Fundraising Program

To BE SENSITIVELY AWARE An n u al F u n dr ai s i n g T ea Fe b ru a ry 1 9 , 2 0 2 0

Your Morning Master Of Ceremony Julian Papa Video Presentation To Be Sensitively Aware Musical Performance Ananya Badami, Clark Del Signore, Marcus Romey Alumnus Testimonial Jay Jayanetti, Class of 1998 Parent Testimonial Alexis Davis Faculty Testimonial Carole Sylvester-Gray High School Speaker Head Of School Address Jodi Grass

Breakfast Menu H a s h B r o w n E g g Ne s t s Avo c a d o o n C h e e s e C r i s p F r u i t S ke we r s

S u n O ve n S c o n e s *

*vegan

All items are gluten-free.

Local and organic when possible

Gratitude

Organizing Committee Rachael Barkley, Russ Bowen, Carrie DeVaney, Jodi Grass, Warren Petersen, Dennis Rice, Meredy Benson Rice, Sandra Torres, Jacqueline Valle Decorations Committee Jessi Fleagane, Kira Friedman, Carrie Ruscheinsky

Hosts Sixth Grade Students Harper Barkley, Grayson Baumann, River Davis, Karthik Doddakashi, Isla Gardner, Chloe Guyer, Grace Hibler, Theodore Kuhlmann, Quinn Marvin, Forrest Moses, Bella Oscategui, Genevieve Rosas, Phoenix Schneider, Savannah Worsley, Rylan Wynn, Aanya Yadav High School Servers Natasha Arce, Ananya Badami, Clark Del Signore, Luna Hohner-Shields, Marcus Romey, Vivian Shen, Annelies Tollenaar, Jane Zahringer Chef Anna Woollis Special Thanks To: Wynne Bailey, Juana Flores, Darrell Forthe, Marga Kasper, Nick Lennon, Jose Luis Lopez, Nina Mecagni, Eric Sullivan

Alumni Reflections “Oak Grove School had an incredible impact on me. It provided an open-hearted container for me to find myself at a time when I really needed that. It totally turned my life around by allowing me to be truly myself - what a profound gift for a teenager in our modern society.”

-Alisha Musicant, ‘98 “I love reminiscing about these past chapters in my life, and when I’m in Ojai, I’m drawn to the campus for a quiet stroll through the wood chip paths. I usually take a moment to sit on a boulder under an oak tree, and without trying I hear the voices of those that shared with me a piece of themselves.”

-Jay Jayanetti, ‘98 “I think Oak Grove fostered open-mindedness and adaptability in life. I hadn’t majored in sciences when I decided to pursue a medical career so I had to go back and start at the beginning - I really had to switch gears. My education at OGS fostered inquiry at a deep level and allowed me to have the flexibility to make that transition doable. I’ve always appreciated not being fixed into something at a young age.”

-Nandini Lee Rao, 1975 to 1987 “My time at Oak Grove gave me the opportunity to explore my spirituality as a young person; it increased my active engagement in and passion for the learning process, and provided me with lifelong friends.”

-Niralli D’Costa, 1994 to 1996

Jay Jayanetti joined Oak Grove School in 3rd grade back in 1988 and graduated in 1998. He went on to obtain his B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior (NPB) with a minor in Studio Art from the University of California, Davis. Jay subsequently obtained his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Specialty Certificate in Prosthodontics from UC San Francisco. Heading east, he then obtained a Specialty Certificate in Maxillofacial Prosthetics from University of Alabama, Birmingham. (Maxillofacial prosthodontists treat patients who have acquired defects in the head and neck region, usually due to cancer, surgery, trauma, and/or birth defects.)

Jay spent five years working as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Prosthodontics, first at UCSF School of Dentistry and the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, before joining Louisiana State University in the same capacity. At LSU School of Dentistry, Jay was awarded the “Golden Apple” Excellence in Teaching Award in 2014.

Last year, Jay was thrilled to return to California. He is currently the UCLA Associate Program Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Advanced Prosthodontics.

Asked how his Oak Grove education remains important to him, Jay responded: “I am a naturalist in my thinking. Therefore I know that I am a product of my genetic material and my upbringing, the latter of which was to a great degree influenced by the faculty and staff and friends that are the fabric of the Oak Grove School community. To that end I know that I am fond of my time in Ojai and at OGS. I love reminiscing about these past chapters in my life, and when I’m in Ojai, I’m drawn to the campus for a quiet stroll through the wood chip paths.

I usually take a moment to sit on a boulder under an oak tree, and without trying I hear the voices of those that shared with me a piece of themselves: Karen, Vicky, Darcy, Theresa, Don, Jake, Issa, Karen, Jeff, Jeff O., Liz, Posy, Gabe, Larry, Laura, Irmgard, Christy, Meredy...”

