Maypoll June 2023

MAYPOLL

OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS

JUNE

2023

Our Mission

Mayfield Junior School, a Catholic independent school founded and sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, implements the philosophy of the Holy Child Schools which is based on trust and reverence for the dignity of every person. We are committed to the religious and educational development of each child and to maintaining a sense of community and family spirit that welcomes people of diverse backgrounds. At Mayfield, each child is challenged to reach his or her potential. We encourage our students to respond to the needs of our time with compassion, integrity, and confidence in God and in their own gifts.

MAYPOLL

JUNE 2023

Head of School

Joe Sciuto

Administration

Allison Castro

Director of Middle School

Beth Dorr

Director of Lower School

Anna Longstaff

Director of Advancement

Lauren Marlis Director of Enrollment

Linda Rabitoy Director of Finance

Thomas Stafford

Director of Marketing and Communications

Phil Velasco Director of Facilities

Editor

Kristina Martinez de la Torre

Contributors

David Brown PH.D.

Lisa Byrne

Maria Hodge PH.D.

Timithie Norman

Joaquin Ochoa ’24

Adrianna Schuster

Nicole Wirth

Sophia Yaokasin ’24

Design

Caroline Halili

Photography

Christine Bjerke

Lisa Byrne

Rick Davitt

Kissy Linao

Kristina Martinez de la Torre

LeeAnn Ramirez

Joe Sciuto

Justin Velez

Educational Vision Statement

Guided by our Holy Child heritage, we provide a distinctive educational experience that balances tradition and innovation in an intellectually challenging and creative environment. Students discover their best selves as they question, collaborate, and connect in a joyful community.

Table of Contents

02

From the Head of School

04

One of a Kind: Celebrating the Legacy of Penny Wong

08 Classrooms and Courtyards

10 Humanities: The First Year

11 Mayfield Voices

14 Mustang Spirit 16

Meeting the Wants of the Age

18

Graduation: Class of 2023

27 Alumni Graduations

30 Mission Minded: MJS Staff

32 LEARNING elevated: The Campaign for the Whole Child

The Maypoll is published annually for the community and friends of Mayfield Junior School. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. Please direct any questions, comments or corrections to Kristina Martinez de la Torre, Mayfield Junior School, 405 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101, kmdelatorre@mayfieldjs.org

Non-Discrimination Policy

Mayfield Junior School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid or other schooladministered programs or activities.

Accreditations and Associations

Mayfield Junior School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

For more information about Mayfield Junior School, please visit our website at www.mayfieldjs.org

From the Head of School

Dear Mayfield Community,

For over 90 years, Mayfield has provided a Holy Child education to children here on Euclid Avenue in Pasadena. Our neighborhood looks a lot different than it did in 1931, and certainly, our campus has grown and expanded over time, but the core of who we are as a community has remained the same. As another school year came to a close, I was reminded of the many people who make this such a joyful and special place of learning and growing. Our cherished events, like our 4th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 8th Grade Baccalaureate Mass, 8th Grade Graduation, and Closing Day Prayer Service, are beautiful and meaningful because of the dedicated employees and volunteers who work so hard to make things perfect for our students and their families. Indeed, Mayfield has always been about the people. These are Holy Child Mission-led people who consistently work together with common goals and shared beliefs. Our students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, friends, and Board of Trustees embrace Holy Child/Whole Child education because we know we are all making a difference in the world. Our school motto of “Actions not Words” is lived out daily in our community as we remain focused on our Mission and strive to always “encourage our students to respond to the needs of our time with compassion, integrity, and confidence in God and in their own gifts.” Cornelia Connelly asked us to “meet the wants of the age,” I am proud that we do this at Mayfield Junior School while also honoring the core of who we have always been. In this Maypoll, we highlight a few of the people who make up Mayfield today.

In my Graduation address to our incredible class of 2023, I spoke to our graduates about how we have entered a world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are never going back. I stressed to them that joy, happiness, fulfillment, and success don’t come from an algorithm that will “ensure” these things. Now, more than ever, Mayfield’s Holy Child and Whole Child education compels us to help students “meet the wants of the age.” Our world needs “problem explorers,” creative and adaptive people who love taking on challenges. Emotional intelligence, social skills, and having a sense of purpose have been proven to be more important than hard skills. The future is about taking the unknown and transforming it. Our society also needs people who are confident and know how to be happy. The whole child learning experience at Mayfield Junior School (the most joyful school) surrounds our students with love and support and provides them with the skills needed to be problem explorers. In a recent New York Times opinion piece by David Brooks titled, “In the Age of AI, Major in Being Human,” Brooks wrote that “AI is often bland and vague. It’s missing a “humanistic core.” He opines that AI will provide tools to outsource some of our current mental work, but it will also “force us humans to double down on those talents and skills that only humans possess.” For instance, the ability to be empathetic will never come through AI. Learning empathy will always come from human interaction. Our graduates are certainly academically prepared for high school and beyond. They are also socially and emotionally prepared to be empathetic, creative, and innovative leaders, which society will always need, no matter what AI innovations are to come.

I am excited that our community recognizes the importance of supporting and building upon our Holy Child/Whole Child educational experience through our people who are supported by our programs and facilities. I am thrilled that we have begun Phase I of our bold and ambitious community plan to build a better Mayfield Junior School. LEARNING elevated: The Campaign for the Whole Child is designed to advance our unique educational Mission through enhancing and elevating teaching and learning, and interpersonal connections on our campus as we “meet the wants of the age.” We are all stewards of this great school, and we are all responsible for ensuring Mayfield Junior School thrives into the next century.

Go Mustangs!

Joe Sciuto Head of School

”Ms. Wong-thank you!!! I will cherish my art class memories forever! I can still remember which table (and stool) I sat at, what my elf looked like, what food I chose to replicate, and just mixing paint for watercolor prints. Thanks for letting us get our hands dirty and always expecting more from us. Congratulations on an epic career and enjoy your next chapter!“

Melissa Gonzales ’07

”How so very blessed are we that the two best art teachers in all of Pasadena are at Mayfield Junior School — Penny Wong and Peggy Ireland. Penny is such a rock. She is so dedicated to Mayfield and so energetic with all her students and their parents. Her love of art shines through to Kindergartners and 8th graders alike. She has brought out such creativity in our two children during their time at Mayfield. We cherish their Elves which “Dr. Penny” surgically repaired for us. Her Catholic faith shines through her art instruction which was a huge benefit to our children and a shining example of Christ shining His Light through Penny for all to see. Penny will be missed, and we wish her the very best and happy retirement : )."

