Cate School 2021 Fall Bulletin

CATE Fall 2021

BULLETIN

2020–2021 Report

on Philanthropy

CATE B U L L E T I N EDITOR

Avani Patel Shah CONTENT LEAD Matt McClenathen GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Mya Cubero PHOTOGRAPHER

Aimee Stanchina COPY EDITOR

Kate Parker '85 ARCHIVIST

Judy Savage HEAD OF SCHOOL

Benjamin D. Williams IV ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Charlotte Brownlee '85 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Avani Patel Shah Matt McClenathen Aimee Stanchina ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

Lindsay Newlove Evan Akers Katie Convoy Chris Giles Guille Gil-Reynoso

Andrew MacDonnell Sarah Preston Elana Stone

MISSION STATEMENT

Through commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service, each member of the Cate community contributes to what our founder called “... the spirit of this place ... all compounded of beauty and virtue, quiet study, vigorous play, and hard work.”

NOTICE OF CORRECTIONS

The Summer issue of the Cate Bulletin incorrectly listed Annabella Lucente '21 “With Honors” instead of “With High Honors.” “With Honors” was omitted from Sarah Ruelas '21’s citation. Tim Smith was inadvertently omitted from the 25-Year Employee Recognition section.

The online Bulletin includes all corrections. We sincerely apologize for these errors.

For alumni wishing to update contact information, please email alumni@cate.org.

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CATE SCHOOL

@CATE_SCHOOL

@CATESCHOOL

The Cate Bulletin is published three times a year by Cate School and is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Send correspondence and address changes to: communications@cate.org The Cate Bulletin is printed by V3 on Topkote paper.

Outings Week photos courtesy of Cate faculty and students.

Freshman Mack Nieman '25 is led by Mason Oetgen '22 through the welcome tunnel during Move-In Day in August.

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Willie Kellogg '23 takes in Half Dome during the junior class Outings Week trip to Yosemite National Park.

Photo courtesy Tim Smith, Math Instructor

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Features 28

New Faces on the Mesa A new crop of faculty grace the Mesa and bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to life at Cate.

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A Fresh Look at Campus Life

In this

Issue 5

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S LETTER The 2021-2022 school year is “different.” Ben Williams welcomes this difference and what the return to normalcy signals for things to come.

Student Services has evolved into a more comprehensive Campus Life team, reimagined to facilitate collaboration between students and faculty while emphasizing and centering the student voice.

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ON THE MESA Summer Camps Return to Cate News of the Mesa Inquiry in Action Outings Week 2021 Fall Family Weekend Fall Athletics

REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY A celebration of the 2020-2021 supporters and volunteers of Cate School.

On the Cover: Cate students and faculty trek from Young Lakes to Glen Aulin in Yosemite National Park during Outings Week.

Photo courtesy Lauren Wagner, Assistant Athletic Trainer

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CLASS NOTES

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IN MEMORIAM

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

From the West Coast to the East Coast and all over the world, Cate alumni share recent news about their lives.

We honor alumni who have passed with reflections on their time at Cate and beyond.

Take a bird’s-eye view of the Mesa and its architectural changes over the decades.

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Head of School Ben Williams prepares to greet new families on the Gonda Family Foundation Patio at the Class of 1985 House.

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From the Head of School

A Fortunate Life

I stopped by Cook House East before study hours the other day and found a couple of students in the common room.

“Mr. Williams,” said one, “you’ll never guess what I did today.”

“I went to the Admission Office and talked to the prospective students and families. I told them about my life at Cate. There were a bunch of folks there.

Being a new student last year meant I didn’t get to do that sort of thing, even though I really wanted to, because families didn’t visit. But this year is different. It was a blast!”

It was hard not to be captivated by her energy and her conviction. And she may well have supplied something of a mantra for 2021-2022, “but this year is different.”

Indeed it is. This particular issue of the Bulletin and Report on Philanthropy is a retrospective of sorts, a record of the last year, of that which has been given by members of the community on and off the Mesa, of the spirit of Servons and its many forms and expressions. Combined, they tell a story of care, commitment, and immense generosity.

His was far from an easy journey on this earth, but A.B. Facey faced it with the same spirit as that sophomore I encountered in Cook House East. He entitled his saga, A Fortunate Life.

This publication is one record of our similar good fortune. It attests to the manner in which we continue to grow and learn, add programming and the teachers needed to lead our evolving curriculum, and fulfill the aspirations of a new generation of students. In a year where our inquiry question forces us to grapple with the concept of time, we are especially mindful of how we spend ours, or with whom we spend ours, and how we savor every moment.

One of our seniors in his Servons Speech earlier in the fall noted that we get 84,600 seconds each day. “Spend them wisely,” he said. We intend to.

Soon enough we will be able to bring our stories to you directly, to see each other again face to face and to find comfort in our proximity. This year is different. So sayeth our sophomore. And she is right.

Servons, Years ago I was given a book by a student of mine written by an Australian named A.B. Facey. He was 100 years old when Benjamin D. Williams IV he recorded the story of his life, a tale as full of joy as it was of hardship, misadventure, hope, and disappointment.

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On the

Mesa

By Jessica Seriano, Director of Summer Programs The return of summer at Cate School was exciting and joyful after having to cancel summer programs in 2020. The 20202021 school year was unprecedented, and planning for a summer program required training and support for a crop of counselors and campers who had experienced a year unlike any other.

On a beautiful Sunday in June on the Mesa, a flurry of nervously excited middle school students arrived to check in for camp. For many, this was their first time experiencing inperson instruction in over a year. After dropping off luggage with camp staff, their animated faces approached the check-in table eager to learn their dorm assignment, receive their class schedule, and don their brand new Cate t-shirt.

Summer had finally arrived!

Map in hand, campers and their families followed the highlighted path to the dorms where they were greeted by smiling counselors and their new campmates. Campers eagerly introduced themselves, the first step towards forming friendships that would extend beyond the Mesa. Chatter and curiosity filled the halls as roommates got to know one another, unpack their belongings, and discuss the week ahead.

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Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

Summer Camps Return to Cate

Without even realizing the transition, parents had departed and counselors gathered campers for the official start of camp, icebreakers.

After getting to know one another, the first dinner of summer began. Campers waited in line, surveyed their options before making a final choice, then made their way to Booth Commons. “It looks like Hogwarts,” was a recurring comment spoken out loud as campers gazed around the room in awe while approaching their assigned table. The sound of laughter and fellowship amplified the feeling of cheer this room was built to house.

A week of camp included many firsts.

Monty’s first sleepover. Ada’s first time surfing or riding on a school bus.

Nathan meeting a state senator. These are the camp memories that will hold a special place in their hearts and each moment a reminder of all we have to be thankful for. The worries and stress of the past year are forgotten and minds and spirits are revitalized. Even if for a brief time, the world was exactly as it was supposed to be; inviting, courageous, inquisitive, hopeful.

Summer on the Mesa was more than just camp this year, it was a reminder of the good that still resides within us all.

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ON THE MESA

News of the Mesa Welcome to Cate!

The spirit of this place was palpable on the morning of Sunday, August 29. The first Move-In Day resembling normalcy in over two years brought an eager, wide-eyed Class of 2025 up the steep terrain of Heartbreak Hill and onto their home for the next four years. Not even the morning fog could cloud the visible energy from the senior class that greeted each new student to the Mesa.

“Move-In Day is one of my favorite Cate traditions,” said Assistant Director of Admission and Cate alumnus David Soto '08. “The fact that we were able to bring back some of that magic this year was exciting for us in the Admission office and, hopefully, fulfilling for the newest group of Rams. Seeing our seniors welcome new students to campus with high fives and smiles made us all proud and reminded us how truly special this community is.”

The enthusiasm carried over into a robust orientation program, featuring community-building activities from class outings to the beach, advisory meals, a carnival on Kirby Quadrangle, and the annual line dance on Senior Lawn.

Student Body President Rachel Ma '22

and Vice President Ricky Valente '22 welcomed everyone in the opening all-school assembly – the first time the community has gathered in Hitchcock Theatre since February 2020 – and set forth the theme of the year, compassion.

Fearless Inside

One of the many highlights from orientation was special guest and motivational speaker Darryl Bellamy Jr., who captivated the community with an engaging talk about our fears. He shared fears he has collected from students all over the country and how they connect us before asking Cate students to answer the prompt, “I fear that…” and identify fears of their own. Darryl addressed those fears head-on, sharing anecdotes and stories, and told us that it is not about living without fear, but trying to live with more fearless moments.

Before long, the entire audience was belting out in song to the inspirational tune “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman, a wonderful way to start the year.

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o what do we commit? To live T energetically, to listen earnestly, to consider carefully, to share generously, to imagine broadly, to wander joyfully, to act purposefully, to believe enthusiastically.

On the eve of the first day of school, the familiar toll of Macbeth rang in the start of the Sunset Ceremony, and with it, the official start of the 2021-2022 school year.

With the Cate community gathered on Parsonage Lawn, Head of School Ben Williams read three separate works, two of which were created by former Cate students for the Sunset Ceremony, and all of which were filled with meaning to set the tone for the year ahead.

The first piece was a pledge from the Senior Class of 2019 that would govern the way we live together on the Mesa.

It begins: “To what do we commit? To live energetically, to listen earnestly, to consider carefully, to share generously, to imagine broadly, to wander joyfully, to act purposefully, to believe enthusiastically,...”

