, KDB was my campus, my team, my social network. Yet, to my kid self, it was simply my school. I was a good student. History with Mrs. Pringle was a particular favorite.

In eighth grade, back when my name was Lisa Stewart, I was elected class president, with the slogan, “Stew is for YOU and there’s nothing we can’t do!” I was a good friend. In fact, to this day, some of my closest friendships are with women I met as girls, right here, at Burke’s. And by the way, any one of them, including my sister, who is also an alum, could be standing at this podium - they are truly amazing. Like everyone, I had missteps and mortifying moments. A singing role in our class musical, Bye ByeBirdie , comes to mind. Instead, my favorite stage was a field. I played field hockey and was a pretty good striker on the soccer team. Scoring goals was everything, though years of watching my daughters play club soccer made me appreciate a great assist or a defender who initiates a game-changing play.

Burke’s is also a place where I met incredible role models. Where I learned to be curious, to take chances, celebrate wins and learn from losses, hone the gifts I had and develop entirely new ones. Most of all, this is the place where I learned that anything was possible if I worked hard to make it so. Over time, that’s served me well, whether I was overcoming the complete culture shock of a co-ed high school – just wait…you’ll see - studying to earn my college degree or cultivating a career that I absolutely love.

“Being Burke’s” has empowered me to step in, step up, and importantly, lift up others.

When I became the Global Head of Barbie and the Dolls Portfolio at Mattel, I not only rediscovered my all-time favorite toy - I found a way to be hugely consequential to girls. As a kid, I spent hours playing with my Barbies, trying-on every future I could imagine from an astronaut to an executive. And, hey,

good thing that last one worked out! Created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, a visionary toy executive and mother, Barbie has always empowered girls to dream big. And those dreams keep growing. My team and I have just completed a massive global revitalization of the brand that takes empowerment to a whole new level. And she is crushing it.

Today, Barbie is the number-one toy property in the world and the most diverse line of dolls on the planet with hundreds of combinations of skin tones, hair colors and hair fibers, eye colors, body types, and disabilities. Because we know how important it is for our products to reflect the world kids see every day. In fact, last year our top-selling Barbie dolls were a wheelchair Barbie, a Black Barbie with a gorgeous afro, and a Barbie with vitiligo skin condition. And, we just introduced a Barbie with over-the-ear hearing aids which has been very positively received. Proof that diversity, in all forms, is something to celebrate. And so is a rich landscape of careers.

Over the years, Barbie has introduced girls to hundreds of careers, including fields where women are under-represented like STEM. Fun fact: Barbie was an astronaut even before Neil Armstrong went to the moon. And today, she has actually made it to space. Right now, I kid you not, there are two Barbie dolls visiting the International Space Station. Amazing, right?

We’re also investing in initiatives like our social mission program, The Barbie Dream Gap Project, to remove barriers that limit girls, particularly girls of color. We’re celebrating path-breaking women role models from Maya Angelou and Shonda Rhimes to Naomi Osaka, Sally Ride, and Laverne Cox in a line we call Sheroes which honors their achievements and reinforces the message that you can be anything. Next year, that message makes the big screen in one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2023, created by the biggest names in Hollywood, including Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie. And make no mistake, this is not the Barbie movie you think it is. Instead, it’s the Barbie movie we’ve all been waiting for – a very Barbie take on what it means to be human in a wonderfully diverse world. And that’s just a snapshot.

My point being, there is so much good you can do when your career and your conscience align. And I am fortunate that mine do. At a time when our cultural, economic, and political discussions all too often send mixed signals to girls and women, my team and I have used Barbie’s massive global platform to model the very best of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and to advocate for the limitless potential of girls everywhere. I don’t know if it’s coincidence or karma that both my early education at Burke’s and the bulk of my career have been inspired by visionary women with revolutionary ideas about the positive impact girls can have in the world. Either way, I am inspired and excited to build on their legacies.

Now on a day like this, a speech like this would naturally wrap up with some advice. Instead, I’m going to validate three things you already know.

First, your curiosity is a superpower.

It’s important to know things, don’t get me wrong. But in a rapidly changing world, “knowing” has an expiration date. On the other hand, curiosity, the drive to learn, and to wonder, “what if” and “why not,” is always fresh.

