In this Issue: F E AT U R E
Climbing Every Mountain! Buzz at Burke’s:
Events and Happenings on Campus
S P R ING 2020
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.
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
ON THE COVER The Outdoor Education program challenges increase by grade level, and by seventh grade, students are tackling the mountains of Pinnacles National Park. Students learn to work together, rely on themselves, and also support each other — all while developing a love and appreciation of the natural world. Read more on page 26.
Table of Burke’s Magazine is produced by Burke’s Advancement Off ice SELENA SHADLE Director of Advancement selena@kdbs.org
DIANA SCHNEIDER Director of Communications diana.s@kdbs.org
DIANA KAW Associate Director of Advancement diana@kdbs.org
MARA GIARRATANA YOUNG Special Events and Parent Relations Manager mara@kdbs.org
MONICA HERNANDEZ Advancement and Database Associate monica@kdbs.org
CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE
Opening Shots..............................................2 Snapshots from Burke’s Greetings from the Head of School...........10 A Message from Michele Williams Buzz at Burke’s............................................12 Events and Happenings on Campus Traditions.................................................... 24 International Women’s Day
Designed by Bacio Design & Marketing
Feature....................................................... 26 Climbing Every Mountain! Pansy Day....................................................30 Commencement.......................................... 31 Greetings from the Alumnae Association...33 A Message from Laurie Hanna Carrade ’92 Alumnae Q&A............................................ 34 Eileen Gu ’17 and Katie Hultquist ’88 Alumnae Events .........................................36 Distinctions................................................42 Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91 Alumnae Updates.......................................44 Class Notes and In Memoriam From the Archives...................................... 48 For the Record Tracing Burke’s Roots................................ 50 The Crowley Family
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O PE NI NG SHOTS
Thank You, RBG!
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he smoke-filled week in November 2018 was filled with anticipation, festivities, and tradition, one of which was the fourth-grade play, Thank You, RBG! honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Our dedicated students put on a great show despite not having a conventional rehearsal space and practicing in declining air quality. Lower School Theatre Specialist Nancy Gold found a way to send the play to Justice Ginsburg, and the students received a wonderful note back! SEE THE FULL VIDEO AT KDBS.ORG/RGB-PLAY18
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Ribbon Cutting
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t the end of the 2018-19 school year, Burke’s had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new Campus Center with our most important community members — our students! Excited faces were everywhere, and Head of School Michele Williams led a snake dance through the new space. MORE PHOTOS: KDBS.ORG/RIBBONCUTTING-19.
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Table of Elements
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ighth graders celebrated Element Day by creating a human periodic table and playing Element Bingo with their Upper School classmates in March 2019.
MORE PHOTOS: KDBS.ORG/TABLE-OF-ELEMENTS19
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Visit to Sacramento
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he annual fourth grade field trip to Sacramento had a surprise twist last May when our students were able to spend a half hour with Governor Gavin Newsom. The governor took questions from our curious students and talked about his journey to the statehouse! MORE PHOTOS: KDBS.ORG/GOVERNOR-SACRAMENTO-TRIP19.
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Greetings from the Head of School A MESSAGE FROM MICHELE WILLIAMS
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hat an incredible year it has been!
As you can see from the new title of our alumnae magazine, we have lots of news to share! Our community is over 100 years strong, and while our mission has been constant, our school is remembered under a variety of names. Perhaps you attended Miss Burke’s, or your family references KDBS when you are reminiscing about your school days. Burke’s Magazine came out of work by our Board Marketing Committee to more clearly articulate our school’s vision and philosophy and consistently showcase who we are as a brand and culture. We will continue to preserve the legacy and name of Katherine Delmar Burke in many ways, but moving forward, the school will be presented under one name — Burke’s. I hope you enjoy the new look of our publication, and rest assured that the stories of innovative teaching, joyful learning, and warm traditions are still the same! Before I move on to our future plans, I can’t help but take one more moment to celebrate the successful completion of Many Voices. Many Hands. All Burkes.: The Campaign for Girls. From community meals and events to grade-level plays and exhibits, our state-of-the-art Campus Center is being put to good use! I can’t express how happy it makes me to watch the girls in the reimagined classrooms and Campus Center. They are happy, they are joyful, it is theirs — and we built it together. We could not be more grateful to the community for its generosity and support of this campaign. We are particularly grateful for our alumnae families’ participation in the Alma Mater Fund launched last spring to support the endowment portion of the campaign. Indeed, we are already seeing the benefits of an endowment increase of $8 million in expanded financial assistance, teacher salaries, and programmatic funding. The campaign is complete, but as our feature story suggests, we still have many mountains to climb! Last spring, we launched a strategic-planning process with a 22-person committee co-chaired by Gabrielle Kivitz ’89. In early February of this
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year, more than 100 parents, faculty, staff, alumnae and current students came to Vision Day for an action-packed day of designthinking and teamwork (pictured at right). It has always been our goal to have the final strategic plan reflect the values, ideas, and dreams of the many constituencies at Burke’s. Vision Day was an incredible reminder of how much our community cares about this institution and its place in San Francisco and the greater world. We look forward to presenting an actionable strategic plan that is bold, creative, and forward-thinking to meet the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead. Last, but certainly not least, I want to highlight our work around defining and developing a road map for a more diverse and inclusive school. Burke’s is at a pivotal point in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work. The Director of Inclusivity and Community Building has become a full-time member of senior administration, and the school’s Equity and Inclusion Committee is creating a dashboard to track data on inclusion. The group will be working over the coming months on how to measure the data in a way that will have the most impact on our work. This dovetails with a preexisting parallel effort by the administration to weave DEI principals into all aspects of its work, including hiring, admissions, and decision-making. I look forward to updating you as we work to ensure our classrooms are even more reflective of the community around us. I want to close with a note of gratitude. You are such an important part of our school’s history and future. Whether you supported the campaign, made a gift to the Annual Fund, or perhaps came back to campus for Alumnae Reunion Weekend, the Alumnae Mentorship Panel or a classroom visit with students, we are grateful to remain part of your lives and thank you for your support as we continue our work to be a model in K-8 girls’ education.
MICHELE WILLIAMS Head of School
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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 youtube.com/user/burkeschool
YOUTH VOICE OFFICERS GO TO CITY HALL Eight Burke’s Youth Voice Officers participated in the 2019 Women’s March and had the opportunity to participate in a reception with Mayor London Breed, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Malia Cohen, 2nd District Representative for the California State Board of Equalization.
watch the rally from a terrace as Mayor Breed gave her remarks. Later, Mayor Breed held an open Q&A in her office and fielded student questions on everything from homelessness and climate change to her record on LGBTIQ issues and handling the tough challenges of her new role. Last but not least, she encouraged them to work hard and use their voice as future female leaders! MORE PHOTOS: KDBS.ORG/YOUTH-VOICE-CITY-HALL19
For most of the Burke’s students, this was their first visit to City Hall! The students had the opportunity to
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STUDENTS LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE On Friday, September 20, the Youth-Led Climate Strike happened in San Francisco and across the globe.Two seventh graders and about a dozen eighth graders attended the strike and had the opportunity to present their experiences during an Upper School Assembly. All students had the opportunity to express themselves about an environmental issue via a poster campaign that will remain up in the Upper School through the end of the school year. The posters address topics such as sea level rise, deforestation, plastics in the ocean, and mass extinction of species. While the challenge is daunting, each poster gives at least one suggestion for what the reader can do to help solve the problem.
FINDING THEIR VOICES Burke’s seventh-grade Public Speaking/Writer’s Workshop gives students an empowering opportunity to be heard and seen in a safe and supportive environment. Every trimester, Burke’s seventh graders bravely confront the daunting challenge of public speaking with all of their Upper School peers as witnesses. Moreover, as the teachers who observe the ultimate effects of Burke’s required Public Speaking/Writer’s Workshop class will attest, these painstakingly prepared presentations often prove to be as empowering as they are challenging. Weighty issues such as racism, mistreatment of animals, various medical conditions, and even society’s failures of empathy have been addressed. Some students draw upon their personal lives. “We heard from the daughter of a Vietnamese refugee family who discussed her experiences,” said Rebekah Wolman, Upper School Director. Not that there isn’t the occasional dose of middle-school humor: “There was an absolutely hysterical speech on knuckle cracking a couple of years ago,” she noted.