Paul ’78 and Elizabeth Anderson P’07, ’08

”When I first entered Mayfield Junior School as a sixth grader back in the early 1990s, one of the many surprises I discovered was the art studio. I had never seen anything like it. Together with the library, the art studio quickly became my favorite part of the school. Ms. Wong was not only a true artist, but she had the gift of teaching and a seemingly endless supply of patience. When I was in her studio and she stopped next to my stool to comment on something I was working on, it always felt as if she were giving me a precious gift. She made art accessible and set me on a path where art became a central part of my life. I went on to high school and afterward I attended college in New York City, where my love for art only expanded. I became a children's book author and illustrator, and in 2019 I had the privilege to return to Mayfield Junior School as a visiting author. I had not been there since I graduated in 1994, and I looked with interest at how the campus had changed over the years. All but one of my previous teachers had moved on. But when I walked into the art room and saw Ms. Wong wearing that familiar blue apron smudged with paint and the elf projects in progress along the windowsills, I was transported back to sixth grade and all of those wonderful hours spent in the art studio. There are teachers that have a lasting impact, teachers who change the trajectory of their student's lives, and she was one of them for me.“

Karina Yan Glaser ’94

New York Times Bestselling Children’s Book Author and Illustrator

”So many things change as progress demands, yet I feel particularly attached to the traditions we hold dear. I thank you Penny for being the loving keeper of one of my MJS favorites, the Christmas Elves. They are a labor of love and a special moment in my girls’ childhood that I will continue to enjoy for years to come.“

Mari Salazar P’19, ’21

”Ms. Wong has brought so much joy and creativity to our MJS community over the years. I’m grateful for my time as one of her students as she gave me the lifelong gift of enjoying, creating, and appreciating art! Thank you, Ms. Wong for bringing so much beauty into our MJS family.“

Kelley Driscoll Terrazas ’95, P’29,’29

One of a Kind: Celebrating the Legacy

of Penny Wong

Learn by doing. Be respectful. Do your best. Clean up. These are the unofficial rules in Penny Wong’s art room and have been for 45 years. On any given day, the art room is bustling - projects in varying stages of completion cover every open space, some students chatter and laugh, and others intently focus on the work before them. In the middle of it all, is Ms. Wong, usually answering questions, offering encouragement or a helpful suggestion, and always letting creativity happen.

With an MFA and a love of painting, Penny Wong did not have plans to teach. Like almost every artist, she aspired to create and sell art - to make a living from her craft. The universe had other plans. Penny was teaching kindergarten at a small Archdiocese school in the inner city when a colleague at a summer job at the Hollywood Bowl told her about the opening at Mayfield. She interviewed, thinking if she was hired, she would give it a year. Now it is hard to imagine Mayfield’s art program without her.

So much happens in a school community over 45 years – especially one that has grown so much. When Penny arrived in the fall of 1978, Mayfield had just over 40 faculty and staff and about 380 students. Penny taught them all K-8 for over 25 years, transitioning from a small art room in the Junior building she inherited to a larger space in 1998. During her tenure, spanning nearly half of Mayfield’s 91 years, Penny helped welcome six heads of school, adjusted through four campus remodels/additions, and taught nearly 2,500 students- two generations in some families. She extended herself as an advisor for many years, taught electives, spent many hours in prep and clean up, outdid herself each year in the annual Art Show, and even embraced Zoom and teaching remotely with tenacity and grace during the pandemic. Such is the life of a teacher. Words like dedication, stamina, flexibility, and dependability are only part of it. Add caring, calm, and encouraging. As an art teacher, Penny saw each student as unique, creative, and capable. Her students felt it.

Over the years, Penny has created legendary projects built with small budgets and a desire to give her students the tools and confidence to make every project uniquely theirs. Sixth-grade elves, eighth-grade masks, the fifth-grade cake project, and others became gradelevel milestones with rite of passage status. Her classes explored almost every medium, style, and technique, including painting, ceramics, sculpture, pastels – color mixing, shading, perspective illusion, landscape, and selfportrait. Her ease and comfort with the materials and the belief that everyone has creativity to share provided for a dynamic art room. Minimal structure, maximum creative freedom. The instructions: Experiment. Play with the materials. See what happens. There was magic in trying.

So did her colleagues. Penny made many close friends at Mayfield. The community and shared purpose made coming to work every day a blessing. Many call her mentor as well as friend; Penny was generous with her knowledge and insight and willing to learn from the wisdom of others. The strong faith of those who surrounded her was impactful. Penny became a Catholic with the guidance of Kathy Holtsnider, former MJS director of religion and teacher. As a cancer survivor, Penny attributes much to the prayers and support of the Mayfield community.

How do you say goodbye to someone who has made such an impact on our school and the lives of so many? Perhaps you don’t say goodbye — instead, a sincere thank you. Thank you, Penny. We are so grateful for all you have given Mayfield. We will miss you. May joy fill your days, may your travels be transformational, your days at home peaceful, and your heart light.

“I will miss the enthusiasm of the kids- being there for that moment when something works."

Consistent, reliable, can-do. Penny notices the gap, the hole, the thing that needs fixed and takes care of it. During the pandemic, she rose to a whole other level we didn’t know was possible and became the superstar of remote [education]; learning the new technology, asking for help, doing whatever was necessary to help the kids get through the toughest time in recent memory. Penny never quit and raised the bar for everyone.

Bridget Kelley-Lossada, former Middle School Director

”Penny, you are immortal in our eyes! The art projects are a constant reminder of the joyous years at MJS. Good luck on your pilgrimage and future adventures.“

The Niedermeyer's P’97, ’00, ’04

Penny, I don’t think I know anyone who works harder and puts your soul and heart into everything that you do. All of us are the beneficiaries of this!

Leena Berger, Former

MJS Faculty

Faculty & Staff Updates

Myvonwynn Hopton-Ahmed , Middle School Science

In her 12 years at Mayfield, Myv has served as teacher, Special Projects Coordinator, Dean of Community Life, and Dean of Student Life. Creative and collaborative, Myv found opportunities to bring out the best in our community with great insight. It was Myv who first introduced Mosiac Month to Mayfield in January 2013. She organized daily presentations at Morning Prayer and worked with parent volunteers to set up the first International Fair, which has now evolved into our Family Heritage Fair. Myv was also instrumental in growing our service-learning program, Earth Day celebrations and annual Science Fairs. Most recently, she taught middle school science, served as science department chair, and as an 8th grade advisor. Myv brought so much goodness to Mayfield and did so with such grace and intention. With gratitude we wish her the best in her next journey.

Larry Guyer, Health, Safety and Technology

As Director of Technology for over a decade, Larry was instrumental in bringing Mayfield into the 21st century with advanced information technology systems and services. Pragmatic and forward thinking in the ever-evolving IT environment, he established a strong and secure network infrastructure, managed database applications, helped develop an educational technology department, and grew Mayfield’s iPad program. In 2020, Larry took on the responsibility of health and safety, keeping Mayfield’s campus safe and well-functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Mayfield wishes Larry well as he pursues new opportunities.

