SUMMER 2021
EC Magazine
I N S I D E E A ST S I D E C AT H O LI C
EC MAGAZINE Inside Eastside Catholic
SUMMER
2021
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From Our Director of Campus Ministry
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From Our President
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In the Classroom
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Farewells
10 Seniors 2021 12 Alumni Feature 14 Alumni Feature 15 Celebrations 16 We Are EC 18 Class Notes ON THE COVER At the first game of the 2021 COVID season versus Cleveland High School, Isaac Ticeson ’21, flies in for a two point slam dunk. Photo by Cate Stoutt ‘21
“I remember
the opening days of Eastside Catholic Middle School, meeting our students for the first time. I recall so vividly the faces and names of my amazing sixth graders—so enthusiastic and eager. One of our projects was to plant daffodil bulbs in the courtyard where we continue to see the beautiful and hopeful blooms each spring, a reminder of that wonderful inaugural class and a symbol of promise for every student at EC.
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—RETIRED MIDDLE SCHOOL HUMANITIES TEACHER ARLENE NAGANAWA
OUR MISSION Eastside Catholic School is a Catholic faith-based educational community where students learn to integrate their thinking and believing in ways that encourage intellectual excellence, nurture relationships and inspire a life of leadership and service to others.
AUGUST 27, 1980 Eastside Catholic High School (ECHS) opens in Bellevue, Washington with 167 freshmen and 88 sophomores. The students select orange and blue as the school colors and Crusaders as the mascot. AUGUST 1981 A special education program is begun at ECHS called the Options Program. MAY 1983 80 students receive diplomas in ECHS’s first commencement at St. Louise Church. Andrea Cooper is valedictorian. Monica Brusaschetti and Teresa Russell are salutatorians. MARCH 1989 ECHS and Seattle University team up to offer Integrated Social Studies and Humanities (Block Class) to seniors. APRIL 1997 Eastside Catholic High School is recognized as one of the 25 most innovative Catholic schools in the United States at the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) conference. The ECHS Options Program is highlighted as one of the unique qualities at ECHS.
“On that first day
in 1980, administration, support staff, faculty, and students met in the gym. Everyone was pumped up and ready to work together. We were determined to make Eastside Catholic a success. Our goals were to establish permanence and excel in academics, athletics, activities and spirituality. To this day, I believe we met and exceeded those goals. I enjoyed my 33 years at Eastside Catholic and while I may have had a bad day occasionally, I never had two in a row. Moving to our new location in 2008 achieved our hard earned goal of permanence and having the football field named after me was an unexpected honor.
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—RETIRED PE TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH
CHARLIE ACOSTA
SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 The ECHS Board of Trustees makes a historic decision and approves the purchase of the Lein property in Sammamish, WA, after more than three years of investigating 30 potential sites. APRIL 2002 The first ECHS All Community Service Day takes place. JUNE 30, 2003 ECHS exercises the option to purchase the first 20 acres of the Sammamish property that will become our permanent location. APRIL 2004 The Board of Trustees votes to change the name of Eastside Catholic High School to Eastside Catholic School in preparation for the new campus which will include a middle school. AUGUST 2008 The Eastside Catholic Middle School officially opens as part of Eastside Catholic School with 163 students. 2012 EC is reaccredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools. AUGUST 2018 EC celebrates 10 years on the Sammamish Plateau. AUGUST 2021 EC celebrates 40 years of providing a Catholic faith-based education focused on academic excellence, servant leadership and community to students representing 57 different ZIP codes and 29 different faiths. EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 3
From Our Director of Campus Ministry
Our journey together in creating a“new normal”at EC Our students are on a journey to discover their purpose in life and to uncover how their lives will impact the world around them. I was grateful for the opportunity to return to Eastside Catholic this school year as director of campus ministry to serve our students, families, faculty and staff. We would like to partner with families in supporting students’ faith journeys. As Eastside Catholic’s patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, tells us, “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly we are doing the impossible.” This past year, Campus Ministry formed a Campus Ministry CORE team of faculty, staff and parents. This team has been working to communicate EC’s Catholic values, to clarify the
Campus Ministry Department’s vision and to develop a five-year strategic plan to further support our Touchstones of academic excellence, relationships and servant leadership. We are seeking new ways to be intentional as Crusaders with our heads, our hearts and our hands by loving God, loving ourselves, loving others and serving others with the gifts God has given us. Students are faced with choices daily that will have significant impacts on their futures. Our Campus Ministry team is here to assist, listen and provide our families and students with needed support. Working together, I am hopeful we can create an even better “new normal,” continue the excellent work already underway in our Campus Ministry programs and continue forming young people to make a positive impact in the EC community, in the Church and wherever their journeys may take them. In short, Eastside Catholic’s Campus Ministry continues to “do the impossible” by fostering a vibrant, passionate and authentic ministry for our students and the EC community. Roll Cru! Yours, most sincerely, in Christ,
–Deacon Scott Pickett director of campus ministry
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Campus Ministry Department if you have interest in or questions about upcoming retreats, liturgies and small groups. Want to share a great idea for a faith or service club, need direction to organize a social justice event, want to be a part of the Campus Ministry CORE team or just want to talk? Contact us at ECministry@ eastsidecatholic.org.