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A SPECIAL AUTHOR VISIT: “JACOB’S NEW DRESS” As part of their gender inclusion unit, first graders had a visit from Sarah and Ian Hoffman, authors of Jacob’s New Dress and Jacob’s Room to Choose. The students discussed how people wear clothes to show their personality or just like to wear what’s comfortable. In the story, Jacob loves playing dress-up so he can be whatever he wants to be. When he goes to school, students tell him he can’t wear “girl” clothes. Jacob convinces his parents to let him wear what he wants and helps to challenge traditional gender roles.
WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY LEARNED FROM THE BOOK, OUR STUDENTS SHARED:
“You can wear what you want!” “ People should just wear what is comfy for them.” “ If someone is being mean to you, you just stand up for yourself!” “Believe in yourself!” “ Boys and girls can wear whatever makes them happy!”
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DEI IN GOVERNANCE The work of the Burke’s Diversity Task Force resulted in the creation of the Burke’s Gender Inclusion Statement, new options in the uniform code, a new transportation program that brings students from near and far, and a review of the tuition financial assistance model to ensure that the school is reaching a broad socio-economic range of families. In 2018, the board took steps to ensure the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work would be embedded into the Burke’s administrative culture beyond Task Force goals. A standing Equity and Inclusion Committee was formed that is currently co-chaired by Jennifer McClanahan-Flint and Quise Edwards, Burke’s Director of Inclusivity and Community Building. Among other activities, the committee has been developing a curriculum to train and educate other board members about DEI and how it relates to governance. This year, new trustees were invited to attend the first meeting of the Equity and Inclusion Committee to better understand its current efforts, learn about past work, and emphasize the importance of communication across committees, such as finance, that impact DEI across the school. One of the most intentional parts of the Equity and Inclusion Committee is that it brings together the school administration, Parents’ Association, and board members to ensure the community is on the same page and no voices are lost. A critical piece of the work will be ongoing education to help the community develop the language and cultural competency around the ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “We have momentum and enthusiasm for this work,” said Jennifer McClanahan-Flint. “What is exciting now is that we are taking that energy and putting it into creating an E&I strategy with a clear road map and accountability.”
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VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS 01. GAMELAN WORKSHOPS - More photos: kdbs.org/gamelan-workshops19 02. EIGHTH-GRADE MUSICAL - ALADDIN - More photos: kdbs.org/eighthgrademusical19 03. CLOWN WORKSHOPS - More photos: kdbs.org/clown-workshops19 04. GREEK PLAYS - More photos: kdbs.org/greek-plays19 05. VOCAL SPOTLIGHT - More photos: kdbs.org/vocal-spotlight19 06. SIXTH-GRADE CABARET - More photos: kdbs.org/cabaret19
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BUCK INSTITUTE PBL WORKS TEAM COMES TO BURKE’S Last spring, faculty participated in two project-based learning (PBL) sessions led by the Buck Institute for Education’s PBL Works team. Using the PBL Works model of “Gold Standard Project Based Learning,” the workshops modeled the project design process and provided participants with the knowledge and skills needed to design, assess, and manage a rigorous, standards-based project. Burke’s faculty participants engaged as learners in a transformative project that modeled the key features of the PBL process. Beginning with a launch/entry event and authentic driving question, teams worked together to build knowledge, understanding and success skills, and develop and critique products and answers to the driving question. The day culminated with team presentations of their products, followed by structured reflection on what they have learned about PBL.
Teachers applied their knowledge in an “Idea Lab” day to work together on curriculum projects in a collaborative setting. One of the projects around having students create math games in Makery for use in the classroom was put into action this fall with great success! The teachers have been putting their skills to use all year in a variety of projects and collaborations in every grade level.
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‘GAME ON!’: FOURTH GRADE DESIGNERS AT WORK Fourth graders had a special visit from Burke’s alumna and Riot Games Senior Product Manager Stephanie Dee ’96. Her visit coincided with the feedback phase of a unit where students were designing games for their clients — Lower School teachers! Stephanie began the session with background on her journey to becoming a computer scientist: “I came to Burke’s in sixth grade and thought going to an all-girls school would be awesome. I was at a school with boys and there was this myth that girls weren’t good at math. After I came to Burke’s, I saw 40 amazing people in my grade that were all good at math — I realized those boys must be wrong. After that, I wanted to study math and science.” The feedback session was a critical part of helping the students answer the essential question “What makes a math game
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effective, fun, and engaging at different ages?” This project is a great example of how Burke’s weaves together multiple disciplines — math, art, design, social-emotional learning, language arts, and design — into engaging projects that help our students build skills needed to succeed in a complex world. The first phase of research complete, it was time to move on to prototyping! All designs started on paper to give students many opportunities to ideate, prototype, test, and revise. They presented their physical prototypes to get feedback from their peers, teachers, and in an exciting twist, Stephanie Dee! Over the next several weeks, the students conducted trial runs, focus groups, user interviews, revisions, and more. Photos of the visit and final games at: kdbs.org/game-designers19
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GIRLS WHO RUN THE WORLD The Parent Education Committee hosted an inspiring all-school assembly and morning panel moderated by Diana Kapp, author of Girls Who Run the World, with Madeline Dangerfield-Cha, co-founder & head of product at Mon Ami; Whitney Gaynor ’96, president and co-founder, Sinovia Technologies; and Christina Stembel, CEO of Farmgirl Flowers. The students enjoyed a candid discussion about their challenges, successes, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur in today’s world. See video of the panel at kdbs.org/diana-kapp-panel19
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RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE, AND PRIDE Resistance, resilience, and pride: These are three core ideas being explored in this year’s second-grade art curriculum around empowered women artists of color. In a collaboration with the social studies curriculum, second graders have been learning about women of color in the art world who have done amazing things. The current art project has them diving into the history of Maya Lin, the artist-architect of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The students read Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey and learned how Maya’s design was chosen out of 1,421 entries when she was still in college. They heard her voice through a video describing her struggle to resist gender stereotypes, ageism, and discrimination as an Asian woman in male-dominated world. The students also talked about the importance of resilience when they learned that Maya had to stand strong against months of public hearings where people objected to her design, saying it looked too simple and was disrespectful to veterans.
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Using their new understanding of Maya Lin’s history and artistic process, the students were asked to collaborate in groups on a site-specific installation, such as a sculpture or memorial. Needless to say, there were many discussions and debates and a great deal of collaboration to get to the final concepts! A few of the pieces were titled “Dragon Theater,” “Amazement Park,” “Remembering Art,” and “Animal Care Home.” Students used recycled materials, delegated tasks and roles, considered structural challenges, and constructed the final design out of paper mache.
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Wolski has held numerous classroom and administrative roles and has a special interest in social-emotional learning and mindfulness. Her experience working in middle schools helped build her knowledge around admissions and the many challenges of transitioning from eighth to ninth grade. Her background has given her a keen perspective on Bay Area high schools as well as the boarding schools around the United States and Canada that our students consider, visit, and attend. She is very appreciative of how Burke’s incorporates mindfulness into the classroom to keep students
FACULTY PROFILE: Rebecca Wolski
grounded in their work. It is especially important for the eighth graders for whom the high-school admissions process can become one of the most stressful times in their young lives.
Rebecca Wolski came to Burke’s this fall after spending six years at the K-12 Bentley School in the East Bay — the last
“The work is exciting and different every day,” Wolski
two and a half leading the middle school. She is currently
says about being back in the classroom teaching Public
co-advising yearbook along with teaching public speaking
Speaking while also handling Yearbook and high school
to seventh graders and guiding eighth graders and their
counseling. “I particularly feel privileged to be part of the
families through the high school application process.
special eighth-grade culture of working on the yearbook that becomes a part of Burke’s history.”
Her journey into education began years ago with a passion for French. Wolski’s middle school studies
In addition to her other roles, Wolski co-leads the “Gay,
in French started at home with her father who taught
Lesbian or Whatever” student affinity group that meets
English for 50 years. Both fluent in reading and writing
at lunchtime to bring awareness and acceptance of
the language, they still correspond in French via letter,
LGBTIQ issues to campus. In her free time, she swims
email, or text! Her language expertise helped launch
and rows at the Dolphin Club and is a cyclist on the
the beginning of her teaching career when she became a
Roaring Mouse team.
French tutor at Fordham College while earning her degree in economics and French.
“Burke’s is an exciting place to work right now. There is so much energy and momentum behind the mission,” she
“Learning another language expands your mind,
adds. “Our students are truly empowered and encouraged
perspective and world views. For me, French opened up
for all the right reasons. I’m proud to be part of the
so many interesting opportunities. I studied in France
process.”
and later moved to Lyon to work as a teacher at a French elementary school.”