The pledge continued on with each phrase, one after another, resonating with the current Senior Class of 2022. The second

piece, another ode from former students, was composed in anticipation of Outings Week in 2015.

“Almost before we go to school on the Mesa, we go into the woods. Not so that we might escape the work ahead, but so that we might prepare for it. Understand its relevance and remember what we go to school for…”

Mr. Williams concluded the ceremony with multiple excerpts from This Tender Land, one of the School’s summer reads, and ended with this final passage.

“Far better, I believe, to be like children and open ourselves to every beautiful possibility, for there is nothing our hearts can imagine that is not so.”

“A nice thought with which to begin this year,” noted Mr. Williams. And in keeping with tradition, the ceremony came to a close as faculty and staff formed a receiving line to welcome the senior class ahead of their final year on the Mesa.

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Sunset Ceremony

Convocation Kick-Off

Following a week in the wilderness, students returned to campus for the first of many Convocations this year. Ben Williams opened the series in a way only he can, welcoming back the community while sharing compelling stories of love through memories of handwritten letters in his family. He shared lessons of kindness, drawing on inspiration from Mr. Rogers, and discussed how our perspectives may have shifted following the collective experience in nature.

“For education is an act of becoming,” he said in closing.

“And though we each live our individual destinies, our lives are now inextricably linked. Welcome back from Outings Week. That was just the beginning. So much more of the adventure lies ahead.”

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ON THE MESA

Inquiry in Action

By Katheryn Park, English Department Chair

It is unspeakable. / It is everlasting. / It is for keeps.

Time is a great machine of iron bars / That drains eternally the milk of stars.

Though I lack the art / to decipher it, / no doubt the next chapter / in my book of transformations / is already written. / I am not done with my changes.

I am living. I remember you.

A way of letting life / out of the box, uncapping the bottle / to let the effervescence gush / through the narrow, usually constricted neck.

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Alicia Hammond (left) and Jeff Barton dive into daily discussions with students around the Harkness table in their English classes.

Dr. Katheryn Park addresses this year’s inquiry question with students in one of her first lessons of the new school year.

J

oy Harjo. Sylvia Plath. Stanley Kunitz. Marie Howe. Tony

Hoagland.

Carl Sandburg.

Many poets, past and present, have written about our understanding of time. Cate students have done the same, pursuing their own answers to this year’s inquiry question: How do we experience time?

To open the year, some Cate students stepped into their English classrooms to find the above quotations and others, sliced into thin strips of white paper, jumbled together for a blind drawing.

First quote – quick, respond! For two minutes, the students wrote a line of their own poetry that resonated with something in the quotation. A word, an image, a comparison, a sound – any element could provoke a response. A buzzer, a new pick, two more minutes, another response. After several rounds, students had their own series of individual lines to contemplate. One of these lines provided the seed for a new poem of the student’s own creation, a way to examine the idea of time through a new prism.

To follow their own poems, students read the six poems that offered the

quotations to which the students had responded. Choosing a favorite, each student carefully examined one poem, investigating the story of the poem as well as the way that the language features enhanced and supported the story. In the following class, students met in small groups by chosen poem to compare and contrast their understandings. They then gathered together so the small groups could teach their poems to their classmates. Their new thoughts and conclusions – time as cage, time as river, time as life or time as memory – offer ideas and images as the students continue to grapple with this year’s inquiry question.

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ON THE MESA

Outings Week 2021

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In early September, just days before the first Outings Week in over two years was set to commence, all of the National Forests in California were closed due to fire concerns. In need of a new plan with not much time to spare, the Cate faculty came together quickly to adapt and reorganize. To ensure the junior class would experience a backpacking trip in the wilderness during their time at Cate, they would venture to Yosemite National Park. Spending time together in a nonacademic setting for the first time as a group, the sophomore class traveled south to Joshua Tree National Park. The freshmen class, meanwhile, took advantage of opportunities both on campus and in nearby Carpinteria, engaging in an active week on and off the Mesa. While the locations may have been different than in years past, the community building and bonding experience was still the same – if not stronger than ever before.

9th Grade Trip to

the Mesa and Beyond

By Joy Doyle, Art Instructor No matter the backdrop, the 9th grade trip always centers around building connections within the freshmen class. While we would have loved the opportunity to take freshmen into the wilderness, we were primarily grateful for the time together. And even on short notice, faculty and senior leaders felt inspired by what we could accomplish on campus and by venturing out into our immediate surroundings.

The most exciting and memorable part of our first day was the significant work of moving into “cabins” for the week ahead. Students outfitted the McIntosh Room, Raymond Commons, and Math Building classrooms with mattresses, sleeping bags, and in some cases even string lights. Over the next three days, students rotated through various off-

campus activities: community service with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, hiking through the beautiful hills of Summerland, and a day of kayaking, paddle-boarding, and lounging at Carpinteria State Beach. Upon returning to Cate, many students and faculty gathered at the pool for a cool down and shared highlights, challenges, and notable moments from each trip.

Wildlife and weather were often at the top of those conversations. Our final day was spent together on the Mesa and focused on meaningful reflection, communication, and on-campus service.

We enjoyed family-style meals twice each day with faculty taking on the responsibility of providing dinner.

Director of Athletics Wade Ransom spent hours preparing a barbecue

on our first night. We also enjoyed tacos, pizza, and salads thanks to local restaurants and topped things off with burritos at Rincon Beach at sunset. And while food brought us together often, so did the lack of certain modern technology.

We observed and delighted in the effects of five phone-less days, particularly as the week went on. The 40-person pickup soccer game at the beach and the reflective closing ceremonies in the Class of 1981 Amphitheatre were some of our favorite moments made more special by the genuine presence and attitudes of our freshmen and seniors.

Though the 9th grade experience was planned on short notice, by many measures the week was a success. Our 13

ON THE MESA biggest takeaway, perhaps, is that we are excited and inspired by the Class of 2025, and we look forward to more meaningful days with this group as the weeks, months, and years go on.

Finally, on behalf of those involved with our on-campustrip, we are so grateful for Amy De Witt, Jacob Bernard and the entire Dining Team, Joel Quezada, Edgar Mora, Jules Nau and the Buildings & Grounds Department, and everyone who helped make this experience possible.

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My favorite part about Outings Week was not only bonding with my classmates, seniors, and teachers, but also trying new things.

Throughout this trip I was pushed out of my comfort zone to take part in hikes, paddle boarding with Ms. Brownlee, and other endeavors I never thought of participating in. Outings Week was a good place for me to discover new things and people to love.

SANAI EDWARDS '25

Outings Week was really special because of the opportunities you have to make connections with other people – mainly with people in your grade, but also being able to connect with seniors or even adults. The no technology part also helped a lot because we learn to experience life in a better way with less distractions. I’m grateful for the memories that Outings Week brought and to the people who organized and structured the trip.

CHRIS SOTO '25

The Pinecone Ceremony was the most memorable Outings Week activity. It centered around the openness and vulnerability among myself and my peers. After expressing our gratitude to each other, we cast a pinecone into the bonfire and let the ashes and our words enter the atmosphere. What a fantastic way to kick off a new school year!

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DAISY GEMBERLING '25

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10th Grade Trip to

Joshua Tree National Park

By Bailey Shaw '24

To start, Joshua tree was hot. We knew going in it would be, but I have to confess I was not ready for the Yukon thermometer to hit 95 degrees as we were driving up to camp. The blast of hot air that hit us as we left the car was certainly a wake-up call to the heat we could expect over the next few days.

Now the layout of the campsite was a far cry from what we would have seen at Yosemite. Surrounded by desert on all sides, we set up individual camps for each pod, using tarps to protect us from the sun while playing card games and eating any snack we could get our hands on. The next few days featured some entertaining bouldering and day hikes, but the most notable moment from the trip was what happened on the final day (for my pod at least).

We woke up at the crack of dawn, and took a short bus ride to a small cave in the ground where we entered a cavern that has only been seen before in a claustrophobe’s worst nightmare.

Ignoring the tightness of the space it was actually a fun spot for bouldering and climbing techniques, culminating in a space ominously and aptly named “The Coffin.” Up to this point, I thought we had been in a tight space, but then we slid on our backs through a space between rocks that was an estimated 1 1/2 feet high. From there, we exited through the similarly aptly named “Birth Canal” in which we escaped The Coffin into the light on our way out of the cavern.

After the cavern, our group was led to a sight of rocks high enough that anyone afraid of heights would sympathize with the earlier feelings of the claustrophobic ones in the group. Some chose to climb the rocks while others relaxed in the shade getting some downtime and, most importantly, candy.

That night was wrapped up with a drum circle and a round of sharing our appreciation as the sophomore grade began to realize that we somehow had enjoyed a camping trip in the desert in 100 degree heat. In the end, the faculty managed to pull off an amazing trip in record time after Yosemite got cancelled, and we all learned to love being there, and even more, being there together.

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ON THE MESA

11th Grade Trip to

Yosemite National Park

By Willie Kellogg '23

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The morning of the second day in the wilderness followed a night of a humbling storm. Rainwater dripped from lichen-draped boughs a hundred feet above my head. My boots were drenched from trudging through soggy bracken. The lichens that draped the bark of the pines and cedars glowed the iridescent green of scorpions under UV light. But despite the rain, Yosemite Creek flowed at a trickle. The lack of water, though a reminder of the drought, allowed us to walk through the gorge at the head of the Yosemite Falls, a v-shaped notch in the cliff, and peer over the threshold on the other side.