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From Our President
Dear Eastside Catholic Community Members,
C
onclusions are important for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they often frame how we look at the future. In some ways, the 2020-21 school year is ending much like it began, in the midst of a pandemic. Yet, recent progress gives us much room for hope and there is light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines rolling out and our world shifting back to normal. Additionally, a reflective view of how this school year is ending leaves us with many bright spots to celebrate. I believe it is our focus on the positive amidst uncertainty that will propel Eastside Catholic towards even more optimistic outcomes in the future. On regular school days, during our morning announcements shared over the intercom, we close with a prayer and a reminder to take care of each other. This regular prompt is recognition that at EC, we recognize that we are better together. And this school year, I believe we are ending more unified both physically and figuratively. Thankfully, Eastside Catholic was able to reopen to in-person learning in January. Our physical presence has acted to provide students with academic, social and spiritual support that for some was not as accessible from a distance. The Center for Disease Control released a statement highlighting the importance of inperson connection for the development of children, but parents and teachers didn’t need the data. We all experienced it firsthand, as students reconnected with each other and with their teachers. For those who chose to remain remote for a broad range of reasons, we eagerly await the opportunity to welcome you back. While remote, we continued to focus on strengthening our Touchstones and core values through our EC Rededicated program. Regular email updates featured the work being done across all areas of the school, including athletics, communications, discipline, leadership and Touchstones. We are proud of this work and shared monthly community testimonials and anecdotal examples of these programmatic changes making a difference in
our community. From social media posts of our students living out our values in community service efforts, to comments from visitors to our campus extolling the sportsmanship they witnessed as EC athletes rooted for the competition, we are experiencing fundamental change due to this work. We celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, and while the pandemic stopped us from gathering together, it could not stop us from moving forward. There is no better way to honor Eastside Catholic’s 40 years of tradition than living our values…even if we missed out on cake and balloons. I am incredibly proud of the ways our community continues to take care of each other. As we celebrate the Class of 2021 and welcome a new group of sixth graders representing the Class of 2028, I thank you for your continued resilience and support of our enduring mission.
–Gil Picciotto president
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In the Classroom Bor n i n B u rl i ngton , Wisconsi n Grew u p i n Por t Cha rlotte, Flor ida BA , U n iversi t y of South Flor ida Favor i te Movie: The S hawsha n k Redem ption Favor i te Book : Catcher i n the Rye Hob bies: G u i ta r, d isc golfi ng a nd homeb rewi ng 2021 M idd le School Teach i ng Excel lence Awa rd winner as voted on by m idd le school studen ts
Adam Chumbley
Making PE Awesome Where did you grow up?
Who inspired you in teaching?
I moved to Florida when I was young and went to Port Charlotte High School. I lucked into a track scholarship to the University of South Florida and earned my PE degree there.
Mr. Valella, who taught me that anything is possible. This had to be true because I have no idea how I could do three sports and still be in his Thespian Society troupe. Also, Rob Heller, my former co-athletic director at Corbett Prep in Florida, helped me understand how important patience is while teaching and coaching. And my parents always told me they didn’t care what I chose to do in life as long as I worked tirelessly to be the best at it.
Any hidden talents or interests? Funny story. I figured after one year of little league, as an 11-year-old, that I would for sure hit it big. My strategy was not to play baseball until high school, then make varsity, and then make the natural transition to professional baseball. Shockingly, I did not make the team. The track coach had watched me crush the baseball offseason conditioning workouts and recruited me to be a distance runner for cross country. A couple of state championships and a Division I 10K title later…turns out my talent wasn’t on the baseball diamond. 6
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Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? Yes, ever since my sophomore year of high school. My high school PE teacher asked me what I wanted to do for a career, and I said, “I want to do you what you do.” She jokingly begged me not to do it. I’m not sure if it was my innate desire to inspire students to have a love of movement or if it
was to prove others wrong, but either way, it has worked out pretty darn well.
