On Campus: Fall 2017

Academic Year 2017/2018 • Volume One

OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni

Inside Visual Arts Leading the Way Meet the New Staffulty Advancement Meet the New Trustees Father-Daughter Dance Mother-Son Kickball Technology Professional Development Alumni News All-Alumni Reunion A Beloved Tradition 90th Anniversary Lower School Upper School Trip Week Sports Theater Arts

A NEW GENERATION ON CAMPUS Historically, Crane has been hosting once-a-year grandparent gatherings for decades.

However, our official Grandparents for Crane organization was launched in 2014 thanks to Gail O’Brien, Crane past parent (Tom ’75, Paige ’77, Sarah ’82, Peter ’84) and Crane grandparent (Pierce ’21, Ronan ’23). By design, this organization finds ways to connect grandparents to one another and to the school. This is our third year of having a Crane grandparent on campus every Wednesday reading to our younger students during morning recess — a huge success! Grandparents have also been involved in sewing costumes for dramatic productions, and helping with and attending the annual Spring Benefit. On November 14, grandparents were treated to an evening in the Phil von Phul Design & Engineering Center where they not only got to hear about and see the results of the design process being taught to their grandchildren, but also had the opportunity to try their hand at design. And, let us not forget that all grandparents from near and far will gather for the annual Grandparent and Special Friends’ Tea on Sunday, January 28, 2018. We are certainly enjoying this new generation’s engagement on our campus.

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visual arts

peru is just one stop in this year's art theme, art is everywhere.

After returning from their class trip to Peru, the eighth graders were excited to share travel stories with the fourth graders as they worked together to sculpt alpacas out of clay. Artists continued to collaborate and share as they wove blankets for each alpaca inspired by the master weavers of Peru.

This joint effort was a meaningful and authentic way for students to not only learn about Peruvian art, but also share firsthand accounts of traveling in this beautiful country.

The fourth grade took their study even further by exploring the art of the Inca. They were asked to design their own unique Tumi, which is a ceremonial tool that has become the national symbol of Peru.

Artists were challenged to include the classic characteristics of Incan art while also adding their personal voice to their pieces. Designs were carved into copper metal tooling and then framed with embellishments.

Leading the Way In just a two-month period, for

example,

silkworms

go through a dramatic life cycle — egg to larva to pupa to adult. They also produce silk,

one

of

the

most

fascinating and strongest natural products.

Lejeune

had

a

dilemma

though — raising silkworms is a complicated process because the only food they eat is mulberry leaves. In the early stages of raising the worms at Crane, Lejeune

Crane School is fast approaching its 90th year. The

had to gather mulberry leaves each week from a friendly

school has had a rich history over those ninety years,

older woman who lived in Santa Barbara. The logistics of

including a constant emphasis on traditional academics

acquiring the leaves weekly off campus was problematic if

alongside creative expression. Each school year is filled with

the curriculum was to continue. So, Lejeune decided to plant

extraordinary traditions for both students and adults in our

two mulberry trees on Crane’s campus, which would supply

community. We have a beautiful campus with a wide array of

an infinite source of silkworm food for his classes.

indoor and outdoor learning spaces. We have so much to be proud of! Though our school does not have many traditional

One of Lejeune’s two mulberry trees still thrives on our

historical markers that directly reveal the school’s rich

grounds today in the aptly named Mulberry Quad, the space

heritage, we do have many trees, including the mulberry

between the library, art rooms, and fourth-grade deck. It has

tree, that date back to the first days of Crane.

become one of the most sacred places on campus. Weekly, young students enjoy the shade of the tree while grandparent

Since its opening day, Crane has always been an experiential

visitors read stories during morning recess. It is also the

school. Crane’s founders understood that students needed to

place where many Crane traditions take place. These include

be active participants in the learning process—just listening

eighth-grade graduation, the Thanksgiving Feast, and the

and reading wasn’t enough. Even in Crane’s earliest days,

culmination for Lower School Spring Study Week.

teachers were leading extraordinary hands-on activities for their students.

When we look at the mulberry tree today, we are seeing a physical manifestation of the school’s commitment to

F. Arnold Lejeune, one of Crane’s founders and the

experiential learning, as well as the strong bond we share as

school’s first headmaster, often joined teachers in leading

a community.

experiential lessons. He taught subjects including Latin, mathematics, geography, and science. As part of the science

Joel Weiss

curriculum, Lejeune decided to teach his students about

Head of School

silkworms, a species of insect that is remarkable to observe.

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Meet the New Staffulty

NEW STAFF AND FACULTY Donna Brown Third Grade Teacher I fell in love with Santa Barbara in 1987 when I began my master’s degree at UCSB. Over the past thirty years, I have found Santa Barbara to be a small but vibrant city with many opportunities to explore athletic endeavors, creative passions, and appreciate the sheer beauty of the environment. I have enjoyed training for a triathlon, performing as a singer/songwriter, dancing samba in the Solstice Parade, teaching yoga, raising two children, and pursuing my lifelong passion as an elementary teacher.

I cannot imagine a career more fulfilling than teaching. Every fall, I embrace a quest and a challenge to learn about a completely unique set of individuals. As a teacher, I strive to facilitate learning, fan the flame of unearthed curiosity, celebrate strengths, and provide an environment that feels like the place for experimentation.

I am a firm believer that the way we grow is by stepping out into uncomfortable and challenging spaces. Each time we take a risk, try something new, or challenge our own understandings, we evolve. My move

Sarah Fishman Teaching Fellow

Crane since kindergarten, my wife, Linnea,

I grew up in Boston, so it has been an

my youngest son can’t wait to become a

amazing

Coyote!

journey

has been very involved as a parent, and moving

across

the

I taught fourth grade at Crane

country and experiencing both the Crane

from 2005 to 2011, before beginning the

and larger Santa Barbara communities!

doctoral program in counseling, clinical,

I grew up working as a camp counselor,

and school psychology at the University

tutoring, and being a nanny. I am amazed

of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

at how empowered I feel to be a role model

My training and experience has focused

for the children, while at the same time

on working with children, families, and

recognize how they teach me so much

educators across a variety of settings and

about the world and about myself.

conducting research aimed at improving

After

graduating

from

Hamilton

children’s mental health and educational

College with a degree in comparative

outcomes. I regularly publish and present

literature, I knew I wanted to work with

on a range of topics, including school-

children, but I was not sure in what

based mental health, social and emotional

dimension. I worked as an assistant teacher

learning,

in the third-grade classroom at Chestnut

systems of support, and school psychology

Hill School, just outside of Boston. I

in independent schools. Prior to obtaining

had such an amazing time that I craved

my PhD, I received an MA in education with

teaching again in a different environment.

a concentration in educational leadership

I am now lucky enough to work with Crane’s

(Antioch University), an MA in school

second graders and Karen Ohrn.

psychology (UCSB), and an MA in liberal

One of my favorite aspects of teaching

studies

school

climate,

(Columbia

multi-tiered

University).

After

is the social-emotional work. I find some

college, I enjoyed studying intellectual and

of the most poignant moments come when

cultural history at the University of Vienna

helping students navigate friendships and

and teaching in a local school in Vienna,

their anxieties, and teaching them how

Austria on a Fulbright Scholarship.

to become empathetic members of the community.

Aleena Malik Teaching Fellow

Aaron Haddock School Psychologist

I was born in New York City, but have called

parents, and staffulty has made my

My family and I are thrilled to return

For college, I moved to New York to study

transition to Crane feel like a warm

to the Crane community following an

education and Hispanic studies at Vassar. I

welcome in every respect. I am continually

enriching year living in Connecticut,

also studied abroad for a semester in Madrid.

amazed by the talented group of colleagues

where I completed a fellowship in the

While at Vassar, I split my time between

I have joined at Crane. It is an honor to be a

psychiatry department at Yale Medical

fire spinning with the circus club and event

member of this community.

School. Two of my sons have attended

planning as a student government leader.

to Crane was about embracing change and growth.

The entire community of students,

St. Louis, Missouri home since kindergarten.