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EXPLORING ALL THE COLORS WE ARE Burke’s kindergarten teachers developed a unit discussing race through the Understanding by Design model of curriculum development. The unit begins by reading a book titled All The Colors We Are. Through exploration and discussion, the teachers lead the students in conversations and projects about race and the different colors of people’s skin. It has been an impactful unit on student’s ability to honor and appreciate visual differences and the richness they bring to people’s lives.
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MAKERY MINDSET 01. LEPRECHAUN TRAPS - More photos: kdbs.org/leprechaun-traps19 02. CIRCUIT CIRCUS - More photos: kdbs.org/circuit-circus19 03. EGYPTIAN MUSEUM - More photos: kdbs.org/egyptianmuseum20 04. INTERTIDAL AQUARIUM - More photos: kdbs.org/intertidal-aquarium20 05. MEDIEVAL MUSEUM - More photos: kdbs.org/medieval-museum20 06. BIG SISTER-LITTLE SISTER EBOOK SHARING - More photos: kdbs.org/ebooksharing19
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traditions
Recognize any (or all?) of these renowned events? Visit the links to see more photos!
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01. LOWER SCHOOL PICNIC More photos: kdbs.org/lower-school-picnic19
04. COLOR DAY More photos: kdbs.org/color-day19
07. STEPPING UP CEREMONY More photos: kdbs.org/stepping-up19
02. BURKE’S BENEFIT More photos: kdbs.org/burkes-benefit19
05. GRANDPARENTS’ AND SPECIAL FRIENDS’ DAY More photos: kdbs.org/gp-sf-day19
08. MAYPOLE More photos: kdbs.org/maypoloe19
03. CHALLENGE DAY More photos: kdbs.org/challenge-day19
06. BOOX EXCHANGE More photos: kdbs.org/book-exchange19
09. LION DANCE More photos: kdbs.org/lion-dance20
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International Women’s Day
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or more than 12 years, Burke’s has been recognizing International Women’s Day by holding an all-school assembly featuring a wide variety of speakers from both within the Burke’s community and beyond. That’s included special guests such as Senator Kamala Harris; Audrey Cooper, editor in chief of the San Francisco Chronicle; and Ann Killion, current sportswriter for the San Francisco Chronicle and bestselling author, who spoke about her experiences in a mostly male field. Burke’s has also hosted alumna Vendela Vida ’85, author and co-founder of 826 Valencia, a nonprofit organization that teaches creative writing to children and teens, and alumna Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91, Salesforce.org EVP and chief philanthropy officer. The 2019 event featured our fantastic Youth Voice moderators and thoughtprovoking seventh-grade speeches focused on the challenges women face in the music industry and movements for women’s rights throughout history. Burke’s had the special honor of hosting London N. Breed, the 45th mayor of the City and County of San Francisco and the first AfricanAmerican woman mayor in the city’s history. The mayor entered the room to a standing ovation and gave an inspiring speech calling on Burke’s students to engage in their community and always reach for the stars. In the following Q&A session, she answered student questions ranging from the gender wage gap to her positions on housing and homelessness. As always, it was a special day at Burke’s to celebrate our mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls. We believe the future is female, and Burke’s is honored to be working to foster the female visionaries and leaders of tomorrow.
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Climbing EVERY Mountain!
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EVERY YEAR, GROUPS OF BURKE’S STUDENTS DISAPPEAR FOR DAYS AT A TIME, HEADING OFF TO A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS ALL OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
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While these Outdoor Education getaways function as an escape from life on campus, the “curriculum” for the trips has been linked both to social-emotional development and the Burke’s academic program. Starting in third grade, the program’s challenges increase by grade level, becoming an annual rite of passage and integral part of every Burke’s student journey.
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he Outdoor Education Program at Burke’s has a rich history that started in the 1980s. Bobbie Meyer, a Lower School P.E. teacher at that time, thought about how students had the chance to have experiences outside of the city’s urban landscape through eighth-grade visits to the Yosemite Institute and fourth-grade camping trips to Sutter’s Mill. Meyer wanted to provide similar opportunities to girls in all grades.
Her vision culminated in the 1987 purchase of the Mountain Mill House campus up north toward Clear Lake. For almost two decades, the school owned more than 200 acres of land in the hills above Calistoga, with trails, camping platforms, and a swimming pool. Over time, finances became difficult, and Mountain Mill House was sold in 2003. The proceeds from the sale were used to fund the full Burke’s Outdoor Education Program. “Once we sold Mountain Mill House, we identified outdoor/experiential education providers whose programming and locations were well matched to our students’ developmental levels and our program goals,” says Rebekah Wolman, Head of the Upper School.
The trips vary in goals and activities, with the third grade beginning with a journey across the Bay to the Marin Headlands for a one night warm-up, learning to be away from the comforts of home. Third-grade teacher Joelle Auberson says, “We focus on team building, and for many students, it’s their first time away without their parents. However, there is also a strong link to our science and social studies curriculum. Before we go, the students study the Ohlone and adopt a plant in our Burke’s native garden. During our time in the Marin Headlands, they can imagine what everyday life was like for the Ohlone, and they also see how their adopted native plants adapt to a more rugged natural environment.”
Lower School Science Teacher Elizabeth McDonald loves going on the trips and enjoys seeing the different ways each student interacts with the outdoors. From a curricular standpoint, “The trips provide new context for what the students have been learning in the classroom and provide a nice touchpoint for what happens in science the following year,” she says.
THE CLASS OF 2020 BEGAN THEIR FINAL YEAR AT BURKE’S WITH A ONE-NIGHT FALL RETREAT AT ST. DOROTHY’S REST RETREAT CENTER IN CAMP MEEKER, WHICH SET THE TONE FOR THE YEAR.
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Students from the Class of 2019 took a three-night backpacking trip to Point Reyes National Seashore last April. The trip is about meeting personal challenges, resilience, and a final bonding experience. The girls learn how they can rely on inner resources and each other as they get ready to leave Burke’s.
Challenges that grow year by year! THIRD GRADE goes to the Marin Headlands for one night as a warm-up, studying native plants and getting used to being away from the comforts of home.
Fifth graders got cozy with some slugs last spring on their two-night trip to the Web of Life Field School in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Susan Deemer, who facilitates the Makery for the fifth through eighth grades, has embarked on many of these trips with students. “A lot of these girls are always being told what to do and where to go,” she says. “On these trips, they have to manage everything down to their own snack pack. It’s a great time for the girls to show strengths they might not get to display in the classroom.” Fifth grade advisor Michelle Loomis agrees: “I love the night hike. So many of the girls are really nervous about going out in the dark and they come back feeling so accomplished.”
Wolman says that the long-term goal is “for the girls to learn to work together, rely on themselves, learn what they are capable of, and also support and rely on each other. We also hope to instill in the girls a love and appreciation of the natural world and an understanding of the ecology and geology of at least part of California.”
FOURTH GRADE takes a Coloma trip for two nights as a part of the Gold Rush portion of their study of California history. FIFTH GRADE spends two nights with the Web of Life Field School focusing on redwood forest ecosystems and interdependencies in ecology. SIXTH GRADE spends two nights with Naturalists at Large, camping and hiking on Mt. Tamalpais with some field science and ecology education, and a focus on team-building. SEVENTH GRADE has a two-night fall retreat with Naturalists at Large and a three-night spring camping trip to Pinnacles National Park spent rock-climbing, hiking, and learning about local geology. EIGHTH GRADE has a one-night fall retreat at St. Dorothy’s Rest retreat center in Camp Meeker and a three-night backpacking trip to Point Reyes National Seashore in the spring.
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PANSY DAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 PANSY DAY AWARD WINNERS: May Hickey Award Delaney McDonough Hannah Satuito
Head’s Award Hannah Satuito Cara Steele
Sarah Babcock Award Visual Arts Charlotte Honey
Head’s Cup Poppy Chrisman Yosi Colin
Performing Arts Sophia Edwards Mariella Schilling
Outstanding Athlete Award Poppy Chrisman Kelsey Otridge Hannah Satuito Alexandra Thaler
Patricia Swanson Franklin Writing Award Lily Epstein Julie Song Award Cindy Wu
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VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT kdbs.org/pansy-day19
Wednesday, June 12 marked the annual tossing of pansies to celebrate our outgoing eighth graders.
