Priorities #39: Winter 2007

PRI RITIES A Magazine of Woodside Priory School

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Issue #39

October 2007

C e l e b r a t i n g 5 0 Ye a r s o f B e n e d i c t i n e E d u c a t i o n

Woodside Priory School Celebrating 49 Years of Benedictine Education In This Issue Jack and Joan McGraw donate half of their $2.1 million home to the Priory through planned giving. Read more on page 6.

Fall at a Glance, Pages 4-5

The family BBQ was a smash! Everyone loved the new PAC, Father Martin’s 1929 truck, Mr. Winslow’s (Priory’s Facility Manager)Ford Customline and Bruce Yoxsimer’s (Priory parent) motorcycles that he races at speeds over 160 mph. See pages 4 and 5!

The Priory turns 50 and looks better than ever. Stroll down Priory Lane and learn some interesting facts about the Priory’s history on pages 7-12.

Lions and Tigers (sorry no bears) oh my! Join Brother Edward as he recounts his trip to Africa where he visited several Benedictine schools.

See pages 13-16.

The Priory turns 50, Pages 7-12

Which former classmate spent two years living in Taipei and Paris supporting himself through teaching English and French pastry? Find out in Class Notes on pages 18-19 (also see alum memories on page 19).

Volunteers play a vital role in the growth of the Priory. Meet our dedicated new Trustees on pages 21-22.

Br. Edward goes to Africa, Pages 13-16

Board of Directors Abbott Matthew Leavy, OSB Father Mark Cooper, OSB Brother Edward Englund, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father William Sullivan, OSB Board of Trustees Gene Becker Kristin Brew Janet Brownstone Peter Campagna Lisa Carlos Wayne Davison Babak Dehnad Chris Galli Hilary Giles Betsy Haehl Eric Hollas, OSB David Jim Peter Kasenchak Ginny Kavanaugh Indu Khanna Steven Krausz Rick Magnuson Jami Nachtsheim Maurus Nemeth, OSB Nancy Newman Dale Pfau Hank Plain Patti Plummer Bill Roberts Ray Rothrock Kari Rust Ken Tehaney Paul Titterton Dan Turner Mark Wilson Andrea Zulberti Priorities magazine is published in October, April, January and July by Woodside Priory School for its alumni, parents, students, neighbors and friends. Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6193 or the school at 650-851-8221.

Alumni News & Notes, Pages 18-19

Editor: Sean Mclain Brown Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, Copperline Multimedia Photos: Sean Mclain Brown, Br. Edward, Jim Kirkland

On the cover: Celebrate 50 years with the Priory!

Chapel Services Masses at 7:15 a.m. Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday Hungarian service 8 p.m. third Friday (Taize) ecumenical service All are welcome.

From the Head of School Dear Priory Community,

T

he anticipation and excitement of celebrating our 50th Anniversary is finally a reality. There are several special anniversary events planned throughout the year, and if you missed our mailing, please check the special Golden Jubilee website calendar, www.woodsidepriory.com and look on the lower left of the home page.

An event that you won’t want to miss on October 14 is a special “Jubilee & Jazz” performance by Priory alumnus Taylor Eigsti. Taylor has been an extremely successful jazz performer, earning two Grammy nominations this year. We are very excited and honored for Taylor to come back to his Priory roots and perform in the new Performing Arts auditorium!

The Trinity Project—our new performing arts center, student center and expanded library and media center—brings new life and opportunity to our campus. The new facilities with added space and immeasurably improved learning opportunities, completely fulfill the campaign slogan “every student benefits.”

The Benedictine value of Community was felt by all when the John Erkman Memorial Garden was completely funded and finished on June 23. I want to especially thank landscape architect and alumni parent Bob Waterman, who donated not only his services but also helped to direct and supervise over 20 friends and family who showed up to help. The garden, located behind the chapel, will be a lasting tribute to a man who showed endless devotion to everyone he met.

Founders Hall has been bustling with energy since the arrival of Kathy Hume, Dean of the Middle School and Scott Parker, Dean of Students. The deans possess the knowledge we seek in an effective Priory administrator. Kathy has valuable expertise with both private and public school system environments. Scott understands the Priory culture and community that we all know is so unique.

You will see a new face this year as the school Registrar. Barbara Falk ended her Priory legacy after 30 years and Melina Corlay will begin hers. Melina brings with her years of Registrar experience.

It is also with great heartache that I report that Carolyn Dobervich retired as Director of Communications at the end of August. Carolyn has been the sight and sound of the school for many years. With her expertise and poetic ways, she has helped create the harmonious Priory that we all know and love. May her upcoming retirement be filled with a lifetime of happiness and relaxation.

Sean Mclain Brown, who takes her place, brings many ideas and talents to this position and we all are enjoying getting to know him.

I am excited about this Fiftieth Anniversary, our Golden Jubilee year. I am once again thankful to Father Egon and the Founding Fathers. If it was not for their dream and vision, we would not be here today. I look forward to celebrating our last 50 years and am optimistic about our next half century.

May this year be filled for you with “golden” memories of the past and present.

An event that you won’t want to miss on October 14 is a special “Jubilee & Jazz” performance by Priory alumnus Taylor Eigsti.

Sincerely,

Tim Molak Head of School

3

Fall at a Family Picnic Top Left: (L-R) Parent Association members Paul and Kerry Perez, Ms. Carrie Caballero, and Parent Association President Gene Becker dish up sweet treats.

Top Right: Dean of Faculty Brian Schlaak tosses a paper plane for the National Honor Society fundraiser for charity.

Middle Left: Kelly Sargent and her daughters (L) Kiki and (R) Sammy enjoy the food.

Middle Right: Hungarian themed music set the perfect ambiance.

Bottom Left: Bruce Yoxsimer’s (Priory parent) motorcycles that he races at speeds over 160 mph.

Bottom: Student pugilists engage each other in a challenging game of balance.

4

Glance Top Left: (L-R) Admissions Director Al Zappelli, Priory Alum Class of 1996 and President of family business Artistic Granite and Marble, Grant Rosenquist, and Headmaster Tim Molak hold the PAC marble cornerstone carved by Grant.

Middle Left: New Instrumental Music teacher, Eileen Dimmenger, conducts students during H-Block.

Middle Right: Sixth grade students perform a rite of passage, a homage to Walt Whitman, with their “Song of “Myself” chalk poems in Benedictine Square.

Bottom: The new Performaing Arts Center (classic cars and motorcycles not included).

5

Priory Receives Major Gift of McGraw Home “The Priory gave our sons an education,” said Joan McGraw, “that was as good as a college education… we wanted to give back to continue the tradition of a strong Catholic education.”