Meet the New Staffulty When I first applied to college, I intended

have worked as an event manager as well for

to major in international studies but after

weddings, big conventions, and galas.

one class in the education department, I was

Sharing my knowledge and collaborating

hooked. Even so, I did not intend to become

with the Crane students and supporting

a teacher until I worked with Breakthrough

the various creative endeavors has been so

Collaborative in Austin, Texas.

rewarding. I look forward to seeing the tech

Through the BT Austin program, I worked closely with a team of three other teaching fellows and one in-service teacher to support 20 rising eighth graders in various subjects.

That experience immediately altered my career goals and continues to impact the way that I interact with education today.

My senior year of college I searched nationally for positions at schools that supported

innovative,

student-driven,

experiential curricula in the classroom and that valued the fresh insight of new teachers and fellows. I have found all of that, and more, here at Crane. I truly look forward to coming to work every morning and cannot wait to see what these next two years will bring.

crew and the performing arts students grow and flourish in the upcoming productions!

Andrés Wood Spanish Teacher Being

a

second-generation

American-

Mexican, my childhood education was filled with questions. Those questions were only partially answered by the one-part Mexican public

school

and

one-part

American

homeschool system my parents arranged for my K-12 education. I was reimported to the United States from Mexico to attend college where I began my studies in Chicago and then transferred to Westmont College where I completed a BA in English, writing, and history. Since graduating, I have enjoyed

Erika Sellin Technical Theater Supervisor

settling into Santa Barbara life.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

my thirst for learning: I’ve worked in the

When I pulled up to Crane for the first time,

fields of construction, ESL instruction,

I was reminded of my middle school. After

legal non-profit, volunteer coordinating,

years of ballet and cello, the eighth-grade

service learning, and student affairs. My

musical Finian’s Rainbow got me involved

mom, a teacher herself, always encouraged

with theater. In fact, the Crane interview

me to choose teaching as a career, and after

process gave me the opportunity to reconnect

tutoring for several years, an opportunity

with my friend living in Carpinteria, the

arose to teach at Crane where I have

leprechaun in that production.

encountered a caring, supportive, creative,

It is delightful to be back in the theater/ classroom with the next generation of

My professional journey has mirrored

and fun community which allows me to enjoy work every day.

students interested in theater. I have been

I love teaching because it allows me to

involved in the arts in various capacities

introduce students to a new world and

over the past decades – from casting,

bridge their experience with a new Spanish-

designing, producing, stage management,

language world view. In my life I’ve had to

and more. I spent eleven busy seasons at

cross over many bridges and am grateful to

Center Theatre Group (Ahmanson/Mark

those who paved the way for me. In Spanish

Taper/Kirk Douglas) casting all sorts of

class my hope is to create bridges so that

productions and new work. Since receiving

students can expand their horizons, grow in

an MFA from UCSD, my stage management

their compassion, and fill their backpacks

work has made it possible to work often in

with skills that are needed to understand our

Minneapolis, New York, and Los Angeles,

globalized world.

as well as various national tour venues. I

halloween fun

Advancement

2017-2018 Crane generates a portion of its

So, how does this actually work, especially when we are all

budget each year through fundraising, as

already writing large checks to Crane each year for tuition?

tuition alone does not cover everything we do. These efforts are streamlined into three major fundraisers each year:

I invite you to shift your way of thinking about the Annual Fund, as my husband Mike and I have done:

the Crane Country Fair, the Spring

Our tuition check pays for our kids’ education — a very high

Benefit, and the Annual Fund.

quality product for the tuition. This is a fee for service. We put this cost into our expense bucket – the same bucket in which

All are important to our success, but the Annual Fund stands out as being the most critical.

Why this model?

we put our expenses for housing, food, gas, travel, clothes, and other necessities.

Then we have another bucket, our charitable giving bucket.

The size of this bucket is definitely impacted by our expenses

Private institutions most often price tuition below the actual cost of educating each student and to rely on donations / fundraising to make up the gap. It is done for many reasons: 1. Helps maintain our competitive position as compared to other local private schools.

2. Ensures that tuition isn’t so high that public school becomes the choice for most.

and our income. We figure which nonprofit institutions are the most important to us, and from there we determine how much we want to donate to each. We make this decision separate from what we pay in expenses.

We’ve decided Crane is a significant institution in our lives, and we are deeply committed to its success. Our donation to the Annual Fund will reflect its importance as compared to

3. Gives families a tax break by having a portion of what could

the other non-profits we support.

be tuition given in the form of a donation.

Please consider your gift with the same lens as you do all your

4. Provides opportunities for Crane to attract an array of children from diverse backgrounds.

Schools are not alone in this practice. It is also done in religious institutions and sports organizations.

charitable giving and give at a level that indicates Crane’s importance in your life.

Thank you!

Nancy Sheldon

For all these institutions to continue to provide top-notch

Development Chair

services, they depend on the goodwill of those engaged with the organization – in the case of Crane, that is all of us.

crane planned giving – the lejeune legacy society The Lejeune Legacy Society was established

Society share a passion for education and Crane’s

in 2005 to recognize and

future. Many of Crane’s closest and most generous

honor individuals who have

friends have included the school in their will in the

expressed their intention to

form of bequests, life insurance, real estate, trusts,

leave a legacy gift to Crane

and/or annuities. Regardless of size, these gifts are

Country Day School. The

a critically important component in providing for

namesake commemorates

future generations of Crane students.

F. Arnold Lejeune, Crane’s first headmaster, whose

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Like Mr. Lejeune, members of the Lejeune Legacy

If you, with the help of your financial advisor, are considering Crane in your plans, please contact

passion for teaching kept him in the classroom until he was

Debbie Williams at dwilliams@craneschool.org

75 years old.

or (805) 969-7732 x105.

Meet the New Trustees Richard Ryu, MD

past 14 years, she has worked part-time at

Born in Monterey, California, Rick attended Aspiranet in Camarillo, supervising other the York School followed by a BS from Yale social workers and clinicians.

University. He graduated from UC San

Christina has held several volunteer

Francisco Medical School and its residency in positions at Crane, including Head Room orthopedic surgery. He finished his training Parent,

Room

Parent,

and

Staffulty

with the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Conference Day Luncheon Co-Chair.

She

Los Angeles, subspecializing in arthroscopic enjoys volunteering in the community and surgery and sports injuries. He is currently currently serves as International Service the team physician for UCSB, Westmont Learning Coordinator for Direct Relief Women

(l-r) Melissa White, Hikaru Phillips, Christina Stoney, Rick Ryu

College, Santa Barbara High School, Bishop and has helped plan service trips to Guatemala, Diego, and Cate School.

Peru, and Haiti. She has loved serving on the

He has been appointed a Master Surgeon leadership committee for Direct Relief Women

Hikaru Phillips Born in Los Angeles, Hikaru Phillips recently returned from 17 years in Sydney, Australia with his wife, Gabrielle, and their three children, Finley (UCSC), Eve (Class of 2019), and Hiro (Class of 2021). As recent transplants to Santa Barbara, the family has been enjoying the blissful Mediterranean climate and beautiful outdoor lifestyle.

Hikaru studied biology/ecology at UCSD, founded and sold two technology companies working across the convergence of digital media, data, and analytics—Prize Central Networks to Vivendi and Memetrics to Accenture—and has been involved as an angel investor and board member on multiple Internet and FinTech startups. He has worked with leading companies such as eBay, Samsung, and American Express to optimize their multi-channel marketing programs and to develop holistic enterprise measures to drive customer-centric transformation

in Shoulder Surgery by the Arthroscopy for the past 4 years. Christina is currently Association of North America, and has served serving as the Diversity & Inclusion Committee as its president. He was elected chair of their chair for Crane’s board. education foundation and currently serves as

In addition to spending time with her

the chair for the Journal Board of Trustees, family, Christina enjoys running, hiking, overseeing

the

Journal

of

Arthroscopy. cooking, and adventure travel, with a special

Rick is a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara interest in Latin American countries.

Foundation, and has previously served on the Crane board. The author of numerous textbooks and scientific articles, Rick has enjoyed his opportunities as an educator and lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and considers all levels of education worthy of our greatest efforts. Rick is currently Audit Committee chair for Crane’s board.