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COMMENCEMENT We bade a fond farewell to the 47 members of the Class of 2019 on Thursday, June 13. We wish them the best of luck in high school and beyond!
VIEW MORE CLASS OF 2019 HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS The Bay School of San Francisco (6) Berkshire School (2) The Branson School (4) Brentwood School (1) Cate School (2) Convent High School (4) Drew School (1) Groton School (1) International High School (3) Lick-Wilmerding High School (2) Marin Academy (2) Menlo School (1) The Nueva School (2) St. Ignatius College Preparatory (6) San Francisco University High School (7) The Urban School (3)
Congratulations as well to the members of Burke’s Class of 2015, who wrapped up four years of high school and headed to the institutions below. CLASS OF 2015 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS Barnard College Benjamin Franklin International School Barcelona Boston College California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Chapman University Colby College Columbia University Dartmouth College Elon University Georgetown University Harvard University Haverford College
PHOTOS AT Johns Hopkins University kdbs.org/ Kenyon College commencement19 Middlebury College Northeastern University Oberlin College Princeton University Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Scripps College Tufts University Tulane University University of British Columbia University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Santa Barbara University of Michigan University of Oregon University of San Diego University of Southern California University of Wisconsin Villanova University Wake Forest University Wesleyan University Yale University
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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. 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 kdbs.org/giveback.
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Every gift, of any size, makes an impact. MAKE yours today.
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Alumnae Updates
D
ear Fellow Alumnae,
I’m thrilled to share this newest issue of Burke’s Magazine with you! Yes — our beloved alumnae magazine has a new name and a new look! Last year, the Board Marketing Committee was tasked with more clearly articulating our school’s vision and creating consistency around how we are presented as brand across different platforms. As alumnae of the school, each of us has known the school under different names or nicknames and in different times. As we move into the next decade, we want to present the school under one name — Burke’s. Our beloved alma mater continues to evolve, change, and grow, but rest assured that its traditions, exceptional academics, and incredible school culture remain the same. I hope you enjoy this chance to reflect on the last year as much as I did. Over the past months, your Alumnae Board and I have worked hard to deepen engagement throughout our alumnae community. We hosted our second annual Alumnae Mentorship Network Panel & Reception in February 2019, once again featuring incredibly inspiring alumnae speakers and cementing for me once again the magic and the power that comes from a joyful, intentional all girls’ education and from women helping women. We have now hosted two festive Alumnae Holiday Celebrations, gathering alumnae of all ages with their families to decorate gingerbread cookies and collect donations for the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program. We grew our annual Burke’s & Town Cocktail Party to include fellow alumni from Cathedral and Hamlin as well, allowing us to strengthen our community bonds throughout the Bay Area. Of course, I have to mention our wonderful 2019 Alumnae Reunion Weekend last June. Alumnae from 35 different graduation years came together to celebrate Burke’s classes ending in ’9 and ’4 at our Friday Luncheon, where we heard from our amazing 2019 Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91. On Saturday, the Burke’s campus hosted alumnae and their children, partners, and parents for tours led by members of the Class of 2019, four seminars featuring long-loved faculty members, and of course, lunch in our brand-new Campus Center. Which brings me to my last point: my heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the Alumnae Board to all of you who made contributions to the alumnae initiative of Burke’s recent capital campaign, Many Voices. Many Hands. All Burke’s.: The Campaign for Girls. Last May, we set a goal to find 111 donors to celebrate 111 years of Burke’s since its founding in 1908, and you helped us soar past that goal: 177 alumnae contributed more than $275,000 to create The Alma Mater Fund as part of the record-setting $22 million overall campaign. This effort firmly establishes Burke’s as the model for K-8 girls’ education in the country, and we couldn’t have done it without you. You did all of this while still supporting the 2018-19 Annual Fund in a big way (14% alumnae participation!), and I am so excited to see what else we can accomplish together. I hope to see you on campus or at an alumnae event soon, and as always, the Alumnae Board and I welcome your feedback and ideas anytime.
2019-20 Burke’s Alumnae Board Laurie Hanna Carrade ’92 President Max Boyer Glynn ’94 Vice President, Development Katy Congdon Williams ’96 Vice President, Mentorship Darby Gaynor Glickman ’98 Vice President, Events Rachel Adam Rogers ’97 Vice President, Governance Lisa Harada ’03 Secretary
Julia Baron ’01 Jewel Devora ’09 Allison Broude Friedberg ’00 Bella Shen Garnett ’89 Natalie Jamison ’98 Diana Ziola Jansson ’95 Sinclaire O’Grady ’09 Katherine Abbey Prill ’03 Callie Ranahan ’06 Tiffanie Tse ’99 Danielle Broude Yokell ’96
Warmly,
LAURIE HANNA CARRADE ’92 President of the Alumnae Board
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“ Burke’s taught me to be unafraid of mistakes, unapologetic about doing what’s right, and confident in myself.”
Eileen Gu ’17 Eileen Gu ’17 is likely the youngest alumna we have ever profiled in Burke’s Magazine, but this is the time to learn her name — if you don’t already know it. While studying at Burke’s, Eileen won nine USASA age division and open class national contests in Colorado between April 2013 and April 2018. She just finished competing at a World Cup in Calgary in February, where she became the first freeskier in history (all ages, men/women) to win two different World Cup events at the same venue. The awards were her second Slopestyle World Cup gold medal and her first Halfpipe World Cup win. In January, Eileen won three medals (two golds and a silver) at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has been recognized by InStyle magazine as the youngest recipient of the Women of Times award. An extraordinary talent, she will graduate from University High School in June and spend the next 17 months training for the Beijing Olympics. In 2022, Eileen will compete for China in celebration of her heritage, though she is always quick to honor her American upbringing and express appreciation for all of her friends and experiences from training with US Ski & Snowboard. Excited about the once-ina-lifetime opportunity to promote the sport she loves in the country where her mom was born, Eileen says, “If I can help to inspire one young girl to break a boundary, my wishes will have come true.” A Burke’s girl through and through!
What three words or phrases come to mind when you hear “Katherine Delmar Burke School”? Continued community, joyful learning, and courageous confidence. After Burke’s, I continued to stay in touch with my classmates, many of whom I call my best friends to this day. The term “community” is used frequently at Burke’s; the idea of a school unified through some type of sisterhood is not new. However, it really is the long-lasting connection and trust that only nine years together can build that truly resonates with me. At the time, I really did take Burke’s teachers for granted. I assumed all teachers would be as passionate, educated, and motivated as the teachers that I had at Burke’s. The true
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desire that teachers had to better educate both Burke’s girls and themselves impresses me to this day. Burke’s upholds consistent standards from the first day of kindergarten to the last day of eighth grade. Those years are truly transformational, and ones in which lifelong imprints can be made. From handmade cartoons displayed in the lunchroom to indepth discussions in the classroom, students will always be armed with strong morals and a multi-faceted understanding of themselves and the world around them. What would you tell incoming kindergarten families about the journey ahead? I would remind them that while nine years seems like a long time, it passes in a breeze. I hope that they can remember to stay present and ensure their kids have the best chance to enjoy it while it lasts.
What is your favorite memory from Burke’s? There really are a lot, but the first one that comes to mind is the eighth-grade play. We worked so relentlessly on everything from the set and props to costumes and makeup, to our own acting and choreography, that the finished product felt so rewarding. Seeing everyone work together with a chemistry that only nine years together can create was magical. Our play was Mary Poppins. I was Mary, one of my best friends was Bert, and we really outdid ourselves that night. How would you encourage Burke’s students and alumnae to give back to Burke’s? I would encourage them to stay connected. I believe that while funding and other resources can be powerful, time and knowledge are ultimately much more valuable. Going back and speaking at an assembly, giving advice to a new student, or simply staying caught up with the KayDeeBee (now Burke’s Magazine!) are all great ways to keep in touch with our roots. What Burke’s experiences do you attribute to your personal or professional success? When I was nine years old, I was the only girl on my ski team. But having been told time and time again that everyone deserves equality and a fair chance, I entered unafraid, made some of my best friends, and ultimately became a professional athlete. In seventh grade, I gave my speech on gender equality in sports, which was later used as the voiceover for the new Adidas Women’s golf commercial. Burke’s taught me to never give up, to remain confident in my own abilities, and to make the change I wanted to see in the world. If you had to do it all over again, your time at Burke’s and since, what might you do differently? I would slow down and take it all in. Just like many seventh and eighth graders, my mind was on high school. Those last two years are the culmination of everything we’ve been through together, and they deserve to be cherished as much or more than the years before it. While things can get hectic, staying present is key.