Jack and Joan McGraw recently donated half of their $2.1 million home in Palm Springs to establish the first endowed faculty chair in the Science department in honor of Father Maurus. The McGraws also designated the remaining funds to go to the Father Egon Scholarship Fund which raises the fund to more than $1 million.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

— Sir Winston Churchill

“We wanted the Priory to continue in the fine tradition of Father Maurus—our sons benefited greatly from his teaching,” said McGraw. The McGraw’s sons, John and Michael, graduated from the Priory in 1980 and 1983 respectively. The McGraw’s attribute John and Michael’s success in life to the Priory’s high education standards.

“The McGraw’s planned gift is significant, we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Director of Development John Baldwin. Baldwin says planned giving is important because it builds a foundation for the school’s sustainable future. “Often people

The Saint Benedict Society

who want to make a significant gift to the Priory are unable to do so in the present, but are able to do so through an estate gift.”

“The McGraw’s generosity will make an enormous difference in the lives of our students,” said Head of School, Tim Molak “these gifts are so vital to our financial stability…they really make a long-term difference. “ The monastic community provides a substantial living endowment—more than $160,000. In the future, when the Priory loses its monastic community and its living endowment, planned giving will help offset that loss and ensure that the Priory continues offering students the highest standard of excellence in education.

“Planned giving is important,” said McGraw, “we want other families to benefit from the Priory, particularly in the field of science.” McGraw believes that planned giving is an investment in the future—an investment in students, in the highest qualified faculty and staff, the community and the world. Planned giving allows anyone, with a little preparation, to create a positive legacy in the lives of students.

Planned gifts take the form of a donation to be realized in the future, in one’s estate plan. Because more and more of our friends are considering the Priory when making their estate plans, the school has established the Saint Benedict Society to recognize these donors.

If you have included the Priory in your estate plan (in the form of a trust, a bequest, etc.), and would like to be recognized as a member of the Saint Benedict Society, please contact Siobhán Lawlor in the development office at 650-851-6116, or e-mail her at slawlor@woodsidepriory.com.

6

At Fifty Years Old, Woodside Priory School Is

“Living Fully In Its Time” ”Be gentle with this life, and use the light of life to live fully in your time”.

—from “Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living”

To understand the Priory, one must look

quickly at the ancient world, look a little longer at the old and new worlds of Europe and America, take in a healthy dose of the modern world of Silicon Valley, and consider the global community.

This school has its deepest roots in the experience and wisdom of an ancient Italian monk—the one who fifteen hundred years ago founded a series of monasteries and then wrote a short, powerful and realistic book about living a daily search for God while living in community. That book is St. Benedict’s Rule.

A Motivational Moustache “Back in the mid ‘80s I had a fun-loving group of boys in Earth Science who loved to laugh and ask questions to get me off track, but they really weren’t studying much.

I made a wager that if at least half of them improved their test scores I’d shave off my beloved moustache. If the whole class raised their scores, I would shave off only one side and wear what was left for a month. That got their attention, and I started to get nervous.

When I returned the next tests, I smugly teased them that they missed the whole-moustache mark by just one test—Ha Ha! Then, a hand went up—José Zertuche (Trevino)’s. ‘Mr. Trudelle, I think you made a BIG mistake grading my paper,” he said. Of course he was correct, the class cheered, and I came with a naked upper lip the next day. And I’ve never grown it back.

The idea of the school was nurtured –unwittingly!—by a handful of vigorous young Central European monks who had no idea they would be pushed out of the security of their academic and religious nest. But they were. Displaced by war and Communist repression, seven found themselves in the United States, learning English and seeking a future that would make use of their considerable academic talents and religious commitments.

Father Egon Javor tells the first chapter of the Priory’s story in his memoirs, which were just published by Woodside Priory School. It is a lively tale with adventure, escapades, eleventh-hour miracles and last-minute escapes from trouble.

Most of the information in these pages comes from a soon-to-be-published history of the Priory, a lovely coffee table-quality book that will be available in the spring. It is presented here not in a narrative, as in the book, but in a mélange that hopefully highlights two facets of its existence. The school always is fresh and different because each group of teachers and youths experiences it differently. But it also is the same. Pranksters, dreamers, scholars, athletes—all experience the bedrock values that come from the community based on the Rule and come away changed. Everyone who has been to the Priory knows its quintessential feature, but it isn’t easily described. That may be because it isn’t something one learns, it is something one observes and does.

Paul Trudelle Priory’s first Teacher of the Year in 1993.

Paul and his wife Sylvia raised six children in the on-campus home they still occupy.

1955-56 • Father Egon arrives • The Gillson Ranch, eighteen acres, purchased for site of Woodside Priory School and King Saint Stephen’s Monastery.

Illustrations by Mitch Neuger

Buildings by the Decade: Coming from the beautiful cathedrals and monasteries of Europe, the monks laughingly referred to their new facility not as “neo-Baroque” but as “neo-barracks.” The first buildings actually included a former barracks and a temporary office from the construction site of Palo Alto Veterans Hospital.

Fortunately, they suited the indoor-outdoor lifestyle and Benedictine philosophy of simplicity.

In the early years, Catholics of social prominence wanted to see the highly regarded Benedictine education of Europe offered to Bay Area sons (even if they didn’t personally have children to send)—and they offered their help to the monks.

They hosted events at their estates, helped with financing, and brought the monks into their social and business networks. Not infrequently, “at the 25th hour” a well-timed check would tide the Priory over a pending disaster, the monks recalled.

In 1962, architect Bolton White completed the dining hall, which the fathers said was “the pride and joy of the campus,” and the model for future buildings. The lines are echoed in the new Performing Arts Center buildings.

1956-57 • Father Egon celebrates the first Mass at Woodside Priory, in the small ranch house, on the feast day of St. Martin, patron saint of Pannonhalma.

• Fathers Leopold, Christopher, Emod, Stanley, Benignus and Achilles arrive.

• Socialite Suzanne Eyre recruits eminent landscape architectThomas Church and with her volunteers begin landscaping the Priory grounds.

• First classrooms built. Still in use today.

1957-58 • Father Emod Brunner, is appointed acting headmaster for the school year.

• Woodside Priory School opens with fourteen students.

1958-59 • Father Egon Javor is headmaster from 1958 to 1960.

• First dormitory completed.

1959-60 • A small temporary office from the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital construction site arrives to house the Jackling rare books.

This building moved about and changed roles many times and now is part of the Fine Arts Building.

• New chapel and more classrooms are added.

• Father Pius arrives

By 1967, the following buildings were in place, according to Father Egon’s recollections: • The first dormitory, a barracks building, was moved in on an emergency basis until the planned dorm building could be completed in December.