Rick is married to Linda Ryu, a former Crane trustee, and is the father of Jessica (JJ) ’99, Alison ’02, and Samantha ’04. Traveling, reading, writing, and staying fit with an occasional futile golf outing are his favored endeavors.

Melissa Eiler White After spending most of her life in Northern California, Melissa moved with her husband, Tobin, and three sons, Zachary (Class of 2020), Benjamin (Class of 2021), and Oliver (Class of 2025), to Santa Barbara in 2015. Growing up, Melissa had spent summers in Santa Barbara and feels fortunate to join the extended family members who now live in the area.

Melissa received a BA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in policy analysis and evaluation and a PhD in administration and policy analysis from Stanford University's Graduate

programs. At Accenture Marketing Science,

Christina Stoney

Hikaru ran the research and development

Christina is the mother of two children, works at WestEd, a non-profit research and

team managing development teams in the US,

Monica ’17 and fifth grader Matt, who are both development organization. There, she leads

Australia, and India working on platforms

Crane lifers. Christina and her husband, Greg, research and evaluation projects focused on

for media auditing, digital benchmarking,

moved from Ventura to Carpinteria in 2007 school workforce and teaching effectiveness

advertising effectiveness modeling, and

to provide their children the opportunity to issues. Prior to joining WestEd in 2006, she

intelligent digital platforms.

attend Crane.

Hikaru’s

current

passions

include

School

of

Education.

Melissa

currently

worked at the California Legislative Analyst’s

Christina is a licensed clinical social Office, advising the legislature on fiscal and

surfing, photography, and developing the

worker. She earned her BS in sociology at policy issues in education.

world’s greatest chili sauce and cold-smoked

UCSB and received her master’s in social

salmon.

work at the University of Southern California. to the beach, biking, and spending time with

As a family, the Whites enjoy hiking, going

She has worked in the field of foster care and friends and extended family. adoption for the past 23 years. During the

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Father-Daughter Dance | Mother-Son Kickball Father-Daughter Dance - June 2, 2017

Mother-Son Kickball - October 6, 2017

Lower School

Technology

How are you handling the increasing dependence on technology

“Students have adapted quite well to keeping cell phones off

in your home? With ever-changing advances, it’s a topic of concern to

and in their backpacks during the day and we’ve observed more

Crane, especially when it relates to the school day.

connectivity between classmates and less to devices,” observed

This past academic year, the school introduced a new technology

Wheat.

use policy that both preserves the integrity of Crane’s educational

To gauge the impact of the new policies, several surveys were

mission and ensures that technology use, particularly as it relates

taken by everyone in the community. A survey among staffulty

to cell phones, social media, and computers, does

reported that nearly 70% felt the new policy has

not interfere with the school’s strong sense of

had a positive impact on campus. Upper and

community.

Lower School students have been receptive to

“We want our students to be responsible digital

the guidance. Students were concerned over how

citizens who use technology collaboratively and

much screen time was too much, and they wanted

responsibly. As educators it is incumbent upon

to ensure that their use of technology wasn’t

us to foster an environment that uses technology

interfering with sleep.

to assist in preparing students for a life of critical

In addition to implementing policy that affects

thinking, ethical integrity, and global connections,”

students, Crane initiated a series of workshops

noted Head of School Joel Weiss. “Crane values

giving parents a chance to share concerns related

social engagement and face-to-face interactions,

to their child’s device dependency. The school also

and as much as we appreciate sophisticated access to information, we

incorporated a monthly ParentSquare post detailing resources

treasure our sense of a cohesive community even more.”

and ideas to better balance technology outside of school. These

It was within this community that Crane found just the right person to spearhead the effort. Dr. Winifred Lender, a psychologist

posts often included tips such as device-free dinners or screenfree family outings.

with a focus on families and children and author of Parenting in the

An ongoing educational component has also ensured

Digital Age, played a key role in creating the school’s Responsible

that the school’s policy stays relevant during the academic

Use Policy (RUP). “The fact that she’s a longtime Crane parent,

year. Sarah Lopez and Librarian Traci Cope now incorporate

former PFC president, and current trustee makes her exceptionally

digital citizenry into their curriculum for all grades, and often

qualified to lead the charge of creating a more structured policy,”

have impromptu discussions regarding the latest technology

noted Weiss. He said the school was looking for a plan that clearly

news. “Students are really interested in these topics and

defined boundaries, yet provided a healthy balance of technology

usually initiate the conversations because they have personal

usage.

knowledge or have heard about something in the news,” said

“The formulation of Crane’s RUP was an inclusive process that

Wheat. So far, topics such as privacy settings, posting photos,

involved all the constituents — parents, students, and staffulty — in

viruses, malware, identity theft, and cyber bullying have been

accessing their feelings and feedback, ensuring that the culture of

discussed.

Crane was maintained in a way that felt genuine,” explained Lender.

Mr. Weiss says he’s pleased with the receptivity and

Working closely with Crane’s tech specialists, Sonya Wheat

changes Crane has incorporated in a relatively short period

and Sarah Lopez, the school developed a broad series of activities

of time, but cautions that the topic of technology is constantly

that kicked off with teachers reading Lender’s book followed by an

evolving and will need to continue to be a regular part of the

iterative process of discussing, revising, formalizing, sharing, and

school’s future endeavors.

finally adopting the new procedures.

The RUP prohibits cell phone usage during school hours and clearly articulates disciplinary actions related to infractions. It also stipulates that computers be used solely for educational purposes and forbids the sharing of personal information online.

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Professional Development The Gift of Time Sabbatical

Traci Cope – Librarian

Another big goal of my sabbatical was to accomplish items on my bucket list. Highest on my travel wish list were the verdant, rainy lands of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in the lands of my ancestors for five weeks! It was so fun to learn to drive on the other side of the road, to wander through ancient and sometimes broken-down castles, as well as hike over peat-filled bogs. The green, towering Scottish Highlands were so remarkable! We could drive for an hour and not see another person. I had presented an assembly at school about mysterious and glorious book sculptures that an anonymous artist had created and hidden around literary sites in Edinburgh, Scotland. Two days were spent on a treasure hunt to find each sculpture — this was my favorite thing I got to do in the British Isles! My assembly at school last spring highlighted my hunt for these sculptures.

If you’d like to learn more about them, try the following link: https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2012/nov/30/ scotland-secret-book-sculptures-in-pictures

Like many of you, I lead a busy life balancing obligations of work and family. What if I could step off the bustling train for a while and take time to slow down? Take time to travel? A gift of time came my way last school year when I was awarded a semester-long sabbatical. The gift of time was therapeutic.

The gift of time was cathartic. The gift of time was one of the greatest presents of my life to date.

I luxuriated in time to do things I wanted to do — travel, spend time with family and friends, read, cook, and take care of projects around the house. I also was able to move my firstborn off to college and get him settled into his freshman dorm room — starting a new chapter of our family’s narrative. I even took time to journal on a regular basis.

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Having spent my life in school and then TEACHING school in California, I have never been able to experience a New England autumn, and that was also high on my bucket list.

Seeing mountainsides and forests ablaze in vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows took my breath away! Drinking fresh apple cider from roadside stands in Vermont and New Hampshire and then hiking among the autumn foliage are memories I will treasure forever.

These were the highlights of my first semester last year, the gift of time generously awarded from Crane Country Day School’s sabbatical program. I returned to Crane in late January with a beaming smile and a full tank of energy to finish out the year in a school that I love so much. May you be blessed with the gift of time sometime soon!

Professional Development TwitterMathCamp Eldon Boyd Fellowship

Doug McKenzie – Upper School Math Teacher way to get to attend is to volunteer to present a session, which I did. I was accepted, and on my way to Atlanta.

