OakTree Times - Spring/Summer 2018

SPRING | SUMMER 2018

OakTree Times

Passion meets purpose through service learning INSIDE:

Hixon Intern Program

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Upper School Honor Code

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Alumni events

OakTree Times SPRING | SUMMER 2018

Feat ures : 10 Hixon interns spark learning

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In collaboration with Pasadena City College, interns get firsthand experience in Poly classrooms through Hixon Intern Program.

14 Connecting in a new way

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The Lower School Service Learning Program provides opportunities for making an impact in the community while also fostering passions and building new relationships.

18 Honoring long-time service

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Poly celebrates faculty and staff with milestone anniversaries and those departing after two decades or more of service.

A P U B L I C A T I O N F O R T H E P O LY T E C H N I C S C H O O L C O M M U N I T Y

Departments: The Patio p.05

Engineering class visits JPL … first grade makes “Great Escape” … “Anything Goes” hits the stage … sixth grade gets serious about safety

OAK TREE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF: Leslie Carmell, Director of Communications Michelle Feynman, Assistant Director of Communications/Photographer Jennifer Godwin Minto, Photographer Alistair Casey, Communications Coordinator Greg Feldmeth, Advisor

CONTRIBUTORS:

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In the Classroom Upper School adopts new honor code.

Panthers in the Zone careers in college

COVER: Fourth-graders, pictured with representatives from Puerto Ricans in Action, raised funds to purchase water filters to send to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

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Year in review … Panthers continue their athletic

Linda Babcock, John Bracker, Michael Deschenes ’20, Amanda Edwards ’92, Heather Jolly, Harper Oreck ’19, Alexandra Patzakis ’18, Jack Prater, Kara Ramirez, Katherine Vieser.

facebook.com/poly

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Poly Connections Alumni events … foundation gift supports Poly athletics … alumni profiles … Class Notes …

In Memoriam

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P.S. Hailing from South Africa, second-grade teacher Bordeaux Martin talks about his love for this country and his classroom.

twitter.com/polytechnic twitter.com/polyalumni instagram.com/polytechnic_school

Head of

School

During the last week of school, a variety of events, celebrations, and gatherings mark significant passages and accomplishments. What I love the most about these final days is reliving the many ways our students and colleagues have worked together. Through these stories and anecdotes, poignant and humorous, one of the true hallmarks of the Poly community — the power of connection — shines.

Throughout this issue, you will see an array of examples of Poly connections. The article about the Hixon Intern Program captures an instance of Poly’s role in the broader community, as well as the value the partnership with Pasadena City College brings to our students and teachers. Looking at connection through a different lens, the Upper School Honor Code piece speaks to the importance of instilling and committing personally to the values that bind us — academic excellence,

inclusion, generosity, and respect. And finally, the Lower School service learning projects highlight our efforts to teach our youngest students ways in which they can benefit the world around them through deep connections.

The evening after our seniors received their diplomas, our faculty and staff gathered under the graduation tent to celebrate the end of the year and to honor the retirement of two extraordinary educators, Sally Jeanne McKenna and Patricia Marrs. While each of them accomplished a remarkable tenure at Poly — Mrs. Marrs taught more than 2,000 students, and Ms. McKenna admitted to Poly just about the same number — these data points seem trivial in light of the ways they connected with generations of students, families, and colleagues. The gift of an opportunity, a chance, or an undiscovered talent only comes when a genuine bond exists. “Mrs. Marrs inspired me to love art.”

“Ms. McKenna saw something in our daughters, and we are forever grateful.” Connections can be fleeting, but when they are offered with purpose and with generosity, they can last a lifetime. The program, the initiative, and the class done right hold these values dear and ensure they become woven into the fabric of who we are and what we will become. Enjoy this issue.

John W. Bracker

Read John Bracker’s latest blog post online at www.polytechnic.org/headblog

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HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE

The

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As a matter of fact, this is rocket science In Jack Prater’s Engineering class, Upper School students explore engineering as a process of prototyping to prove concepts. This year’s class also discussed the ethics and history of engineering, including the importance of a diversity of inputs for the evolution of inclusion in engineering fields. In January they visited Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), where Prater spent 18 years as an aerospace engineer developing spacequalified communication and science instruments before he came to Poly to teach math and engineering.

To help lead the tour, Prater enlisted two of his former colleagues: Polly Estabrook, (mother of Jasper ‘08 and Charlotte ‘11 DeAntonio), a pioneer in aerospace as one of the first females to receive a doctorate in electrical

engineering from Stanford University; and Joshua St. Vaughn, who serves as deputy spacecraft manager for JPL’s flagship Europa Mission. These guides both discussed JPL’s role in the history of exploration of the universe and addressed the ethical mission behind JPL’s extensive planetary protection program, which aims to ensure that during the course of exploring our neighbors, we don’t contaminate them with anything from the earth’s environs.

The students made a strong connection with their guides and were impressed with their stories and ability to field questions on many topics. They were awed by the successive missions to Mars and the daring sky crane maneuver that placed the Curiosity rover on its surface.