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
“ I grew up with the firm belief that I could do anything, and so could every other girl I knew. I know that being at Burke’s nurtured this confidence and challenged me to go after my dreams. It’s what has powered me to do work in the nonprofit community that is focused on empowering girls and personally get involved with helping support women leaders and elect more women to public office!”
Katie Hultquist ’88 Katie Hultquist ’88 has been living Burke’s mission since her own days on campus. Every alumna knows the “educate, encourage, and empower girls” part of our mission, but not everyone remembers the second sentence: “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.” As the West Coast director for OutRight Action International, a U.S.-based nonprofit advancing human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world, Katie has spent her 20+ year career contributing to her local, national, and international communities through nonprofit management, fundraising, and social justice activism. Previously, Katie served as the Northwest Regional Director at NPH USA, where she raised more than $11 million to support vulnerable children in Latin America and the Caribbean, and helped launch a training institute for young leaders from Central America. Building off her experience at Burke’s, Katie dedicated much of her early career to girls’ empowerment as the executive director of Passages Northwest, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to building courage and leadership in girls through the outdoors and the arts, as a board member for the Northwest Girls Coalition, and as a member of the Grants Committee for Women’s Funding Alliance. Katie lives in Seattle with her wife and three children, but one of her greatest joys is keeping in touch with friends from the Burke’s Class of 1988 and seeing them often when she is in the Bay Area. What three words or phrases come to mind when you hear “Katherine Delmar Burke School”? “Nurturing and challenging environment,” “girls can do or be anything!” and “lifelong friendships.” I truly consider my Burke’s classmates to be my sisters, and growing up with them was an incredibly special gift of which I am often reminded. I remain in regular contact with several friends from Burke’s and love, respect, and admire them deeply. I know that if one of my classmates called on me for anything, I’d be quick to respond with encouragement or a helping hand – and that they would do the same for me. What is your favorite memory from Burke’s? It is so hard to pick one! A few happy memories are: our kindergarten or first-grade
production of Peter Rabbit when I was Mrs. Rabbit, the pirate rap that Monique Rocca and I wrote for our production of Peter Pan (Rachel Skiffer was the best Captain Hook ever! And thank you to Ms. Whitsell!), dancing to “Lollipop” in 1950s costumes with Renée Sharp at the Burke’s Festival in fifth grade, and learning how to develop and print photographs in a real darkroom. I also have extremely fond memories of playing soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and tennis. We were so lucky to have such great facilities on campus, and I always believed we were athletes – something that stayed with me as a high school athlete and now as an avid fan of women’s professional soccer and basketball! Finally, I remember all of my teachers from kindergarten through eighth grade – they made indelible impressions and formed the basis of my academic habits and success all the way through graduate school.
What is something you learned at Burke’s that you still carry with you today? I credit Sra. Pera’s Spanish class from fifth through eighth grades with putting me on the path to becoming fluent in Spanish and eventually spending a good part of my academic and professional career in Latin America. How would you encourage Burke’s students and fellow alumnae to give back to Burke’s? I think Burke’s needs alumnae to stay involved and be active participants in the community, even or especially if we feel that we are in the minority in terms of cultural, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation/gender identity, family makeup, etc. As an alumna and now parent of children in independent schools, I can better recognize that Burke’s needs our diverse voices and leadership to thrive and grow in the 21st century. I think there is tremendous satisfaction in being able to help give back to the next generations of girls who need our support to be exactly who they are meant to and want to be. If you had it to do all over again, your time at Burke’s and since, what might you do differently? Something I’m very focused on right now is supporting the inclusion of girls of color and kids who identify as LGBTIQ in all aspects of society, schools, leadership, and democracy. We’ve made so much progress over the last generation, but we can do more to support them and ensure that their voices and experiences are centered in all our institutions, including Burke’s! In addition, my own interests and career have focused increasingly on human rights and development globally, and I see the need for expanded education about what’s happening around the world, awareness about our interconnectedness, and commitment to make our efforts for justice and equality truly global.
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alumnae
EVENTS
The Class of 1969 Back, left to right: Eleanor Anderson-Miles, Cynthia Wheary Hertlein, Nancy Evers Kirwan, and Catherine Myers Feldman; Front, left to right: Caroline Horton MacDonald, Cathryn Berl Deutsch, Sara Callander Stephens, and Mary Freet-Everson
Alumnae Reunion Weekend Front, left to right: Betty Ann Jenkel Kniesche ’44 and Kay Shaw Thompson ’44. Back, left to right: Barbara Kendrick Callander ’44 and Connie Witt Wiley ’44.
Left to right: Julia Wong ’83 , Madame Wagner, Head of School Michele Williams, and Anna Banks ’ 83
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We enjoyed another beautiful luncheon event, thanks in large part to our incredible Luncheon Chair Aimee Fowler Carlson ’85. The Alumnae Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club kicked off with an Estate Planning Seminar with Danielle Broude Yokell ’96 providing food for thought (and mimosas!) for alumnae across generations. Attendees had the pleasure of hearing from our 2019 Distinguished Alumna Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91, the EVP and chief philanthropy officer at Salesforce.org, and from Michele Williams, head of school. Ebony’s remarks were truly inspiring as she emphasized how critical it is to level the playing field, so that everyone — no matter their background, ethnicity, zip code, or gender — will be able to achieve great things. (Read more on page 42) Congratulations to these reunion years — 1944 (75 years); 1949 (70 years); 1954 (celebrating 65 years); 1959 (60 years); 1964 (45 years); 1969 (50 years); 1974 (45 years); 1979/1979e (40 years); 1984 (35 years); 1989 (30 years); 1994 (25 years); 1999 (20 years); and 2004 (15 years).
KAY B DU ER E KBE E’ E S MAGAZINE
The Classes of 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 Back, left to right: Anna Yatroussis ’84, Tracy Nagle Carlson ’84, Aimee Fowler Carlson ’85, Anna Banks ’83, Marianna Stark ’85, Benicia Gantner ’84; Jenny Kempenich ’85, Vendela Vida ’85; Front, left to right: Emily Hobin Janowsky ’84, Samantha Hartley-Hewitt ’82, Jenny Sampson ’83, Elizabeth Kropf Sparks ’86, Julia Wong ’83, Amy Hall McNamara ’82, Claire Myers ’82. The Classes of 1989 and 1990 Back, left to right: Sophie Middlebrook Hayward ’90, Bella Shen Garnett ’89,Gabrielle Kivitz ’89, Abiah Folger Karthauser ’90, Lisa Congdon ’89, Ellen McGlynn ’89; Front, left to right: Hilary Escher Foster ’90, Cynthia Lee Cook ’89, Franny Stark ’89, Jennifer Carter ’89. The Class of 1964 Back, left to right: Lynn Burrows Bunim, Cissy Moore Harris; Front: Jill Jordan The Class of 1959 Back, left to right: Randi-Jean Hale, Gloria Campbell Henderson, Louise Escher Harris, Laurie Hand Jacobes, Jane Pharr Stewart, Sally Page Herrick, Roberta Bailly Bradshaw; Front, left to right: Betsy Pease Tryon, Marcia Leahy Arutunian, Wendy Harper Schaedel
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David Fleishhacker leads a discussion of the history of Burke’s.
On Saturday, alumnae from all years and their families came back to campus to enjoy lunch in the new state-of-the-art Campus Center, go on campus tours led by members of the Class of 2019, and attend Faculty Seminars in art, French culture, the history of Burke’s, and the Makery with Ms. Swope, Madame Wagner, Mr. Fleishhacker, and Ms. Howland, respectively.
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The Class of 2009 From left: Sinclaire O’Grady, Madeline Brown, Olivia David, Skylar Nahi, Catherine Svendsen
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Shooting hoops on the blue top! (top left)
Members of the Class of 1996 with some of their family members: Josephine Liu Lochbaum, Misha Villa-Popescu Frank, and Katy Congdon Williams (top right)
Left to right: Yosi Colin ’19, Caroline Cronholm Rose ’92, Gabrielle Kivitz ’89, Renata Volchinskaya ’16 (bottom)
A special seminar with Madame Wagner.
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Burke’s, Cathedral, Hamlin, and Town Alumni Cocktail Party. Left to right: Hamlin alumna Kira Kramlich, Katherine Abbey Prill ’03, Alessandra Waste ’04
We hosted our second annual expanded Alumni Cocktail Party with the alumni associations of Town School for Boys, Cathedral School for Boys, and The Hamlin School. More than 100 alumni gathered together to toast to the new year and reconnect!