Nandini Lee Rao

Nandini attended Oak Grove from 1975 to 1987, moving on to Thacher School to complete high school in 1991. From there she went to Scripps College, Claremont, completing her BA in Women’s Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After working for some time on the East Coast, Nandini decided to pursue a pre-med program, beginning at Columbia University and completing it at UCSB. Next came two years at St. Georges’ University Medical School in Granada and two years doing clinical work in New York. She completed her residency with four years at the University of Connecticut, specializing in psychiatry. She began practicing psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente in 2010 and recently moved back to Ojai to take up a position with Kaiser Permanente in Thousand Oaks. In 2013 Nandini married Sudeep Rao, and in 2014 the couple welcomed their daughter Sequoia into the world.

Asked to comment on her years at Oak Grove, Nandini said, “Oh wow. Oak Grove was such an important influence. It was my school and my home in my formative years(Nandini’s father is Mark Lee, first Director of Oak Grove School). I think Oak Grove fostered open-mindedness and adaptability in life. I hadn’t majored in sciences when I decided to pursue a medical career so I had to go back and start at the beginning -- I really had to switch gears. My education at Oak Grove fostered inquiry at a deep level and allowed me to have the flexibility to make that transition doable. I’ve always appreciated not being fixed into something at a young age.”

Alisha attended Oak Grove School from 1996 to 1998, going on to pursue a 2-year International Baccalaureate degree at United World College in New Mexico. After taking a year off to travel in Israel and Europe, she completed her BA in Cultural Interdisciplinary Studies at Antioch College in Ohio. This degree afforded her the opportunity to explore her interest in Buddhist meditation, and she eventually wrote her senior thesis on, “Socially Engaged Buddhism.� Settling in the Bay Area, Alisha worked in the care-giving community while also traveling in Burma and Thailand and deepening her meditation practice. An interest in body-work and healing led Alisha to get licensed as a massage therapist, and eventually she pursued a nursing degree, graduating as a registered nurse from College of Marin in 2014. Alisha later moved to Portland, Oregon, and worked at Emanuel Hospital with mothers and babies as a postpartum nurse. She continued to pursue other types of training, including Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine), Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, and pre- and perinatal integration work with Ray Castellino. Alisha moved to Ojai at the end of 2018 and is currently working for Ventura County Public Health. She is a full-time public health nurse in the community, providing home visits with families, mothers, and babies. Alisha has continued to train with Ray Castellino and works one-on-one with clients, doing individual healing in private practice. She is deeply interested in supporting people in their growth, nervous system regulation, and body awareness.

“My time at Oak Grove gave me the opportunity to explore my spirituality as a young person; it increased my active engagement in and passion for the learning process, and provided me with lifelong friends.�

Niralli attended Oak Grove High School from 1994 to 1996. Her brief time at Oak Grove was pivotal in shaping her direction in life. After graduating from high school in Santa Monica, she decided to pursue her interest in the healing arts and became a certified massage therapist.She went on to attend UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures program, graduating with a BA in Cultural Studies. After years of practicing bodywork and energy healing, Niralli decided to pursue her interest in Somatic Psychology and obtained her MA in Somatic Psychology at John F. Kennedy University. She is a Holistic Psychotherapist with her own private practice and serves as an affiliate faculty in the Spiritual and Depth Psychology program at Antioch University.

Additionally, Niralli teaches in the Syntara System School of Energy Awareness and the MindBody Therapy Certificate program via online education platform Embody Philosophy.

Her time at Oak Grove helped her build a strong spiritual practice as a foundation for her work as a therapist and teacher.

Extraordinary Life Circle of Friends The Extraordinary Life Circle of Friends is a group of multi-year donors who donate $1,000 or more for five consecutive years.

Brian D. Abbott Stafford Acher The AG Educational Trust Alix and Goffredo Marcaccini Richa and Ankash Badami Chris Bailey Rachael and Griffin Barkley Donna Hemmert Baumann and Kurt Baumann Meredy Benson Rice and Dennis Rice Evelyne K. Blau John and Victoria Bortolussi Dana and Ron Boutain Daniel and Victoria Breen Brian Calvin and Siobhan McDevitt Stephen and Clarissa Cornwell Robert M. Dautch and Elizabeth Pretzinger Alexis and Thomas Davis Paul Del Signore and Michele Murdoch Raj and Veena Doddakashi Lila and Dines Francese Frank Castro and Jenny Castro Mark and Lynn Frost Gerard Linsmeier and Zhena Muzyka David and Trupti Glaubman Jodi Grass and Kevin Doss Gordon and Terry Hanusek Trudy Happ-Frohlich Greg and Penny Herring Karen Hesli and Jeff Welch Lawren Howell and Kristopher Moller Erik Huberman Nikolette Huberman Daniel L. and Debra Kilpatrick James Y.P. King Jim Larsen Ken and Carol Leandro Mark and Asha Lee Dottie Loebl Cathleen Lynch and Kevin Reed David Lynch John M. Marchi Sanders Marvin Jane Mathews Edmund G. McCurtain Barbara McDougle Heather McDougle Stuart Meiklejohn