What is your favorite part of teaching? I love when a student tells me that PE is their favorite class. Many adults tell me their PE experience in high school wasn’t the greatest, so my goal is for every student to have a fun and positive experience when they leave my class and to share that experience with others. That is the most important standard or benchmark I can hit.
Any surprises about virtual PE? Their willingness to think outside the box surprised me. Some days we are doing survivor-style planks to see who can last the longest, then we are volleying a paper ball on one leg, and then we finish with a cupstacking competition. The students have had awesome attitudes. They humor me, regardless of the silliness of the activity. It’s been fun.
“My takeaway—if you have a goal in your mind, that’s not good enough. You have to chisel a goal in stone to attain what you set out to achieve.”
What do you have to do differently to teach virtually? I found that what you give is what you will get in teaching virtually. If your outlook is awesome, you will get awesome results in return.
With students back on campus, do you notice they appreciate interacting differently? Without question, I have noticed a stronger team effort and a willingness to help a classmate. This goes a long way in a PE class, helping create a safe and fun class atmosphere.
How do students surprise you? I learned a long time ago never to underestimate students. There are no real surprises, just students stepping up to the plate. I have asked them to put their best foot forward and every day, they have answered the call.
Do any lessons you learned from playing a college sport translate to your role as a teacher?
can’t—you’re right.” (Henry Ford) That always stuck with me, and I use that quote all the time in PE classes.
My freshman year at USF we were a top 20 team in the nation and went to the NCAA National Championships. After the seniors graduated the following year, there was no leadership. We did not fare well. My takeaway—if you have a goal in your mind, that’s not good enough. You have to chisel a goal in stone to attain what you set out to achieve. The irony is that firmly setting goals and taking steps to achieve them actually makes the journey easy. My junior year at USF was the first time I ever had a coach ask me what my hopes were for the season. I told the coach I wanted to win the Conference USA 10,000-meter title. Every lap of that race, she was on the backstretch reminding me of why I was going to win. And I did. “If you think you can or think you
Tell us about your family? I met my wife Sara at my best friend’s wedding in Florida. We went on one date before she returned to Seattle. We decided to FaceTime a bit, and after a couple weeks, I knew I was moving to Washington. I drove my pickup truck to Seattle, asked her to marry me one year to the day we met, and now seven years later we have two boys, ages 2 and 4. We live in Silvana, which is a small farm town outside of Stanwood, and it has a population of 90. The commute to and from home is less than ideal, but I truly believe EC is where I’m meant to be. The students often ask me, “I heard you live closer to Canada than EC … is that true?” I share a good laugh with them because it’s actually true. EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021
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Farewells These two long-time members of the EC family have built programs that our staff and faculty will continue to grow in the years to come.
Thank yo We thank them for their dedication, leadership and many years of friendship.
Anita Florence
Anita Florence’s teaching career has been one centered on faith. “Catholic education has been my passion for as long as I can remember.” When her daughter was ready to start school, Anita wanted her to attend a Catholic school but there was not one near their home in Gig Harbor. She started meeting with two other moms at her parish who also sought a Catholic school experience for their children. When they could not meet in person, they met on the phone. “One of the women added three-way calling so we could talk and plan every day. And not just talk but pray—we prayed together every day,” said Anita. In the fall of 1995, Holy Family School opened with 12 children. “We celebrated that we opened an independent Catholic school! Our parish was afraid of the challenges that a school might bring so our friends at the local Episcopal church let us use their facility. Today, the school is St. Nicholas Parish School, run by the archdiocese. This is one of the accomplishments I am most proud of over my entire lifetime,” said Anita. It is this faith, dedication and kindness Anita has brought to her teaching. She began her teaching career working in the Options Program and will finish her career teaching in the Religious Studies Department. For 20 years she has also worked in parishes, as a Faith Formation Director at Our Lady of Sorrows in Snoqualmie and as the director of confirmation at Mary, Queen of Peace in Sammamish. Catholic education has been her life’s work, “I love seeing students get excited about Bible stories. Even students who are not Christian appreciate the beauty of the stories. I am a storyteller at heart. I love to tell stories—and what better stories to tell than those from the Bible! Being able to share my passion with students is a true blessing, especially when I see that same passion coming back from them.” Anita brought meditation and mindfulness into the middle school classroom and gave the students the tools to use it outside 8
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of the classroom as well. She built the curriculum for the middle school religion program. Eighth grade students learn Church history which Anita is most proud of because of how hard she worked to make the class interesting for all students. In retirement, Anita and her husband will sell the home where they raised their two children and move to their lake property,“We will live in our cabin until our new cottage is built. We also plan to buy a travel trailer and do some traveling around the U.S. and Canada. I plan to spend a lot of time with my grandsons of course!” Anita says, “The best part of teaching has been getting to know my students and seeing them face-to-face on a daily basis—seeing them grow and mature and thrive. I am grateful that we will be able to finish the year together in the classroom and I am grateful that I will be able to see those smiles and hear their laughter. I am so happy I will be able to look them in their beautiful eyes and tell them what a blessing they have been to me as I bid them farewell!”