What little water at the edge of the falls flew backwards as soon as it reached the brink, blown by the howling updraft back into the gorge and onto our buffeted faces. This experience evoked in everyone a sense of Muirian

outdoorsmanship. But the greatest grandeur of the day lay to the east, across the virgin forests on Yosemite Valley’s north rim.

The compact but patchy clouds typical of summer late-afternoons were progressing across the sky when we next saw Half Dome, at the time overshadowing the Shapiro-Peterson pod as they trekked in our direction.

Half of my pod opted to rest with Jose Vega in view of Half Dome, but the other five of us followed Tim Smith onto the North Dome. Out upon its bulbous surface, the roots of Jeffrey Pines, tortured by a hundred years of high winds, weaved between the cracks in the exfoliating granite. Half Dome loomed across Tenaya Canyon, a 3,000foot wall across a gaping treacherous chasm. Below Half Dome’s striped face,

boulders rested precariously in the scars of rockfalls and avalanches. Piles of rubble invaded the forest at their bases.

On the opposing side of the dome, a shaft of crimson light crept up the glacial hall of the Merced, its colossal walls flaming above the purple meadows of the valley. The ghost of a grizzly stood on a nearby precipice, while sunlight flashed in the meanders of the river. After dinner, with Half Dome and the High Sierra pink in alpenglow, Balazs Kondor remarked on how miraculous it was that such spectacular mountains could have arisen from the Earth. I thought of the ancient magma chambers that cooled to become the rocks we stood on, the faults to the east that lifted them, and the glaciers that sculpted their astonishing shapes. Given enough time, I concluded, nature does incredible things.

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ON THE MESA

Senior

College Trip

By Ethan Ligon '22 To start off, I’d like to thank Ms. Dorion for organizing an incredible trip and opportunity for us seniors.

I’d also like to thank Ms. Bond, Ms. Boardman, and Mr. McDonald for being amazing faculty supervisors and making the experience great. All in all, the college trip was extremely informative and a learning experience for my classmates and me. It was a great opportunity to bond more with my peers, reconnect with Cate alums, and tour beautiful campuses. We were able to see many great colleges, and personally, it was my first time touring a college campus while class was in session, which is infinitely better than seeing an empty campus.

The highlight of my trip was touring USC then going to the Saturday night USC vs. Stanford football game. We reconnected with alumni and toured the breathtaking campus and later experienced the unmatched college atmosphere with friends and faculty.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect week. I made amazing memories during the Cate college trip and recommend it to every Cate student during their senior year.

Students tour the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, Calif.

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Cate seniors take a group photo at the University of San Diego, one of 12 universities that they visited during the annual college trip.

Cate seniors met with alumni and current USC students Deborah Brittain '21, Madeline Gutierrez '20, Will Morse '21, and Tega Umukoro '21, and took in the USC vs. Stanford game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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ON THE MESA

Fall Family Weekend The first Family Weekend on the Mesa since 2019 continued the theme of normalcy returning to Cate this fall. After two years of relying on Zoom for a small taste of the Cate experience, parents were able to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of this place – many for the first time.

A Thursday night reception at Mesa House kicked off the weekend festivities that included language-based socials and a reception for families of color, giving parents ample opportunity to get to know one another.

An inside-look into Cate’s culture of inquiry was provided by Director of Studies Lisa Holmes and Math Instructor Frank Griffin while Head of School Ben Williams engaged the parent community with a lesson from his Language of Lincoln course he teaches with History Instructor Juarez Newsome. Presentations were abound with insights into the future of the Mesa, this year’s inquiry question on time, and a robust offering of College Counseling programming including everything from test prep strategies to financial aid.

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“

The familiar returned again [during Family Weekend], when families from all over the world gathered on the Mesa to celebrate the fall trimester at Cate. It was a long wait, and in that time of anticipating the return of the familiar, we found ourselves savoring the little things as much as the big ones: Mesa House lawn filled with parents and faculty, the amazing tacos we were all savoring, laughter, friendship, dogs aplenty. Our families, it seems, brought every member of their clans, even the four-legged ones, to enjoy the moment.

We went to classes, watched the play, held conferences, and listened to music. Sounds of one sort or another were everywhere, and bustle, the busy, energetic, eager kind – the kind that says we want to see as many people as we can, linger in good conversation and companionship, meet those we haven’t met, and drink it all in.

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– Head of School Ben Williams in his Head of School’s Notebook from October 29

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ON THE MESA

Of course, the highlights from the weekend were the many talents of the students on full display. A lively assembly in the Class of 1981 Amphitheatre featured dance performances, live music, a fashion show, and updates from every corner of campus. The Cate Artists Theater Ensemble delighted the community again and again with its fall production of One Bro, Two Bosses, while the Rock and Jazz Bands provided the entertainment during lunch on Saturday. Performances from Camerata, Chorale, Orchestra, and the Cate Chamber Ensemble during Sunday’s concert, put an exclamation point on an unforgettable Fall Family Weekend.

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2021-2022 Newly Appointed Faculty Teaching Chairs Cate's Faculty Teaching Chairs are appointed by the Head of School for brilliant teaching. Supported by endowed, donordirected gifts to the School, the Faculty Chair distinction signals outstanding dedication, expertise, commitment to teaching, and enhancement of the student experience. For more on Cate's Faculty Teaching Chairs of 2020-2021, please go to page 42 of the Report on Philanthropy.

In the last decade, there has been an effort to appoint Chairs that rotate every four years in addition to those appointed for the duration of one's career. The goal of the rotating chair is twofold: To ensure that more great faculty are honored and to establish a set of objectives for a Chairholder's work.

During the assembly of Fall Family Weekend, Head of School Ben Williams presented two of these Teaching Chairs to Dr. Jamie Kellogg and Joy Doyle.

COLIN DAY TEACHING CHAIR FOR CROSS-CURRICULAR STUDIES Dr. Jamie Kellogg, Science Instructor

ELLIS JONES '72 HEAD OF SCHOOL’S TEACHING CHAIR Joy Doyle, Art Instructor

The Colin Day Chair for CrossCurricular Studies was established in 2013 by former Cate parents Steven and Lalage Rales to honor the inspired teaching of Dr. Colin Day. The holder of the Chair is expected to construct and implement during the four-year window in which the Chair is held, a new cross-curricular course or program at Cate, one that will fortify and propel our students’ inclination to see knowledge as the byproduct of multiple perspectives, academic disciplines, and learning traditions.

The Ellis Jones '72 Head of School’s Teaching Chair was established by its namesake in 2007 to honor the broad scholarly aspirations and interests of members of the Cate faculty. It is awarded for a four-year term to individuals who are committed to harnessing new technologies and techniques, to connecting ideas or disciplines or colleagues, and to imagining new possibilities and horizons for student learning.

It is awarded this year to a teacher whose curiosity leads him perpetually to new topics, new ways of teaching, and new opportunities for student growth.

His mind, like Colin Day’s was, is endlessly at work, a quality that is as conspicuous in the Sierras as he explains geologic formations to his fellow hikers as it is in the physics lab studying momentum or the Computer Science lab tackling a vexing coding challenge. It is a pleasure indeed to award the Colin Day Chair to Dr. Jamie Kellogg.

It is awarded this year to an educator whose special gifts include an aptitude for helping others find their creativity and the means to express it. She is an artist in the broadest sense of the word, able to create for her students in virtually any forum or media opportunity for the fulsome expression of self. Her pedagogical vision is remarkable and we trust she will use it well as she builds new possibilities for teaching and learning at Cate. The Ellis Jones '72 Chair is awarded to Joy Doyle.

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ON THE MESA

Senior captain and standout quarterback Will Bouma '22 led the Rams football team during a sensational fall campaign.

Fall Athletics roundup

By Matt Drew, Assistant Athletics Director

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It has been a very exciting fall season at Cate. With sports back in full swing, there is life on the Mesa that has not been seen in nearly two years. Whether it’s pads clashing on Thayer Peck '53 Athletic Field, splashing in the Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center, crisp new balls bouncing off racquets at the Robert Bonning Tennis Center, or the smack of a palm hitting a volleyball for a spike in Sprague Gymnasium, silence has left the campus and that’s a welcome change.

BOYS WATER POLO It has been a year of growth and learning under a new coach, but with a relatively young team that will return next year, there’s a lot of reason for optimism. The highlight of the boys’ season came on Family Weekend with a 10-9 last-second victory against Villanova. Down a goal with a minute to go, the Rams were able to tie the game and secure a defensive stop before Lukas Hendriks '22 tallied the game-

winner with eight seconds left. While it may not have been the season they had hoped for, the boys water polo team and coaching staff would like to thank Lukas for his leadership and hard work.

GIRLS TENNIS Girls tennis had yet another fantastic season. In fact, you could probably browse the past 10 Fall Bulletins and see similar results. It’s a team with great consistency year after year, and the 2021 season was no different. The Rams went 8-2 overall with one loss coming short-handed early in the year. With four seniors – Aminah Hill, Emily May, Julianna Forry, and Ashi Kamra – the team has been a force all season long.