A recent study by the World Economic Forum shows that across many industries and countries, the most in-demand specialties and occupations didn’t even exist 10 years ago. One estimate suggests that 65% of kids entering primary school will ultimately work in careers that don’t exist today. And if that doesn’t make the case for a lifetime of curiosity and continuous learning, what does? Curiosity is why we have TikTok and Tesla, Netflix and Postmates. And it’s why we dare to imagine a better world. A world that needs your curiosity, shaping and growing it in infinitely positive ways.

Second, your empowerment, empowers others.

Sometimes it’s as simple as smiling at a baby and getting her to smile back. Teaching your grandparents how to use emojis. Or admitting to a friend or colleague that you’re totally clueless about something they can help you understand. NFTs come to mind. When you inspire confidence in others, you not only lift them up, you give them a reason to lift someone else up. And that’s empowering. Generation to generation and culture to culture, I think it’s the greatest gift we can give one another. So, whether it’s on a global scale like Barbie or one-to-one, I encourage you to model the empowerment you wish to see in the world, because it matters.

And third, keep going.

Life is a marathon with all kinds of exit ramps. Some worth it. Others, not so much. So, surround yourself with people who will run beside you, urging you on, no matter what. I call them my personal board of directors, friends who know me - many of them from Burke’s - who remind me that every challenge is an opportunity and that barriers were made to be broken. Twentyplus years ago, when my husband and I left San Francisco for L.A., we mostly saw challenges. Our lives, our careers, and everyone we cared about were here. There was a lot of uncertainty. And of course, L.A. can be a misunderstood (or intimidating) place. But we took that step. We committed to a family motto that anything is possible. And we’ve lived it through hard work and a lot of joy. In fact, to this day, the only regret we have is that our two girls were too far away to attend Burke’s.

None of us really knows what’s ahead. Every day, life reminds us in both magnificent and tragic ways that we can’t control for everything. Still, I hope that my story has shown you that who you are and what you do with your life - how you show up - can be hugely consequential. There is so much waiting for you. Diplomas and celebrations, and an amazing journey that’s all your own. Maybe an invitation to step up to this podium one day? Whether you realize it or not, you’ve already distinguished yourselves in more ways than you know.

Tomorrow, you join a brilliant constellation of Burke’s alums who, each in our own way - as executives, and artists, journalists and judges, teachers and mothers, philanthropists, physicians, and beyond - embody Burke’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls. And in advance of that, on behalf of all Burke’s alums, I want to welcome you. We are enormously proud of you. And we can’t wait to see where your journey will take you.

Thank you and congratulations, Burke’s Class of 2022!

CLASS NOTES

Alumnae Updates From Burke’s

Class of 1949

CALLIE MCLELLAN was excited to attend the weddings of two granddaughters last summer, one in San Francisco and the other in Sonoma.

Class of 1950

MARY KELLEY reports that she sheltered for more than a year, but she was still able to see her daughter, Susan Kelley DeGrado ’76e, an alum who logged eight years at Burke’s!

Class of 1956

SUSAN A. ROTHMANN SEELEY lets us know that she now has 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson! She keeps busy by serving on various boards and committees.

WANDA HERRINGTON WALKER writes that she is still doing well at 87, and she ventured on a 30-day cruise from Capetown to Singapore just before the pandemic.

MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1956 gathered for a reunion in lieu of the annual event that had to be cancelled last June. [1]

Class of 1957

Such excitement! On July 5,2022, Eliza Walker Reynolds’ arrival made NAN NIBLEY WALKER a greatgrandmother.

Class of 1964

SUSAN THOMPSON DIEDERICHSEN is still in Palo Alto with three kids scattered around the country and nine grandchildren ranging from college age to newborn. “I wish my kids were closer, but it gives me a chance to see other parts of the country,” she says. When Susan went to get her COVID-19 vaccine at Great America in Santa Clara, she recognized a local newscaster, who ended up interviewing her for the news! “I hope all is well with everyone!” she says. [2]

JEANNETTE HARRIS is still teaching at Lone Mountain Children’s Center in San Francisco and having fun!