ou
Randy Brown
Eastside Catholic has been the beneficiary of Randy Brown’s first retirement. Randy grew up in Yakima, Washington and graduated from West Valley High School in 1969 and then graduated from Central Washington University in 1973 with a major in mathematics and a minor in history. He soon began teaching eighth grade math in the Edmonds School District at Lynwood Junior High. Randy said, “That was in the days when teachers were laid off because of failed school levies, so after three years I got a job in Tacoma at Fife High School where I taught for 28 years before retiring in 2004.” Randy joined the EC faculty soon after and has been a faculty member for 17 years. As a geometry student in high school, he decided that teaching geometry was what he wanted to pursue, “In college I went through various majors, English literature, then history, then anthropology. Through it all I found that I loved math and that what I really wanted to do with it was to teach.” He has taught every secondary math class (except statistics) from seventh grade math to AP Calculus BC. Randy said, “I love the subject matter in Calculus but enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of ninth graders in Algebra as well, so I don’t really have a favorite class.” Turning 70 last November made Randy think more about retirement, “My two daughters, who are both teachers, have been telling me I’m crazy for not retiring sooner, but I love what I do and it was a hard choice even now to give it up. I love watching students grow from their ninth grade year to graduation. I have also enjoyed seeing them as adults, seeing how they have turned out. The students from my first year are now in their 50s!” Randy is looking forward to bike riding in retirement, “There is a beautiful ride from Orting to South Prairie along the White River with a view of Mount Rainier. I have seven grandchildren—all girls—and am looking forward to spending more time with them as well.” One of the joys of teaching for Randy is the daily class time with his students—the back and forth, impromptu moments, and engagement, “Remote teaching is not exactly how I saw my career ending, but it has been an interesting challenge. I feel sorry for the missed opportunities for the students. Things like Friday night football games, hanging out at lunch and trying to stay awake at assemblies are remembered long after that quiz in 3rd period.” As a teacher, he has been energized by students in the classroom, and EC students were blessed Randy chose them for his second career as a teacher.
There are many ways you can make a difference.
By making a gift to the Eastside Catholic School Annual Fund, you: • Advance academic excellence • Accelerate STEAM education through innovation and technology • Invest in students through tuition assistance • Elevate performing and visual arts programs • Support vibrant student life and faith development
Donate online at eastsidecatholic.org/give or call 425-295-3028.
Thank you for your generosity!
EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
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CLASS OF 2021
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Alumni Feature
Eastside Catholic: School of Dreams by David L. Anderson ’84 I have always been a dreamer. Nights find me dreaming I can fly. By day I imagine distant jungles, rainbow-colored macaws, and vanishing Indian languages. Although I still haven’t learned to fly, I have discovered that dreams can come true. I’m a member of the 1984 graduating class of Eastside Catholic High School, a member of the first-ever, four-year graduating class. When I reflect on those four years now, in some ways it looks like an experiment in Ms. Madsen’s chemistry class. Key ingredients in the chemical reaction known as “education” included Doc Culbert reading “Chaucer” in old English, weekly meditation with Sister Mary Lila, Ms. Skoog coaching the drill team to a state title, deafening basketball games stomped onto metal bleachers, and the introspection during Friday liturgies. At the time, I didn’t see the deeper lessons buried within. “Chaucer” was a metaphor for imagination; the drill team’s take-your-breath-away rendition of “Let the Good Times Roll” showed us beauty in ourselves; roaring at basketball games taught us to be heard and enjoy life to the fullest; and Friday liturgies instilled inner peace. What seemed at the time like the routineness of high school was, in reality, a deliberate and dedicated effort to grow compassionate world-literate leaders out of young people. I’m here to tell you today that it works. After graduating from Eastside Catholic and then Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management, I volunteered for the Peace Corps and landed in Honduras, the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. I mistook my mission as teaching rural Hondurans the value of protecting natural resources, like wild rivers for water. The real lessons weren’t the ones I taught, but the ones I learned. What was it like living in the poorest villages in the poorest country of the Americas? Enriching beyond words. Countless hours and nights spent in mud houses swapping stories by the light of kerosene lamps builds friendships that transcend the passing of decades and bridge distances spanning continents. Camping on the plank floor of a Miskito house above the gentle whispers of Caribbean waves casts an irremovable tide in your heart. Seeing hunger and malnutrition in children after crops fail instills a deep sense of humility. 12