The barracks then became a classroom wing. It still is, and the dorm is Benedict House. The price for both was $85,500.

• Temporary chapel, $17,000.

• Science lab, $60,000.

• Underground utilities, roadway, water line, $20,500.

• Dining Hall, $225,000.

• Second Dormitory, $60,000.

• Relocation of temporary library (the construction office—today the first portion of the Fine Arts building), $5,000.

• State of the art language lab, $45,000.

• Construction costs (including some not enumerated above): $725,300. Some 36,000 square feet were added, making the price $20.15 per square foot.

In the next two decades, all of the major buildings were added or added to—including the athletic facilities and the Stephen Kalman athletic field, named for the first young man to lose his life while at the Priory. (The second, Eugene Koenig, died in 2002. Both succumbed to illness.)

Fire struck the old farmhouse on August 28, 1986. Within 12 months, parents and friends had raised more than 90% of the $900,000 needed to construct Founders Hall. While some major renovations to educational technology were completed, and state-of-the-art computer and network technology were added, this was the last major construction until the expansion of the Fine Arts Building in the late 1990s.

In the fifth decade, with the Golden Jubilee Campaign, the Priory community has re-positioned the campus educational facilities for the demands of contemporary and future students. Classes were modernized, the student body expanded to a size commensurate with the broader curriculum, and the following capital fund projects completed.

Soccer, Stars and Beer “…Last Labor Day Weekend I had the opportunity to visit the campus with my 9-year-old son. He struggled with the concept that someone could actually live where he attended school, even on Saturdays! Soccer, soccer and more soccer is what I told him we did.

I told him that we also walked mostly in quiet every night to prayers in the small cinder block chapel and took in the clear nights of Portola Valley.

We now try to incorporate that, or some variation of that, here at home…However, I didn’t tell him that sometimes on Saturday afternoons we would sneak into the Alpine Inn beer gardens.”

Charlie Heffernan Class of 1970

1960-61 • The first class graduates with 9 students.

1961-62 • First science lab is built.

• First dance is held on campus.

• Varsity soccer team wins the Peninsula Soccer League championship.

The Priory fathers had brought soccer to the Bay Area.

• First “Christmas Fantasies” fundraiser featured handmade ornaments and objects for sale.

• The current refectory (dining hall) is built—the Priory’s first truly “architecturally designed” building.

1963-64 • Father Maurus arrives.

1964-65 • The second dormitory is built.

• The first of several Emerald Balls was held, signaling a change of major social fundraising events.

• Priory seeks and attains the maximum level of accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

1966-67 • Woodside Priory Foundation (WPF) formed.

1967-68 • Woodside Priory School’s Tenth Anniversary.

• Army barracks housing two temporary classrooms for ten years replaced with three new classrooms.

1968-69 Current Abbot and Chancellor Abbot Matthew Leavy of Saint Anselm enters the Priory as a novice to the priesthood in 1968.

1969-70 Woodside Priory School sponsors the Woodside Priory First Invitational Soccer Tournament.

1970-71 • Two new facilities added, the Carlton Lee Briggs Science Center and the 12,000 volume Pannonhalma Library • Students build the Stephen T. Kalman baseball field.

Heart Throbs Michelle Magboo Hunter, Sacred Heart class of 1986 remembers the student exchanges with Woodside Priory. Sacred Heart offered a girls boarding program then, and the two boarding communities met for buffets and dances. The schools also set up all-day student exchanges, where girls attended classes and activities at the Priory and boys did the same at the all-girls school.

“I especially remember Father Christopher (Senk)—he was just so welcoming and all the girls had a crush on him!” Michelle recalled.

1971-72 • Father Charles Schilly is headmaster from 1971 to 1974.

• The Gambetta Gymnasium and Athletic Center dedicated.

1973-74 • Seventh and eighth grades added to Woodside Priory School.

• Dr. Otto Van Hapsburg, head of the Austrian House of Hapsburg, speaks at the Priory.

• Maas Family Commons (new faculty housing) plus additions of a three-bedroom apartment on each of the dormitory buildings, and renovation of existing campus housing • Renovation of the Chapel, including addition of a sacristy chapel, an entry vestibule and additional pews (some again made by Father Martin).

• Construction of Performing Arts Auditorium and Classrooms—architecturally appealing space with state-of-the-art teaching and performance qualities, and an environmentally light footprint.

• Relocation and expansion of library & technology center • Creation of the Priory’s first Student Center in the former library space.

• The Performing Arts Center adds 17,771 square feet at a cost of $9.9 million—about $557 per square foot.

These facilities total about $19 million, of which some $4 million is still needed. The community of supporters who have made this possible hopes to avoid interest payments on a loan. A “25th-hour check” like the ones that were so crucial to the first

1974-75 • Father Christopher Hites is headmaster from 1974 to 1978.

1975-76 • Priory merges with Saint Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire.

• Saint Anselm sends four monks, including Father Martin Mager.

1976-77 • The varsity soccer team is undefeated in 20 matches, and it wins the Bay Counties League (BAC) Championship.

1977-78 • Priory celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary.

• New Olympic-size swimming pool dedicated.

1978-79 • Father Jude Gray becomes headmaster.

• Sixteen members of the Benedictine community are living in the monastery.

Ten are members of the faculty, along with 17 lay teachers.

• Church Square, the courtyard outside of the science complex, is dedicated. Around the corner, a fountain is dedicated to Mrs. Eyre and her Landscaping Committee.

decade, is just as crucial now.

Campus Life: A Typical Schedule and Day In the first few years, most students lived on campus. They were up at 6:30 a.m. Classes went from eight to noon, followed by lunch, an activity period, and athletics. Activity choices included drama, school newspaper and yearbook, glee club, and speech and debate. Classes were held on Saturday mornings. In trade, Wednesday afternoons were free and Thursdays were test-free days. One weekend a month was free of classes, unless a student needed to catch up.

Everyone, apparently, was in the church choir.

A notice in a 1962 daily bulletin says simply that “all monks and students will report to the chapel for choir practice.” Among music programs for the local community in the early years was a two-week course in medieval music, including Gregorian chants.

Every day was dress-up day. Students wore collared shirts, ties in their class colors, and blazers.

They stood when an adult entered the room.

1979-80 • Father Simon O’Donnell becomes headmaster.

• Woodside Priory School has grown to 200 students.

• Varsity Baseball Team wins the Bay Areas Conference.

1980-81 • Father John Fortin becomes headmaster.

1981-82 • Father Simon O’Donnell becomes headmaster.

• The expanded Chapel is built. Father Martin builds the pews.

• The Priory receives its first seven computers; a donation from the Atari Corporation.