The conference went for three days, and it gave me a chance to meet and speak with people whose work I had read and been inspired by, or whom I had seen in videos demonstrating activities that I now use in my room (yes, there are famous math teachers). The structure of the conference encourages reaching out; everyone was eager to meet and include the new folks, and we quickly became a community of peers. We had opportunities to do math together for fun, and also to share our ideas and solutions for the real problem that math teachers face:

I had a fantastic experience this August thanks to the Eldon Boyd Fellowship program. Math education is a field of abundant innovation and excitement these days, and much of that activity comes not from big publishers, but from dedicated individuals, both in classrooms and out. I remember just a few years ago searching the Internet for lesson ideas, and finding only commercial worksheets drilling computation and math facts. I knew there were

how to teach math in an engaging and productive way.

The Eldon Boyd Fellowship funding also allowed me to bring my wife along. We had a chance to visit Georgia and South Carolina, where I had never been before, enjoy real Southern cooking, attend a Braves baseball game, and visit some family.

It was a relaxing and

rejuvenating week, a real highlight of my summer.

teachers out there with interesting ideas, but they were hidden beyond the results of a Google search. Then one day I saw a TED talk on math education, and I went to the speaker’s website to follow up. There I found my first math blog, a journal of teaching in a math classroom, including struggles, questions, ideas, lots of activities, and — most importantly — links to other math blogs! I had stumbled on the Math-Blog-o-Sphere, where there are hundreds of math bloggers sharing ideas and inspiring each other to continually experiment and improve their teaching. They alert each other to new posts or resources through Twitter, building a virtual community that stretches around the world.

Approximately six years

ago, a small group suggested that they might get together in person, share ideas and have some fun, a grassroots professional development conference.

That was the

origin of TwitterMathCamp. Since then it has grown to an event hosting 200+ people that “sells out” in a day when registration opens. Someone told me that the easiest

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Professional Development Portugal

Dorothy Waugh Grant Pat Bixler – Upper School Science Teacher

This summer, with the support of a Dorothy Waugh grant, I went to Portugal to learn how its geology played a part in its history. What better way to learn about a country’s major rock formations and topography than to hike along its considerable trail systems through valleys and over peaks?

I started my journey in Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly coastal capital city. In 1755, an earthquake struck on the morning of November 1, All Saints’ Day. Reports state that the earthquake lasted nearly six minutes, causing fissures 15 meters wide that cleaved the city. Survivors rushed to the open space of the docks for safety and watched as the water receded, revealing a sea floor littered with lost cargo and shipwrecks. Half an hour after the earthquake, a tsunami swallowed the harbor and downtown area, rushing into the city so fast that several people riding on horseback were forced to gallop as fast as possible to higher ground for fear of being carried away. Fires broke out and flames raged for days, leveling 85% of this prosperous and important European center. Tens of thousands lost their lives, and

It’s hard to underestimate the value professional development plays at a school. Imagine if all K-8 schools across the country had the wherewithal and vision to send its teachers to remarkable places around the world to engage in life-affirming experiences. It speaks volumes that our school holds as one of its central tenets the lofty notion that teachers who experience awesome personal learning during summer months will come back to their classrooms in the fall with “fire in their bellies” and high-minded lessons to share. Crane’s professional development has shaped and sharpened my ideas for over three decades.

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Lisbon’s role as a strong influential geopolitical city faded.

I continued north to Portugal’s second largest city, Porto.

Villages and cities in the northern reaches of the country are built upon granite and didn’t suffer the seismic disasters of regions in the south.

For several days I hiked along the Camino de Santiago, a system of ancient pilgrimage routes. It was a sweet yet humbling experience to walk on paths used during the Middle Ages and to step across footbridges built by Romans.

Professional Development Pirates and Forts

Dorothy Waugh Grant Lucy Lombardi – Upper School English Teacher In order to discover more about pirate riches and lore, I hopped on a plane and flew across the country to check out what St. Augustine had to offer. Steeped in pirate history, St. Augustine is home of the Pirate & Treasure Museum, a kind-ofdisturbing-but-oh-so-interesting place

that

displays

everything

from an apothecary kit of a ship’s “doctor” to coins from the bottom of the sea to a real-life Jolly Roger.

I

was

completely

fascinated.

The Castillo de San Marcos was my next stop, and exploring this defense

Pirates? Forts? Adventure? What’s not to like?

I absolutely love teaching Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. It’s a treat for both my sixth graders and me with its exciting plot and vivid characters.

So of course I jumped at the chance to explore the history and sights of St. Augustine, Florida, the site of a turtle-shaped fort, the Castillo de San Marcos,

against privateers left me in awe. Its clever construction amazed me, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring its dark rooms and climbing its dizzying heights.

Looking ahead, I can’t wait to share some crazy stories, a real pirate coin, and a sample of the fort’s coquina with my sixth graders come springtime.

and a very impressive pirate a­ nd treasure museum.

The detailed map at the beginning of the text of Treasure Island is the perfect plank off which to jump into the unit: find the X on the map. Is that where you would put your gold doubloons? What if pirates did actually hide their treasure? Would you go look for it? What if you had a treasure to hide? What would it be? These are the questions students eagerly answer. From massive amounts of adorable puppies to giant collections of delicious candy, these kids have hilarious ideas about what true treasure is!

13

alumni news Laura Davidson ’85 Ross,

SBHS ’89,

Hannah Harte ’96, Cate School ’00, Williams College ’04,

in

Pepperdine University ’15, and Erik Janson were wed on

religion), MA in higher education

October 14 after nearly ten years together. Surrounded

and student affairs from Stanford

with love and support from family and friends, including

University. Over the last 21 years Laura

that of

has worked in a variety of positions

much music, too much mezcal, and a traditional mariachi

in the field of education and has also

and donkey-led parade through

coached soccer, run a boarding school

the beautiful colonial city of

dorm, and taught world religions, social ethics, and

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

meditation/mindfulness classes. From 2012-2017 Laura

Hannah is currently a marriage

was the Head of Upper School at Greenhill School in

and family therapist registered

Dallas. This past summer, she returned to California to

intern working in Los Angeles.

become the Head of the Upper School campus at Harvard-

Erik is a musician/songwriter/

Westlake School in Los Angeles.

Wesleyan

University

’93

(BA

Olivia Sanders ’96, the couple celebrated with so

Laura’s husband,

producer and is in the band

Gregg, is a middle school math teacher, also at Harvard-

Wildling. They love hiking with

Westlake. They have two children, Casey a seventh

their lab Otto, watching Premier

grader and Graham a fourth grader. In their free time the

League soccer, and cooking.

family loves to hike, watch sports and theater, and spend time with their dog and cat, Teddy and Lafayette. Laura

Jessie Bridges ’97

says, “I am grateful to Crane for the amazing teachers I

Rodriguez wed on September 2

had there who started me on my love of learning and my

under the big, beautiful sky of

desire to work in schools as a career.”

Paradise Valley, Montana. Having

and Kevin

spent all of her childhood summers

Jaimie Jenks ’91, SBHS ’95, UCSB ’03, UW MPA ’15, Asia Vedder ’91, Thacher School ’95, Cal Poly SLO ’05, and Julie (Mulgrew) Posner ’91, SBHS ’95, UC Berkeley ’00,

on her family’s ranch, it was a

have recently joined together to launch The Experience

that day including the following

Music Foundation (EMF), a nonprofit organization with

Crane 1997 alumni:

special treat to have loved ones witness the commitment made

EMF strives to increase equitable access to music and

Justin Bagby, Sarah Bixler, Zoe Cleary, Dari Cohn, Grace Jackson, and Alex Rochestie. A true dream came true — the day included

all its applications through collective philanthropy and

delicious local organic food and the bluesy, soulful tunes

targeted programs by funding grants, ticket subsidies,

of New Orleans-based singer Eric Lindell (whose band

and scholarships. After receiving her master’s in

they saw on their second date!). The happy couple lives in

public administration (MPA) and a certification in

Oakland in a sweet craftsman house with their dog Banjo.

nonprofit management and philanthropy from the

Life is good!

a mission to connect more people to the power of music.

Evans School of Public Policy, Jaimie moved home to Santa Barbara and recruited Asia and Julie to help start the foundation. Their mutual love of music began during their years at Crane, where they had the amazing experience of singing “Teach Your Children” on stage at the Santa Barbara County Bowl with Crosby, Stills and Nash, as well as an outstanding performing arts education starting in kindergarten (pre-first as they used to call it). For more information, please visit www.experiencemusicfoundation.org.