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Those experiences created a love affair with tropical forests, beaches and villages that led to Master of Science and doctorate degrees back in Honduras. High on life, I crafted my field research around climbing tall trees in the rainforest and studying birds in the canopy, 130 feet (~13 stories) high. One of my most special memories from Honduras is the year I lived in the village of Las Marías, deep in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, studying birds of prey. I taught my Pech and Miskito friends the tricks of climbing tall trees and measuring vegetation plots, and they taught me to pilot dugout canoes up rapids on week-long river camping trips, days from the nearest road, electric light bulb or grocery store. Throw in meals of iguana egg omelets, tropical diseases like malaria and leishmaniasis, and there you have a recipe for indelible personal transformation. Eventually those experiences translated to books with my name on the cover, scientific articles on endangered birds like the Honduran Emerald hummingbird, a reputation as an authority on methods for climbing tall trees for science and a TED talk on the transformative power of climbing trees. Today, I work as a research biologist for The Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving birds of prey around the world. I lead projects on raptors like the Arctic Gyrfalcon and the Harpy Eagle, predator of howler monkeys and lord of the rainforest canopy. Studying birds of prey is cool, but if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that giving is the sweetest reward. With that mantra and my addiction to tree climbing, I founded a nonprofit called Canopy Watch International. We specialize in teaching tree climbing as a tool for personal and scientific discovery, public climbs at the Idaho Botanical Garden, international climber trainings for biologists in Latin America to study and preserve tropical biodiversity in forest canopies—we do those things to enrich the lives of strangers, and to leave the planet a better place
What seemed at the time like the routineness of high school was, in reality, a deliberate and dedicated effort to grow compassionate worldliterate leaders out of young people. than when we arrived. My sincere hope is that when it’s time for my body to depart the planet, I’m a better person for having impacted the lives of others. It all goes back to lessons learned at a little school with big dreams on the outskirts of Seattle. Eastside Catholic is much more than a school. It’s a community, an academic constellation and a living embodiment of the belief that compassion, faith, kindness and a singular dedication to learning can make us better people and through us the world a better place. I call that “education.” Now that I’ve been granted 37 years of perspective since graduation, I can see a dream made reality: believe in yourself, believe in your teachers, believe in your school, enrich yourself with knowledge, realize your potential. One day it will all pay off in ways you never imagined, but always dreamed. Dedicated to my classmates, teachers and administrators from the old Eastside Catholic High School campus; and to my mom Sally Anderson (1933-2020) who believed in the excellent education she knew Eastside Catholic School would deliver.
Learn more about David’s projects at: canopywatch.com or watch his TED talk at youtu.be/ZE-pa5eZJM8.
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Alumni Feature
Ronnie Hamilton ’12,
creative director and co-founder of Pineapple Online, recently gave back to his alma mater during EC’s annual Wellness Week. His company, WorkWell by Pineapple Online, provided EC faculty and staff a week of customized 15-minute sessions of
“Yoga at Your Desk.” As teachers were transitioning from remote learning to full-day, in-person teaching, it was a welcome respite from a typical school day and received rave reviews from participants.
Tell me about your current role? How did you get started?
Describe the experience of working in a family business?
Pineapple Online is a digital wellness streaming platform directed at giving employees the tools to provide digital access to wellness to their employees, primarily focusing on yoga and meditation. My mother opened a retail yoga studio (Pineapple Life) a few years ago and just before the pandemic we had the opportunity to combine our skillsets (my background in media production began in high school!) to launch a digital platform. It is hard to say no to your mother, so I took the opportunity to build the business with her and Heidi Dickinson.
There are no two ways about it—working with family is tough. That being said, it’s also rewarding. At our lows, we share the learning experiences and build each other back up. At our highs, it is extraordinary being able to reflect on that milestone with your mother--the woman who has cared for you and taught you everything since birth. My advice to anyone working with a family member is to assess the foundational strength of the relationship prior to engaging in a professional relationship. If you don’t, you might jeopardize both the personal and professional relationship!