• First Auction held.

1982-83 • Father Christopher Senk becomes headmaster.

• Varsity Swim Team are the Bay Area Conference (BAC) champions.

1983-84 • The library is moved under the dining hall.

The former library space is refurbished for use as an assembly hall and theater.

• First faculty housing units built behind the gym.

• Father Martin builds his first grandfather clock for the Auction.

Among student body officers was the “Chore Director,” who organized daily maintenance in the dining hall and classroom areas and submitted his schedule to the student council.

Mass was required of everyone two days a week. On Wednesday, the community attended mass together and heard a sermon. Each class (called Forms, in the European style) then had one additional day. For example, if this is Tuesday, it must be the sophomores’ day for mass. The monks continued the European tradition of welcoming non-Christian students and encouraging their spiritual development within the student’s faith tradition.

Yearbook photos portrayed students with cigarettes in their hands or mouths. Freshman “hazing” involved sliding headlong down a muddy hill and crawling through a field of nettles.

Total class time then and now has not changed substantially, but today’s students have a vastly wider array of elective choices. The activity period offers about 30—some for credit, some to provide

1985-86 • Father Philip Valley becomes headmaster.

• Administration Building, the ranch house, burns down.

1986-87 • Father Jude Gray returns as headmaster.

• First campus-wide technology installation made possible through a grant by the Weigand Foundation.

1987-88 • Woodside Priory School celebrates its Thirtieth Anniversary.

• Ground broken for Founders Hall.

1988-89 • Dr. Richard Gray becomes the first lay headmaster.

• Brother Edward Englund’s arrives.

• Tim Molak arrives as dean of students.

experience without concern for GPA. Dress code is modest casual—colors and stripes are acceptable; untidy clothing or offensive graphics are out.

The Mission and Hallmarks of a Benedictine School First Credo of the Student Body “We believe in God…We believe in the personal dignity of every human being. We believe in all the essential liberties of American Democracy and in the intense study of the tenants and tactics of those who would seek to destroy those essential liberties.”

Current Graduation Outcomes Statement (developed and adopted by the faculty in 2004-2005) Graduates of Woodside Priory will strive to embody the Benedictine values as scholars. Through applying their gifts to academic challenges, students will acquire knowledge and skills that will serve them in their life- long educational endeavors.

They will: • Demonstrate analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

• Communicate effectively.

• Appreciate the interconnectedness of the languages, literature, customs and history of other cultures and disciplines.

1991-92 • Priory becomes coeducational.

• Seniors win first Priory Spirit Week.

1992-93 • Brother Joachim Froelich becomes last headmaster from Saint Anselm.

1993-94 • The first “Blessing of the Pets” is held.

• Sixth grade begins at the Priory.

1994-95 • Computer enhancement plan achieved through gift of William and Rosemary Hewlett.

• Priory joins the PSAL (Private Schools Athletic League).

1995-96 • Dr. Frank Cody becomes headmaster.

• First coed class graduates at Woodside Priory.

1997-98 • New bylaws established for the Board of Trustees. Board is reconstituted as one of limited jurisdiction, to work with a Board of Directors of Benedictine fathers from Woodside Priory and St. Anselm.

• Woodside Priory celebrates its Fortieth Anniversary.

• Tim Molak begins his first year as head of school.

1998-99 • Priory families begin to host seniors from the Republic of Slovakia to attend Priory for a year.

2000-2001 • Priory Girl’s Volleyball Team wins its first NORCAL and State Championships.

2001-2002 • Priory Girl’s Volleyball Team is the runners-up at the State Championship.

Hospitality: All are welcomed with honor and respect. Graduates will • Commit to honoring God’s presence in all people • Share freely their gifts with others • Commit to serving others Integrity: Learning flourishes in an environment of honesty, trust, and personal responsibility.

Graduates will • Accept responsibility for their actions • Recognize moral obligations to self and others • Commit to justice Spirituality: God works in us, through us and for us.

Graduates will; • Recognize and articulate the Benedictine Values of Woodside Priory, and the teachings of the Catholic Church • Respect and appreciate the diversity of religious expression • Commit to integrating their spirituality with their life’s work Individuality: Every student has gifts to be discovered, nurtured and treasured. Graduates will • Develop their talents and interests • Communicate and advocate for themselves • Respect their bodies, their minds and their souls

2002-2003 • Maas Family Commons built – seven new faculty units.

• Paul Trudelle receives first Trustees Teaching Award.

2003-2004 • Priory hosts the International Youth Congress for Peace.

• Priory celebrates Father Pius’ fiftieth anniversary as a Benedictine priest.

• Chapel renovated and dedicated.

2004-2005 • Woodside Priory School’s boarding program becomes coed.

• Town of Portola Valley approves the Priory’s conditional use permit for 350 students and the Priory’s Master Plan.

2005-2006 • “Red Square” renovated and renamed “Benedictine Square.”

Community: Together we find strength and purpose in supporting one another. Graduates will • Understand the world’s interdependence • Work for the common good • Commit to celebrating diversity The Name: Why Not Portola Priory, or St. Benedict’s School, or just ‘Priory’?

Portola Valley was an unincorporated area when the school was founded, and little distinction was made between the Woodside and Portola ends of the valley. Few people had heard of Portola Valley. Woodside was more posh, better known and had just incorporated as a township. Portola Valley incorporated 12 years later.

Father Emod Brunner was adamant about not naming the school after a saint, even Benedict. He thought prospective families would mistakenly assume it was a parochial or diocesan school. The Priory would be neither-- would be an independent school.

“The idea of Portola Priory came up, but the abbreviation could easily be abused by the youth of rival schools, calling the Priory students PP boys,” Father Egon observed in his memoirs. So, Woodside Priory stayed.

2006-2007 • Groundbreaking for the Performing Arts Center.

• Fiftieth Anniversary of the first Mass celebrated at the Priory, by Father Egon Javor. The Priory also celebrated his 90th birthday.

• Boys Varsity Basketball Team wins it first Private School’s Athletic League (PSAL) championship.

• Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team wins the school’s first West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) championship.

• Forty-nine boarding students live on campus.

2007-2008 • Performing Arts Center completed.

• Woodside Priory celebrates its Fiftieth Anniversary.

Sister Schools in

Africa

by Brother Edward On the Road (sans Kerouac) I had the fortunate experience this summer to visit our sister schools in East and West Africa along with Principal Anne Matz from Saint Scholastica Academy in Chicago and Father Elias from Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. I’m not a sophisticated world traveler, so I took the least expensive and quickest way there. What a mistake!

Seventeen hours later, flying over the desert, Dubai loomed ahead—a mass of green grass, towering skyscrapers and massive construction of every kind—I could almost see the city grow.