Jaimie

lives

in Carpinteria and works at the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, Asia lives in Carpinteria and works for the family business, Vedder Company, LP, and Julie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Daniel, and their two children, Benjamin (10) and Siena (7).

14

Alex

Rochestie

’97,

George

Washington University ’01, and Ashley Israel met at Santa Barbara High School. They said “I do” August 12 at The Whispering Rose Ranch in Solvang. Their puggle Charles was a ringbearer and sported a custom tux to match Alex’s.

’90

Justin ’89

and

Nathan Clay

(Ashley’s cousins) wrote and

performed the ceremony song. Ashley’s goddaughter and sons and daughters of the Clay’s were ringbearers and flower girls.

Jessie Bridges ’97 was a groomswoman,

and many Crane alumni were a part of the year-long

alumni news Justin Bagby ’97, Sarah Bixler ’97, Tim Morton-Smith ’97, Grace Jackson ’97, Matt and Vanessa Chambers ’00, Courtland Smith ’97, and parents Christine celebrations, including

and Scott Smigel. Alex is an Emmy nominated producer and is the founder of TV Free Media. He is currently changing the lives of the active aging community with Spiro100.com.

Ashley is in merchandising. Alex and Ash currently live in

was very missed, but there in spirit. Baron and Amanda live in Santa Monica, where Baron works as an investment banker with Credit Suisse and Amanda manages global partnerships for the Barbie brand.

Josh Duvendeck ’00

and

Lisa

Eisenberg were married August

Los Angeles with their beloved pup.

6, 2017 in Carpinteria. They were

Jennie Eskin ’98 Ekdahl, husband, Kris, and three-year-old

friends, including

daughter,

wed on the beach in front of their

Ellery

Rose,

welcomed

Kai Solin ’99,

and their family, including brother

on

Adam Duvendeck ’96. The ceremony

August 13, 2016. The Ekdahls live in

was followed by dinner and dancing

Chicago where Jennie serves as in-

at Rincon Beach Club. Josh and Lisa live in Los Angeles

house attorney for Aetna and Kris is

where Josh makes his career as an actor while Lisa works

an associate in the Privacy and Data

as an occupational therapist.

Anderson

(Anders)

James,

Security group of the international law firm Winston & Strawn. They always

Will Freeland ’00,

have their eye on making it back to

became engaged to Alanna Matlick

Santa Barbara, so if anyone has any

on April 1. Will is currently a senior

job leads, please send them along!

data management specialist at

Dos Pueblos ’04,

Montecito Bank & Trust where he SBHS

is very involved in the community

Marymount

teaching financial literacy classes.

University ’07, is the co-

In addition, Will is the chief of

founder

a

security at Zodo’s Bowling and Beyond. Will stayed up late

company that develops and

making a scrapbook of their relationship to date in secret

operates two Los Angeles

and surprised Alanna on a trip to the Rose Garden. Their

multidisciplinary

wedding date is set for June 16, 2018. Will looks forward to

Jonathan Black ’99, ’03,

Loyola of

Werkartz,

art

and

photography studios, one in Chinatown and one in the Arts

getting more involved with Crane in the future.

District. Jonathan married Veronica Taylor on April 9 at the Santa Barbara Biltmore with the reception at the Coral

Emma Morton-Smith ’02

Casino. Among Jonathan’s groomsmen were Crane alumni

Ben Forman on July 23, 2016 in

Hunter Black ’99, Kayvon Saless ’99, and Cooper Waterman ’00.

Other alumni who attended the wedding were Andrea Black ’99, Taylor Knight ’99, Lauren McEwen ’99, Bobbie Mecay ’99, and Katie Zwick ’99. In his free time Jonathan enjoys writing

Ojai, CA. They have since moved

and producing music, surfing, and playing tennis.

Baron Birkhofer ’00

married

24 in Carmel. Following ceremony

from San Francisco to Los Angeles where Emma has begun her career as a nurse at a hospital in Torrance.

Ben is always working hard running his electric skateboard company,

Amanda Searles on June a

married

overlooking

the Pacific Ocean, Baron and Amanda celebrated with friends and family including

ZBoard. They just began a remodel on Emma’s childhood home in Montecito and can’t wait to move back to Santa Barbara in early 2019 when the home is completed!

Courtney Leigh Phillips ’02,

Cate ’06,

NYU ’10, celebrated her marriage

many Crane alumni: Breton Birkhofer ’03, Garland Reiter ’00,

to Samuel Joseph Spoehr under the

Kerry Wheeler ’00, and Matt Chambers ’00 who all served as groomsmen and Eric Reiter ’98 and Austin Reiter ’06 were there to help get the party started. The late Houston Harte ’00

History Museum on September 16.

redwood trees of the SB Natural Their devoted band of merry men

15

alumni news and merry women danced their way to the Santa Barbara

a commercial real estate development company, and

Historical Museum wherein a rollicking fete of fun,

Maureen is an advertising strategist at Google.

Camille Nicole Phillips ’06, the lady-in-waiting, (maid of honor),

Kate Carbone ’04

and best man Cole Krueger regaled all with tales of love,

of the National Academy of Sciences) with an article

laughter, and song regarding the ecstatically happy

entitled, “In vitro reconstitution of T cell receptor-

couple. Emma Morton Smith ’02 and McKenna Van Koppen

mediated segregation of the CD45 phosphatase.” This is

’02 were also part of the merriment as readers. Courtney

her second published work while pursuing her doctorate.

laughter, trolls, dinosaurs, and games ensued.

and Sam are residing in Los Angeles with their beloved offspring Arnold, the dog.

Lily Eakin ’09

is a co-author in PNAS (Proceedings

lives in Los

Angeles. Utilizing her stage

Kristen Franz ’03

married Zachary Cantor

overlooking the ocean at Hollister Ranch in early August. Kristen earned her BA in environmental design from UC Berkeley, and her Master of Landscape Architecture from USC. She now works designing landscapes for private residences, as well as institutional and commercial campuses. Zach is an attorney with offices in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, consulting for small businesses. Kristen and Zach, with their Goldendoodle Hess, share their love of the ocean, surfing, and travels.

name of Lily Lewis, she has been with the band Little Empire for five years which is about to release their second EP and is heading out on their first tour in December.

When she is not writing or rehearsing with her band, teaching, or working towards her vocal performance/music composition degree, she is probably in a songwriting session writing music for another artist or for television. Lily reminisces that she will never forget where it all began — recording her first few songs for her QED project while in seventh grade,

Anastasia Van Wingerden ’03 married Benjamin Eichorn on August 5. They celebrated on the property where he grew up — a farmstead on the Big Sur coast with sweeping views of the mountains and ocean. Their wedding dinner was made with homegrown ingredients, an Afro-Brazilian band from Cape Verde played under the moon, and over 80 friends camped in the orchard that night. They felt very blessed.

Crane alumni who were a part of the festivities included

Eva Van Wingerden ’02, Sofia Van Wingerden ’99, and McKenna Van Koppen ’02. Stasia is the gardening teacher

and she has not stopped since!

Sophia Soriano ’10 was a swim instructor at the Montecito YMCA this past summer where she taught

Crane students.

She is entering her senior year at Connecticut College where she plays water polo.

Camila Lemere ’14 is ASB President and Stella Haffner ’15

and

Jack Stein ’15

at the San Francisco Waldorf School and continues

are Junior Class Representatives at Laguna Blanca

writing music, and Ben has an edible education business

School.

named Grow Your Lunch.

Commissioner for Santa Barbara High School.

Mia Lomeli ’14

is the Activities and Logistics

Wynne at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Anna and Leah Martin ’14, Zoe Padilla ’14, and Tyler Dahneke ’15 were all part of Santa Barbara High School’s fall

on August 5, 2017. An elegant and intimate

production of Cry Baby.