What does a typical day look like for you? My typical day begins by checking in on our content pipeline. We have multiple classes either being filmed, going through editing or being streamed/uploaded at the same time. Outside of that, I work closely with colleagues to gauge our audience experience: what are users watching most, how can we improve the overall user experience—and of course, grow our audience. What is most rewarding about your job? At the core of our business, we prioritize wellness and self-care. We want clients to feel empowered and proud while challenging themselves to reach new goals—both on and off the mat. What I have found to be the most rewarding for myself has been clarifying my own definition of wellness and self-care. I struggled with addiction and chemical dependency most of my teenage years, and in my sobriety, I have had to challenge myself to find positive sources of inspiration and self-care. It has been the most challenging yet rewarding element of what I do now, striving to consistently practice what we preach and understand that wellness is a journey. Tell us about your experience with Wellness Week at EC? Wellness Week at EC was incredible! It was a privilege to give something back to the community that gave me so much during my time there. The feedback we received validated the experience was positive for faculty and staff. 14
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How did your EC experience prepare you for your current role? When my mother enrolled me at EC back in 2008, you could say we were not a very religious family. I only say that to show that my experience at EC as a student was not altered, less prioritized or compromised due to my different views. Instead, I learned compassion, empathy and how to build a community with others. We all have differences and at Pineapple Online, we offer an experience that will be unique to each client based on their personal views. We create wellness for everybody and every “body.” I cannot say that my views today would be the same without the experiences I had at EC. Share a memory from your Eastside Catholic school experience? Truth be told, what I cherish the most from EC is my Destiny experience. I still have a keepsake from the retreat. It’s a reminder of how much love and support I have around me. This reminder is especially important right now with the uncertainty in the world. What do you like to do in your free time? Oh man, I always try to create more free time for myself when I can. My significant other is finishing up school right now, limiting our free time to the weekends—we spend a lot of time in our backyard. It is so random, but our backyard is a federally conserved wetland, so the amount of wildlife we have right outside our window is pretty mesmerizing.
Celebrations
VIRTUAL For the second year running, our annual STARS auction was held virtually with the continued physical gathering restrictions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s theme of “Rise Up” was inspired by Hebrews 10:24: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” The theme was chosen as encouragement for our community to ascend to a greater level of involvement; to take part in our steadfast commitment to provide our students, faculty, staff and community an exceptional academic experience in a safe and nurturing home. We had nearly 300 registered bidders joining in for the week-long online auction and 200 delicious meals catered by The Perfect Pair, by all measures, the call to action was answered and the auction was a fantastic success. Friends and families gathered on a beautiful Saturday evening, staged their personal version of “Auction Gala” at home and showed some spirited bidding resulting in gross revenue of over $310,000! Ivan and Alissa Tsang, parents to Kate ’26 shared their experience. “Kudos to Mayten Gross and everyone involved in the 2021 STARS Online Auction for putting on a successful event raising the critical funds that will be turned around and invested back into the EC community. Bidding in the online auction was easy and fun, although not so much fun when we received the ‘you’ve been outbid’ notifications! Once the auction closed, we were thrilled that we won
SUCCESS a few of the items that we were bidding on! It was an exciting weeklong event that brought the EC community together.” As EC’s largest annual fundraising event, the auction generates necessary funds to support the operations of the school, including the retention of our extraordinary and dedicated EC faculty and staff. Bidders included past parents, alumni, current and past grandparents, trustees, sponsors and donors. This year’s Making a Difference campaign focused on addressing the budget shortfall caused by the unexpected yet essential safety and educational necessities brought on by the pandemic. These technological and safety enhancements enabled us to offer a more robust remote learning experience and return to the physical classroom sooner. Making their inaugural debut this year were custom-etched glassybabys with the EC logo and EC shield that proved to be one of the hottest offerings in the online auction. All 23 glassybabys, grouped in different combinations sold for well over their market value inciting multiple bidding wars—all in good competition of course! We owe a debt We look forward to of gratitude to our generous sponsors, celebrating in-person donors, families and friends for making next year at the this year’s auction another memorable, virtual event.
Thank you to our sponsors!
37th ANNUAL STARS Gala Auction March 26, 2022 Hyatt Regency Bellevue
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We Are EC
AT THE CORE
Cross Country Coach Brandi Faith
Student-Athlete Gracie Hopkins ’22
Eastside Catholic’s Core Covenants
are inspired by the Touchstones that guide and define expectations of all EC student-athletes. TRUE COM PETITOR
ed, disciplined A true competitor is prepar n and attitude elevates and coachable. Their passio ne around them. the performance of everyo
INTEGRITY
our moral principles— We consistently prioritize . and compassion for others honesty, respect, humility
F A M I LY
n and diverse experiences We celebrate our commo r unconditional love while offering one anothe and support.
