visu al arts

After learning about the proportions of the face, FIRST GRADE artists drew their self-portraits from direct observation and then traced multiple copies. Inspired by Andy Warhol, artists explored color relationships while completing this fun series.

The SEVENTH GRADE students finished their study of the art studio practice by creating a map of a fantasy location. They antiquated their design by applying a coffee wash and then learned about different painting techniques. They finally completed their drawing by using sharpi e markers.

“Little School Big Plans” was a phrase coined a few years ago that still rings true. At any given moment, there are many wonderful and exciting activities happening at Crane. From assembly presentations to poetry culminations to track meets, the Crane pace has become legendary (or infamous!) given the nearconstant flurry of events on our campus. That said, it wasn’t long ago that this long-standing pattern changed in the face of Covid, and we had to hit pause on numerous fun and meaningful happenings that make Crane, Crane. While we certainly made the best of the hand we were dealt, it has taken time to rebuild our school’s unique collection of annual milestones that create Crane’s treasured sense of community.

This year, not only did we reconstruct, but we also amplified successful events of years past and further strengthened our ties to one another. I am immensely proud of what was achieved thanks to the efforts of many committed Staffulty members and our remarkable extended community.

After a few weeks of classes, the Upper Schoolers were off on Trip Week — 6th graders to Catalina, 7th graders to Yosemite, and 8th graders to the south on a Civil Rights tour. For the first time in a few years, we celebrated the fall season with the Crane Country Fair, our signature event for the broader community, a definite high point for decades that was on hold during the pandemic. It was joyous to see cars parked the full length of San Leandro Lane, and a packed campus with families thoroughly enjoying themselves while participating in the abundance of exciting activities.

This was followed by field trips, the Halloween Parade, Winter Sing, and the Staffulty Holiday Party. Our campus was bustling with customary fall events!

March saw the return of both the All-School Art Show and Lower School Spring Study Week, two long-standing Crane traditions. The Art Show, which this year also included a bake sale and musical talent, was pure delight – the setup was beautiful, thanks to our art teachers’ vision implemented by hard-working parent helpers, and the collection on display was impressive, showing the wide range of materials used in our program. Families reveled in the opportunity to relax and mingle with each other while being treated to their children’s performances.

Spring Study Week introduced the powerful theme of “The Ripple Effect,” illustrating our potential impact on the world around us. Students learned that what we do with others multiplies, like cascading rings in a pond, and it became a week of magical connections and experiences. I had the opportunity to co-lead an activity about air cannons and saw firsthand the looks of wonder on students’ faces as they acquired new and important knowledge while also having loads of fun!

Then in May, we held the truly unforgettable Cirque du Crane Spring Benefit on our campus, and it had something for everyone: Trapeze artistry! Flame torched food! Contortionists! Juggling! Sensational auction items! Wine toss! The list goes on and on, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime return of this spectacular event. A simple thank you does not seem sufficient for the creative and hard-working team of parents, caregivers and Staffulty who made such a memorable evening possible. It was one for the history books!

Most recently, we saw the Upper School Musical, Aladdin, come to fruition, and celebrated our young thespians on the beautiful outdoor stage of the Oak Tree Quad. Our performing arts Staffulty did an extraordinary job of bringing the show to life, and while we look forward to using the incredible new theater space once it is complete this fall, it has been astounding to watch our tech crew construct such functional, yet enchanting sets this year. Even unprecedented levels of rain couldn’t slow down the charisma of Crane’s performing arts.

These events (plus many more!) have given us back that old Crane feeling, a combination of creative educational activities and an all-encompassing sense of community. With each of us continuing to pitch in, I have no doubt we can accomplish anything and everything we set out to achieve.

Joel Weiss Head of School

Aden Meisel ’19 • February 2023

My name is Aden Meisel. I am an alumnus and lifer of Crane Country Day School. I graduated from Crane in 2019 having spent nine years attending, from kindergarten all the way through the eighth grade. I am now a senior at Laguna Blanca School in Hope Ranch, and in anticipation of your question, no, unfortunately, I do not know yet where I am going to college next year. However, I can tell you that my college search has found me focusing on schools out on the east coast.

When I reflect back on my years at Crane, though it may sound odd to hear, I wasn’t really aware I had started learning until I was in high school. Of course, I picked up fundamental and crucial academic skills at Crane throughout my lower/middle/upper school journey, but the biggest and most powerful skill that Crane equipped me with was HOW to learn.