Michael Montano and Tanya Smith-Montano Ronald D. Morrison Eliza and William Moses Simone Noble Anthony and Angela Ocone OHI Home, LLC Theresa Ortega-Simpson and Melvin Simpson Anna and Scott Oster Patagonia Bill Prather Deepa and Vasudev Pulipati Tiffany Rochelle and Paul Hibler Bianca and Channon Roe Erin Russ and Johnny Kreitman Ajay Sahgal Saskia de Vries and David Trauberman Jeanne Schmitt Claudia Soto and Warren Petersen Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson Tiffany Stone and Myles Nestel Subramanyam Kattamuri and Sriya Gorugantu Molly Supple and Duke Stump Janice Thomas and Brian Stafford Jennifer Thompson and Andrew Story Jacqueline Valle and Greg Romey Yolanda Vega and Martin Tirado Nathan and Rebecca Wallace Patricia Waltcher Lilly and Charlie Walton Mark Warshaw and Tracy Bellomo-Warshaw Leone Webster Trina Wyatt and Sasha Vishdehi Uday and Anuradha Yadav David and Samantha Zahringer Willem Zwart

Recurring Monthly Donors These donors commit to giving throughout the year.

Sarah and John Alderson Alison and Kent Andersson Robert R. Antaki Richa and Ankash Badami Rachael and Griffin Barkley Donna Hemmert Baumann and Kurt Baumann Meredy Benson Rice and Dennis Rice Serra Benson Joel and Jeanette Berkovitz Katherine Black and Carlos Ramirez Dana and Ron Boutain Russ Bowen Peter and Cindy Cantle Uldine and Fabien Castel Mrs. Indira Chandnani Ameya Cohen and Zat Elias Laurie and Oliver Cornell Angela and Rich Daugherty David Cipriani and Emily Fleck Alexis and Thomas Davis J. Howard DeHoff Carrie Devaney and Francisco Mazza Raj and Veena Doddakashi Rodolfo Don Louise Everett and Steve Collins Brian Floyd Frank Castro and Jenny Castro Bailey Gaddis and Eric Cowen Kalli Gedwed Gerard Linsmeier and Zhena Muzyka David and Trupti Glaubman Jodi Grass and Kevin Doss Tegan Hannah and Aaron Gardner Bobby J. Henson Will and Kaitlyn Hornblower Lawren Howell and Kristopher Moller Erik Huberman Nikolette Huberman John W. Jaeger James and Carissa Tudor Francisco Jimenez Jennifer and Joel Keeler Kwok Y. Kwan Emma and Ryan Larkan Cathleen Lynch and Kevin Reed Beth and Greg Lyons Boguslaw Malecki

Sanders Marvin Silas Weir Mitchell Ronald D. Morrison Mohammad A. Namvar Phuong Nguyen Simone Noble John Nocas Nancy Opitz Simms and Terry Simms Deepa and Vasudev Pulipati Britt Purdy and Kenny Purdy Sridharan Ramaswamy and Jayasree Chambala Liesel and Craig Rigsby Bianca and Channon Roe Ajay Sahgal Marie Samson Jeanne Schmitt Mariana Schulze and Justin Huhn Jyoti Shrian Dmitri Siegel and Woodwyn Koons Claudia Soto and Warren Petersen Yves St-Aubin Benjamin Stathis Tiffany Stone and Myles Nestel Moira and Henry Tarmy Janice Thomas and Brian Stafford Jennifer Thompson and Andrew Story Sandra Torres and Christopher Bates Rosita Tower Benny Trinh Jacqueline Valle and Greg Romey Yolanda Vega and Martin Tirado Shashank Vinchurkar Foster N. Walker Patricia Waltcher Mark Warshaw and Tracy Bellomo-Warshaw Leone Webster Travis Weedon Sarah and Jeff White Alison Williams Kelli Williams Anna Woollis Trina Wyatt and Sasha Vishdehi Yun H. Yi

O A K G R OV E S C H O O L B OA R D

K R I S H N A M U RT I F O U N D AT I O N T R U S T

Rachael Barkley

Theresa Bulla-Richards

Theresa Bulla-Richards

Karen Hesli

BD Dautch

Mark Lee

Tom Davis

Francis Steen

Jodi Grass

Rabindra Singh

Karen Hesli

Pathik Wadhwa

Mark Lee

Leone Webster

Cathleen Lynch Bill Prather Dennis Rice Michelle Sherman Tanya Smith Montano Duke Stump Leone Webster

Credits: Inside front cover and page 1 Excerpt from Krishnamurti’s Notebook Author: J. Krishnamurti Pages: 265-266 Page 7 Photo: J. Jayanetti Page 9 Photo: N. Lee Rao Page 12 Photo: A. Musicant Page 13 Photo: N. D’Costa

220 West Lomita Avenue • Ojai 805.646.8236 • oakgroveschool.org