ACCOUNTABLE
our actions and the We take responsibility for actions of our team.
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We spoke with Cross Country Coach Brandi Faith and StudentAthlete Gracie Hopkins ’22 to learn more about a new program being rolled out in the Athletic Department—how it was developed, how it is being implemented and the impact it will have with student-athletes across all sports at EC.
Why is this program important? Brandi: The core covenants program is important because it provides a shared vision and foundational expectations for all of our teams at Eastside Catholic. The covenants provide a framework and identity we can be proud of in athletics that is in line with the Touchstones that guide Eastside Catholic.
How will you implement this across all sports? Brandi: Each coach is responsible for implementing the core covenants in a way that will best resonate with their team. I tried several different approaches and experimented initially in an effort to pull as much input out of athletes as possible. Ultimately, the key for us was establishing a leadership group within our team and the Athletic Department—Student Athletic Adisory Council (SAAC)— to fine tune student input. The student council did a great job and we ended up with a roadmap for the future that defines the values we believe in and what they look like in our sport and beyond.
How were you involved in the process? Gracie: I have been involved in EC sports since freshman year through running cross country and playing lacrosse. I love my experience playing sports at EC: the teammates, community and school spirit have made it a fun experience. When I heard about the Student Athletic Advisory Council, I joined because I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to get more involved. Athletic Director Stacey Stoutt had the student council review the core covenants that the athletics committee developed and had us decide what the core covenant “family” looked like in different situations for our student body. Then Ms. Faith led us in discussing the core covenants indepth to decide how the covenants specifically related to running cross country. I was the captain of cross country and had the opportunity to, with the other captain Michael Viscardi, decide ways to present the core covenants to our team.
Did you feel like you were heard? Gracie: I absolutely felt I was heard. With the Student Athletic Council, we discussed the covenants as a group and collectively decided on the best definitions while ensuring everyone’s opinion was heard. Michael and I were able to communicate with our cross country coach often to determine activities that would be fun for the team to represent the core covenants. There were often breakout groups, voting and small-group discussions where everyone on the cross country team was able to voice their opinion.
How have student-athletes responded? Brandi: Speaking only from my experience with the cross country team, the response has been positive. I found that our students are not opposed to high expectations, they just want to be clear on what those expectations look like and have consistency. I’m very proud of how open they were to building our team and grateful for the work they put into it.
weren’t things that needed to be changed or improved. I had set about redesigning certain aspects of our program when the core covenants were introduced. This program actually made it easier to implement many of the changes I had been dreaming about. I can attribute improved communication and positivity directly to the core covenants. Students were encouraging and never complained. We received praise from other teams regarding the sportsmanship and behavior of our cross country team this season. I personally believe our team was more united.
What else would you like to say about this program? Brandi: If you can define what you want your program to look like, you can use the core covenants to get there.
How do you see this rolling out once students are all back on campus in the fall? Brandi: Implementing the core covenants is a multi-step process so we will see this roll out in stages. Now that our core covenants have been established, we will see coaches articulate and teach these values based on a clear and specific plan they have for their team. With all students back in the fall and normal schedules resuming, this will be more of an intentional process and we hope to see that pay off with every team. Gracie: I think the core covenants will be a bigger deal next year. The cross country team was a test of how teams can adopt the core covenants and it was an absolute success. As a result, Mrs. Stoutt was talking about using cross country as a model for other sports teams. Other teams can follow exactly what cross country did or tweak the process depending on what will resonate most with their athletes. Crusaders should definitely expect to hear about the core covenants— true competitors, integrity, accountable and family—next year!
Gracie: When first introducing the core covenants to the cross country team, there were some that were skeptical. But, because of the core covenants, our team dynamic became much stronger. After discussing what actions the core covenant “family” entails (one example was staying and cheering for your teammates as they finish a race), our team saw significant action. Now almost everyone on the team cheers for our runners and the runners on other teams too. At almost every meet, our cross country coach got an email from the other coach at the meet expressing their appreciation for EC cross country supporting not only our runners but their runners as well. I attribute that to our team’s embrace of the core covenants.