No doubt the postseason looks bright, and their sights are set on some team titles, as well as some individual ones.

FOOTBALL The football team had a successful year with one hiccup coming against Thacher at the end of the season. After a torrid start to the season that saw the team jump to No.1 in the Division One rankings after wins over Chadwick and Division Two powerhouse Faith Baptist, the Rams suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Toads. The loss dropped the Rams to No. 2 in the rankings behind the Toads heading into the playoffs. Despite the late season loss, hopes are high for a deep playoff run with a talented group of seniors. Will Bouma, Matty Holmes, Ethan Ligon, Mason Oetgen, John Endres, and Ben Meyer have given four incredible years to the program and will be greatly missed.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL In the gym, the girls volleyball team had a successful season culminating with a trip to the CIF-SS playoffs.

Much like the girls tennis team, a place in the Southern Section playoffs is a staple for the Rams. After going 8-5 and finishing with a share of the Tri-Valley League title, the Rams drew a strong Santa Barbara Dons team in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Dons proved to be a little too much for the

Rams on that night, ultimately ending their great season. This was a team that had some great contributions from its underclassmen – including a freshman and sophomore starting in the top six – but at the end of the day, it was the four seniors that were the core of this team.

Chidera Chukwumerije, Charlotte Weis, Elise Guerrand-Hermes, and Olivia Dorion were incredible players and leaders whose presence will surely be missed next year.

CROSS COUNTRY The Rams harriers have triumphed on the trails this fall. The boys have had a solid season with a deep roster led by a group of four seniors – Nick Patrick, Jackson Molin, Andrew Busse, and Filip Sentypal. Their effort and leadership have helped push the underclassmen, who have turned in some impressive times on the course, with sophomore Seb Sutch leading the way. For the girls – and stop us if you’ve heard this before

– it has been senior Anna DiSorbo that all others are trying to catch. Her pace, and record-setting times, have helped push the girls team to the top of just about every race. However, it has not only been her, as fellow senior Kennedy Simpson, along with juniors Kendall Thorne and Emily Allison, have scored Top-10 with relative ease this season.

The Rams look to quickly run their way to a Southern Section title in early November and possibly more with the State race held the weekend after Thanksgiving.

It was incredible to see all the excitement sports brought back to campus. Athletes were running, swimming, jumping, and swinging all over, making for a lively Mesa. We are eager to see the excitement continue with the resumption of winter sports and all that soccer, basketball, girls water polo, and squash will bring.

Chidera Chukwumerije '22 slams home a kill in front of a packed Sprague Gymnasium.

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ON THE MESA

Mason Oetgen '22 hauls in a touchdown in a big win at home over Chadwick.

The girls varsity volleyball team earned yet another CIF Playoff berth in their return to competition this fall.

The Rams harriers lead the pack en route to a perfect score at the Cate Invitational.

Ellie Tunnell '23 rallies for a point during a match this fall.

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Cyrus Symington '23 rises up for a shot in a home game at the Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center.

The Rams celebrate on the sidelines after a pick-six from senior Matty Holmes '22 against Orcutt Academy.

Julianna Forry '22 serves up an ace at the Bonning Tennis Center.

2021 Rams Cross Country poses for a team photo prior to the running of the annual Cate Invitational.

The Blue Crew hypes up the crowd during a volleyball match in Sprague Gym.

Co-captain Nick Patrick '22 crossed the finish line second at the Cate Invitational, ranking 15th all-time in Cate history.

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FEATURE

New Faces on the Mesa

New Faces ON THE

MESA

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Dr. Ashwin Atre '05 By no means a “new” face on the Mesa, Ashwin returns to Cate as an instructor in the Mathematics Department after attending the School as a member of the Class of 2005. Upon graduation, Ashwin went on to earn his bachelor of science in chemical engineering at Princeton, where he graduated magna cum laude and received numerous academic distinctions.

He came back to the West Coast for his Ph.D. in materials science at Stanford, where his research explored a broad range of topics from renewable energy to invisibility cloaks.

Following a post-graduate road trip that took him and his wife, Olivia Sparkuhl '06, over 33,000 miles through 18 countries from California to Tierra del Fuego – the southernmost tip of South America – Ashwin was drawn back to the Mesa to contribute to the community that had a significant impact on him as a student.

“The relationships that Cate fosters, both among students and between students and faculty, along with the rigor of the academic program, made for a transformative experience in many ways. I left Cate feeling supported, intellectually challenged, and prepared for what was to come.”

With experience in various levels of academia, Ashwin is eager to participate in this transformational moment in other people’s lives and is excited to share his energy and passion for math and science with others.

“As a STEM instructor, I am driven to teach in ways that build excitement for and engagement in these technical topics and that reach as many students as possible. I am especially motivated to reach the students that might not think they are a ‘math person’ or a ‘science person’ and convince them that with a growth mindset and hard work, everyone can excel at and enjoy math and science.”

Ashwin and his wife, Olivia, live in Carpinteria with their two-year-old son, Bodie, and are expecting another baby in January.

Nuria Causera Nuria Causera joins the Cate community as a Spanish Instructor following eight years at The Riviera Ridge School (formerly known as Marymount of Santa Barbara) where she also served as the Community Service Coordinator. A native of Valencia, Spain, Nuria earned her English degree from the University of Valencia and traveled to the United States for the first

time in 2007 while studying abroad at the University of North CarolinaWilmington. After completing her master’s in teaching a second language from the Valencian International University, and completing a course on methodology of teaching Spanish as a second language from the Cervantes Institute, Nuria moved to Santa Barbara in 2012 and has been here ever since.

She is looking forward to becoming a part of the community on the Mesa and motivating new learners to love Spanish.

“I love being able to teach things about my culture and connect it to the language and curriculum. I find it fascinating when I am able to share with my students things that I read about or see on social media that are intended for native speakers.”

Nuria fosters a positive and relaxed classroom environment, emphasizing laughter and learning, all the while recognizing that mistakes are a necessary part of the process. Ultimately, seeing the growth from students by the end of the year, and proving the usefulness of the subject matter is what’s most rewarding.

If you see Nuria around and want to get her attention, simply mention avocados, hummingbirds, Rusty’s Pizza, or Bob’s Burgers!

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FEATURE

Jenna deBoisblanc Jenna deBoisblanc comes to the Mesa from New Orleans, La. and will fill the role of Computer Science Instructor while coaching Ultimate Frisbee, and serving as an advisor and dorm parent.

She recently completed her master’s of fine arts in digital arts from Tulane University and holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Pomona College.

As an independent school teacher in New Orleans, Jenna created a K-12 makerspace and computer science curriculum from scratch and is excited to integrate computational thinking across disciplines while at Cate.

and I believe true innovation is equal parts science and art.”

“Computational thinking mindsets provide a set of problem solving tools that are applicable to almost any discipline. Also, I am most excited by the intersection of art and technology,

Thriving at this intersection of art and science, Jenna aims to help students discover and hone their lifelong passions and discover the boundless potential for creativity afforded by computational thinking.

Kiara Downey

With more than 20 years of international school experience, Kiara Downey arrives on the Mesa as the new Director of Theater. She comes to Cate most recently from United Nations International School (UNIS) in New York City, where she has taught since 2002 and served as the Head of Theater since 2014.

Kiara earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and politics from the University of Montana and received her master’s in theater from Trinity College Dublin. She was the co-founding director of Minc Theater Ireland, an international theater company in Dublin, before embarking on her teaching career.

“Teaching in institutions throughout the world has made me appreciate how powerful and essential education is for individuals and communities, and I love being a part of this profession. As a theater teacher, I have a front-row seat to the creative process in action. I love developing new plays and reimagining those that already exist. Theater classes

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Outside of the classroom, Jenna is passionate about social justice and climate change and is eager to take advantage of the Outdoor Program. She also creates art using code in her spare time. Jenna lives in Parsonage with her partner, Bryan, and her cat, Tacocat.

offer immediate opportunities for people to get to know each other as artists and as collaborators.”

Much like she did at UNIS, Kiara has plans to expand the performing arts offerings at Cate from playwriting courses to the creation of a social justice theater program that tackles pressing issues through meaningful performances.

“Everyone is an artist. We all have a need to imagine, to create, and to reach beyond our circumstances. As artists afforded the privilege of space and time to create, we also have a responsibility to share and make space for others whose voices and ideas are not amplified.”

In addition to her role as the theater director, Kiara will be a dorm parent in '25 House and an advisor, and she is looking forward to continuing the theater program tradition of incorporating the rubber chicken into every production!

Piya Narayen Piya Narayen steps onto the Mesa as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion after co-founding RISE (Radical Inclusion for Social Equity Committee) and teaching history at Crossroads School in Santa Monica for the past eight years. She will also teach in the History Department at Cate – specifically, an advanced senior course on Contemporary Global Geopolitics – in addition to serving as a dorm parent in Cook House East and as an advisor.

Born in a vibrant Indian family from mixed backgrounds, Piya hails from Allahabad, and grew up in the big city of Delhi, where she received her bachelor’s degree in history honors from St. Stephens College, Delhi University.

She came to the United States for graduate work in history at the University of Virginia upon receiving a President’s Fellowship.