From left: Darby Gaynor Glickman ’98, Jessica “Jessie” Chamberlin ’01, Julia Baron ’01, Natalie Jamison ’98
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BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Max Boyer Glynn ’94 (top), Tiffanie Tse ’99 (left), Rachel Adam Rogers ’97 (right, seated), and Katherine Abbey Prill ’03 (right, standing) enjoy the second annual Alumnae Holiday Celebration.
In December 2019, we hosted our second annual Alumnae Holiday Celebration for alumnae and their partners, parents, and children in the new Campus Center. Guests enjoyed hot chocolate and festive music while catching up and decorating cookies to celebrate the season. Donations were collected for the SF Firefighters Toy Collection.
Our second annual Alumnae Mentorship Network Panel & Reception took place in February 2019. This inspiring evening featured a terrific panel of incredible alumnae speakers from technology, business and finance, science, and education.
Left to right: Kimberly Fullerton ’77e, Camille Hampton ’94, Rachel E. Skiffer ’88, Shelley Bransten ’82, Whitney Gaynor ’96, Head of School Michele Williams
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2 01 9 D I S T I N G U I S H E D A L U M N A AWA R D :
EBONY FRELIX BECKWITH ’91 The Katherine Delmar Burke School Distinguished Alumna Award is given each year to an alumna who embodies the value 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.
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Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91 is the EVP and chief philanthropy officer at Salesforce.org, where she leads the company’s strategic philanthropic work and its global employee communityengagement activities. In her role, she is responsible for engaging more than 36,000 employees in volunteer opportunities, as well as administering millions of dollars in grants to improve communities around the world.
San Francisco Business Times’ Beyond the Check award recipients two years in a row. As a champion for women and girls, Ebony currently serves on the boards of Women’s Funding Network, Women Who Code Advisory Board, and Hamilton Families. She is an executive sponsor for the Salesforce Women’s Network, whose vision is to build a global women’s network to empower, support, and invest in a global community of women.
Ebony has been recognized as one of San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business, as well as one of
Ebony holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Golden Gate University.
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
The following is excerpted from the speech Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91 delivered at the Alumnae Reunion Luncheon on May 31, 2019:
T
hank you so much! This is truly an honor I could have never imagined. I can’t tell you how much this means to me and my family. I’d like to take a moment to thank and acknowledge my mother who is here with me today. She has always dreamed big for me and believed I could do anything I put my mind to. So today and this moment would not be possible without her. I thought I’d share a few stories about my time at Burke’s starting with the fact that I almost wasn’t a Burke’s girl. It began when my parents toured the school. My mother fell in love, but my father was horrified by his observation of the playground. Apparently, he’d seen the girls at recess playing on the jungle gym turned upside down, jumpers over their heads with their shorts exposed. He felt that this was very unladylike and had to be convinced that that’s what the shorts were for. Ultimately my mom won out and the rest is history. Thank you, mom! Although I did have to wear a half-slip under my jumper and over my shorts. From the moment I set foot on campus, Burke’s was a series of firsts for me. ● It was the first time I traveled so far to get to school. I lived closer to the Cow Palace and Candlestick Park than I did to the Presidio and the Legion of Honor. And some days, depending on my mode of transportation, it could take over an hour and a half to get to school. ●S ince I came from such a diverse neighborhood, Burke’s was the first time I was confronted with being one of a handful of minority students on campus. It was there where I learned about discrimination and being different than my peers. I was in a different world. But, it was also where Christine McGuire — my best friend for over three decades — and my other classmates from the Class of 1991 played with me, challenged me, loved me for me, and never made me feel like an outsider. ●M ost importantly, Burke’s is where I discovered my love of learning. With its mission to educate, encourage and empower girls, the school definitely delivered on its promise. What I learned at Burke’s helped prepare me for the challenges and joys of my personal and professional lives. Going back as far as third grade, I remember Mrs. Gilson, who sparked my love of learning. I could probably spend the entire time talking about how much I loved her third-grade classroom, the around-theworld competitive math games, the suspenseful reading corner, or the time I had to move my desk next to hers because I was a bit too chatty with the other girls. I was quickly moved back after talking too much to her! But I loved coming to school and really thrived in the classroom.
I truly believe that the greatest equalizer is education and I’ve made it a personal and professional mission to work towards ensuring everyone has the same access to a quality education. To that end, at Salesforce, we’ve invested more than $95M in our local school districts, and we empower our employees to volunteer in schools because we believe it’s critical that we are giving back to education, and future-proofing our students. When I was at Burke’s, I don’t remember any philanthropic activities. I know now that philanthropy allows Burke’s to fund financial assistance for one in five girls. It lets them partner with SMART, an organization that brings students like me from under-served communities to schools like Burke’s and provides them with full scholarships. I also know that endowments for girls schools are much lower than boys schools in the city, which means that on a daily basis, Burke’s girls have fewer resources than boys at similar schools. That is not okay. It’s critical that we level the playing field, so that everyone, no matter their background, ethnicity or zip code, or gender will be able to achieve great things. By building a foundation of equity, we’ll ensure that all young people will have the opportunities and resources that we received. It is time for us, as Burke’s alumnae, to change the way we think of our school. It is our time to build a culture of philanthropy so that more girls can access this incredible education and go out into the world, as you have, and become amazing changemakers, leaders, and innovators. I’m so grateful to have been a recipient of such a quality education and am filled with hope for the generations of women that are walking the same halls as I did, who I know will change the world. Thank you so much for having me today. It’s truly an honor!
“ In short, philanthropy allows Burke’s to be more inclusive and available to a greater population of girls who deserve this education just like everyone else.” — Ebony Frelix Beckwith ’91
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CLASS NOTES
Alumnae Updates From Burke’s Class of 1946
Class of 1959
JOAN (SHUMAN) LYCHE became a great grandparent! Grandchild Kirsten Andereck ’00 had her baby in April 2019!
CYNTHIA “TIA” (PINNEY) GARVEY : “I’m still living in Saratoga and enjoy keeping up with my six grandchildren and their parents as well as spending time in the desert.”
LOUISE (ESCHER) HARRIS: “My granddaughter Blake Harris joined the Burke’s kindergarten class this fall. She’ll be a fourth generation student! Her great-great aunt was Constance Crowley Bowles Peabody ’36, then me in the Class of 1959, then my daughter Gingy Harris Gable ’79 and my niece Hilary Escher Foster ’90, and then my granddaughter, Blake Harris ’28!” Trace the Harris Family Roots on page 50.
Class of 1958
Class of 1961
ANN WALKER: “My husband, Jess, and I moved into the Vi at La Jolla Village. It isn’t at all what I expected and rather like a cruise ship you never get off of! Interesting people plus more activities and amenities than I can make use of in a month’s time. We have a fabulous art gallery which I am involved in, giving classes on color theory and amazing revolving shows featuring talented resident’s artwork monthly. Other than that, I am busy with painting for outside shows. I was accepted into the California Watercolor Association International show and became a signature member in the San Diego Watercolor Society as well. My curious grandson, Cayman, keeps me busy most Tuesdays when we share a Granny Annie/ grandson day doing something special in and around San Diego.”
MARY “SIS” (CAMPION) CONNOLLY: “Sixteen members of the Class of 1961 gathered in Carmel in September for a mini reunion. We caught up over lunch, cocktails, dinner, and more! Four of our classmates who reside in the Carmel area did the planning. We are delighted that so many could attend!”
Class of 1952
CYNTHIA POETT: “Harry and I are still loving the Rocky Mountains. We still spend part of the winter fly-fishing in South America.”
Class of 1966 MELANIE (MCCOMISH) LYNN: ”After permanently moving to Prescott, Ariz. in January, we are hopefully moving again in April 2019! We’ll now have plenty of room for my classmates to come visit! We are just two hours from the Grand Canyon.” KAREN DE BAKKER PREZANT: “We moved back to San Francisco after 36 years in Reno, Nev. Just in time to enjoy our granddaughter, Samantha.”
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LINDA SLOSS WOODSIDE: “Our class lost Theo Young Walker in August 2018. Happy Birthday to all the 70-year-olds this year. 1948 — a good year.”
Class of 1969 DR. CRISTINA BURR: “I am pretty busy for my age. Working as a psychiatrist and taking care of my eight-month old granddaughter.” NANCY (EVERS) KIRWAN: ”I have moved back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles and am living in Sonoma. Loving it!”