The flight from Dubai to Nairobi was a 5-hour flight—to say that I was sore from sitting would be an understatement. On the way to Saint Scholastica, we passed industrialized areas, schools, churches, street markets, and shanty towns (homes constructed out of any available wood and covered over with sheet metal) on the hillside.

The traffic patterns are, well, non-existent—it seemed that red lights did not mean STOP but something else—everyone just kept going (in comparison, Rome seemed more reasonable).

Saint Scholastica The first school to visit was Saint Scholastica Academy in Karen, Kenya. This is a beautiful school with over 500 students in grades K-8. Our hosts at the school were most gracious; a full assembly was prepared in our honor. Native dancers performed traditional Kenyan tribal dances and managed to get Hunga Monastery and School Hunga school serves grades 7-13 and includes a technical school (co-ed) and housing for girls.

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all of us out in the square dancing with them. It was particularly heartening to see the great work being done with the extensive population of “orphaned” children in the school and by the health clinic that provides essential care for the students. The clinic serves more than 200 people daily and for these people this is their only access to health care.

Saint Benedicts, Nairobi Saint Benedict’s is very different from Saint Scholastica—it is in the heart of the poorer section of Nairobi. Often, students leave after the 5th grade to get a job. These students often end up in dead end jobs or no jobs at all due to lack of education or they fade into the homeless mass of Kenya. Grades 1-5 are taught in a one-room building with wooden partitions separating each grade. I was amazed, in spite of the poor conditions, and lack of technology, the children were focused and on task! Teachers had outlines of the lessons on butcher-block paper on the partitions and students were responding to questions.

In the primary grades, the main language of instruction is Swahili; this changes in secondary and high school to English. Students are trained to be bi-lingual from the very beginning of their education.

Creature Comforts On an even more enlightening note, imagine this— you’re in a major city in Kenya and the bathroom is a “three seat outhouse” far down in the back of the property. The play yard was any patch of ground and a soccer ball is anything that rolls and could be kicked. Often, in the course of the day the electricity goes off. This happened twice while we were there and there was no reaction from the students, the lessons continued—so different from the Priory!

Flight to Tanzania After visiting Saint Benedict’s, it took two separate flights, white-knuckle rides down runways straight out of a Hollywood 50’s movie to get us to Tanzania.

On the way we flew over Mt. Kilimanjaro. Seeing the top of the mountain above the cloud level was truly remarkable.

Top Left: (L-R) Brother Edward, Anne Matz, and Father Elias at the headwaters to the Nile where Gandhi’s ashes were thrown.

Bottom Left: African Babboon Bottom Right: Students at St. Scholatica greet Brother Edward and guests.

Peramiho, Chipora, and Hunga Schools Arriving in Songea we begin the last leg of our journey to arrive at the three schools – Peramiho, Chipora, and Hunga. Peramiho Girls School has been in existence since the early 1900’s and has provided a sanctuary for many young girls from the ‘forced marriages to old men.’ Peramiho is a boarding school for girls in grades 6-9.

Last year WPS sent money to the school to purchase books, either for the library or for classroom instruction.

At Chipora, the Priory girls lined the road and greeted us with song and dance. All of the sisters are of African ancestry and many young women are seeking admittance into the community.

As with Peramiho, Chipora is an all girls boarding school of about 500 students. They also have many “orphaned” girls and students in need of financial assistance. They have grades 6-13 which is the final year before university. Along with dinner, professional dancers performed native Tanzanian dances and music. Later we were treated to a school dance—students are the same all over the world—I felt like I was in the old Assembly Hall at Priory listening to the music and watching the students dance.

Hunga After a five hour drive we approached the monastery—the Abbey Church rises up suddenly as if it sprung spontaneously from the red clay earth.

Hunga provides education from grades 7-13 and a Technical School for both boys and girls. They provide housing only for the girls, the boys have to live in the local village which is no more than a 3-5 minute walk from the school.

The classrooms had no glass in any of the windows, playing fields were very sparse, however the students appreciated the opportunity to study and prepare for further school, either in the technical school or at the university.

St. Benedicts, Jinja, Uganda On the trip to the airport, we traveled through a national park when ahead we saw a great gray mass standing perfectly still along side the road—an elephant! It lifted its head and stared at us as if to say “what are you doing here?”

Uganda is a land of rolling hills and mountains, the water of Lake Victoria and the rivers flowing from the lake made Uganda very appealing for me.

The hillside was verdant and fecund. We did not experience the humidity or the dryness of Kenya and Tanzania.

As you might expect, it was dark when we arrived—the electricity had gone off. The staff had a light supper prepared for us and then enjoyed several cups of strong Kenyan Tea while sitting outside enjoying the starlit sky.

It’s easy to forget how beautiful the sky is when there are no lights and no traffic—all you hear is nature at her best. As I walk the Priory hills at night, I often recall how vivid the sky was in Uganda and how brilliant the stars.

In the morning, as we were having tea, three cows sauntered by on their way to their daily pasTop: Students at St. Benedicts tures. The pace of life was very different from the in Jinja. other places we visited.

Saint Benedict’s is a k-8 school with a very active student body. As with other schools we also had the opportunity to meet and speak with some parents of the students as they dropped their children off for the day. The children were fascinated with the ‘white skinned’ people and wanted to touch our hands and arms. They held a Mass in our honor and prepared music, readings, and processions.

Above: Anne Matz with students from St. Scholastica.

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Lake Victoria In the afternoon, two of the sisters took us on a trip to Lake Victoria. We pointed out a set of buildings on the opposite shore and asked what they were— one of the last things that Idi Amin did was to build a prison for political prisoners. Here we were, on the most beautiful lake in the world, and a prison overshadows it. The guide cautioned us about touching or going into the water—it contains parasites that will attack those who have not been exposed to them from an early age.

As we were returning the guide wanted to show us a particular spot of the lake and a river. After a short while he just announced “you are now at the headwaters of the Nile River.” It was not a muddy, slow moving river but one of clear water and many rapids. It was at this spot that Gandhi’s ashes were thrown into the river as a sign and call for the nonviolent development of the African continent. We

spent the last night in Uganda under the stars enjoying the beauty of the evening and reflecting on our days in Africa.

On this trip, I learned to open my eyes and heart to a part of the Benedictine educational world to which I was previously ignorant. It is not the purpose of these visits to continue a different and more sophisticated form of colonialism. It is to learn, to understand, and to help continue the Benedictine tradition of education. Is there a role for the participation of our students in this process?—Absolutely!