Randy Person '10 A familiar face to the Mesa, Randy Person – a member of the Class of 2010 – returns to Cate as an English and Humanities Instructor following stints at St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I. and St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. After graduating from Cate, Randy went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine and earned his master’s of science in education degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

At Cate, Piya sees an opportunity to build a dynamic DEI program and vertically integrate it into the everyday life of the institution in a manner that is structurally copacetic.

She has already been fast at work, implementing the Cate Community Council with the intention of creating respectful and safe spaces for conversations about unique concerns within the community. On top of reintroducing intentional and regular affinity spaces, Piya hopes to engage the entire community and continue to create spaces for discussion, not just when a crisis happens, but consistently, purposefully, and thoughtfully.

Piya loves to cook Indian food and cannot wait to travel home to see her family that she has not seen in over two years.

A standout student-athlete for the Rams, Randy will return to the sidelines to coach football, basketball, and lacrosse, in addition to his duties as an advisor and dorm parent in Savage House.

“Returning to Cate has been a goal of mine since I began my teaching career. My teachers imparted so much wisdom and provided me with such support as a student; hopefully, I can do the same for current Cate students.

It is also important to be here for my students of color because I know how

it felt only to have a few teachers who looked like me. Hopefully, my presence feels like a reflection for students seeking representation at Cate.”

Randy hopes to help students realize their most authentic and vulnerable selves, unearth their passions, and feel as seen, loved, and supported as he was at Cate.

“This generation of Cate students has insights and perspectives about the world that I did not grasp when I was their age, which is a beautiful thing to witness. The opportunity to teach and learn from young adults is one of the greatest gifts afforded in this world.”

Born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, Randy’s hobbies include pottery, thrifting, and adding to his sneaker collection. He is looking forward to meeting the students, participating in new and old traditions, and of course, every opportunity to BEAT THACHER!

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FEATURE

Kadeine Peterson Kadeine Peterson joins the Cate community as a Biology Instructor following a wealth of independent school experience, most recently at Phillips Exeter Academy. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kadeine earned her bachelor’s in biology from Marist College and holds a master’s in genetics, genomics and development from Cornell University.

Looking for an opportunity to further connect with students and build community, Kadeine found her way to the Mesa. As a biologist, it didn’t hurt that Santa Barbara offers unique geography and biology to explore as well.

As a Black woman in STEM, Kadeine draws much of her inspiration from others who share her intersectional identity, and thus far she has relished

blending her learned Harkness pedagogy with the inquiry model employed by Cate.

“I absolutely love the level of curiosity in this stage of life. It feels like I am learning alongside my students as they engage in the inquiry process and I appreciate the ability to do so greatly. I am engaging with students in new and interesting ways that fill my ‘educator’ cup.”

In addition to teaching biology, Kadeine is an advisor, volleyball coach, and dorm parent. She resides in Cook House East with her husband, Josh, their two sons Jack Maverick, 7, and Kingston, 3, and their ornery shih tzu, Rocco. In her free time, she enjoys small space/urban garden design, and creating biology-themed digital art.

Pong Ma Pong Ma has worked in education for most of his life and will be a welcomed addition to the Student Services Department. In his role as the Student Services Coordinator, Pong will provide support to students and look to enrich their experience on the Mesa.

“I want our students to know and feel that we care for them. The adults on campus really do a wonderful job communicating with students and

expressing care, and I want to also uphold those values. It doesn’t matter what’s happening, students will always have my unconditional positive regard, and I will take the time to listen to them.”

Prior to Cate, Pong was in test prep in Shanghai and Beijing, and worked as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and school counselor while living in Connecticut. He completed his

undergraduate work at UC Santa Barbara.

After arriving on the Mesa last year with his wife – Cate’s Chinese Instructor Song Ge – Pong was eager to join the staff for himself given the unique sense of community that he witnessed first hand.

“My favorite part of this job is how collaborative my experience is. I get to work with a variety of people across campus, and everyone has so much expertise and love for the community.

I also really love the curly fries from the dining hall.”

He and Song Ge live in Schoolhouse with their puppy Maple, who he plans to train to sniff out the Cate Garden Gnome and lead Schoolhouse to an easy dorm victory. In his spare time, Pong loves to travel, read, cook, and play multi-player online battle arena games.

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Jules Nau Cate’s new Director of Facilities and Master Planning, Jules Nau, brings over 23 years of military and civilian logistics experience with a strong focus on operations management and execution. He comes to the Mesa most recently from Hope Refuge Inc. where he served as the Director of Facilities and Operations. Jules holds a bachelor’s degree in administration and diplomatic protocol and has certifications in Transportation Logistics Operations, Lean Six Sigma, Special Events Management, and Security Operations.

While at Cate, Jules will take up the mantle of caretaker for the property, and he looks forward to making changes within the old and new structures that will positively affect how the community experiences the Mesa.

“I chose to come to Cate because of its history, the location, and beauty of the campus and I felt that I could take care of this entire facility and community. I love being a part of a team that makes things happen, and my job at the end of the day gives me satisfaction that we as a group have made a difference in the lives of others.”

From Petion Ville, Haiti, Jules is a proud husband to Irina, and father of Elena, 17, Ephraim, 15, and Elize, 4. He is a passionate adventure motorcyclist, woodworker, outdoorsman, and the worst golfer that will never stop trying.

Christina Gil Christina Gil joins Cate School as the new Student Services Office Manager.

In her role, she handles transportation, attendance, and other responsibilities within the Student Services Department.

Christina earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Sonoma State University and has over 13 years of experience as an administrator for a non-profit organization specializing in after school programs.

She chose to work at Cate because of the friendly environment, and she enjoys helping others and interacting with students and parents.

Born and raised in Sonoma, Calif.

Christina currently lives in Ventura with her husband, Miguel, and two sons Niko, 6, and Noah, 1.

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FEATURE

A Fresh Look at Campus Life

By Avani Patel Shah, Director of Marketing & Communications

V

isitors to the Mesa often remark that the campus is a warm and friendly place where students and faculty look you in the eyes and greet you with a smile. Such an environment is created through intentionality and effort on the part of all members of the community, and abundant opportunities for introspection and evaluation of the systems that facilitate student care. Previously, this has been made possible by the Student Services team, but it was time for a refresh.

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Over the summer, Student Services has evolved into the more comprehensive Campus Life team. Consisting of faculty, students, and administrators who work hand-in-hand, the redesigned departmental structure and protocols have allowed the team to make strides in the 2021-2022 school year.

The department consists of four key school administrators: Director of Campus Life Erin Hansen, Dean of Students Bryan Rodriguez, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Piya Narayen, and Director of Residential Life Cece Schwennsen. They are supported by administrative staff as well as the school’s prefects, TAs, and senate leadership.

Seen here teaching 9th Grade Humanities, Director of Campus Life Erin Hansen works to center the student voice early and often.

CENTERING THE STUDENT VOICE The Director of Campus Life manages and supports the efforts of a host of partners including residential life, student activities, student leadership, and Human Development, all with the focus of building and optimizing an engaging, healthy, and productive pattern of life among students.

Hansen works in collaboration with administrators like the Dean of Students and the head of the Human Development program to ensure that all areas of faculty endeavors are in alignment with those of the students and the systems work in collaboration to ensure that the student voice guides the program.

“We often say, the way the senior class goes, so goes the School. Our seniors are remarkable and have taken it upon themselves to set the tone to rebuild the culture of the School after a challenging and disrupted year and a half,” said Hansen. “From day one, our Student Body President Rachel Ma '22, and Vice President Ricky Valente '22 have focused on compassion. They embody what our founder called ‘the spirit of this place’ particularly, virtue, vigorous play, and hard work. They are willing to be silly and have fun – bringing joy to the entire community.”

One particular activity that has been initiated by the student leaders is the creation of a kindness jar where students can share random acts of kindness and a few are selected each assembly to be read out. Additionally, the Blue Crew, Cate’s spirit committee, rallies students to attend sporting events and build a sense of school pride. Active Minds, the mental health student group, has developed a Peer Support Group. Student activities leaders have built out an activity schedule that not only entertains students but allows for connections across grade levels and friend groups. More student-led initiatives add to the list every day and continue to foster collaboration and compassion across campus.

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FEATURE Significantly, the Director of Campus Life creates the processes necessary to facilitate such collaboration between students and faculty. The focus is clear lines of contact and ongoing communication.

“The goal is to increase communication directly with students. One measure of success for the Campus Life Committee would be that students give feedback and then see tangible action steps are taken in response to their input,” shared Hansen.

DISCIPLINE WITH A FOCUS ON STUDENT CARE The Dean of Students role has expanded to look more closely at the disciplinary systems and rooting them in student care. “I had to reassess how we approach discipline from the perspective of student support. The real focus of our Campus Life program is student care and helping students feel seen, cared for, and supported,” said Dean of Students Bryan Rodriguez.

To create such an experience, the Dean’s Council was formed as an extension of the existing Disciplinary

Committee. The Council consists of Director of Studies Lisa Holmes, Dean of Students Bryan Rodriguez, Director of Residential Life Cece Schwennsen, Student Body President Rachel Ma '22, and Head Prefects Chidera Chukwumerije '22 and John Endres '22 as well as two selected faculty members and two elected sophomore and junior representatives.

The charge of the group is to work in collaboration to look at the disciplinary processes at the school and rethink what the different responses can be that are beyond just the punitive and focus more on accountability and responsibility.

“We want students to think about taking ownership and responsibility for poor choices,” shared Rodriguez.