Brendan Cronshaw ’04

married Maureen

outdoor reception followed the ceremony at Brendan’s family home in Montecito — the home his father

Ian Cronshaw ’69 built, where

Maddy Moore ’15

was part of the Thacher School’s fall

production of Murder at Copper Smith Inn.

his parents had their wedding reception, and where Brendan was brought home from the hospital. Brendan’s brother, Tristan

’06, 16

Cronshaw

was his best man. Brendan and Maureen live in

San Francisco’s Marina District with their miniature poodle, Birken, where Brendan is an associate at Hines,

ALUMNI and PAST PARENTS Please email us at alumni@craneschool.org to share any updates and photos. Come visit us on campus anytime.

We would love to see you!

alumni news sightings on campus UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS

Jen Baron (Weinstein) ’95 and Allison Stelyn ’00 Fox are the newest alumni who have enrolled their children at Crane for the 2017-18 school year.

Jack Morouse ’16 was assistant soccer coach to Pat Bixler and the varsity boys’ team.

Former Crane teacher Lois Graham was on campus for a short visit with her husband David Tingler. Lois was Crane’s fourth-grade teacher from 1955 – 1957. Some of her favorite memories include driving a VW bus picking up students carpooling to Crane and the opening of Cate Hall.

Class of 1997 Join us for your 20-Year Reunion on Friday, December 22, 2017 from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. in Pat Bixler’s Science Lab. Bring your significant other, children, AND your parents!

Class of 2007 Your 10-Year Reunion will be celebrated on Saturday, December 23, 2017 from 5:00 –7:00 p.m. in the Mulberry Tree Quad. Bring your significant other, children, AND your parents!

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS Crane's 90th Anniversary The 2018-19 school year will be focusing on Crane’s 90th Anniversary on May 3 & 4, 2019.

Friendships After Crane (top left, clockwise) 2013 Grads: Poppy Brittingham and Cassidy Drury-Pullen; 2003 Grads: Oliver Fries, Max Barbakow, Jonny Zwick, Gene McQuillan, Breton Birkhofer; 2015 Grads: Carson Williams and Clare Bilek; 2016 Grads: Khadim Pouye, Spencer Drew, Owen Jones, Tommy Brittingham, Jack Deardorff

Class Reunions 2018-2019 If you are a member of the Class of 1998 (your 20-Year Reunion), 2003 (your 15-Year Reunion), or 2008 (your 10-Year Reunion), stay tuned as to how we may celebrate you and your classmates during the same weekend as Crane’s 90th Anniversary .

Visit with us at the ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE & ART SHOW Sunday, January 28, 2018 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

all-alumni reunion October 28, 2017

18

cookie baking –­ a beloved tradition Ten years ago a tradition was born and still remains a favorite. College freshmen are the recipients of a personalized letter written by a third grader, accompanied by a half-dozen chocolate chip bars homemade by the third graders and Mrs. Williams. Below are third-grade letters and the thank-you responses from the freshmen for their care packages.

Dear Loma, Thank you so much for the delicious cookies! I wanted to hide them from my roommates because I wanted them all to myself. In the nice letter you wrote me, you asked me a few questions so here are my answers:) I have 2 brothers and no sisters. One of my brothers is in his 3rd year of college up at Santa Clara University, he is 19 years old. My younger brother is 16 years old and is in his 3rd year at Santa Barbara High School.

Right now, I am in my dorm room (more like an apartment) sitting at the small kitchen table. I go to college at Cal Poly which is only an hour and a half drive North from where you are!

Not only do I have one roommate, I have 5 other roommates! We share a small apartment on campus with 3 bedrooms, and each bedroom has a bunk bed so there’s room for all of us to sleep. At first I was pretty nervous thinking about 6 girls living together, but so far we’ve all gotten along very well and I’ve grown pretty close with 2 of them.

I’m so sorry to hear about your fish! I’m sure it lived a great life and is very happy in fish heaven. I have 3 pets in total, I have 2 cats and one dog.

My favorite subject at Crane was English, mostly because I loved my English teachers in upper school. I’m not sure if they’re the same now, but I had Mrs. Lombardi and Ms. Teare. When I was at Crane, I also participated in Mallet Masters and Vibes for all 3 years of upper school! Also when I was at Crane, they did not have Engineering. I’m so jealous you get to learn about Engineering, it’s such a fun and interesting subject!

I used to do ballet when I was very little and I loved it very much. Now, I play intramural volleyball and soccer. Intramural means it is not a school organized team with coaches, it means I find a group of friends and we go to the gym or the field every week and play against other groups, just for fun.

Right now, I am taking 4 classes: Statistical Reasoning (math), MacroEconomics (learning about how money is used in the world), and two journalism classes because I am majoring in Journalism. Journalists are the people who write the news. Broadcast journalists are the people you see on news shows such as Fox or CNN. I am still deciding whether I want to write or report on television.

My classes are pretty difficult, especially my math class because my professor assigns a whole lot of homework. Unfortunately, I am not the kind of person who likes homework. I wish I was, because that would make doing it a whole lot easier.

In my free time, I either hang out with my friends, go to the gym, watch movies and tv shows or just listen to music. And hey, I have Fridays off too!

I was very nervous going to a new school, but everyone here was very kind and welcoming, so I became comfortable pretty quickly. And thank you, I am loving my school! I hope you are loving Crane, I know I did:) Love, Lily Dear Ronan,

p.s. I absolutely loved the cookies:)

Your message was very sweet and made me think a lot. I am very sorry for the late response, but college has kept me very busy this past week with midterm examinations. These are exams halfway through the class that tests you on everything you have learned so far. Here are my answers to your many thoughtprovoking questions as well as some questions of my own: I have never tried coding, but it does seem very interesting. I am more interested in researching historical events as I feel that if one understands history, one can understand the present better. What is your favorite subject?

I like cookies very much. The ones you sent me were delicious. My favorite type of cookie is chocolate chip. What is your favorite type of cookie?

Yes, I have a roommate. His name is Kareem and he is very nice. Do you share a room with anyone?

I am 18, but my birthday is coming up in March. How old are you?

I didn't have the Chumash unit in third grade because I joined Crane in 5th grade. I am sure it was very interesting and would love to hear about it from you.

Cats are awesome and I am sorry to hear about what happened to yours.

I bought all the stuff I need to live and go to school spanning from bedsheets to clothes to school supplies like pencils. What do you bring to school every day?

I have not made a robot, although my floormates and I made a "robot" out of cardboard boxes as part of a competition. Have you made a robot?

I am not in club soccer, although I did play soccer while at Crane. I played club volleyball for some time while in high school, and am now playing intramural volleyball in college. Do you play club soccer?

I don't keep up with sports very often, so I don't have a favorite team. What is your favorite team?

I don't have any relatives currently in college, although many of my family members have gone to college before. Do you have any relatives in college?

I am reading a number of books for my classes. Mostly history books since I am taking mostly history classes. I have not read The Chicken Phantom, but it sounds interesting. Can you explain the book to me?

There were no tennis courts nor crocodile ponds while I was at Crane. Are there tennis courts or crocodile ponds now?

I am a boy too.

Please write back to me!

Sincerely, Harrison

19

90th Anniversary The top number in each box represents a number from 1928; the bottom number from 2017.

By looking at the combination of numbers in each box, can you determine which category listed below that they belong?

400

4

1795

11

2

31

1

257

Categories: • number of students • number of grades served • number of teachers • amount of tuition

6

5

9

60

500

9

26,000

25

SAVE THE DATES for Crane’s 90th Anniversary Celebration May 3 & 4, 2019 20

• acres of campus land • number of headmasters • number of classrooms • street address

design & engineering center

Lower School

The third graders are enjoying their time in the Design & Engineering Center, where they have been introduced to the diverse fields of engineering. Their first task was to thoughtfully design a robot that would be of benefit to themselves, their family, or their community. Using basic shapes, they sketched designs, rendered a drawing, and used the laser cutter to create backpack tags.

Students have also been experimenting with various paper structures for bridge design and have been competing to create robust spans that will hold substantial weight. This has involved a study of structural engineering and different kinds of trusses.

The unit culminates with the creation of a bridge building system that is designed, fabricated, and constructed solely by the third graders. A final piece of this process includes the reading of The Kite that Bridged Two Nations. This is the story of Homon Walsh, a young boy whose kite flew the span of the Niagara Gorge to bring the first cable for the Niagara Suspension Bridge.