Some ways they can help may include; fundraising for books, scholarships, the opportunity to attend the International Benedictine Youth Congress, or, as Delbarton School did, beautifying a building, engaging the students in spoken conversational English, or simply enjoying the rigors of a rousing soccer game. We must work together to create a long-lasting relationship of support for our brothers and sisters in Africa. What part will you play?

Africa Sister Schools Back-story: In 2004 at the International Meeting of Benedictine Educators, we were blessed with the attendance of representatives from our schools in East Africa and South Africa. Most of our initial assistance was primarily in the form of money to purchase books etc. However, it became evident that some form of organization was needed to ascertain the needs of the various schools, direct the money and to establish face-to-face contact.

Our purpose was two-fold—to make personal contact with as many schools and monastic communities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as possible and to ascertain from each school what their needs are. From these two facts then we would be in a better position to make a recommendation that “this would be an ideal school to establish as a ‘sisterschool’ arrangement.

Dear Alumni, Things are changing on the alumni front at the Priory. John Baldwin, our new Director of Development, has appointed staff member Casey Frudenberg as Development Associate for Alumni Relations. Casey will be spending at least half of her time focused on alumni outreach efforts. She will be contacting alumni to update their contact information, working to develop alumni events (both on and off campus), and working to involve alumni in the life of the school. Welcome Casey!

During the 2007-2008 school year, the Priory will celebrate its Golden Jubilee. In celebrating the school’s fiftieth year, there will be a number of events that will provide alumni with an opportunity to return to campus (you can check the calendar of events at: www.woodsidepriory.com). On October 14th the Priory will open the new Performing Arts Center with a Gala featuring jazz pianist and Grammy Nominee, Taylor Eigsti ’02. In the spring, the Athletic department will host the 2nd Sports Hall of Fame Induction.

If you would like to be involved in the life of the school, there are many opportunities to do so: serve as a mentor to students, give a Chapel Talk (speaking to the student body is very motivating and a great way to share your story or experiences - I did it last year), deliver the annual Senior Talk to the graduating class, or volunteer to work on the Alumni Phonathon or Annual Auction.

In the coming months a high priority for the alumni office is to provide alumni with the opportunity to keep in touch with one another as well. The Online Community is currently undergoing a significant renovation and update and, beginning with this issue of Priorities, there will be a new focus on alumni with a Class Notes section and alumni profiles and feature articles. If you would like to let your friends and former teachers know what you’re up to, send Casey an e-mail at: alumni@woodsidepriory.com.

But many of us like to keep in touch the old fashioned way as well – through class reunions. The alumni office is currently in the process of revamping and improving the class reunion process. Beginning in the fall of 2008 a Reunion Weekend is planned for all classes whose graduation year ends in 3 or 8; the following year 4’s and 9’s, and so on. If you would like to assist in organizing your class reunion and in keeping open the lines of communication between your class and the alumni office, then contact Casey and volunteer to be a Class Agent. This requires minimal work and the alumni office will provide the necessary tools and information to assist you. If you are interested, please contact Casey at: alumni@woodsidepriory.com.

Sincerely,

Andrew Valentine ‘82

Alumni News & Notes We always enjoy hearing from Alumni and Alumni Parents. We will be featuring alumni throughout the year, if you have any announcements to share with the Priory community, please send them to alumni@woodsidepriory.com.

1985

Christopher Sharpe and his wife, Janine, added to our family. On May 5, 2007, Colin Timothy Sharpe was born!

He joins Juilia, their 2 year old daughter and Bromhead, their 3 year old Golden Retriever.

1988

Chris Pepper has been working at Intuit in Mt View for the past 10 years. His wife, Tracy, is an RN at Stanford Hospital. They have a 5 year old named Emily and a 1 year old named Haley.

1995

Tinyee Hoang just got married to Huajing Xing in March. He works at Mars Petcare U.S. as a Product Development Scientist in Nashville, TN. He recently launched 6 varieties of Cesar(R) Gourmet Filets(TM) In Sauce food for dogs, and they can be found at Walmart, Petsmart, and other grocery stores.

1996

Grant Rosenquist’s company, Artistic Granite, in Lodi made the new altar for the Blessed Sacrament chapel.

He is also working on the new cornerstone for the PAC and a plaque which will be in the new plaza in front of the building. Grant is now President of the company founded by his father.

1997

Max Lui graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland in 2001 and spent the next two years living in Taipei and Paris supporting himself through teaching English and baking French pastry (he completed a basic diploma in French Pastry and Cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu Paris during the Summer between the Junior and Senior years of college) and waitering. In 2004 he returned home to Hong Kong and joined Cathay Pacific Airways and spent 3 years as a part of their core management group. After his first year in the Revenue Management Department, he was sent to Bahrain to help oversee the Middle East, India & Africa Regional Offices, followed by a stint in Vietnam as Port Managers Hanoi. He is now back in Hong Kong looking after Commercial Sales in the local market.

Lambert Lui is living in Hong Kong running a hip-hop dance and DJing studio/event management company called Hierophat.

Carole Mauss, Cynthia Sleight, Camille Yost (alum mom of four WPS grads)

1998

Bernadette Austin-Bower and Michael Bower, bought their first home in West Sacramento in May 2007.

Doug Kirkland is now a Captain in the Air Force and is serving in Space Surveillance at Vandenberg A.F.B.

2000

Bernadette Austin-Bower & Michael Bower

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Alexandra DeMartini, recently completed the credit analyst program at Heritage Bank of Commerce and has been promoted to a Commercial Loan Officer.

Zuzka Fedorkova is a Product Manager at Oodle, Inc. a web startup based in San Mateo. Her most recent adventure was this summer’s vacation on a deserted island off the Croatian coast that she rented with several friends. Normally, she can be found hanging out in San Francisco.

Mira O’Brien is currently pursuing her MFA in Painting at Yale. She was the recipient of a travel grant that enabled her to travel to Uzbekistan and Russian in June. As a part of her artistic practice, Mira attempted to visit the Aral Sea: a landlocked and quickly disappearing body of water. She found a salt encrusted desert with rusty ships. Recently, her work appeared at the prestigious Togonon Gallery in San Francisco.

Jeff Lin married Sherry (last name not given) on July 7 in Snoqualmie, Washington. They met in May 2006 at Microsoft, where Jeff is employed and Sherry had just reported for her first day of work. Her mentor was... guess who! They were surprised to find that their families had lived in the same neighborhood in Taiwan and, in fact, they had attended the same elementary school.

2001

Julia Dobervich graduated from Emory University in 2005 with a major in neuroscience and behavioral biology. She is now in her third year of medical school at the University of Texas, Southwestern, in Dallas. She married Stephen Shaver in May 2007 and in July Stephen was ordained an Episcopal priest. He is an associate rector at a church near their apartment in Dallas. Julia said she has special memories of singing with the “Queentet” MiddleSchool girls group and wants Emily, Amanda, Kit, Kendall and Helene to know she is still singing. In fact, she met her husband in the college choir.