David de la Rocha, World Languages

joined us as a long-term substitute teaching 7th and 8th grade Spanish, and we were fortunate to have him continue as a co-teacher. David supported various roles and needs on campus, including boys’ basketball coach, debate assistant coach, 7th grade team support, and fire safety lead. David made a large impact in his short time at Mayfield. We wish him well in his new journey.

Hailey Vogt, Middle School Mathematics

joined Mayfield’s faculty in the 2020-2021 school year as a 6th grade math teacher and over the last 3 years also taught 5th grade math, and served as a 6th grade advisor. She enthusiastically supported our K-Pals program enjoying the special connection with kindergarten and 6th grade. Hailey and her husband will be relocating to pursue a new opportunity. We thank Hailey for her contributions to Mayfield and wish her all the best.

Katie Luna, Controller

Katie had been an invaluable member of the business office, providing leadership and expertise since she took on her role in October 2019. Her dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have been appreciated and admired. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Journey to Maker Faire

Collaborative, generative, and fun—Maker Faires at Mayfield celebrate invention and creativity. From curriculum to the design thinking process to project building to exhibit, the journey to Maker Faire deepens learning, cultivates empathy, and addresses complex challenges in a defined way. Give us a courtyard, tables, eager exhibitors, enthusiastic visitors and 15 minutes and we’ve got a dynamic community event that showcases unique ideas and ingenuity. Maker Faire magic!

Artists in Residence

This year, MJS invited its first professional ensemble in residence to our community. Delirium Musicum is a chamber orchestra in Los Angeles, consisting of some of the country’s most promising string players. Members of Delirium Musicum spent time on campus and in classrooms to bring music, education, and joy to our community.

During their visits, musicians with Delirium Musicum coached our music ensembles, performed for an assembly, offered up-close performances for several selected grades, and even featured compositions by one of our Mayfield students. The experience was inspiring and revealed what is possible to achieve in music with hard work and a growth mindset.

David Brown PH.D.

The third grade Moonbase Project began as a reading assignment. Students read “Midnight on the Moon,” by Mary Pope Osbourne, which tells the story of children sent 40 years into the future and who travel to the moon. Our third grade future engineers were then asked to answer the questions: what would be different between living on the moon and living on Earth? After research and reflection on the difficulties future moon settlers would face such as lack of water, atmosphere and sparse resources, students used the design thinking process to break down the problems and devise possible solutions for their moon-dwelling friends. Brainstorming sessions led to visual prototype ideas which led to creating 3D examples out of recycled materials. Time to share their creativity and knowledge at a Maker Faire!

”To de-mystify the concert experience, classical music, and its musicians, as well as the language of this art form, is opening the door for them to, one day, near or far, push open the door of a concert venue, and fully enjoy the power, joy, and cultural history classical music carries. It's been a fantastic experience for us to experience the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children at MJS, and we are looking forward to coming back and further build our relationship with the students!”

Etienne Gara, Delirium Musicum

The First Year: A Few Words about Humanities

In the 2022-2023 school year, our middle school shifted from separate English and history departments to a humanities model. With the first year completed, Humanities Department faculty Scott Correll, Nichole Mercado, and Nick Cardet took a few moments to reflect and share their experience. How did the first year go? What worked? How did the kids respond? What are you looking forward to next year?

Nick Cardet | 6th Grade

The first year was a learning experience. I enjoyed the curation of my own content and felt excited and empowered to control that aspect of my classroom. Students seemed more engaged using many different types of media and text instead of simply opening a textbook or novel repeatedly. The idea of a year-long essential question that tied history with social science and literature allowed students to make deeper connections that I didn’t even see when planning the curriculum.

The use of novels to connect to real-world and historical issues seemed to resonate with students. Finding the intersections between literature and real life was a big talking point for students in our Socratic seminars. I’m very excited about the future of humanities in 6th grade.

Nichole Mercado | 7th Grade

We did a good job planning - who was teaching what, in what order, and the timeline. I was a little hesitant and anxious as an English teacher only up to this point. Working with a good team was helpful for me.

I think the year went well. Each class is unique. It took us longer than anticipated to get through certain things. It’ll just be a little bit different every year.

I did several project-based learning group activities and the kids really liked that. I think they appreciated a new way to look at and think about things. Some units took half the time I had planned, so now I can go into this next year knowing more about timing. That knowledge is helpful. Next year I will continue to tweak things a bit - get better. I’ve really learned to embrace and love humanities.

Scott Correll | 8th Grade, Humanities Chair

I’m really happy with the scope of study in 8th-grade humanities. It is almost a civics course, starting where the 7th grade humanities program ends with the Declaration of Independence and continues through the Constitution. The curriculum has a lot of contemporary relevance to their lives.

I was much happier this year teaching humanities than I was just English last year because it allows depth to the stories. We did a lot with the stories. We read The Outsiders and then held a mock trial based on the story. Parents and alumni in the legal profession participated as judges and jury. The tie-in was perfect. We had studied the Bill of Rights and then read the novel. I would say it was a great example of humanities working well. The trial tied everything into this one event in one day, and the students really responded to it. Many of them told me it was their favorite memory at the end of the year. So that really worked for me. We read Animal Farm too. I was shocked at how much they liked Animal Farm They got it. We studied types of government first, so they recognized the authoritarianism or the promise of communism and how it was corrupted.

More time with the students is always needed. I didn’t get through nearly as much as I thought I would. But that’s not always a bad thing; the first year is about adjusting the scope and figuring out the depth that the students need on something. Next year is about building on that - improving on it and, yeah, just making it a little more meaningful.

Mayfield Voices

The Mayfield Community is a rich and diverse group of individuals with unique voices, varied passions and interests, and deep beliefs.

Allison Castro, Director of Middle School

In the Summer of 2022, Mayfield welcomed Allison Castro as Interim Middle School director. From the first day, Allison’s thoughtful manner and diligent support of our students and faculty throughout the first semester proved a perfect match. In December, Allison agreed to join our administration permanently.

Now that you are official as Middle School Director, what are you most looking forward to over the next few years? Where do you feel you can make the most impact?

I am looking forward to deepening relationships with faculty, staff, students, and parents and guardians. I am excited to collaborate with others to enhance the student experience, student learning, and to drive forward our long-term strategic goals and initiatives. I am focused on an approach of continual school improvement and supporting the teams of people who lead the amazing work at MJS every day. Perhaps most importantly, I want our community to continue to seek joy while doing that meaningful work.

With education evolving so rapidly these days, how do you see the structure and program of the middle school growing?

In education, there is always a lot of talk about 21st century skills. But the reality is that the 21st century has been here for 23 years. In some ways, education is moving more slowly than we should expect. Although we see technological innovation all around us, it doesn’t mean that the world will need less of us. On the contrary, the world needs our students to have a strong set of skills and competencies coupled with strong values. Our middle schoolers also need to be prepared for today and the future. A Mayfield Junior School education is focused on the whole child and our Holy Child philosophy. That should never change, and we need to continue to ask ourselves about what our students need. Our students will benefit from the opportunity to make the connections between what they know and to apply those skills to respond to the needs of the world.