The second half of the semester focuses on aeronautical engineering and the study of flight. Using the engineering design process, the students brainstorm, build, test, evaluate, and redesign kites until they are successful in flight. The students experiment with design improvement by adding or reducing tail length, adding additional stabilizers, and adjusting the kite bridge to alter the angle of attack.

The final project for the third graders will be the Box of Stars, a fiber optic constellation display case. The students will discuss how making pictures in the night sky was an excellent way for explorers to map their travels and make sense of seemingly random points of light. After choosing a constellation, they discover the stories behind their constellations, and using a template, they map their constellation onto foam board and insert fiber optic cables into pinpricks. The cables are bundled together and illuminated by a strong LED. The students do all their own circuitry and assemble it into a wooden housing unit that they build themselves from a kit that is made in the Design & Engineering Center.

While each of these projects is met with enthusiasm and delight, the students are also learning skills to prepare themselves for future endeavors in design thinking.

Sabina Funk Engineering Teacher

21

Sixth Grade

Upper School Trip Week

upper school trip week Each fall in the Upper School our students and teachers embark

In October our sixth graders journeyed to Catalina Island,

on Trip Week. Taking a break from the routines of schoolwork, they travel

seventh graders to Yosemite National Park, and eighth graders

together as a class, engage in team-building activities, and enjoy outdoor

to the Sacred Valley of Peru. Upon their return to campus,

pursuits. They also un-plug from electronics for the week, allowing them

students reflected on their travels in writing. A few of their

to be fully present and to appreciate the wonders of nature.

pieces are shared on the following pages.

Peggy Smith Head of Upper School

catalina island

EXCERPTS My Mystical Journey by Nathan Keshen I taste a mixture of sweat and sunscreen as it drips into my mouth. I take my first step, and the rope wobbles beneath me...I must build up enough courage to be unafraid. I think to myself, “Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. I can do this!” I take two more steps. Break. Three more steps. Break. Four more steps! I am about halfway across now. Only ten more steps. I swallow as much air as I can.

I am light as a feather now...I take three GIANT leaps, and that’s it. I have made it!

Campfire Bonding by Phoenix Seal When everything was winding down, we went around in a circle, each one of us recapping our individual memories we’d made over the past week. It was interesting listening to everyone share, and I learned what kind of activities my classmates enjoyed most and compared them to mine...I’m really grateful that we had this campfire because it gave me an opportunity to find out what kind of sports and projects my classmates and teachers were into, and I got to make special connections with them.

New Discoveries by Cooper Lender Our guide told us that we should turn off our bright flashlights that we had been using to see the sea life under the water. We all turned off our flashlights and there were a few seconds of darkness. All of a sudden, the bioluminescent plankton reacted to the air in the bubbles around us and glowed. The bubbles were very unusual. I looked all around at the glow and felt like I was in another world. It was as though we were being given a choreographed show by the plankton.

Under the Sea by Shane Gifford I preferred daytime snorkeling when it was not so cold and the water was clear and I could see all the fish better. There were golden Garibaldis, crusty abalones, spotted opaleyes, several sharks, spiky sea urchins, and many more. It was like being in a giant fish tank.

My Shining Memory by Hala Abed One of my favorite memories from a night in the cabin was when Mrs. Huglin Ridge came in to say “goodnight,” and then we all circled around as we held hands and “passed the hand squeeze” around. Another sweet memory was when we decorated Chloe’s bed with glow-sticks for her birthday and woke her up by singing “Happy Birthday.” Afterwards, we all went to the porch with our sleeping bags and watched the sunrise.

Seventh Grade

Upper School Trip Week

the yosemite valley A Day in the Life of Nature We slowly walked outside (pajama-clad and with unbrushed teeth), but waking up at 6:30 seemed to be worth it when we looked around to see the bright, singing birds and swaying trees and to breathe in the cold, fresh air.

At first, we were uncomfortable.

Nature Never Sleeps I climb the tree and look at the amazing mountains that surround both sides of me.

The birds chirp, whistle, dance with life.

Trees sway in the breeze, and all of nature sings with joy.

The mist makes a rainbow in the light,

We slipped into the damp caves,

and the sun reflects on the mist.

darkness swallowing our bodies, groping

It looks like gold flakes flying

through inky blackness. One gleam of light

through the air.

shimmers through the dusty rocks

Nothing beats that moment when

and lights the cave with life.

your breath is

It feels as if the rocks could fall down at

taken away and your words

any moment, but somehow

fall from your mouth.

we feel protected and safe.

I quickly get up,

The pure perfume of the mountaintops

and my eyes blindly

floods my nostrils as we trudge through the underground.

Nearing the end, a luminous candle shone, and we were amazed

hunt for the sound that disturbed the silence.

The rush of the icy, cascading water’s noise

by the bright light.

fills my ears.

Mountains hover over us like clouds do a

to the top of the falls, there was one

On the way city; each tree sculpted by Mother Earth

rock where the view was just

and each rock slowly carved from the

unbelievable and unforgettable.

mighty glaciers that ruled the land.

I was awestruck and enthralled, but

From on the ground, the trees seemed

the sweetest part was that we would soon

like the tallest thing in the world,

begin our descent.

but we realize now that there is a whole new world up beyond the mountains.

A squirrel scampers

The clear sky allows the golden sun to shine down and brilliantly light up

across the rough bark,

the entire valley.

and the bristling trees make a worn,

We had reached the view point, and

fuzzy blanket that carpets the wide basin

what a view it was.

and rolls and shifts in the light.

Off in the distance

The mist from a colossal waterfall

the barren Half Dome loomed over the

brushes our faces; the water makes a thunderous sound, crashing into jagged rocks at the bottom

valley floor, and the village at the base looked up in awe

and down thousands of feet,

at its immense height.

melting into the rough terrain below.

The yellow sun shone, and the crisp air fell against my face.

Now we could trust and listen to one another.

Slowly, it all began to fade away under the beautiful night sky.

23

Eighth Grade

Upper School Trip Week

peru Will Bouma My first step was wobbly, without grace

their parents’ backs and parents and

or technique. My second was like the

grandparents helping out. The next

first but with more speed. By the third

two days at Manko Inca School would

I was already in stride, legs pumping

give a whole new meaning to the word

and heart beating. The people coming

“community.”

down from the Sun Gate kept telling me I had only a small amount to go, but I knew that I wasn’t close and that every step would be much harder. My water bottle seemed to be emptying itself. I pushed forward, tripping constantly on the bumpy rocks and almost fell off the narrow trail. I was making my way to the top. I showed myself I had grit and courage to try something I wasn’t sure if I could do, and I was rewarded with the feeling of sheer competence and the million-dollar view of Machu Picchu.

Jack Hirsch “Pasar! Pasar!” I yelled to the kid in the red Pokemon shirt (I called him Rojo).

I felt lucky to end up in PE class when we visited the school. Even though we lost 4-1, I had a really fun time playing with those kids. The best part, I was as good as them! Of course, they were all in first grade. And the game made me realize that you don’t have to speak another’s language (except for an occasional “Pasar!”) to communicate and have a good time with him.

Ami Wallmark We entered through the school gates, and it was like we had stepped onto a fairground. The kids were just so happy and playing with each other, begging us to join in. The parents were all around giving food to the kids, and little siblings were sleeping in makeshift hammocks under the trees. At the back of the school there were dozens of people hauling wheelbarrows and carrying cement bags back and forth.

The principal talked to us and explained that they were building a cafeteria.