Class of 1965

LINDA E. LIEBELT laid low for more than 18 months in defense against COVID-19 but looks forward to traveling again in California with her husband, Wolfgang. She’s keeping

busy writing and illustrating “Wally’s Guide to Sheltering in Place: a Parrot’s Perspective on the Pandemic,” a tale of her parrot Wally’s wacky 2020. She also volunteers for Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, helping people adopt or foster parrots and similar exotic birds, such as canaries, finches, and budgies. With the pandemic, it’s been a busy time for the organization!

MARGOT RAWLINS and husband Mark, dog Gala, horse Rojo, many deer, and birds galore continue to love living the totally rural life in southern Mendocino County. Margot is doing some environmental education consulting with Sonoma State University and learning quite a bit about our world. [3]

Class of 1966

KATHLEEN ATLASS REDFIELD says that she’s looking forward to having her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson move nearby — both her son and daughter-in-law have accepted tenuretrack positions at the University of Chicago!

LIZ ROBERTSON BAKER reminded us that she lives in the house where she grew up.

AILEEN DAVIS GRIFFEY and husband Phil continue to thoroughly enjoy the bucolic retiree lifestyle on Bainbridge Island, where they have lived for 29 years. “Every day still feels like another day in paradise!” she says. They were looking forward to a belated family celebration of their 50th anniversary, which was postponed. All three of their sons have been fortunate to be able to work from their homes during the pandemic.

ELIZABETH HALE has moved to Montana and is enjoying camaraderie with the people who live there.

GAILIE HORTON HOPF and Georg spent the last year in Fairfax and cannot wait to get back to Austria as soon as they can.

MELANIE LYNN has her first grandchild, a boy named Miles Lynn Erickson. “Everything they say about having grandchildren is true,” she says.

CONSTANCE PIKE reports that she is well, having just retired from her private psychotherapy practice after almost 40 years. “We care for our 90acre farm here in New England (with help), and are both fairly healthy,” she says. “I attended Sidney’s art opening in North Adams, Massachusetts, which was fantastic, and I remain in touch with Susan.”

SIDNEY MACDONALD RUSSELL exhibited her work in a “fantastic” art show, “I Studied Design In Grade School”, at Eckert Fine Art in North Adams, Massachusetts. See her work at janeeckertfineart.com/sidney-russellshow-catalog.

CAROL RHINE MEDINA writes that she and husband José Luis made the decision in May 2017 to sell their San Francisco apartment and move to San Rafael. The proposal that their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter relocate there with them from the Dallas area was happily accepted. They now all live in the Loch Lomond area, near Point San Pedro. “Surprisingly enough, we all co-exist on jovial terms and have had some entertaining times – even during the pandemic!” Carol says. She continues working as a freelance Spanish interpreter in the criminal division of the U.S. District Court. “Although the past year has brought less physical exertion since we have been working on Zoom and phones from home, it has been challenging in a technical sense, and I actually welcome renewed on-site work and personal contact,” she says. Though regular travel to Spain was interrupted by the pandemic, she and José Luis hope to return soon.

ANDREA SOLARI and husband Jim Klaczak are very happy in Scottsdale, where he’s still teaching high school history and she’s enjoying retirement from her CPA career and the extra time to study archeology. They hope to resume traveling to Italy soon!

PAULINE WATTS spent the pandemic traveling between her home on Cherry Street and her country home in Napa. “Just waiting for the virus to be over,” she says.

DIANA MORRIS WILD is having a wonderful time with her seven grandchildren!

Class of 1975

TAMMIS E. DOYLE is a theater director, playwright, and professor of theater at Bellevue College just outside of Seattle, where she lives with her wife, the voice actor, singer, actor, teacher, and podcaster Bradetta Vines. They recently celebrated their 25th anniversary! Their three 30-ish daughters are doing well in Washington and California, pursuing nursing, helping Washington State Schools assess risks, and acting on film and television, with their partners and pets.

Class of 1977e

Last year’s Alumnae Reunion had to be cancelled, but eight members of the Class of 1977e didn’t want to let their 45th reunion pass them by! [4]

Class of 1978

LESLIE J. MAYER reports that in addition to her commercial real estate activities, she has an international horse business in Holland, and is also beekeeping in Los Angeles!