What about our community and the opportunities in your role influenced your decision to stay at Mayfield and officially accept the middle school director position?

It did not take very long for me to feel inspired by this community, our students, and our mission. I feel blessed to have joined this year as we experienced our Mission Effectiveness review process through the Holy Child Network. Learning more about our mission and heritage as a Holy Child school enabled me to see that we are

equally grounded in our tradition and focused on “responding to the needs of the day.” The philosophy of education imparted by our foundress, Cornelia Connelly, greatly aligns with my own philosophies of education. Working closely with our Whole Child Leadership Team and teachers has also been integral to my decision to stay at Mayfield.

How has your previous experience in education helped prepare you for this role?

I have had the opportunity to serve in different school communities, including the public and private sectors, and at the high school level. I also continued teaching my own classes when I became an administrator and through the circumstances of the pandemic with remote learning.

From that variety of experiences and those environments, I have gained a broad perspective of education and have learned so much about what is key for our students in healthy learning environments. I’ve led several initiatives focused on teaching and learning including implementation of a block schedule and supporting the introduction of new curriculum to enhance student learning.

What or who inspires you to pursue a career in education?

I was inspired to become a teacher, in part, because of my own teachers when I was in school. I had teachers and coaches who motivated me positively and didn’t allow me to hide or shy away from participating. That experience led me to pursue the field of education. Education really inspires people to become their best selves because we are constantly modeling for our young people. As educators, we are always thinking about things like, “What is the best way to explain this?”, or “How can I best support this person?” Or “How do our values lead us to solving this problem?” When our daily work is centered on what is best for students and what is most aligned with our mission, that further develops us as community members and human beings. It is what makes the field of education especially meaningful.

How would you describe your style of leadership?

My style certainly changes as I learn and evolve. I usually begin in any situation by being curious and I listen a lot. I am very collaborative and I like to gather input

and different perspectives before making decisions. Sometimes that can slow me down and I need to be mindful of that. I always prefer asking another member of my team before making a unilateral decision. I do that with the intention of seeking out more perspectives and ways of thinking about things that are different from my own. Most importantly, I seek to be a joyful leader and to be vulnerable.

What do you consider to be essential qualities in a teacher?

One of the highest priorities for us as teachers is to really get to know our students. In order to fully support and challenge our students, we need to first know them and build relationships. In today’s classrooms, a necessary shift is taking place where there is less of a focus on the teaching and more on the learning. The teacher serves as the best model in the room and so I view teachers as the lead learners in the room. As a model for our students, it is essential for teachers to demonstrate their own creativity, to use their own strengths, to take risks and even make mistakes in the learning process.

Do you have a talent few people know about?

Roller-skating is a talent of mine. I was proud to be a competitive roller-skater for 14 years and competed in the World Championships of Roller-skating.

Favorite hobby or creative pursuit?

I enjoy running and crocheting.

Books on your nightstand or to be read list?

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Think Again by Adam Grant

Favorite place in the world? New Zealand

Favorite quote or personal motto?

“Math and science are going to save the world. Humanities and the arts are going to show us that the world is worth saving.” ~ Sister Clare Fitzgerald

Joaquin Ochoa ’24

One of the best parts about Mayfield are the field trips. They always tie into the topics we’re learning in class, which makes it so much more interesting. This year, we went on three field trips. An overnight trip to Catalina Island, through CELP, (Catalina Environmental Leadership Program) where we got to do a lot of fun marine biology activities. We went to see a production of A Christmas Carol after we finished a performance of the play. It was really cool to watch professional actors and actresses perform the same thing we did. In humanities, we’ve been reading Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl. Our visit to the Museum of Tolerance helped us learn more about the Holocaust.

There are so many ways that Mayfield brings people together, and one of the best is through School Families. In families, you’re grouped up with a student from each grade 1st through 8th. It’s always so much fun since it helps you get to know people you probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. It always makes me smile when people that are or have been in my School Family say hi to me around campus.

Mayfield is such a big part of my life. I am so grateful for everything it has to offer.

Sophia Yaokasin ’24

Writing is something I love, and probably won’t stop doing for a long time. I have been part of the Mayfield community ever since kindergarten, and over my journey, I’ve seen that I almost never fit with what my classmates say or think. One of my many differences is my affinity for writing. I’ve always been above average in academic performance, but for some reason, I never could go ‘all out’ and reach my potential. But when I started writing, I truly felt that I was drawing out my capabilities more, and I came to the conclusion that writing allowed me to use my whole brain. I now know that writing is how I can express myself and show what I can do through words. Writing is how I learned more about myself and my creative side. I can draw inspiration from anywherebooks, anime, and the world around me. I feel myself improving every time I write, and this improvement helps me with debate, schoolwork, and learning how to think outside the box. I don’t write on a daily basis unless I need to, but what I take away is what really helped me become who I am today. I write how I speak, and I speak how I write. When I make mistakes in either of those two, both sides improve. And I’m still learning.

In the 2022-2023 school year, Sophia spoke about creative writing in a student-led ‘Keep Calm and Learn Something New’ lunchtime workshop for teachers and staff.

Timithie Norman, P’26, ‘27

Senior Associate Director of Advancement

I arrived at Mayfield in April 2022, just a week before the annual benefit. From the first day in my office on the second floor of Connelly Hall, the sounds and pace of the campus surrounded me — school bells, children singing, a constant stream of parents and staff, sometimes all happening at once. Spring at MJS is not a time for easing into a new role, no, you take a deep breath and jump right in. This was a welcome change for me (and soon my children, who are now at MJS), and perhaps destined to be. Being at Mayfield is carrying on a family legacy.

My husband Nick ’98 and his four siblings are all MJS graduates, as are four of his cousins. They’ve all shared memories, and I love connecting their stories to my daughters’ current experiences on campus and with our combined experiences at longstanding events and traditions like Harvest Festival, the Christmas Luncheon, and Morning Prayer. As a parent, I appreciate the warm welcome extended to our family and the many opportunities Mayfield offers to engage with my children’s learning, like visiting a Maker Faire to witness new coding skills in action or listening to the student choir at school Mass. I love hearing about hands-on science projects and class performances and the great books my children are reading in class. I feel confident that this community offers the best environment, resources, and instruction to form mind, body and spirit.

It’s an honor to be a part of the same joyful, caring community that shaped Nick’s education and character, and witness the same Holy Child values shape my children and their classmates 25 years later. Beyond my role as a parent, however, I have a real responsibility to raise money, build community, and advance the mission of Mayfield as an institution. I am proud to be among the many passionate faculty, staff, and trustees who have dedicated their efforts to this school and its mission. The MJS community is so generous!