There were small kids being carried on

Sofia Schuster Picture a cold, snowy morning in Copenhagen Zoo and a small girl dragging her two unwilling parents around. They stop at the llamas. The polar bears, monkeys, penguins, but mostly the llamas. I have llama everything: llama pillows, llama shirts, even llama posters. But the one thing I don’t have is a llama. I had never touched the luscious fur that a llama wears. Finally, at Machu Picchu, I saw the brown and white creature of my dreams. I sprinted toward the llama

Eighth Grade

Upper School Trip Week and sprung at it like a frog would at a fly.

whatever we needed. For example, we

the totality of what I would capture that

My arms widened as I embraced the soft

had to wander around the market asking

day: nothing. Those guinea pigs looked

animal. My life’s goal was complete.

people about different types of quinoa

fat and ungainly as they scurried about

and potatoes for our scavenger-hunt

the cramped, poorly lit hut, but upon

questions. We had an easy time finding

attempting to capture one in a cardboard

the quinoa, but the potatoes were not as

box I discovered that they moved like

easy to find. We searched for someone

The Flash. I could tell that this challenge

who could understand our poor Spanish.

wasn’t going to be easy.

Kai Morphy The night I was wearing my Kobe Bryant t-shirt, the locals at one of the nearby restaurants were chanting, “Bryant.”

There was a group of girls shouting, “Byrant,” as well. This chant put a big smile on my face, but what humbled me was when one of the girls’ moms came up to me and asked if I would take a picture with her daughter, Camilla.

While playing volleyball with the locals or taking the picture with Camilla, I was just happy. I wasn’t thinking of

Finally we found a lady who was very willing to help us. She told us all about the different types of potatoes that she sells. She also led us to a vendor across the aisle and had her tell us about her special species of potatoes. She taught me a lesson: No matter how little the favor is, it’s always a nice thing to lend someone a hand.

what could happen in the future. I was

Ella Jones Poverty in Ollantaytambo looked different than in the U.S. People seemed at ease in their market stands trying to make a living. The bright colors and friendly vendors made visiting the markets especially fun. Every one of the vendors knew each other; the market made up a little family. Not all shops had American

thinking of how happy I was. Living in

Ian Harvey

money, and often the shopkeeper would

the moment is extremely important.

As soon as I approached, they vanished.

go around the market looking for someone

Gone, it seemed, in the blink of an eye.

who had change. The community was so

I moved slowly and cautiously, careful

tightly bound, and the Peruvians’ desire

not to make an unwarranted sound. Out

to help each other out was a lot different

of the corner of my eye, I caught a quick

from the American mindset of every man

movement on the dirt floor. Careful to

for himself. It was like nothing I had ever

avoid the low-hanging fish strung from

seen before, and it inspired me to be more

the ceiling, I slowly turned my upper

thoughtful and to live in the moment.

Zoë Stephens Smiles. That is what you see on most, if not all, Peruvian faces. When we did our scavenger hunts and races around the town, every person we ran into on the street was willing to help us with

body, then sprang around, only to find

BOYS’ SOCCER • GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Sports Girls’ JV Green Volleyball (Jasmine Powell – 6th Grade)

Girls’ Varsity Volleyball (Charlotte Weis – 8th Grade)

In September, the sixth-grade girls walked onto the volleyball

This season was a great one though when the season started, we

courts ready to play. We stared in awe at the seventh and eighth

had a lot of girls who hadn’t played much, and there were a lot of

graders as they served and spiked perfectly, but little did we know

things that we needed to work on individually and as a team. As

that we would make it all the way to the tournament to play the

people were put into their positions and became more confident

same way. After what seemed like endless hours of practicing, we

contacting the ball, our team really started to improve. Players

finally reached our goal of accomplishing one bump, set, spike

continued to come into their own, and our team comradery

routine. Then, we had our first game. We played well and won,

became more and more evident both on and off the court. As an

not really having any rallies. As the season progressed, we started

eighth grader, it was great to be able to play a sport I love with

to get the ball over the net by spiking, and soon enough, we were

all of my friends. It was also great to play with the three seventh

doing it as if it were second nature. In the end, we got second place

graders who were on varsity, and see how skillful they were. We

in the league tournament, losing the championship to the other

were a very encouraging and supportive team, and we loved

Crane JV team. The sixth grade girls had a fantastic season, and

nothing more than to see each other succeed and grow as the

we couldn’t have done it without Mr. Ingersoll, our coach.

season went on. As the season progressed and came to a close,

Girls’ JV White Volleyball (Hannah Markham – 7th Grade)

we bonded a lot and became a close-knit group. Ms. Willis was a big help with coaching players and giving helpful pointers

We had an outstanding season this year! Our team was undefeated.

during games, and the season would not have been the same

Our team grew closer and really improved as the season went on

without her! On the surface, our season may not look like a huge

thanks to the leadership of our coach, Dia Kidd. A great moment

success in terms of wins and losses. But underneath that record,

in our season was at the last game when we played the other Crane

is a team who experienced success that is a bit less obvious to the

Junior Varsity for the championship. This was a great moment

naked eye. We grew together throughout the season and had a

because we worked together and all played very well. During

great time on the court during every practice and game.

the season, we worked on passing, serve-receive, hitting, and serving. A hard moment was when we had a game at Marymount

Boys’ Varsity Soccer (Ian Harvey – 8th Grade)

in 104-degree weather. We all persevered through the game and

This year’s varsity soccer team was one to be proud of. We played

ended up winning. We had a team of all seventh graders, some

all out every game, regardless of the conditions. Kai Morphy

of whom had never played on a volleyball team before. Everyone

was our brick wall in goal, saving many shots every game from

really came through and helped lead our team to victory!

going in; Ryan Slater, Diego Velazquez, Cooper Adams, Parker

Boys’ JV Soccer (Christian Gonzalez – 6th Grade)

Gumins, Babacar Pouye, and Bach Ryan were our defensive stalwarts. They stifled the opposition’s attempts at goal often.

The junior varsity soccer team had an up-and-down season.

Nico Gaggero, Boz Stephens, Aden Meisel, and Boo Ridge were

Although we didn’t win any matches, our spirits were high and we

our high-throttle midfielders who provided the majority of our

played very well. Our goalies did a really good job of keeping the

goals throughout the season. Graham Rogers, Tyler Hughes, and

ball out of the net, but there were some shots that we just couldn’t

I played striker. We constantly pushed the defense’s limits, and

block. Our most memorable match came during tournament play.

we all scored at some point in the season. Christian Gonzalez

It was a rewarding game because we did our best. Our sixth grade

and Jackson Briggs played with us for a portion of one game,

goalie, Ganden Walker, had some great saves, turning in his best

and Jackson scored a goal in his only varsity game of the season.

effort of the season. Rowan Dowdall, Jackson Briggs, and Harry

Although we didn’t win the championship, I feel that every

Blevins, our seventh grade superstars, scored awesome goals. In

player improved greatly and we really started to gel as a team.

conclusion, our season went very well in terms of learning, but

We are extremely grateful to Coach Bixler.

not so well in terms of winning. Our coach, Ms. Fierberg, was patient and fun.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory presented by Fourth Grade

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara, CA Permit No. 430

CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 1795 San Leandro Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108 www.craneschool.org

Academic Year 2017/2018 • Volume One

OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni

Thanks to the generosity of the Eiler Family, the Crane Lower School was treated to the Bay Area group Alphabet Rockers, a children’s hip-hop group who focus on social change and racial justice. After conducting a workshop for parents and an assembly for the entire Lower School, an after-school workshop was offered where the students wrote the lyrics for a rap song called, “Think Before You Act.” Think Before You Act Do what’s right; do what’s kind.

Consider others; use your mind.

Be thoughtful; be loveable.

Be courageous; be yourself.

Think before you act – say what?

Think before you act – huh?

Think before you act – woo.

Think before you act – I got it.

Work together; listen up.

Share your opinion; open up.

Be positive; be generous.

Be magnificent.

Please don’t judge.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tom Kenny President Jill Levinson Vice President Robin Kopeikin Treasurer Winifred Lloyds Lender Secretary Jen Abed Beth Collins Jim Copus ’92 Cyndee Howard Hector Lujan Patty MacFarlane Bino Marsetti Mike McCarthy Gavin Moores Hikaru Phillips Allan Rogers Missy Ryan Rick Ryu Nancy Sheldon Christine Smigel Erin Eberhardt Spence Christina Stoney Melissa White Honorary Lifetime Trustee Scott C. Brittingham EDITOR Debbie Williams DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lorie Bacon SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER Teresa Pietsch COPY EDITOR Elizabeth Keadle