Class of 1983

JENNIFER SAMPSON published a book, Skater Girls, in October 2020. The title is a collection of tintype photographic portraits of girl skateboarders.

Class of 1986

MICHELLE GODIN now goes by Leona, her middle name, and she dropped an O from her surname (once Goodin) to return to the original French spelling. Her book, TherePlantEyes:APersonal andCulturalHistoryofBlindness, was published by Pantheon Books last June. “Now that technology has made it possible for blind people to have access to everything the digital era has to offer, it seems important to have discussions about what blind and other disabled people can and do contribute to our community,” she says. “Although at that time little was known about retinal diseases or what to do with a visually impaired kid, the education I got at Burke’s made it possible for me to never let go of the idea of college (or grad school), even when I dropped out of high school because I could no longer read standard-size print.”

Class of 1988

BETTINA SUESS BAUMGARTEN writes that 2021 offered many silver linings for her family. Daughter Gabrielle became a bat mitzvah in October, and son Zachary is playing water polo as a sophomore at Redwood. After a 10-year sabbatical as a personal stylist, Bettina is now remotely studying for an LLM degree in fashion law with Fordham University School of Law while also working as in-house counsel for The RealReal. Her thesis, which examines

the perils underlying luxury brands’ policing of the resale market, was just published in Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review, a journal at Loyola Marymount University, where Bettina graduated from law school.

Class of 1995

VICTORIA RICHARDSON GRAY and husband Gordon live in San Francisco with their boy/girl twins, who will turn 3 this summer! Victoria is a vice president and managing director of Bonhams Auction House in SF, where she has worked for the past 18 years.

LESLEY KRAECHAN recently partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to bring free books monthly to kids under 5 in San Francisco and Oakland. While children will receive age appropriate books, the first book all children receive is a personalized version of TheLittleEngineThatCould to set the tone for the program: “I Think I Can.”

Class of 1996

MISHA FRANK: “With the power of Zoom, several classmates visited

my classroom as guest speakers during International Women’s Month! Big thanks to DENISE LEW, KATY CONGDON WILLIAMS, and STINA SKEWES-COX TRAINOR!”

Class of 1999

LILY BOWLES LEO lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children. She is finishing up her second masters degree and works as a science communicator.

Class of 2001

ANNA SNYDER and her family moved back to San Francisco in June 2020 after 10 years in NYC. Anna, husband Jamie, and son Finn were joined by daughter Etta in January 2021. “Looking forward to some green plaid in our future!” she says.

Class of 2007

REBECCA RICH recently graduated from Yale School of Nursing and became a women’s health nurse practitioner and midwife. “Burke’s is what inspired me to pursue a career in educating and empowering women!” she says. This photo is from a reunion we had December 2019! It was so special to see everyone and hear update. We laughed a lot! [5]

Class of 2008

SARAH STEINHART who now goes by Jo, is pursuing an MFA at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles, and she’s been hard at work writing and directing her thesis film. She

welcomes queries from any film lovers in the Burke’s community!

Class of 2009

KAYLEY YOU MAK is living in Los Alamos, New Mexico, while working for Los Alamos National Lab. She reports that she’s doing lots of rock climbing, biking, and hiking.

Class of 2010

JULIA NEMY graduated from Bates College in 2018 before heading to France to study for a master’s degree in literature translation.

Class of 2012

KENDALL YOU MAK graduated from Wellesley College in 2020. “I’m in and out of SF, so keep in touch if you’re back in the city!” She is currently bikepacking across the country with two friends, and they call themselves the “Grimy Gremlins.”They started the journey on September 8, leaving Ocean Beach in San Francisco with a goal of reaching Boston in 10-12 weeks. They are raising funds to benefit Women’s Wilderness (womenswilderness.org) an organization to support girls, women and LGBTQ+ people in connecting to the outdoors.

Class of 2014

SARAH MAHNKE-BAUM is working at the Walt Disney Family Museum while studying fashion and art history at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Class of 2015

ANNABELLE HENDRICKSON released her debut EP, titled OKAY, on November 11, 2021. It’s the culmination of 10 years of songwriting – beginning when she was a fifth grader at Burke’s! The EP is a self-produced collection of coming of age stories alongside the music of her beloved Gibson SG guitar, which is named Cerise. Find Annabelle’s music at distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ annabellehendrickson/okay.