Alumni, parents, and faculty/staff all work together to preserve Mayfield’s tradition of “meeting the wants of the age” and fostering the forward-thinking, joyful spirit of our student body. I’m privileged to join in this work. There are exciting years ahead and I look forward to all that’s to come.

Mustang Spirit

Meeting the Wants of the Age

The zone between our Comfort Zone and Shutdown Zone is our Growth Zone (the bed is just right). Here, we are exposed to problems and face new situations that stretch us and help us reach our full potential. We engage our critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. We use our creativity and curiosity to tackle challenges. We experience frustration and hardship. We learn to feel pain, anxiety, and stress and manage those productively. We learn how to persist in facing problems and develop confidence in our ability to handle difficulties. Our brains and bodies become strong as we learn that we can do hard things. We also feel the exhilaration and joy of meeting challenges and the pride of well-earned accomplishment. These are all reasons why it is so important to allow our children the opportunity to struggle. Struggling means we are learning and growing. At Mayfield, we help our students leave their comfort zones and push themselves into their growth zones every day. Through their classes and activities, they are challenged to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. They are encouraged to struggle, persist when things get tough, embrace mistakes, and accept frustration and pain as normal emotions, alongside happiness and joy. This is all a part of learning, growing, and life.

Struggle Allowed. It‘s Good for Us!

Maria Hodge, Ph.D.

It’s hard to see our children struggle. As parents, we have a natural desire for them to be happy. When they are frustrated or in pain, we feel their pain, and we want them to feel better again.

But we also want them to learn. And as research and experience show us, when children are allowed to struggle, they grow.

There is a Learning Zone Model we use to understand how optimal growth takes place. It’s a little bit like the beds in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In our Comfort Zone (the bed is too soft), there are no challenges or risks. Everything is familiar, comfortable, and safe. Our anxiety is low, and we may even feel bored. We are not exposed to anything new, and no learning occurs in this zone. It’s a good place to rest, relax and restore our energy. But to grow, we cannot remain here.

In our Shutdown Zone (the bed is too hard), the level of challenge is outside of our current capacity to handle. The overwhelming amount of stress and fear we experience can result in a physiological and emotional flight or freeze response. Our problem-solving is impaired, and it is difficult for learning to take place. If we spend too much time here, we may give up, lose hope, and experience anxiety and depression.

During the last week of school, I was in the kindergarten classes for our final Guidance class of the year. We talked about transitions and change and the power of a “Good” goodbye. We discussed how goodbye to something is hello to something new. It’s hard to say goodbye, especially when we are young and not well-practiced. It’s also difficult when we love something, and it’s hard to acknowledge and accept the end of it. We may struggle with managing our emotions and finding the words to express them. But these Kindergarteners came up with an impressive list that shows their emotional resilience and ability to feel both sad and happy feelings with a strong dose of hope that helps them move forward.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to 1st grade.

Goodbye to my Kindergarten teacher, is hello to my 1st grade teacher.

Goodbye to old friends is hello to new friends.

Goodbye to our old class pet, is hello to our new class pet.

Goodbye to a pet who died is hello to Heaven.

Goodbye to baby teeth is hello to grownup teeth.

Goodbye to 5 years old is hello to 6 years old.

Goodbye to spring is hello to summer.

Two days later, I got a call to return to Kindergarten. One of the students was struggling because it was the last day of school. Struggling with saying goodbye to his teachers and classmates. He was lying on the floor facedown,

struggling to manage his emotions while everyone quietly encouraged him. We gathered on the rug, gently pulled him in, and then began to go around the circle, each student recounting one thing they were looking forward to this summer.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to going on vacation with my family.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to seeing my cousins.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to playing video games.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to playing at the beach.

He listened to each friend share. And then the last turn came to him. He was quiet, but his teacher reminded him that he would be at Mayfield for summer school.

Goodbye to Kindergarten is hello to summer school with my friends.

And he was ready to rejoin the class and celebrate the last day of Kindergarten.

Portrait of a Graduate

Nicole Wirth, Dean of Academic Life

The struggle is real. We face it every day, in big events and small moments. And the irony is, while we may wish for our children not to experience the pain of struggling, the struggle is what allows us to develop the skills we need for a happy and fulfilled life.

Maria Hodge, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and the senior counselor at Mayfield.

Goal 6: Thrive Holy Child Schools promote the personal growth and development of all who participate in the life of the school.

Mayfield’s tenets and Holy Child philosophy were specifically designed with the future in mind, embracing change as it benefits a student’s well-being and personal growth. As the Dean of Academic Life, I am excited to help move our school forward with foresight, intention, and care to ensure that we are preparing our students for success and happiness in both mind and spirit.

Designing what we teach and how we teach for the needs of our students today is already a dynamic and daunting task. How we teach for tomorrow offers even more challenges. Navigating artificial intelligence and other technological advances, coupled with a changing environment and instability in the world, will require our future graduates to have different skills than previous generations to be contributing members of society. While we only have students for nine years of their educational journey, we have the opportunity to frame a solid foundation with a growth mindset. The first step in this process is determining the goal. What skills, strengths, and instincts are essential in this rapidly changing world? What does the portrait of a modern MJS graduate look like?

It has been a pleasure this last semester to convene a team of representatives from the school community who are committed to designing the Portrait of a Mayfield Junior School Graduate. This team is tasked with sifting through the multitude of skills, sensibilities, and qualities to find an ideal combination and prioritize based on Holy Child goals that encourage and support the uniqueness of each individual. Examples of these skills include creativity, ethical problem solving, global citizenship, media literacy, and many more. When these attributes are curated, we will get feedback from a larger group and begin the next step in the process. Although the Portrait of a Graduate ideal will remain fluid to continue to meet the wants of the age, this initial list/description is a starting point for the faculty to review and adapt the curriculum with new intentions.

I am so proud to be part of a school whose mission encourages students to “respond to the needs of our time with compassion, integrity, and confidence in God’s gifts.” The what and how defining our school and the work we do keeps evolving. The why or reason we do the work we do remains. We will continue to be Mayfield, continue to be Holy Child, only more so.

Celebrating the Class of 2023

“We are at the X that marks the spot. There should be some kind of treasure. The treasure is a bunch of new maps symbolizing our new journeys as we go our separate ways, no dotted line this time. We are all figuring ourselves out, but we’ll always be Mayfield Mustangs.”