Emily Kirkland has returned from six months in Florence, Italy where she taught English. She is now teaching Fitness & Wellness at Castilleja School.

Charles Koi graduated from Stanford in 2005 with a degree in Computer Science. He is currently working on top secret projects and is excited about the new Priory Performing Arts Center.

Jeff Lin and his bride-to-be at their engagement party.

2002

Anna Lind-Guzik graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from Duke in 2006 in History and Russian. Her honors thesis won the William T. Laprade Prize for top thesis in the history department.

2003

Marta Fedorkova is now entering her forth year at Charles University where she studies Sociology, and at University of Economics where she is majoring in International Studies – Diplomacy. She is planning on going abroad, probably on Erasmus to France. She is now back in Prague and getting ready for school to start, after a nice holiday of which she spent a part visiting Poland and the other part, organizing an environmental summer camp for volunteers in central Slovakia.

Aidan Jobe Sea graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after four years there. His most noteworthy activity there was taking control of a branch of students that paid lobby visits to the state representatives on behalf of CSU students. He now has a new address in Copenhagen Denmark and will be studying there for a year. He became very interested in Economics and last spring walked magna cum laude at the top of his class in that field. Now he is taking extra courses that deal with European economics, culture, and politics.

Monika Varga graduated in June 2007 from Santa Clara University with degrees in Environmental Science and Biology as well as a minor in Chemistry. Shortly after graduation she was recruited by the Neurosurgery department of Stanford University to be the Moyamoya disease research assistant. She is also very excited to announce her engagement.

Michael Yost started flight school for the Navy on September 7th of this year, training to become a pilot.

Julia Dobervich-Shaver and her husband Stephen Shaver.

2004

Jerry Shih stopped in the middle of August to visit the school and have lunch with Father Maurus. He was amazed at the new PAC building that stood in the parking lot he knew as a student.

2005

Cynthia Slieght is currently attending Barnard College in New York City and often visits with fellow WPS alums living or visiting in the area.

Emily Kirkland on top of the Duomo overlooking Florence.

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Memories Chris Pepper, class of 1988 I have so many fond memories of the Priory. First, my lasting friendships I cherish most about my days there. I still keep up with 10 people from my class of 36. My closest friends are those guys I met and went to school with at the Priory. Also, there was the annual trip to the Shakespeare festival in Ashland Oregon. I liked it so much I continued to go to the festival for years after.

Jim Dugoni, class of 1986 My fondest memories from my two years at the Priory, after transferring from another Catholic high school in the Bay Area, came as a student-athlete competing for John Hofferd on the Priory baseball team. “Hoff” taught us the value of hard work and the importance of repetition in skill development.

We endured long practices, which I liked as a hitter, and we regularly got to hit off the master himself, which was often an adventure of velocity. Coach Hofferd taught more than baseball skills; he taught life lessons. It’s the people that make the difference at the Priory, and I will always think back fondly about playing for, and learning from, John Hofferd.

Go Panthers!

Bernadette Austin-Bower & Michael Bower, class of 1998 My husband was a dormer, and I was a day student. We both started in 1994, the first year that WPS had all co-ed classes. We were the fourth co-ed graduating class, and I believe that we were the first alumni to marry each other. We both spoke at our graduation, as valedictorian (him) and salutatorian and ASB president (me).

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Michael Yost, class of 2003 One of my favorite memories will always be Senior Year Spirit Day, when everyone woke up at Whitney Peterson’s house at 4 AM to plaster the school blue. Somewhere in the morning, rain started coming down hard. It continued all morning through 8 AM, when a couple dozen of us braved the wet cold, some with only blue saran wrap for shirts, and stood in front of the marquee at the end of the driveway to show our pride.

Guillermo Maafs, class of 1985 A group of juniors, class of 85, took the desk of our Dean of Students, Mr. Winston, out into the Middle of Red Square. It was great looking at Mr. Winston´s face when he recognized it was his desk sitting in the middle of the school! Mr. Miller, our Economy Teacher, who died recently, organized the participation of the WPS in the Millard Fillmore Trivia Hunt.

It was a full Bay Area Contest—a two or three day event. WPS did well. We had a team of around 20 students who worked very hard to answer so many questions. I also remember those who have died: our classmates, Bob Morelli, John Law. They were very good friends. I am sad they left so early in life!

Fr. Martin was our house master. He was such a fine example of a hard working, very hard working man. He had the greatest commitment to his work and towards his students, enjoying life every single moment!!! His peace with God and with himself always inspired me. I also think fondly of our Cross country team. Our coach Paul Trudelle taught much more than how to run fast, very fast. It was a full course on endurance, commitment, breaking and achieving records, team work; it was great!!

Meet Our New Trustees Hilary P. Giles

has spent much of her career in the investment field working with high net worth families. She has developed a strong knowledge of wealth transfer strategies, education funding, the range of investment options available to high net worth individuals, and financial preparedness in the event of divorce, disability or death.

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch’s Private Banking & Investment Group, Hilary led the client account management group for Northern California for Bessemer Trust. In addition, she lived in Hong Kong and managed institutional Asian fixed income portfolios.

Hilary received her MBA with honors from Columbia Business School, and her BA from Georgetown University, Phi Beta Kappa. She has completed Cannon Financial Trust School I and completed an extensive values-based financial planning training in 2005.

Hilary currently serves as on the San Francisco Private Bank and Investment Group’s Philanthropy Committee, as a Career Advisor to Summer Search, and as the Chairperson of the Portola Valley Parcel Tax Oversight Committee. She continues to enjoy travel throughout Asia and has family in Shanghai, China.

Chris Galli joined the Woodside Priory Board of Trustees in the fall of 2007.

He attended the Priory through middle and high schools, and graduated in 1984. Chris received his undergraduate degree from Boston College. After graduation, Chris joined his family construction business and became a third generation builder. Currently, he is President of Galli Builders (www.gallibuilders.com); a leading Peninsula custom home building company.

Growing up in Woodside, Chris developed a deep appreciation for the area and its residents.

His years at the Priory remain an important and influential factor in his academic and personal development. He has a strong affinity for the teachers and monks who inspired him during his early school years. Chris dedicated himself to the board of trustees because he wanted to show his appreciation for all the Priory had given him.

Recently, Chris has worked with current Priory students as a construction leader for their volunteer efforts with the local charity Rebuilding Together Peninsula. He was impressed with the students’ dedication to helping others based on the Benedictine doctrine and hopes to help encourage this in future students. He plans to contribute his time and efforts, giving back to the school from which he so greatly benefited.