KAMRYN YOU MAK is in her junior year at Middlebury College and loving it, even spending last summer in Vermont.

Class of 2017

JORDAN DEEMER graduated as valedictorian from Woodside High School. She’s now running track at Occidental College with plans to study psychology and women’s studies.

EILEEN GU will start at Stanford in fall 2022 after taking a gap year to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing! Eileen competed in big air, halfpipe, and slopestyle skiing events, winning the first-ever gold medal in big air, making her the youngest-ever gold medalist in a freestyle skiing event, in addition to a silver in slopestyle and another gold in halfpipe. On February 7, NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage included an interview with Eileen and showed footage of her seventh-grade speech at Burke’s, in which she spoke about Title IX. She also wrote a piece for The New York Times about how she deals with fear as an athlete.

DAISY MAUNUPAU is playing Division I tennis at UC Davis alongside her older sister, Olive Manapau ’16. The sisters are a doubles team!

KAILEN MITCHELL headed off to Tulane University last fall with plans to major in information technology and computer science.

LUCY MORRELL spent her first year of college at Mills College in Oakland studying art history and theology, but is currently taking time off from school to work and travel.

Class of 2018

MADELINE BAILEY was student body president at Dunn School and head of Spirit Committee. She played 4 years of Varsity volleyball and basketball and has been a dorm RA. She will be studying

Art History with a minor in Social Anthropology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

CHARLOTTE GLEN will be purusing graphic design at Loyola Marymount University

GRACE VISSER is committed to be a D1 collegiate rower at the University of Delaware.

Class of 2020

MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2020 who had a completely virtual Pansy Day and Commencement were invited back to campus to mingle with classmates and Burke’s faculty. Some alums even took a spin around the Maypole! [6]

Class of 2021

LILY TUVI had a story, “Tragedy Confined to Oblivian: The Story of the Wilhelm Gustloff” included in the Society of Young Inklings’ fourteenth annual InklingsBook anthology featuring stories and poems by youth authors in grades three through nine. Each piece is paired with a letter from the youth writer’s author-mentor, who guided them through a personalized revision, plus an interview about the experience.

Burke’s is proud of its strong legacy of graduating strong, confident women. We sadly report the loss of these members of our alumnae family.

Anita Marcus Fay ’42

Frances Dinkelspiel Green ’46

Barbara Heil Stevens ’48

Joan Molfino Leonard ’50

Wallis Smith ’55

Marjorie Schmitt Taylor ’58

Deborah Fine Norris ’70

Patricia Moriarty ’71

Genie Riordan Callan ’46

Charlotte Nourse Martin ’46

Edith “Peggy” Garland Merrifield ’47

Sue Loutzenheiser Littlehale ’51

Susan Brady Alfaro ’53 Nancy Hellman Bechtle ’55

Ms. Katherine McLenegan Nyland’ 64

Anne Sokolow Levine ’64

Caroline Schaupp Sheridan ’69

Morgan Barker ’98

Sarah Heilbron ’81

Beatrice Bowles ‘61

Remembering Pat Tomei

BELOVED BURKE’S EDUCATOR

BURKE’S STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF MRS. PAT TOMEI, A BELOVED TEACHER AT BURKE’S FOR 34 YEARS.

Mrs. Tomei taught Upper School English, History, and Humanities, and participated in Youth Voice, curriculum development, fundraising, hiring searches, and mentorship of new teachers. Although Mrs. Tomei retired in 2016, she remained an active member of the Burke’s community, and was a member of the Loyalty Society.

Mrs. Tomei was selected for the Jessie-Lea Abbott Excellence in Teaching Award in 2012-2013 designed to recognize a teacher who embraces Burke’s mission and whose work exemplifies its tenets of educating, encouraging, and empowering girls. In the words of one of Mrs. Tomei’s former students who became a professional colleague: “I have such warm memories of being in Mrs. Tomei’s classes as a Burke’s girl. It is wonderful to work with her as a colleague and to find that all my beliefs about her as a child are true… she is genuinely kind, caring, patient and dedicated to supporting her students.”