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“The collaborative efforts are really special and where I think we make some amazing strides,” shared Rodriguez.

“Ultimately, there was a need to get us all working in concert which is going to help us produce more quality for our residential program and experience.

Our efforts are more coordinated and less siloed. We have the ability to hold each other accountable to the progress and changes we want to make.”

“The real focus of our Campus Life program is student care and helping students feel seen, cared for, and supported.”

Daniel Boateng '22 catches up with Dean of Students Bryan Rodriguez, who has been an integral member in revitalizing campus life.

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Rodriguez and the newly formed Council have led their efforts with a specific emphasis on communication and collaboration.

A Closer Look: The Student Perspective A hallmark of the refresh is an intentional effort to collaborate with and bring the student voice to the table. Often, this takes the form of advocacy by the School’s Head Prefects Chidera Chukwumerije '22 and John Endres '22.

What are some changes you’re seeing this year compared to previous years on campus?

Chidera: This year, the campus

experience is more typical of a normal school year, and having access to things like buses to Carpinteria and in-person assembly have been great. We’re seeing a lot more spirit on campus and momentum for change around topics like mental health, misogyny, and racism. In all, I’m seeing a change for the better.

John: It’s really exciting to have folks back on campus again. It’s really hard to create the same spirit and excitement from behind a screen like we had to last year so it’s great that we have that ability to do it in person this year. Also, we’re having really important conversations on campus this year around a variety of topics, and as student leaders, we’ve had opportunities to learn more about things like sexual harassment and mental health in a way that helps us identify students who are struggling and getting them the help that they need. While I think we still have a long way to go on both tracks, the efforts that are in place show that we’ve come a long way and are headed in the right direction.

With the revamp of the Campus Life program, what specific structures allow you to bring the student voice to the table?

What does your experience as a Head Prefect look like in the context of Campus Life?

Chidera: I didn’t realize how influential Chidera: We have input in a variety of

places – we serve on Mr. Rodriguez’s Council, meet with Mr. Williams weekly, and have standing meetings with Mrs. Hansen and Ms. Schwennsen for the residential life side of things. When students share their feedback with us, we are able to work with adults in the community to make things happen or understand why they can’t. We are currently working on ways to improve the communication between students, faculty, and administration in order to ensure that Cate is a place where everyone feels welcome to share their ideas and be heard.

John: We’ve really encouraged students to reach out to us – text us, email us, there’s no inconvenient time to get in touch about concerns. We look for patterns in the feedback we get and bring up the topics that come up most frequently when we meet with Mr. Williams or other administrators.

It’s really encouraging to see that the administrators that I talk to want real, honest feedback. They’re really looking to us to bring the student perspective without sugarcoating it.

the Head Prefect role could be in making change happen. Students share their feedback with us, and we get to bring it to the table. It’s great to have the opportunity to share my own opinions as well as the opinions of the student body, and to have conversations with administrators and hear their side as well so we can work together to improve student life. John and I hope to provide students with the opportunity to advocate for topics that are hard but necessary to talk about.

John: Last year, it felt that there was a divide between students and teachers, and I think some of that was a byproduct of COVID-19 and because we didn’t have a structure in place to help people express their true feelings from student to faculty. As Head Prefects, Chidera and I are able to hear the student perspective and bring it to the table with the decision-makers at the school. More importantly, we’re able to encourage students to use their own voices and advocate for themselves as well. I’ve seen more and more self-guided initiatives from students to tackle the topics that matter to them head-on, and while we have the honor to be in this role, we also get to encourage students to speak up for the things that matter to them.

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FEATURE Programmatically, Narayen has started to lay the groundwork for student affinity spaces and streamline more consistent student clubs, by providing structure. “I’m trying to encourage affinity spaces and student clubs to become more culturally vibrant and continuous,” shared Narayen. In an effort to do so, Narayen has partnered with Student Body President Rachel Ma '22 to create guidelines for clubs that include a once-a-month meeting requirement and a standing meeting with both her and Rachel once a trimester to maintain their club status.

Science Instructor and Director of Residential Life CeCe Schwennsen has seen her role expand to develop a residential program that will best serve all students.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE: FEELING AT HOME The reimagined Director of Residential Life role facilitates the creation of a more integrated campus life experience.

“In the past, my role was limited to boarding student experiences including housing, prefect selection, and creating consistency across dorms. Now, I am working with Ms. Hansen to continue to train prefects, to develop a residential program that allows day students to feel like they are an integral part of our culture and community, and to create spaces that will best serve our students,” shared Schwennsen.

The efforts in place for the residential life side of things include the expansion of Savage House, the exploration of an all-gender housing option, and representation for students in the senate through Residential Life representatives.

Most importantly, the goal is to create a uniform dorm experience across campus with the students at the center. “We are trying to find ways to make sure that all students are seen, heard, valued, and feel safe,” said Schwennsen.

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COLLABORATION, COMMUNITY, AND CONSISTENCY FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE CAMPUS This summer, Piya Narayen joined Cate as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and has been an integral part of the new Campus Life team. “In my role, I am in every Steering, Internal, Campus Life, DEI Core, DEI Teaching and DEI Community meeting and I’m coordinating with Residential Life, Campus Life, Student Services and the Dean of Students on their programs,” said Narayen.

Some of the efforts that were initiated this fall include training for teaching assistants and prefects about identity development and privilege, participation in conversations around gender spectrum training and inclusive practices around all-gender housing, and ongoing collaboration with student leaders.

“Students are integral to this work and I make sure I make myself available, visible, and accessible to kids at all times,” shared Narayen.

Additionally, Narayen has introduced Community Councils for students, faculty, and staff. The community is able to come together and share openly on topics such as the gender spectrum, race and ethnicity, nutrition and eating disorders, and much more. The councils are thoughtfully structured and maintain confidentiality to encourage candid, respectful, and courageous conversations.

Success for Narayen would look like consistent time and infrastructure spent on the topics that matter most to the community. “I’m hoping to go on this journey with everyone in the Cate community. This vital work requires collaboration,” shared Narayen.

Piya Narayen and prefect Imani Oseso '22 touch base outside of Booth Commons.

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Athena Jones '94

Born in Boston, Mass., Athena Jones '94 grew up in Monroe, La., and Houston, Texas. Her late mother, Gaynelle Griffin Jones, served as US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Appointed

by President Bill Clinton in 1993, she was the first African-American woman to serve in that position, having previously been appointed by Gov. Ann Richards as the first Black woman to serve on the First Court of Appeals in Texas. She played an integral role in encouraging Athena to consider boarding school and she applied through A Better Chance. She later served as a Trustee on Cate’s Board, presenting Athena with her diploma at Commencement. Athena’s father, Judge Benjamin Jones (now retired),

Athena Jones '94 poses for a photo with Juliette Calderon '22 and Claiborne Buerle '23 (right) before receiving Cate's Distinguished Alumni Award on October 28.

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of Monroe, was the first Black person from East Carroll parish to receive a law degree (in 1969) and served for more than two decades as a district court judge for Ouachita and Morehouse parishes in northeast Louisiana. He was the first Black lawyer elected to the court.

He spent years working to desegregate city schools and to ensure that AfricanAmericans could win elected office through reapportionment.

Athena arrived on the Mesa as an eager 9th grader, quickly making friends who introduced her to classic rock, reggae, and surfing. She enjoyed English, biology, Spanish, and history classes in particular, and asserted herself as a thoughtful, competitive, and inquisitive student and a natural leader. She was known for her enthusiasm and commitment to learning and for her strong character – which some teachers described as “just a little bit stubborn” and “even a little imposing” – traits that would later serve her well as a journalist.

Her adviser, Bob Bonning, wrote in 1992, “She has a great group of friends, is widely respected for her integrity and intellectual honesty, and she’s working hard to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way.”

She developed an interest in current affairs and politics in part by reading

The New York Times at the McBean Library and excelled at public speaking, winning a speech contest as a junior.

Athena competed in basketball, cross country, and soccer, but her best sport was track & field. Here, she was led by beloved teachers and coaches like Jeff Barton and Karl Weis and was part of a stellar team that included Aisha (Jeter) Stephenson '93, Tracye (Lawyer) Robinson '95 and Mia (Mitchell) Grandpre '95. She set sprinting records that stand to this day.

She joined Chorale and still remembers singing Giuseppe Verdi’s “Chi del gitano i giorni abbella” from Il Trovatore as part of a performance in Santa Barbara. She eagerly joined the cast of the spring musical each year and has fond memories of dancing and singing in productions like West Side Story and Godspell. In the spirit of Servons, she was a frequent volunteer at a homeless shelter in Santa Barbara and traveled to Mexico on community service trips with Los Niños. Senior year, she served as prefect in Bothin and at graduation was awarded the Gold Cup for outstanding leadership and Most Inspirational Athlete (shared with Charlie Wykoff '94).

Upon graduating, Athena enrolled at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in the fall of 1994. Because of the

Advanced Placement classes and exams she took at Cate, Athena was offered an opportunity to complete her college coursework in three years. She chose to study Government, including enrolling in classes at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. During her three years at Harvard, she competed in track & field, traveling with teammates from Yale University to Ireland and England in the summer of 1995 to compete against a combined team from Oxford and Cambridge universities. After spending a year interning on Capitol Hill in Washington for a congressman from Texas and studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, she returned for her senior year, serving as a Fellows Liaison at the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics and writing for the quarterly Harvard Political Review.