Tai Wright , Student Body President address

Graduation 2023: The Treasure is the Journey

From the start of a student’s journey at Mayfield, whether in kindergarten, fourth or sixth grade, hard work, time, energy, and much trust and love are shared to provide the best student experience. The same can be said at graduation when we are ready to shine with pride and send graduates off to high school with best wishes and a few tears. Back in the Greg Smith Gymnasium after three years of outdoor pandemic adjustments, graduation, held on May 25, was a celebration for the Class of 2023 in true Mayfield style. The ceremony featured several speeches, academic recognition, and awards, including a new performing arts award, the Jameson HIll Dance Award. Named in memory of the beloved Middle School teacher who loved to dance and choreographed many eighth-grade plays in his 22 years at Mayfield, the award recognizes a deserving eighth-grade student who excelled in dance while always exhibiting the joyful Holy Child Spirit. In his address, Head of School Joe Sciuto shared his appreciation for getting to know the unique personalities within this class and reminded them to draw from their Mayfield education in the new world of AI where “happiness doesn’t come with an algorithm that will ensure it.” He asked them to be more than “problem solvers” and instead to aspire to what others have called “problem explorers.” And noted, “The future is about taking the unknown and transforming it. Our society needs people who know how to be happy. Graduates, your whole child experience at Mayfield Junior School (the most joyful school) has surrounded you with love and support and given you the skills needed to be “problem explorers.”

Alumni speaker, Taylor Thorell ’17, was direct and shared her personal story advising the graduates to “… keep Cornelia Connelly’s words in the back of your mind: “Actions not words” and do something that scares you because those are the things you will remember most on your journey.”

After receiving the Mayfield Award, Student Body President Tai Wright stood before her classmates one last time and spoke with gratitude about how much she valued their friendship and support. Tai compared her Mayfield journey and those of her classmates to a treasure map. “We are at the X that marks the spot…The treasure is a bunch of new maps symbolizing our new journeys as we go our separate ways, no dotted line this time. We are all figuring ourselves out, but we’ll always be Mayfield Mustangs.”

The closing address, given by parents Amy and Stewart Powell P’15,’17,’23, was an emotional reflection on their 17 years as a Mayfield family. Stewart reminded the graduates that their “religious education here was just as important as academics.” And to “remember God loves you when you experience times in life when you may be down – He is there. Remember, God loves you when everything is going your way – give thanks because He is there.”

Amy Powell spoke to her fellow parents, expressing gratitude for their lasting friendships and reassuring them, “You will receive many thank yous from your children - not spoken, but in their actions: when they get out of their comfort zones in high school and try something new when they reach out and serve others when they become leaders, and when they show kindness and compassion toward others.”

All graduations are as unique as the individuals in the class graduating. Feelings of joy, gratitude, excitement, and wistful nostalgia arrive all at once and weave together deftly. The Class of 2023 spent most of their middle school years coping with and emerging from a pandemicdisrupted journey to fully embrace their eighth-grade year in their own style and flow. Weekly trips to serve at the St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles, solid leadership in School Families, the Harvest Festival, and Love Grams, and a polished production of The Addams Family musical secured their legacy. The class was accepted into thirteen excellent high schools. A journey filled with treasure awaits. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

”If there is any advice that I could give to my fellow classmates, it would be to get to know everyone in your grade. Do not exclude anyone or yourself because everyone has an interesting story to tell.””

Tai Wright, Student Body President address

”One chapter will close, and another will begin. It’s okay to have mixed feelings about it because I definitely did, and it’s okay if one of those feelings is fear…. High school and beyond is full of opportunities that may scare you but keep Cornelia’s words in the back of your mind: “Actions not words” and do something that scares you because those are the things you will remember most on your journey.”

Taylor Thorell ’17, AlumnI Association Welcome

Academic Awards and Family Recognition

Academic Excellence and

Distinguished Achievement

Humanities

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ceili Byrne, Oberon Chu, Connor McKinney

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Wesley Hoffer, Paolo McCarrey, Ava Schlaerth

Mathematics

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ceili Byrne, Oberon Chu, Xander White-Aung

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Evita Bridge, Simon Schnaitman, Matthew Smith

Science

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ceili Byrne, Liana Chan, Simon Schnaitman

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Jackson Jue, Anya Klaeb, Jemma Yuan

World Languages

Spanish

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Wesley Hoffer, Jackson Jue

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Ava Schlaerth, Jake Staat

Latin

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ceili Byrne

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Liana Chan

Religion

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Liana Chan, Ava Schlaerth

Jemma Yuan

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

Peter Brahos, Kieran Cross

Julian Sung

“The world needs not just problem solvers but, what a person I recently heard speak called, ‘problem explorers.’ These are creative, adaptive people who love taking on challenges. Emotional intelligence, social skills, and having a sense of purpose have been proven to be more important than hard skills. The future is about taking the unknown and transforming it. Our society needs people who know how to be happy. Graduates, your whole child experience at Mayfield Junior School (the most joyful school) has surrounded you with love and support and given you the skills needed to be ‘problem explorers.’”

Joe Sciuto, Head of School address

The Cornelia Connelly Awards for the Arts are presented to students who have made outstanding contributions to one or more of the fine arts: drama, art and music (both choral and instrumental). These students have demonstrated the creativity, skills, self–discipline and growth characteristic of successful artists.

DRAMA

Ceili Byrne

MUSIC

Liana Chan and Jalen Gomez

VISUAL ARTS

Mila Pacheco and Simon Schnaitman

The Jameson Hill Dance Award is a new award this year given annually to a deserving 8th grade student who excelled in dance while always exhibiting the joyful Holy Child Spirit. Mr. Hill was a beloved French and Religion teacher at Mayfield for 22 years. He was also the choreographer for many 8th grade plays, and he was always a lively spirit on campus. Mr. Hill embraced Holy Child education, and his Halloween costumes were legendary. His exuberance will never be replaced, but our memories of him will live on forever.

Evita Bridge and Jackson Jue

The Christina L.C. Patel Prize in Religion is given annually to a deserving 8th grade student who represents the ideals of Christian life.

Ava Schlaerth

The Resa Baratta Citizenship Award

is presented by the faculty and administration in honor and memory of former faculty member Resa Baratta. Resa modeled service and citizenship in her work at Mayfield and in the community. She consistently taught her students that treating others with respect and dignity was as important as any other action.

Kyan Chiang-Zanoria

The Colleen Nickerson Memorial Award

This award is given to an 8th grade student, or students, who have demonstrated perseverance, commitment to growth, and dedication to purpose.

Jake Staat

The Highest Academic Average for the 2022 - 2023 school year

Ceili Byrne

The Mayfield Award

Representing the highest goals and ideals of Holy Child education, the Mayfield Award is given annually to an eighth grade student who has shown outstanding evidence of character, cooperation, loyalty and service.

Tai Wright

“[Parents] I want you to know, that you will receive many thank yous from your children — not spoken, but in their actions: when they get out of their comfort zones in high school and try something new, when they reach out and serve others, when they become leaders, and when they show kindness and compassion toward others.”

Amy Powell P’15, ’17, ’23, Graduation address

Legacy Families

The following members of the Class of 2023 are multigenerational Mayfield graduates and now share the role of MJS alumni with their parents.