Rebekah Wolman, former Director of Upper School, said, “Pat was wise, diplomatic, gracious, and completely without pretension. Literal generations of Burke’s girls enjoyed safe passage into the intimidating world of Upper School through the portal of her classroom — a hive of activity fueled by Pat’s own joy, curiosity, and excitement about learning and overseen by her gentle smile.”

The following information has been excerpted from Mrs. Tomei’s obituary.

Mrs. Tomei passed away peacefully on February 19, 2022, after courageously battling metastatic breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Pat departed this world with her husband of 57 years by her side, surrounded by the deep love and admiration of many people she held dear. She was 78.

Mrs. Tomei was born Patricia Hayden Brown on August 30, 1943, to Virginia and Leonard Brown in Antioch, CA. She grew up in Santa Cruz with her two brothers and sister. She earned her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, where she met the love of her life, Joel Tomei. After completing her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, Pat earned her master’s in education and teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Later, she received a master’s in art history from Boston University, where she also completed coursework for a Ph.D.

Pat and Joel married in 1964 and in 1973, they returned to San Francisco, where they welcomed their two daughters, Amanda Tomei Stewart ‘92, and Elizabeth Y. Tomei ’97. Mrs. Tomei began her teaching career in Oakland in 1967 and joined Burke’s in 1982 where she spent the next 34 years as our beloved educator, friend and colleague. Mrs. Tomei was an amazing teacher, colleague, and friend. She will be dearly missed.

Ways to Give

CASH, CHECK, OR CREDIT CARD

Gifts of cash, typically payable by check, and credit card gifts are tax deductible and provide immediate funds to the school. The easiest way to give is online at www.burkes. org/give.

You can also send a check to:

Katherine Delmar Burke School Advancement Office

7070 California Street San Francisco, CA 94121

CRYPTOCURRENCY

Burke’s now accepts donations of select cryptocurrency at www.burkes.org/crypto. Donating cryptocurrency directly to Burke’s is a non-taxable event.Your gift will be larger because instead of paying capital gains taxes, Burke’s will receive the full value of your contribution. If you are interested in donating a cryptocurrency not listed on the website or have questions, please contact Yukiko Meadows, yukiko.meadows@burkes.org.

MATCHING GIFTS

Many companies offer their employees the opportunity to double or, in some cases, triple their gifts to certain programs or organizations by matching them. Please check with your employer about their Matching Gift Program.

SECURITIES & PROPERTY

Gifts of stocks, other securities, or property have two significant advantages to the

donor — they are tax deductible for the full fair market value of the gift when it is made, and the donor does not pay capital gains on the appreciated value of the stock or property. Contact the Advancement Office for more information on making a gift of securities or property.

PLANNED GIVING

The Barbara Burke Legacy Society honors alumnae, past parents, grandparents, current parents, and friends who have remembered Burke’s by bequest in their estate plans or who have made a life income gift or other type of planned gift. You can become a member by:

• placing Burke’s in your will

• making Burke’s the beneficiary of a retirement account

• making a gift of a life insurance policy (a gift of life insurance can result in tax savings and can be made through an existing or a new life insurance policy)

• establishing a charitable trust

• making a gift of real estate or other tangible property

Each of these gifts can result in substantial tax savings for the donor. Please consult the Advancement Office or your tax adviser for more information.

Please notify the Advancement Office if you have made a deferred or planned gift to Burke’s so that you will be included in The Barbara Burke Legacy Society.

OTHER DEFERRED GIFTS

It is possible to make gifts of property that may allow income tax benefits for the donor during his or her lifetime, may be used during the lifetime of the donor, and which would revert to Burke’s, with possible estate tax savings. Institutions can achieve stability and growth through planned giving. Contact your tax adviser for specific advice that relates to your particular circumstances.

GIFTS IN KIND

Burke’s welcomes donations such as classroom supplies, athletic equipment, and other items related to the educational program, as well as donations of auction items to the annual Burke’s Benefit. Gift value is determined by the donor through appraisal or a record of purchase. Please contact the Advancement Office if you would like to make a gift in kind.

For more information about making a gift of any type, please contact Yukiko Meadows, Director of Advancement, at 415.666.3204 or yukiko.meadows@burkes.org. To make a gift online, please visit www.burkes.org/give.