After graduating cum laude, Athena enrolled at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she earned a master’s of science degree in 1999.

She continued her studies in Cairo, Egypt, as part of a summer program run by Duke and Emory universities. When she returned to New York, she worked as a fact-checker at an art magazine, before moving to Santiago, Chile – sight unseen – to pursue her interest in being a foreign correspondent. The five-month internship with Bloomberg News led to a staff position across the Andes Mountains in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the economy was slowly unraveling. She moved there in the spring of 2000, eventually leaving Bloomberg for Reuters.

In late 2001 and early 2002, she covered the collapse of the government and the economy and the devaluation of the Argentine peso. During her four years reporting in South America, she covered presidential elections in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.

Athena returned to New York, where she began working in television news, first at NBC, then at CNN, before returning to NBC to cover the 2008 election. She followed Hillary Clinton’s primary run and later moved over to then Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign plane, covering the end of the primaries and the entire general election. When Obama made history as the first Black president, she moved to Washington to work as a producer in the White House, traveling with the White House Press corps to Europe, Mexico, Africa, South America, and Asia. Athena joined CNN in Washington as a general assignment correspondent in 2011, later serving as a Capitol Hill correspondent and as a White House correspondent.

During her nearly nine years in D.C., she survived two bouts with breast cancer and became an advocate for early detection. In 2017, she returned to New York, where she became a CNN national correspondent.

Over the years, Athena has given back to Cate by joining online discussions with classes, while working at the White House and as national correspondent, and by serving as the Baccalaureate speaker in 2017. In that speech, she implored graduates to pursue knowledge and experience over money or status and quoted Helen Keller, who is credited with saying, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” She has embraced that spirit of learning, adventure, and calculated risk-taking throughout her post-Cate education and career.

For her distinguished career in journalism, her dedication to Cate School, and her reputation as an engaged, thoughtful leader, we are honored to award Athena Gaynelle Jones, Class of 1994, with Cate’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2021.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS Name Athena Jones '94 Eric C. Taylor '80 Hal Burroughs '68 Christian Strachwitz '51 Tim Bliss '70 Terry Sanders '49 Walter Douglas '73 Brad Roberts '72 Greg Kubicek '74 Mona Khalil '84 Burton Smith '58 William E. Steinberg '68 Richard D. Baum '64 Sir John Bond '60 David Pun Chan '68 Eugene Thayer Bigelow, Jr. '59 Dayton O. Hyde '43 Conrad L. Hall '45 John D. Caldwell '59 Peter Frederick King '80 Donald Hastings Harcourt '50 George Barker Barrett III '45 James Sloss Ackerman '37 William Matson Roth '35 John Morse Luce '59 William New, Jr. '59 Paul Moore Denison '52 William Stevens Prince '42 Michael Alan Morphy '50 Francis S. M. Hodsoll '55 Nelson Dorrington Jones '48 G. Ledyard Stebbins Class of 1924 & John Rodman Hooker Class of 1921 Malcolm Wallop '50 Peter McBean '30 Dohrmann K. Pischel Class of 1914

Year of Award 2021 2020 2018 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1984 1983 1981 1980 1980 1972

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In Memoriam Eric Martyn Rickard Jr. '44

AUGUST 19, 1925 - JUNE 15, 2021

Eric Martyn Rickard Jr., age 95, of Avon, Conn. passed away on June 15, 2021, in the loving presence of his wife Casandra, daughter Christine, and granddaughter, Amelia. Eric was a lucky man to have a 32-year marriage to Casandra, and the generous support of Christine and Amelia during his golden years. An avid golfer and fisherman, Eric had a rich and long life. Eric Martyn Rickard was born August 19, 1925 to Beatrix Haines and Eric Rickard Sr. in New York City. He attended Cate school in Carpinteria, Calif. where his father taught Mathematics. During his high school summers, Eric worked as a

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ranch hand, riding a Palomino horse, fixing fences, gathering eggs, cooking for himself, and living the life of a cowboy.

Eric was granted early admittance to Stanford University as a high school senior to participate in a program for gifted students. After training as a Navy pilot in Boulder, Colo., Eric completed his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and met his first wife, Carolyn Rogers. He spent several years working as an engineer, then the couple traveled by steamer ship to Edinburgh, Scotland, where Eric attended a theological seminary. He completed his seminary degree in Berkeley, Calif. and the couple had their first child, Jon. They moved to Boston where Eric became the minister at the legendary Old South Church and subsequently, at the Congregational Church in Marblehead, Mass., when their second child, Pamela was born. After 10 years as a minister, Eric once again changed careers to become personnel manager at Doubleday Book Publishing Company, and then at Stanley Tools. His second marriage was to Skip Finlay and included three children: Christopher, Jillen, and Lani. Eric’s third wife was Casandra Nelson Tetro, who along with their daughter, Christine Tetro Comen and granddaughter, Amelia Comen have been a loving presence in Eric’s life. They tirelessly cared for him during his illness and he adored them all. Eric’s almost obsessive love and interest for golf and fly fishing was legendary. Although somewhat of a solitary man by nature, he golfed and fished with a wide range of friends,

many of whom had radically different life perspectives and politics, but with whom he shared his passion and joy for each of the sports. He continued to golf until he was 94. After asking Casandra to marry him in 1988, Eric announced that, before the wedding, he needed to spend a year fishing across the United States. He bought an RV and traveled from Connecticut to California, into Canada and back again, adjusting his route accordingly to fish every possible river, stream, lake and ocean front along the way. Eric would often spend 15 hours a day perfecting his homemade fly-fishing lures, and continued fishing into his nineties. Eric was also a gifted watercolor painter – a trait that is shared by many of his family members – as well as a consummate, voracious reader. Eric was fascinated by and always embraced the changing technology of the times.

In the 1960s he built his own color TV set. In the 1980s he began assembling his own computers. Eric was charismatic and full of charm. He was a gifted orator and lit up the room when he entered.

He was adored by all his grandchildren: Benjamin, Alexander, Amelia, Abbey and Callie; along with his children, Jon Rickard, Pamela Rickard, Debi Rickard, Brian Hertz, Christine Tetro Comen, Shelley Ellison, David Hall, Chris Lippincott, Jillen Lippincott, Lani McHugh, and Eric’s sisters: Mary Wilder Paul, Anna Brown and Mary Christian Copeland.

could not give the time necessary to do the job as it ought to be done. But he did agree to come back to the Mesa in 2009, his 30th reunion, to see his classmates and spend some time with the host of trustees and faculty members who wanted so badly to offer their personal thanks.

From left: Simon Ho '79, Philip Lun '79, Ben Williams, Sebastian Man '76, and David Chan '68 gather for dinner at Sebastian Man's home in Hong Kong in 2012.

Philip Lun '79 JUNE 17, 1961 – AUGUST 23, 2021

By Benjamin D. Williams IV There are people we meet in our lives who seem too good to be true: too kind, too caring, too generous. It doesn’t happen often, sadly, so we remember those moments when it occurs. It happened for me in the late fall of 2002, when on a trip to Hong Kong I was introduced to Philip Lun '79. One of several students who came to Cate in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s from Hong Kong, Philip just oozed affection for the people he met and the teachers who guided him during his years on the Mesa. There was a certain reverence in Philip’s voice when he mentioned Allan Gunther or Frank Light, Bob Bonning or Patrick Collins.

Philip had stories too, lots of them, that revealed the appreciative character of his nature. He wanted me to say “thank you” for him to a host of people still on the Mesa at that time.

A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Philip built a career in the textile industry. Innovative and

undaunted by challenging problems or a long work day, Philip led his company in the production of a host of new fabrics, including various iterations of denim.

He and his wife, Lilian, raised three wonderful children all of whom we tried to lure to Cate over the years. Though they opted for schools in the U.K., the family connection to Cate is profound.

Often Philip and Lilian would invite visiting Cate folks to join their family at dinner in Hong Kong, fortifying perpetually the companionship that is central to every Cate journey.

We first went to Philip about a project we were undertaking in the early 2000s. We were building a series of faculty homes on the edge of the Mesa out by the athletic fields and we needed a lead gift to energize the effort. We asked Philip if he would fund one of the six homes we were building. He funded two, naming one on behalf of the Class of '79. His class.

At the time, it was the largest single gift ever given to Cate School. Philip wanted no publicity or recognition. He simply wanted to do something meaningful for Cate faculty. We asked him to join the Board but he declined, saying that he

It was an enchanting visit and a culmination of sorts of Philip’s remarkable service to his School. He was gracious with all of the praise that came his way, deflecting it as best he could, politely and gently. His quiet, unassuming nature made being the center of attention deeply uncomfortable for Philip, I’m sure, but he seemed to know how important it was for all of us.

So he smiled through it all.

It is a funny thing that happens over time in communities like this one.

Relationships begin because of a mutual connection to Cate. But ultimately, they become friendships built on a connection to each other. I looked forward to my annual trips to Hong Kong because I knew I would see Philip and Lilian, perhaps have a meal with whichever of their children were home, savor the moments in the company of good friends.

It is a ritual I will miss more than I can say. I last saw Lilian before the pandemic, during a trip to Hong Kong in the fall of 2018. Health challenges made it impossible for Philip to join us in person, the very ones that contributed to his passing a few months ago. But he was still there in other ways.