Brigid Fitzpatrick Brahos ’78 and Peter Brahos ’23

Simone Porter Johnston ’92 and Ignatius Johnston ’23

Zack Levenick ’92 and Charlie Levenick ’23

Alan Schlaerth’85 and Ava Schlaerth ’23

”I’m confident Cornelia Connelly herself would tell you: remember God Loves You. …Your religious education here was just as important as academics. Attending mass, Father Alan‘s and Father Tony’s many sermons taught and reminded you of God’s love for you. So, remember God loves you when you experience times in life when you may be down – He is there. Remember God loves you when everything is going your way – give thanks, because He is there. God loves you always.”

Stewart Powell P’15, ’17, ’23, Graduation address

Class of 2023

Natalia Isabella Betancourt

Peter Constantine Brahos

DeAngelo Cruz Bridge

Evita Cielo Bridge

Renn Peter Burke

Ceili Michael Byrne

Antoinette Elizabeth Campos

Dominic Kent Candelora

Camila Carrillo

Liana Marie Chan

Kyan Gabriel Chiang-Zanoria

Oberon Yun-Zhe Chu

Kathryn Taylor Coon

Manuel Austin Coto

Kieran Markle Cross

Mimi Diane Duplass

Aria Cooper Emamjomeh

Natalia Esperanza Galaviz Villegas

Madeline Gallanis

Jimmy Jalen Gomez

Zara Elizabeth Sophia Groves

Wesley Michel Hoffer

Ignatius Thomas Johnston

Jackson Jue

Anya Klaeb

Kennedy Paige Klosterman

Charles Perry Levenick

Addison Ellie Lopez

Paolo Jerusalem McCarrey

Connor Alfred McKinney

Emma Bella Mendez

Dexter Atom Mendoza

Ian William Nam

Mila Jane Pacheco

Carson Scott Porter

Christian Stewart Lew Powell

Hudson Lee Pruitt

Mason Barry Pryor-Gainey

Isaac Jalal Rabadi

Ariana Isabella Rojas

Ava Morgan Dee Schlaerth

Simon Edward Schnaitman

Matthew Ryan Smith

Jake Tyler Staat

Amanda Isabel Suarez

Julian Connor Sung

William Anthony Thorell

Edward Y. Tolosa

Danika Soraya Vargas

Xander Hayden White-Aung

Tai Juliette Wright

Charlotte Elizabeth Yorke

Charles Frank Winfield Young

Jemma Yuan

Attended MJS since kindergarten

Second generation Mayfield graduate

The Class of 2023 will be attending the following high schools: Flintridge Preparatory School, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Harvard-Westlake School, La Salle College Preparatory, Loyola High School, Maranatha High School, Mayfield Senior School, Polytechnic School, Sequoyah School, St. Francis High School, St. Lucy’s Priory, Thacher School, Westridge School

To Be Here for this Moment

Lisa Byrne P’22,’23 Arts Department Chair, Eighth Grade Lead Advisor

There is a moment in each 8th grader's life, usually in March, when high school letters are sent home, when they are suddenly reminded of how quickly their time at Mayfield is coming to an end. Suddenly the daily drudgery of doing homework and dressing for PE class becomes a sentimental moment…

This is the last quadratic equation I’ll ever turn in to Ms. White.

This is the last time I’ll get to take home my smelly PE clothes.

This is the last Morning Prayer announcement I’ll ever make in front of the whole school.

What was once something of a burden becomes a treasure as the sands of the hourglass fall through their fingers. They begin to look at our campus in a new light…

This is where I scraped my knee in second grade after Mrs. Garcia told me to stop running.

This is where I put my gum when I didn’t want to get caught chewing it again.

This is where I gave out “free hugs” for Valentine’s Day in kindergarten.

The tables and chairs they have inhabited for almost a decade become endowed with special significance because of all the memories they hold inside of them. The adults around them are suddenly elevated to a new level…

This is Ms. Murphy, the teacher that taught me how to read with Superkids.

This is Mrs. Guyer, who always helped me

to find the just right book I needed. This is Coach Neth, who let me snakeboard all over campus.

Even the little kids, who at one time had been obstacles to using the field or taking too long in the hot lunch line have become something more…

This is my third grader, this was my KPal, this is my 7th grader who will now take my place as the leader of this school.

These moments are more than sentimentality - they are the realization of growth, that a special thing has happened in this place, and a legacy has been left. Each of our graduates has made a journey of discovery during their time at Mayfield, and their presence will always be felt here on our campus and in our hearts. We cannot wait to see what they will become in the next chapter of their lives.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Graduation Season!

Jonas Bass ’15 just graduated from Saint Mary's College of California with a bachelor's in Environmental Studies.

Lavan Rajan ’10 graduated from Georgetown University-School of Medicine and in July will start his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Maryland.

Lauren Kezele ’15 graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's in Public Relations and a minor in Business Administration.

Annie Tighe ’15 graduated from Duke University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSE) and will be working at Stratolaunch in Mojave, CA.

Class of 2019 Colleges and Universities

We are proud to share some of the colleges and universities the MJS Class of 2019 will be attending this fall. Every class has many unique interests and talents, and this group is no exception. Whether pursuing athletics, science, or the arts, whatever their path we wish each of them joy in their journey. Congratulations and good luck!

Boston College

Boston University

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

California State University, Long Beach

Clemson University

Cornell University

East Tennessee State University

Fordham University

Loyola Marymount University

New York University

Northeastern University

Notre Dame University

Pitzer College

Pomona College

Santa Clara University

Southern Methodist University

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University

Tulane University

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Davis

University of California, Irvine

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Diego

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Michigan

University of Oregon

University of Portland

United States Air Force Academy

List of colleges and universities as reported at publication

Members of the Class of 2019

Lucia Argueta

Bode Baffert

Ellie Baribault

Evan Bowlen

James Brooks

Caleb Buchanan

Andrew Chapman

Sheryl Cheng

William Clougherty

Isabella Conn

Luke Cronthall

Emma Crowley

Savannah Davis

Henry Dietz

Lucas Dixon

Sade Falese

Caroline Fall

Katrina Fitzhugh

Paige Flores

Ryley Fong

Meghan Garrity

Santiago Goldthwait

Alexander Grigorian

Kate Grinnell

Sophia Heredia

James Hess

Avery Hobey

Candice Huang

Kaitlyn Huang

Isabella Huizar

John Hyll

Nicholas Johnson

Henry Larsen

Ryan Liddy

Isabella Lingenfelser

Margaret Marsh

Julianne McLane

Marie Milton

Francesca Morales

Nnamdi Nwaenia

Lola Olivarez

Ana Sofia Ortiz

Daniel Ortiz

Dylan Peralta

Chad Pratt

Skye Price

Jack Reed

Mae Repstad

Gabriella Rogers

Lily Salazar

William Sanchez

Griffin Schwartz

Noah Silva

Samuel Symington

Claire Thomas

Charles Thorell

Henry Tolleson

Justin Webster

Brennan Williams

Emily Wong

Sarah Yates

Isabella Zirn

Sade Falese • Track and Field Cornell University

Marie Milton • Softball Pomona College

Will Clougherty • Baseball East Tennessee State University

Lucas Dixon • Baseball Columbia University

Mission Minded

Mayfield’s Staff: Helping MJS Move Forward

They plan events, deliver packages, raise funds, pay bills, paint, fix iPads, manage the budget, design light and sound for plays and concerts, arrange benefits, run fire drills, manage the website, organize admissions tours, plan press releases, maintain data and so much more.