Class of 1971 CARY MATTHEWS NOWELL: “Happy to report that many of our classmates get together regularly in San Francisco. Burke’s friendships for life!”
Class of 1972 LINDA (ROSENBERG) ACH and her husband Andy live in San Francisco. All three daughters are currently living on the East Coast: one at Penn nursing school, one in D.C. working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and one in New York teaching improv to students in public schools. Linda is involved in nonprofit work to preserve watersheds with CalTrout and Trout Unlimited. ANNE KELNY DENEBEIM is a group director and senior vice president at Signature Bank in its San Francisco office. FLORENCE (GREEN) MARCHICK is still loving living in the Pacific Northwest. “We are lucky enough to be living in Portland right on the Willamette River. Last September (2018), we became grandparents of Onyx, who is turning one next week. He is absolutely adorable. Life is very sweet right now (except the political/climate crisis). Oy.”. LAURA (BALDWIN) GRACE and her husband, Tim, have recently moved to Higuera Blanca, Mexico to start their next chapter. “We look forward to updates.” BLAKE HALLANAN lives in San Francisco and works at New Century Chamber Orchestra, volunteers as an adjudicator for the San Francisco Neighborhood Courts, and is a freelance editor.
KAY DEE BEE MAGAZINE
KATIE (TIGHT) LOKEN is now retired and recently celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary. Her son, Connor, 24, took a break from his math Ph.D. studies to serve in the Peace Corps in Tanzania. They have downsized to a one story Craftsman bungalow in Lathrop, Calif. and love it. No more stairs! She is a textile artist and painter. “Life goes on. No complaints. I hope everyone else is well and happy. Love to all.” ALEX (BEAVER) NICHOLSON and her husband, Kenneth, live in San Francisco and celebrated two daughters’ weddings in 2019. They have a second grandson on the way this spring. The oldest daughter and her husband live in Belmont and she is a fourthgrade teacher, the second lives with her wife in Sacramento and is a landscape architect, and number three lives with her fiancé In Philadelphia and is a nurse practitioner. “We are all enjoying life to the fullest.” MARCIA HART SWANSON: “Still alive!”
Class of 1974 DR. CYNTHIA MORRIS is still working as a family doctor in Santa Rosa and has taken an administrative role in her medical group.
Class of 1978 LESLIE J. MAYER is an executive director of real estate at Cushman & Wakefield in Los Angeles, specializing in retail and restaurant expansion nationally and internationally. She also has an international horse breeding business in Holland focusing on jumping horses. ALICE TULLY PIRTLE: “I am enjoying scenic Virginia and I’m a proud grandma of three -year-old Luke and one-year-old Ella. Another grandchild is arriving in late December 2019 — our son and his wife’s first child.”
Class of 1978e BROOKE BERRY DUNTON: “Last weekend, five of us had our annual weekend getaway in Park City. It occurred to us that we began kindergarten at Burke’s in September of 1969. Yep, 50 years ago. (Surely, we only look 39 so we’re not certain how the math works out.) (01)
Class of 1985 SHAFIA ZALOOM : “I released a book, Sex, Teens & Everything in Between, for parents and teenagers about healthy sexuality, specifically consent.” MARIANNA STARK, husband Sam Perry, and five-year-old daughter Tay enjoyed their second summer at the Lair of the Bear, Camp Gold, Week Two! “Excellent childcare from dawn ’til dusk, three meals a day, and the most rest we’ve had since Tay arrived! Join us — it’s not just for Cal alums!”
Class of 1995
01 Left to right: Laura Funsten Cornish, Jessica Parish Galloway, Louisa Moore Consagra, Brooke Berry Dunton and Robin Hauser. All graduated 8th grade ’78e.
DIANA (ZIOLA) JANSSON: “I’m excited to be back on campus, as I join the Burke’s Alumnae Board for 2019-2020 and support the school that was integral to my education. I live in San Francisco with my husband and four-year-old daughter. I am passionate about bringing cuttingedge medicine to patients with unmet needs as I continue my 14th year in the biotech industry.”
Class of 1996 RACHEL FLYNN: “After attending college in the Midwest and spending almost 10 years in Washington, D.C. and overseas, I returned to the Bay Area in 2012. I married my husband, Jason, in 2014 and we welcomed our daughter, Beatrice, in 2017. I began my career in international development, lived and worked in several African countries, and now work in philanthropy and impact investing.” CATHERINE SANGER continues to reside in Singapore where she teaches and directs the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Yale-NUS College. Her children, Cendana and Asher, enjoy their annual summer visits to San Francisco where they continue to feel at home. STINA SKEWES-COX TRAINOR: “It has been a big year for the Trainor family! In February, we welcomed our second child, Jack Dunne Skewes-Cox, named after my grandmother, Betsy Dunne Skewes-Cox ’44. And in September, we moved from New York City to the Bay Area for my new job on the global policy team at Facebook. My family and I are looking forward to reconnecting with old classmates and lifelong friends!” (o2)
02 JESSICA (PETTUS) VOSE and her husband, Gregory, welcomed their second child on Friday, September 13, 2019 during the harvest moon. Their littlest daughter, Westley, completes their family of four and is already well loved and cared for by her older sister Adelyne, who will be two years old in October. Jessica continues to work in marketing for the cybersecurity industry, and her husband Greg is expected to defend his Ph.D. in plant ecology in the upcoming summer of 2020. They currently live in Orange County, Calif., but anticipate a move away from Southern California once Greg’s Ph.D. has ended.
Class of 2001 JEANETTE KLEMEYER: “I married my partner of seven years on May 1, 2019 at San Francisco City Hall! We are enjoying living in San Francisco after seven years in Europe and long distance.”
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Class of 2003 ELISA GORES will graduate in June from Loyola University Chicago with a master’s degree in social work.
Class of 2004 PIPER CONNELLY is currently operations manager for the video collaboration group at Logitech.
Class of 2005 NATALIE LANDSINGER is working as a patissière and chocolatière in Jackson, Wyo. She has trained for two international competitions where she was part of Team USA: The World Pastry Team Championships in Milan in October 2019 and the Mondiale des Arts Sucrés in Paris in February 2020.
BURKE’S CLASS OF 2015 REUNION PARTY: Back row, left to right: Aliza Mayer, Annabelle Hendrickson, Elena Skarupski, Ambika Jay, Kendall Otridge, Kamryn You Mak. Middle row, left to right: Jasmine Minera Rivers, Julia Thaler, Madeline Dowd, Linden Schrage, Nora Riedinger, Elizabeth Flaherman, Anna Doggett, Natasha Salmi, Daphne Carwin, Syd Cook-Jeffrie, Emily McCarthy, Elle Boyden, Isabel Glen, Emma Hauswirth. Front row, left to right: Saskia Fisher, Kira Klawarrs, Isabella Morales, Kate Scheyer, Katelyn Flanagan, Mackenzie Honey
Class of 2008 JOHANNA MALAER graduated from College of Wooster in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in physics and Washington University in St. Louis in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. She is now working at the Aerospace Corporation and living in Manhattan Beach.
Class of 2009 TALIA STOREY CUDDEBACK went on to graduate from another all women’s school, Barnard College of Columbia University, in 2017. She is forever grateful for the education and empowerment she received from Burke’s that encouraged her to pursue her passions, work hard, and be proud of who she is. She now lives and works in Austin, Texas. CAROLINE DOYL is a product designer and comedian who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. KAYLEY YOU MAK: “Living in New Mexico now and working for Los Alamos National Lab. When I have free time, I enjoy rock climbing and snowboarding. Look me up if you’re in the area.”
Class of 2010 JULIA NEMY graduated in May 2018 from Bates College and spent nine months in Kigali, Rwanda on a fulfillment scholarship teaching English at the National University of Rwanda.
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Class of 2012 ALLTON VOGEL-DENEBEIM is a senior at University of Colorado Boulder and living in London with her family to attend the London School of Economics. KENDALL YOU MAK: “Finishing my last year at Wellesley College and continuing to play multiple varsity sports. I will be back in San Francisco next summer.”
From L-R: Lucy Hume ’86, Elizabeth Kropf Sparks ’86 and Amanda McBaine ’86 at the 2019 Burke’s Commencement.
Class of 2014 KATHARINE BERNSTEIN graduated from the Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, N.J. and is attending Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. SARAH MAHNKE-BAUM spent her Freshman year in Florence studying Art History + Fashion Design and is currently at School of the Art Institute Chicago adjusting to winter.