And he is still here on this Mesa. The residents of Class of '79 House know Philip’s legacy every moment of every day. A dorm room that Philip funded is named for Allan Gunther, assuring that another Cate memory is preserved. And all of us who knew Philip remember a man who gave gentle power to our mission and motto.

For Philip Lun '79, all of us at Cate are forever grateful.

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and wonder to all of us,” shared Paul Denison '79.” What a source of positive energy and all that is truly good in this universe.”

Clay Shevlin '79 recalls great memories of Mark – “philosophy, trips to SB, concerts, certain classes, and skateboarding,” among other adventures. Of said classes, I recall the four of us and some of you fighting our way through Mr. Gunther’s Calculus – and Coz never asking a question.

Mark Neuweld '79 FEBRUARY 3, 1962 - JULY 29, 2021

By Jonathan Howland '79 Our friend and '79 classmate Mark Neuweld, whom many of us called Coz, died this summer in San Francisco.

He’d had lung cancer for almost two years, and for most of that time felt in good health, joyful, and forwardlooking. The night he let go, July 29, he had loved ones alongside him, including his beloved partner/spouse Suzanne, his older sister Lisa, and me.

Coz was a friend to all of us and a dear friend to many. Deep into his adulthood he was very much the person we knew at Cate – fresh and curious and honest – no postures. He had several life-long friends, including Jimmie Olmstead '79 and me, and whenever he walked and talked with us he’d at some point pose the question: “How’s your heart?”

“Coz” came from cosmic, evoking Mark’s interest in astronomy as well as his wide-eyed inclination for mystery.

“Those who knew him know how inspired he was by the stars and how much he conveyed that appreciation

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Coz was for most of his adult life an interpretation specialist with the National Park Service – at Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Death Valley National Park, and here at the San Francisco Maritime Museum.

A great turn in his life occurred on Nov. 11, 2011 when Coz reconnected with Suzanne, a friend from earlier years with whom he created a deeply loving couple. Suzanne brought a son and daughter into Coz’s life, Sage and Lily, whom he loved.

Coz lived light on the earth and would encourage us to do the same. Even more, he attended to the life of the heart. He spoke honestly, expressed joy, cultivated gratitude, and experienced wonder. He was a man of uncommon vitality and interior spaciousness. I’m grateful to my core for having met him on the Mesa and having shared a path on this earth.

I hope that all the tribes of his life from childhood, The Cate School, Stanford, Ithaca, NPS, etc. will share the stories, photos, music and love from their connections with M. His big heart touched us profoundly. If there is a red thread that connects two hearts, then there are gold silken threads of light that connect his heart to ours. We are all brighter having known him and loving him.

Paul Martin Wade '82

APRIL 18, 1964 - AUGUST 7, 2021

Paul Martin Wade, aged 57 of Cincinnati, passed away on August 7, 2021. He was born April 18, 1964 in Tacoma Park, Md. to Billie and Norman Wade. Paul was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid runner, coach, and mentor with Queen City Running and Mojo Running. Paul loved to travel, some of his favorite destinations were Ireland, Greece, and Sonoma.

Between the ages of 10 and 15, Paul lived in Saudi Arabia and traveled throughout Africa and Europe with his father.

Paul was most happy when working with kids. He was a Boy Scout troop leader with his sons’ troop, climb instructor, mission trip leader, and teacher’s aide working with special needs students at Northwest High School.

In his personal life, he enjoyed playing with his granddaughter and great nieces and nephews.

Paul is survived by his wife Joyce (née Vogt); sons Sam (Ashley) and Logan Wade; granddaughter Reagan Wade; parents Billie (Frank) Ferguson and Norman (Pat) Wade; siblings Scott

(Angi Shafer) Wade and Nicole (Scott) Hulsman; father-in-law William (Mary Ann) Vogt, in-laws Charlene (Khanh) Vu and W. Michael Vogt (Fran Wills); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Hilda and Lee Wade, maternal grandparents William and Vivian Newbill and many aunts and uncles.

A visitation was held on Friday, August 13, 2021 and the funeral service was held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Saint Xavier High School.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Paul Wade Tuition Assistance Fund, care of St. Xavier High School 600 W North Bend Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45224.

Tuition assistance will be designated for a student runner.

Reflections from Joyce Wade Paul and I met in 2014 and married on July 18, 2015. We loved to travel. Some of our favorite destinations were Sonoma, Calif., Greece, and Ireland. Paul was a bit of an adventure seeker. When in Greece, he bungee jumped off the Canal of Corinth.

He also did a rappel down a seven-story building in downtown Cincinnati as part of a fundraiser for the Aubrey Rose Foundation, which raises funds for families with sick children.

Paul truly loved his job at Northwest High School and felt a strong dedication to his students. He was a track coach at the high school for two seasons. He also spent several Christmas holidays playing Santa Claus, going class to class passing out candy and spreading Christmas cheer.

R. Carter Kirkwood '87 MAY 10, 1968 - APRIL 7, 2021

Robert Carter Kirkwood, IV, age 52, affectionately known as Carter to relatives and friends, died peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital, following a long illness, on April 7, 2021. A Concord resident for eight years, he was the husband of Jessica Iversen Kirkwood.

Carter grew up in San Francisco and Woodside, Calif., before attending high school at Cate School in Carpinteria, Calif. He attended UCLA, earning a bachelor’s in economics with a minor in political science. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago in 1997. Carter worked on a congressional campaign in California before moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career in politics. He worked for the House Oversight committee and helped to form policy about internet usage for members of congress. His interest in the internet and technology grew in law school and he began his legal career at Irell & Manella in Los Angeles, focusing on technology. He left his law practice to found Docuthentic, a document management technology company. He enjoyed research, particularly new technology and investments. Mountain biking and fly-fishing were his favorite outdoor activities. He also liked to barbecue.

Surviving family members include his wife and their children Robby Kirkwood, Emily Kirkwood, Chloe Kirkwood, and Poppy and Jasper Frost, his brothers, Brook Kirkwood of Sausalito, Calif. and Corey Kirkwood of Salt Lake City, Utah, his mother, Bonnie Brooks of Carmel, Calif., and his step-mother, Edie Kirkwood, Palo Alto, Calif.. A celebration of Carter’s life will take place this summer on Martha’s Vineyard, a place close to his heart.

Paul spoke very highly of his time at Cate and was proud of being a graduate. He valued the rigor of the School and was proud he graduated from a school with such high standards. He also talked about a job he had working on an avocado farm picking avocados. That was the beginning of a lifelong love of guacamole. Paul’s guacamole is legendary among his fellow colleagues, friends, and family.

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From the

archives In their preface to a Scripps College show celebrating the architecture of Reginald D. Johnson, Jay Belloli and Marjorie Harth wrote, “Reginald D. Johnson is among the talented architects who gave Southern California the sense of place we now take for granted... he worked to expand the architect’s goal from that of designing buildings appropriate to specific sites to the more challenging one of creating an

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architecture that respects the history and nature of its environment.” It is this commitment to a unique sense of place that Cate attempts to honor as new facilities are added to the Mesa.

The legacy of Reginald Johnson looms large, and the most recent Cate architect, Li Wen '78 drew on it heavily when designing the newest building on campus, Booth Commons. And,

while the new construction is part of an attempt to create meaningful connective passageways between the academic and residential side of the Mesa and the active, playful side, the basic flow of the campus remains centered around an everpresent awareness of the natural beauty surrounding us. These aerial views show the evolution of the School and its facilities and at the same time reflect an unwavering dedication to our sense of place.

WAYS TO GIVE to CATE SCHOOL CREDIT CARD

STOCK GIFTS & WIRE TRANSFERS

Go to www.cate.org/donate to make a gift using Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Credit card gifts are also

A gift to Cate of stock held more than one year entitles the donor to a charitable deduction for its full current market value (in most cases without paying the capital gains tax on the appreciation, which would be required if the securities were sold for personal gain). For more information on making a gift of appreciated securities, please contact Evan Akers by phone at (805) 684-4127 ext. 211, or by email at

accepted over the phone at (805) 684-4127 ext. 211.

CHECK Gifts may be made payable to Cate School and mailed to: Cate School, Advancement Office 1960 Cate Mesa Road, Carpinteria, CA 93014-5005

evan_akers@cate.org.

CRYPTOCURRENCY

ALIPAY, PAYPAL, VENMO, AND ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF CURRENCY

Gifts of Cryptocurrency can be made via Bitpay.

Visit www.cate.org/giving/bitpay

MATCHING GIFTS Many companies will match gifts that their employees (and sometimes spouses of employees) make to secondary schools such as Cate. Please send your company’s matching gift form along with your gift. For questions, please contact Evan Akers at (805) 684-4127 ext. 211 or

Those wishing to make a gift through alternative forms of currency such as AliPay or PayPal can visit www.cate.org/ giving/ways-to-give and select AliPay/PayPal. To make a gift via Venmo, please search “Curtis Cate” or @guacamoleCate.

evan_akers@cate.org.

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ON THE MESA

CATE SCHOOL 1960 Cate Mesa Road Post Office Box 5005 Carpinteria, CA 93014-5005

Justin Musyimi '23, Nicole Teh '23, and Carly Weinberger '23 enjoy quality time together during Outings Week in Yosemite National Park.

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