Alongside our faculty, Mayfield’s staff members share a belief in the school’s mission and the importance of a campus and program that puts students first. Meet the people who help move Mayfield forward.

”My role is all about relationships. Students, parents, I am there for their first visit, and I love that the relationship continues for many from kindergarten to 8th grade and beyond.

In my decades working in independent schools, I have never seen the enthusiasm for school Mayfield’s students project – it captures you and carries you. It reminds you of what is important and why you are here.“

Lauren Marlis , Director of Enrollment 12 years

1 Adrianna Schuster, Associate Director of Advancement-Alumni Relations

2 Alex Tellers, Mobile Device Manager/AV Specialist; 3 Andrea Miller, Registrar

4 Armine Kostanian, Enrollment Coordinator; 5 Blanca Wagner, Human Resources Coordinator

6 Alex Mora, Network and Systems Analyst

7 Jennifer Rios, Human Resources Manager; 8 Kristin Nicastro-Gannon P’18, Parent Engagement and Events Manager; 9 Ernie Arias, Facilities Technician; 10 Linda Bass P’12,’15, Advancement Coordinator; 11 Roman Cervantes, Facilities Technician

”After 23 years I know every inch of this campus and I appreciate its history. I love to be busy – all of us in facilities work hard to make sure the buildings and grounds are well-maintained and that events are set up and ready. The people- kids, teachers, parents- make it easy to get up every morning and come to school.“

”The Mayfield community inspires me. The children are excited to get to school, the families are involved. Faculty and staff care deeply for the mission and there is a real sense of connection that we are all working to support the incredible mission of Mayfield Junior School. It's a privilege to get to know the families, both present and past and find ways for meaningful support of the school. I really do feel that I have the best job in the world!“

Anna E. Longstaff Director of Advancement

8 years

Jose Elias, Facilities Technician 23 years

12 Linda Rabitoy, Director of Finance; 13 Robert Gonzalez, Help Desk Manager; 14 Lancie Phillips, Executive Assistant; 15 Roy Chavez, Facilities Technician; 16 Thomas Stafford, Director of Marketing and Communications

17 Phillip Velasco, Director of Facilities; 18 Timithie Norman P’26,’27, Senior Associate Director of Advancement; 19 Tina Martinez de la Torre ’78, Web and Creative Services; 20 Vana Minismasihi, Administrative Assistant; 21 Tiffany Kim, Finance Coordinator

A bold & ambitious community plan.

LEARNING elevated: The Campaign for the Whole Child is a daring and expansive campus-wide plan to enlarge and elevate Mayfield’s teaching and learning resources through six major capital projects in two phases.

PHASE 1 – FEATURED PROJECTS

A A New Center for Teaching and Learning

B A New Mayfield Mustangs Playing Field and Parking Complex

C A New Morning Prayer and Community Gathering Space

PHASE 2 – FEATURED PROJECTS

D A New Welcome Center and Campus Entrance

E The Elementary School Building / Reimagined and Renewed

F The Middle School Building / Reimagined and Renewed

“A faculty of the highest quality, working with the most innovative teaching and learning resources available, this is how we best support and serve our students and families.”

Joe Sciuto, Head of School

A New Mustangs Playing Field and New Parking Complex

$10 – $12 Million Project Investment

Improved Outdoor Recreation Space

In addition to the playing field, our plans include a new sports court and larger and shaded playground. The expansion of our outdoor recreation space will support both organized and spontaneous opportunities for students to play and exercise outdoors during and after school.

Mayfield Mustangs Playing Field

A new environmentally friendly, premium, and attractive artificial 35,000+ square foot turf field will dramatically improve the facilities for our physical education program, elevate sports training, and increase recreational student offerings.

Expanded Parking Complex

The plan allows for subterranean parking with a total of 120+ spaces, including the addition of new charging stations. An expanded South Garage will assist with parking for after school and weekend events and allow us to plan for the future development of the North Parking Lot for student use and green space.

Phase 1 Featured Projects

The Center for Teaching and Learning & Arts and Media Annex

$15 – $18 Million Project Investment

The Center for Teaching and Learning and The Arts and Media Annex will provide Mayfield Junior School with two new state-of-the-art teaching and learning resources it needs to prepare students to thrive. The Center for Teaching and Learning includes technologyrich classrooms, open-learning commons, and Middle and Lower School Libraries over two levels. The Arts and Media Annex will be housed under the outdoor basketball court and provide new spaces for choral and instrumental music, middle school design lab and our media lab.

We hope you received our LEARNING elevated brochure. For more information, please contact Anna Longstaff, Director of Advancement 626.229.2105 or alongstaff@mayfieldjs.org.

A New Morning Prayer and Community Gathering Space

$1 – $2 Million Project Investment

A New Morning Prayer and Community Gathering Space

The tradition of Morning Prayer illustrates the strength of our faith-based community. The daily gathering open to all is unique and profound. Morning Prayer encourages connection across all grade levels and provides opportunity to build upon public speaking skills. To honor and celebrate this beloved Mayfield tradition, we will build a larger and well-equipped, all-community space adjacent to The Center for Teaching and Learning.

MAYFIELD JUNIOR SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS

405 South Euclid Avenue • Pasadena, CA 91101

www.mayfieldjs.org

Parents of Alumni

Please forward this publication. If your child no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of their new mailing address at 626.796.2774 ext. 2138 or email alumni@mayfieldjs.org.

Goals for Schools of the Holy Child

As a member of the Holy Child Network of Schools, Mayfield Junior School is committed to living the seven goals that define our distinctive Holy Child spirit and perpetuate our tradition.

Goal 1

Holy Child Schools foster a faith commitment that engenders a joyous personal relationship with God in addressing the challenges of the world.

Goal 2

Holy Child Schools live, learn, and worship as a dynamic Christian community.

Goal 3

Holy Child Schools offer an intellectually challenging and creative program of study that develops a love of learning and academic excellence.

Goal 4

Holy Child Schools work for Christian principles of justice, peace, and compassion in every facet of life.

Goal 5

Holy Child Schools create a learning climate based on trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.

Goal 6

Holy Child Schools promote the personal growth and development of all who participate in the life of the school.

Goal 7

Holy Child Schools ensure the continuation and growth of Holy Child mission and philosophy in the school.