Do you see a change in attitudes or behaviors? Brandi: In all honesty, we always had a great group of students to work with in cross country. That doesn’t mean there EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021
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Class Notes
Ashlyn Ramos ’18
Claire Wright ’16
Caroline Sonnen ’17
Mar Bactol ’09
Kaitlyn [Nichols] Carey ’07
1988
2007
Adra Tiryakioglu has been working
Spencer Conway Carey was born May 9, 2021 to Kaitlyn [Nichols] and Brad Carey.
as a nurse at Eastside Catholic since 2017 after volunteering in the role for five years. She recently participated in the EC Alumni Speaker Series. She has three children who attended or are attending EC: Ally ’18, Emily ’21 and Jake ’24. She has four dogs and lives in North Bend.
1990
share your news Do you have a new job? A new address? A new child? Want to get involved? Send an email with any updates to alumni@ eastsidecatholic.org.
Joe Butler has worked in print media for more than 20 years at newspapers in Bothell and Coeur d’Alene, and currently works for The SpokesmanReview in Spokane. He offers writing, marketing and branding assistance to businesses. One of his latest projects is Evercannabis, the first general news publication in Washington that focuses on the cannabis industry.
1999 In September 2020, Matt Siderius celebrated his thirteenth year as an administrative assistant at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He stays in touch with his friends from high school and continues to participate in Special Olympics events.
2008 Laura Gunning is a corporate communications manager at Amazon, predominantly supporting the Corporate Development team. She participated in the EC Alumni Speaker Series with fellow Amazonians. She recently married Drew Wate ’08.
2009 Mar Bactol serves as the program coordinator of recruiting operations for UW football. He participated in the first virtual EC Alumni Speaker Series in January. Mar credits his time at EC for preparing him for all aspects of life. Mar cherishes the relationships he made at Eastside Catholic to this day.
Mick Davis is the vice president of growth for the Premier Lacrosse League, overseeing marketing, ticketing, content and production for the league. He participated in the EC Alumni Speaker Series in January. Mick most fondly remembers the community at EC and the lifelong friends made in the classroom, on the field and everywhere in between.
Marisa Weeks is currently a registered nurse at Seattle Children’s in outpatient oncology and infusion. She also works at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in infusion. She is working
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eastsidecatholic.org
Marisa Weeks ’09
on her master’s to become a family nurse practitioner with an expected graduation of August 2021. She participated in the April EC Alumni Speaker Series. She fondly remembers AP Biology at Eastside Catholic which led to further interest in medicine.
2010 Kelsey Mikolajewski graduated with an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business in May. She will move to New York to work as a consultant.
2013 Charlie Kittridge graduated from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine on May 9.
2015 Nick Reichart proposed to Juliana Beauchene at the top of Mount Si on May 5. Their wedding will take place next summer.
2016 Ellie Bernstein will be starting medical school at the University of Pennsylvania this August.
Kyle Jenkins ’18
Adra Tiryakioglu ’88
Mick Davis ’09
Laura Gunning ’08
Charlie Kittridge ’13
Ellie Bernstein ’16
Juliana Beauchene ’15
Claire Wright graduated in December from New York University with a BA in politics and journalism. She now works in production for NBC News Now at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
2017 Caroline Sonnen graduated in May from Gonzaga University with a degree in computer science and computational thinking with minors in leadership and women’s and gender studies. She is working towards her master’s in organizational leadership at Gonzaga and will begin her career in June with Slalom Consulting.
2018 Kyle Jenkins was a Merwin Scholar recipient at Gonzaga. The scholarship is awarded to current GU music students who have demonstrated outstanding musical and/or academic skills as well as substantive contributions to the Gonzaga Music Department.
Ashlyn Ramos set a new school record for Bucknell University at the Virginia Challenge. In her first 10k on the track, she completed the race in 34:04.76 and placed eighth overall.
Ally Tiryakioglu is currently a junior at the University of Hawaii Manoa majoring in marine biology. She works with the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources to raise juvenile sea urchin recruits for release into Kaneohe Bay to reduce invasive algae presence which in turn reduces coral bleaching.
Congratulations to High School Dean of Students Soonja Larsen who recently completed the challenging process of earning National Board Certification in Music for Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood. “It’s an honor to earn this certification and be recognized as a skilled and reflective practitioner in my field. My journey to achieve certification wasn’t easy, but I feel accomplished in all the hard work, detail and reflection I put into it. I found myself concentrating on all the teaching choices I was making and how those choices were helping all my students.”
EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021
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EASTSIDE CATHOLIC Eastside Catholic School 232 228th Avenue SE Sammamish, WA 98074 eastsidecatholic.org
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Eastside Catholic School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, tuition assistance and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