Currently, Chris lives in Portola Valley with his wife and four-year old twins Christopher and Ella.

In addition to spending time with his family Chris enjoys cycling and is an avid jazz record collector.

Babak Dehnad grew

up part of his childhood in the southern part of Iran, a country rich with history and culture. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to the US (Menlo Park) in 1979. President Jimmy Carter was leaving office and Ronald Reagan was taking over. The Iranian Revolution was in full swing and the US sentiment for Iranians was hostile.

Babak had a rough start in the US, but through the years, he made great life-long friends and felt very accepted in Woodside Priory.

When Babak started in 1980, the school was run mostly by the Hungarian monks. Khaki pants, oxford button-down shirts and a navy “Priory” sweater was the school uniform. He graduated in 1984 and continued his college education at UC Davis along with another Priory alum and friend.

He obtained his BS in Economics and immediately 21

started his career in corporate America as a sales person. Babak stumbled upon a different career path in Human Resources and has been practicing the art and science of his profession since.

Currently, Babak is a Human Resources Director at a local technology company called MySQL. Prayer and work is still a sacred mantra carried from the Priory years. His life is dedicated to help the people in his family, community and at work to bring out their best and seek knowledge, wisdom and success.

His day is filled with counseling business executives on how to best utilize and manage its workforce.

Babak’s true passion is his family. He has been married for 8 years to Kristal and they have a beautiful little 4 year old daughter, Ava. Kristal works in Stanford University and little Ava attends preschool. He lives in Menlo Park and hopes that some day little Ava will become a Priory Panther.

Lisa Carlos devotes

herself full-time to her family. Previously, Lisa spent more than 15 years in the field of education.

Her career began in Washington, D.C. where she worked for the U.S. Department of Education and for a congressional commission that evaluated education programs for children of migrant farm workers.

As a native Californian, Lisa returned home to provide advice to state & local policy makers on a wide range of reforms, including charter schools, accountability systems, and class size reduction programs. In that capacity, she oversaw education policy research and website development for two non-profit firms, WestEd and EdSource.

For the past two years, Lisa has volunteered with the Redwood City Education Foundation to inform parents about state finance and testing policies affecting local public schools. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford

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University and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Her two children, Katia (7) and Sharp (6), attend The Woodland School in Portola Valley and her husband, Brett, works in information technology.

Lisa views her new position as a Trustee as a natural extension of her professional commitment to support school communities that foster a love of teaching and learning. As William B. Yeats once said, “education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.”

Peter Kasenchak

is a former Board Chair, and a widower with two sons, Kevin (Priory class of 1988) and Kristopher (Priory class of 1991). He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, Ben and Annie.

Mr. Kasenchak attended Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then joined the Navy Dental Corps, retiring as a Captain. After his time in the Navy, he worked as a dentist in the private sector, retiring from the Palo Alto Dental Group in 2005 where he served as President for six years.

Mr. Kasenchak has been active in the Priory community for 24-years, serving as chair and a member of a variety of committees, including: Parents Club, Auction Committee, Annual Fund Committee, Priory Chapel Fund, and the Father Egon Board Chair (1989-1990).

Volunteering is important to Mr. Kasenchak.

He volunteers his time with St. Anthony Padua Dining Room, Breathe California, Bike for Health Committee Member, and serves as an election judge.

When he isn’t busy volunteering, Mr. Kasenchak enjoys biking, skiing, and reading. He’s also an avid scuba-diver and a strong advocate for physical fitness. His favorite quote is: “Never, never, never give up,” by Sir Winston Churchill.

New Developments at the Priory Update

The development office at the Priory has undergone some changes since the last issue of Priorities. The school has hired a new Director of Development, John Baldwin. With more than 25 years of experience in development, John comes to the school after 8 years at Santa Clara University School of Law where he was Asst. Dean for Development.

John will manage the fund raising and alumni relations functions at the Priory.

Trinity Project* $16.1 million goal *Performing Arts Center, Library and Student Center The Performing Arts Center Auditorium and Classrooms are on schedule for its Fall 2007 completion date, with $12.3 million in hand toward our $14.1 million goal. A line of credit is in place if absolutely necessary to cover shortfalls. This work isn’t done yet!

Thanks to a $1 million match by parents of the class of 2008, we only need an additional $1.8 million to reach completion of the Performing Arts Center debt-free.

On the alumni relations side, Casey Frudenberg has taken on the additional role of Development Associate for Alumni Relations. Casey will now devote half of her time to developing a more comprehensive alumni relations program at the Priory.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Gail Kimball, Associate Director of Development for Annual Giving, returned to her duties in September after having been on medical leave since November of last year. If you are on campus and have a few moments of free time, please drop by the development office and say hi to Gail.

The Library and Student Center is still in need of $2 million to complete. Thanks to John Winslow, his entire maintenance team, and the sweat of librarians Peter Reinhardt and Susan Falaschi, we were able to fix up areas beneath the cafeteria and relocate the library for just $60,000.

P.S. Gail sends her warmest and most sincere thanks to the Priory Community who lifted her up during a most difficult period of her life.

Endowment $4.6 million committed towards $5 million fundraising goal.

New Faculty and Staff at the Priory The Priory is thrilled to have the following very talented new staff and faculty with us this year: Kendra Anderson - Dance Instructor • Sean Mclain Brown - Director of Communications • Eileen Dimminger - Instrumental Music Teacher • Kathy Hume - Middle School Dean • Nelson Jovel - Resident Advisor • Gulliver LaValle and his wife Simone - Dorm Faculty, Spanish and Transitional English • Matthew Nelson - Middle School Theology • Heather Nodleman Japanese • Daniel Polk - History • Adam Siler - Resident Advisor and Psychology • Alexandra Thayer - Resident Advisor.

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The Student Center Dedicated to Tim Molak “Tim Molak has been a consistent source of inspiration and enthusiasm for the Priory student body making this honor truly appropriate” –Board Member Dan Turner

“Over many years, Tim has helped transform Woodside Priory School into a premier college preparatory school.

The most impressive aspect of Tim’s stewardship of the school is his ability to grow the success of school while maintaining the integrity of Benedictine values. No other individual has done more to positively impact the lives of students at the Priory.”

–Board Member Hank Plain

Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839

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On September 6th, 2007 The Board of Directors and Board of Trustees voted unanimously to dedicate and rename the new student center—The Molak Student Center—in honor of Head of School Tim Molak for his leadership, energy, humor and dedication to the students.

His vision, courage, optimism and commitment to Benedictine values provide the model for leading WPS into the 21st Century.

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Celebrating Our 50th Year