Class of 2015 ELIZABETH FLAHERMAN: “The Class of 2015 had our four-year reunion this past May! It was so wonderful to get to see everybody again!” HALEY HOCKIN: “I am studying English and secondary education at Boston College!”
KAMRYN YOU MAK: “Starting my first year at Middlebury College and loving the outdoors of Vermont. Aside from classes and playing varsity basketball, I’m involved with the mountain club, club ultimate frisbee, and club soccer.”
Class of 2016 ISABEL SHEPPARD is graduating from Urban High School in 2020 and has been accepted at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University where she will be playing volleyball. STELLA SMITH will graduate from The Waldorf High School in June.
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
In Memoriam Burke’s is proud of its long legacy of graduating strong, confident women. We sadly report the loss of these members of our alumnae family. Jess Porter Cooley ’45
Shirley Malm Detrick ’38
Betsy Reitz Dingwell ’47
Leslie Ann Whitney Goodrich ’45
Marina Ilyin ’74
Lynn Brown Little ’54
Florence “Mimi” Pierce Manning ’59
Rita Bost Merriam ’48
Susan Metcalf Robertson ’43
Jeffery Anne Tatum ’68
Elizabeth “Betty” Callander Tight ’44
Carolyn Miller Vestal ’54
Theo Young Walker ’66
Lisa Young ’62
* As of February 6, 2019
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
BURKE’S ALUMNAE IN PRINT
I
n 1912, when the members of the first graduating class at Miss Burke’s went out into the world, they founded a community of incredible graduates that has been growing for more than a hundred years (and counting)!
Over the decades, the voices and stories of our alumnae have been featured in a variety of ways — from dedications and special sections in the yearbook to a shared publication with the annual report, and in more recent years, a stand-alone full-color magazine. We are thrilled to unveil the latest design and name of our beloved alumnae magazine—now Burke’s Magazine! Rest assured, we are saying goodbye to the KayDeeBee in name only. We can’t wait to fill the pages of Burke’s Magazine with adventures, accomplishments, and updates from our current and future alumnae.
1970s
1960s 1980s
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1990s
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“ Twenty-two Junes have come and gone and with each year a new class has come to join the last, until this year we form a circle six hundred strong! We welcome each one of the Class of 1934 as a new link in our never ending chain, and we hope that as you clasp hands with us, you will feel the strength in the unity of spirit which binds us as one around “The House of Dreams.” — President Margaret Moore ’28
Burke’s has undergone many changes since that dedication, but the threads that bind us are clear: tradition enriched with innovation; a joyous learning experience within a highly academic environment; and students who have the confidence to achieve their ambitions.
2013
2000s
2008
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continued her education at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, which was still an all-women’s institution at the time. According to her daughter, Beatrice “Bebe” Virginia Bowles ’61, “Her strength of mind and passion for books, fine art, and life in general were rooted in those Burke’s years.”
Back, left to right: Lily Madeleine Bowles Leo ’99, Hilary Escher Foster ’90; Front: Beatrice “Bebe” Virginia Bowles ’61, Louise Escher Harris ’59, Blake Curtis Constance Harris ’28, Virginia “Gingy” Harris Gable ’79
Connie and her sisters Virginia Crowley Escher and Jane Crowley Koven were born into a pioneering San Francisco family, and while her two sisters did not attend Burke’s, Connie was deeply involved at the school, serving on the senior yearbook and as the secretary-treasurer for the Penguin Literary Society. Connie was a lifelong philanthropist, giving support and countless volunteer hours to Save the Bay, the Sierra Club, Strybing Arboretum, and the Francesca Club, among other organizations. A treasured member of the Burke’s alumnae community, she was always a cheerful presence at the annual Alumnae Luncheon until she passed in 2016. Connie was also a member of the Barbara Burke Legacy Society, choosing to continue her support of Burke’s through a generous bequest. That gift now helps to shape more girls into the women and leaders of the future.
Tracing Burke’s
ROOTS THE CROWLEY FAMILY
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ith the arrival of the Class of 2028 on to the bluetop last fall, the fourth generation of the Crowley family officially joined the Burke’s community. Blake Curtis Constance Harris ’28 is the seventh member of her family to don the Burke’s green jumper, and her name harkens back to the first member of the Crowley family to wear the same uniform. Blake’s great-great-aunt was Constance “Connie” Crowley Bowles Hart Peabody ’36, who graduated from high school at Miss Burke’s School in 1936. After graduation, Connie
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Blake Curtis Constance Harris ’28 Constance “Connie” Crowley Bowles Hart Peabody ’36
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Connie’s daughter “Bebe” followed in her mother’s footsteps, serving as editor of the K.D.B., Burke’s school paper, and as a member of the Penguins Literary Society. Now a storyteller and writer performing nationally and internationally, Bebe says, “Those all-girls years in a serene environment with lovely buildings, gardens, libraries, labs, and studios, and most of all, with the encouragement of great women teachers, were a rare and precious gift.” Bebe’s cousin Louise Escher Harris ’59 attended Burke’s at the same time, also working on the K.D.B. with Bebe during their time together. Louise’s deep connection to Burke’s is clear based on her many years of service as the Class of 1959 Representative.
Lily Madeleine Bowles Leo ’99
Virginia “Gingy” Harris Gable ’79 was the first of the Crowley’s third generation of Burke’s girls to enroll and is thrilled that her niece, Blake, will be able to learn and grow in the same warm, joyful environment. Upon leaving Burke’s, Gingy continued her all-girls’ education and attended high school at Santa Catalina. Gingy’s cousin Hilary Escher Foster ’90 also attended Santa Catalina after she graduated from Burke’s and is adamant that her all-girls education “taught me to speak my mind and not to get intimidated,” she says. “Burke’s taught me to be confident and strong.” The most recent member of the Crowley family to wear the Burke’s middy is Bebe’s niece, and the granddaughter of Connie Peabody, Lily Madeleine Bowles Leo ’99. She carries on Connie’s remarkable philanthropic spirit by serving on the board of Grace Cathedral, recently chairing last year’s annual Carnavale and setting a new record for funds raised. Left to right, front row: Susan Otto Comartin ’59, Gloria Campbell Henderson ’59, Kathleen Mailliard Rende ’59, Constance Crowley Peabody ’36; back row: Head of School Michele Williams, Louise Escher Harris ’59, Betsy Otto Dohrmann ’56
Hilary reflects “Burke’s is a warm yet academic environment that encourages girls in a positive way on many levels. There was something for everyone when I was there, I am sure there are even more options now.”
Blake Curtis Constance Harris ’28
Joseph “Jody” Harris
The BowlesEscherHarris Tree
Virginia “Gingy” Harris Gable ’79
Louise Escher Harris ’59
Hilary Escher Foster ’90
Thomas Crowley Escher
Virginia Crowley Escher*
Lily Bowles Leo ’99
Beatrice Bowles ’61
sisters
Philip E. Bowles
Constance “Connie” Crowley Bowles Hart Peabody ’36*
*deceased
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BARBARA BURKE LEGACY SOCIETY
Planned Giving at Katherine Delmar Burke School
The values, education, and relationships from my time at Burke’s have been a bedrock in my life. I want to do my part to ensure Katherine Delmar Burke School has the resources necessary to continue its mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls for years to come. — KIMBERLY FULLERTON ’77e Member of the Barbara Burke Legacy Society
For more information about making a gift through your estate plans or another type of Burke’s is grateful for the many gifts it has received over the years through estate plans. These gifts are a way to ensure that our mission not only continues, but thrives for years to come. By including Katherine Delmar Burke School in your estate planning, your gift has a long-lasting impact on the school — just as Burke’s has made an impact on you.
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planned gift, please contact Selena Shadle at 415.666.3204 or selena@kdbs.org. You can also visit our Planned Giving website at kdbs.org/plannedgiving.
BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Ways to Give CASH, CHECK, OR CREDIT CARD
PLANNED GIVING
OTHER DEFERRED GIFTS
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.kdbs.org/give.
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:
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.
You can also send a check to: Katherine Delmar Burke School Advancement Office 7070 California Street San Francisco, CA 94121
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.
• 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.
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 Selena Shadle, Director of Advancement, at 415.666.3204 or selena@kdbs.org. To make a gift online, please visit www.kdbs.org/give.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid San Francisco, CA Permit No. 1734
KATHERINE DELMAR BURKE SCHOOL 7070 CALIFORNIA STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121 WWW.KDBS.ORG