I remember being a first grader walking into the lower school science lab when it happened to be Halloween – our entire class was in costume. Our teacher then was the legendary Robin Satnick. Walking in, the whole floor was covered in a thick, spooky fog flowing off of the tables. Anyhow, I’d say we must have spent the first 15 minutes of class running around and playing in the fog.

The genius in Ms. Satnick doing this was not in knowing that putting dry ice in water creates fog, but in making us kids wonder how that was possible. Ms. Satnick fostered our curiosity by allowing us to interact directly with the wonders of science. It was that curiosity that motivated us to learn how science happens and how our world works.

From my experience, any teacher, no matter their qualifications, no matter how intelligent the students, or even the resources available, can lecture in their academic area to students. But that doesn’t mean that students are learning. What makes a Crane education special is that Crane’s faculty and programs cater to students’ curiosity and interests aside from providing them with essential academic materials. The curiosity that drives me now started in my years at Crane.

It’s hard to find where to begin when describing how much Crane has aided my transition to high school and higher education in general. I am still in touch with a good number of close friends that I made at Crane. Rather than having grade-by-grade memories looking back on my years at Crane, I remember more of a seamless and lively experience including adventures to Boston, Catalina Island, and Yosemite National Park. These are only a part of the reason why Crane’s experience is truly like none other. There is never a time I return to this beautiful campus and don’t think of how lucky I was to have received an early education here. There are always new developments being made. Whether it is professionally-designed engineering laboratories, top-quality soccer fields, or the impeccable scenery, I can’t help but think most high school or even college students would choose to go here to study.

As a kid, I was very resistant to stepping out of my comfort zone, and trust me when I say this — the entire performing arts department at Crane can attest to this. When it came to performing in front of large audiences, I would stubbornly optout. Once I was older, maybe in 7th or 8th grade, my friend finally convinced me to join the “Vibes” elective with him, which was essentially a symphony of xylophones that performed every few weeks in front of the school. After the first few weeks in the course, I remember coming home to my parents, who were beyond shocked that I had stepped onto a stage. But I remember being most surprised by the fact that I liked it. It was a fun experience that I got to share with more and more of my friends as it grew in popularity.

I could never imagine that I would have had this change of mind had I gone somewhere else. If I had attended a large public elementary school, for example, it is possible I could never have been motivated to take the opportunity to try something new. Friendships at Crane are close in how they revolve around trying new things and discovering new passions.

Half of the things that I do today are passions that I discovered during my time at Crane. I first started playing soccer in 4th grade on an AYSO team with my entire fourth-grade class. Today, I am the captain of the Laguna Varsity boys' soccer team and we just finished in second place in our league. It was at Crane that I first discovered my passion for piano, which has transitioned over time into an interest in jazz piano. Crane is where I learned to communicate in Spanish, which I have been able to use when traveling in Spanish-speaking countries.

The list really can go on and on, but what I mean to say is that my experience at Crane not only prepared me for the next stages in life, but shaped me as a person. I am sure that many other alumni would say they have experienced something similar to what I have just expressed. Crane is as much a part of me as it is a school, and I will never forget the 9 fortunate years that I was lucky enough to have spent here.

But I want to return to what it means to know HOW to learn. Knowing how to learn is knowing how to think. And knowing how to think is what allows younger groups of people to not only pursue their interests, but pivot from one to the other. This asset is what most helps me achieve my goals, and I am sure it is at the

Math SuperBowl

Crane's fourth, fifth, and sixth grade mathematicians soared to success at the annual Math SuperBowl. Their intense preparation, teamwork, and outstanding performance, led Crane to an impressive 9th place out of 35 schools, while also securing remarkable gradelevel placements, such as a first place in the engineering challenge, and individual student awards. We celebrate these math superstars who proudly represented Crane!

Crane Golf Tournament

On the weekend of February 4 and 5, the Crane community enjoyed learning and honing some golf skills. On Saturday, students were invited to a clinic taught by PGA professional Kevin Withnell, at the Santa Barbara Golf Club where they could try their hand at golf for the first time.

That Sunday, thirty-five players assembled at Sandpiper Golf Club to play in our Crane Golf Tournament. The low net team consisted of parent Todd Eliassen and his sons Jack ’22, and Luke ’22, as well as nephew Jackson Sproul ’11. The top prize, rounds of golf at both La Purisima and Mission Golf Clubs, were won by Crane dads Brad AuBuchon, Chuck Genuardi, Chris Gocong, and Brett Williams.

A special thanks to the businesses that supported this event, including some local restaurants: Oku, Opal, Yoichi, Sun Sushi, and Coast & Olive.

Everyone departed with great memories and stories of good play. Stay tuned for next year!