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T H E PAT I O

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The

Patio

First grade makes ‘Great Escape’

This spring the first grade debuted a new play, “The Great Escape,” which was created to align with their science curriculum. Each class selected an ecosystem, offering students an opportunity to learn about the variety of biomes around the world and the plants and animals that

inhabit them. The play featured all of the first-graders in a musical adventure that was inspired by the book “Biomes: Animals and Plants in their Habitats.” After escaping from the zoo, the animals search for the right new home, encountering a crew of wild beasts along the way.

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Spring musical hits high seas This year’s Upper School spring musical showcased Poly’s growing corps of tap dancers (many of whom learned tap for this show!), along with a large cast, crew, and orchestra, in “Anything Goes.” The hilarious shipboard romp wrapped around one of Cole Porter’s most magical scores featured music, dance, laughs, and the age-old tale of boy meets girl. Audiences enjoyed such well-known tunes as “It’s DeLovely,” “Friendship,” “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “Anything Goes,” “You’re the Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” Some alumni from Poly’s prior productions of the show in 1998 and 2000 especially enjoyed the performances!

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Visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras to see photos from the production.

The

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Sixth-graders take safety into their own hands

As part of a new unit introduced this year, sixth-graders learned about how best to prepare for an earthquake and other emergencies. Perry Helm, a volunteer with the Pasadena Fire Department, taught students how to turn off a gas valve, outlined key things to do in the first hour following an earthquake, and provided each student with a red bag listing steps for a disaster action plan. Later in the unit, students met with Dave Yamaoka, Poly’s manager of safety and sustainability, who gave them a look in Poly’s supply bunker and let them taste the long-term food bars. As a reflective piece, they read stories about survivors from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Finally, they created posters about what to do in an emergency, which they presented to their families.

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Learn more about this interesting unit at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

T H E PAT I O

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The

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Inventors’ workshop fosters innovation

This past year during eighth grade Block, students were offered an Inventors’ Workshop unit focusing on design thinking and invention. “The intent was to explore the notion of invention, creativity and where good (and great) ideas come from,” explains John Yen, who co-taught the class with Christine Mak. During the unit, students experimented with the electronic invention tool called Makey Makey, a simple circuit board that allows students to reprogram the world by connecting everyday objects to a computer.

Students discovered endless possibilities — from playing music with celery to running a game using tortillas. “They walked away with a new sense of awareness and appreciation for the world around them and the things in it that make their lives easier or more empowered,” says Yen. Q

POLY YESTERDAY

Poly Pet and Hobby Show, circa 1920s The campus and the people looked a little different back then, but the Poly Pet and Hobby Show has continued to inspire the same fun and games over the years!

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Check out a fun video from the 101st Poly Pet and Hobby Show this spring at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

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In the

Classroom

Upper School adopts new Honor Code

By Alexandra Patzakis ‘18

Members of the Honor Code Exploration Committee: Jennifer Fleischer, Alexandra Patzakis, Danny Halsted, Julian Cardenas, John Bracker, Marielle Kang, Jack Babcock, and Serra Leroy. Not pictured: Alexa Schlaerth and Noelle Daves. The Honor Code is displayed on the office window as a reminder.

Who creates the environment of Poly’s Upper School?

Certainly, it is the students and adults who are present each day who set the tone, and this year a group of them set out to create an honor code to affirm our commitment to our school’s core principles. The group felt the implementation of an honor code would further unite the Poly community by challenging us all to aspire to be our best actively and consciously in all that we do on and off campus and to encourage responsible and respectful conduct.

Since his arrival at Poly in 2014, Head of School John Bracker wondered about bringing an honor code to the Poly community. As a graduate of Haverford College and a former teacher and administrator at Concord Academy in Massachusetts, which both have highly regarded honor codes, he was familiar with the potential benefits to Poly. In the spring of 2017, Mr. Bracker approached me in my role as ASB chief justice for 2017-18 about the endeavor.

Mr. Bracker and I met with Upper School Director Jennifer Fleischer last summer to discuss what such a code could add to our community. We formed an Honor Code Exploration Committee of seven Upper School students and one faculty member charged with considering expectations and establishing guidelines. Later, Upper

School English teacher Serra Leroy and seniors Jack Babcock and Danny Halsted, junior Alexa Schlaerth, and sophomores Julian Cardenas, Noelle Daves, and Marielle Kang joined our committee.

The committee began to meet regularly in the fall to explore and research honor codes at other independent schools and colleges. We developed a list of nonnegotiables that we wanted to include: It should be personal, have an aspirational framework, be worded in a first-person narrative, and be applicable both on and off campus. We also wanted the Poly Honor Code to serve as a “living document” that students, faculty, and staff could review each year and possibly build upon or revise.

The committee then considered the principles in Poly’s Mission Statement, Credo, and Philosophy and created a survey for the Upper School community to identify the core values that students, faculty, and staff most wanted to emphasize. We incorporated this feedback in the first drafts of the Poly Honor Code.

The Honor Code Exploration Committee met with focus groups of students, faculty, staff, board members, and parents to present our work and gather insights. We incorporated many suggestions from the focus groups into a final version to encapsulate what an “honorable” community at Poly means. The Upper School voted to implement this Poly Honor Code in the coming school year, and most significant — each fall all students, faculty, and staff will sign the document, thereby committing to abide by its ideals.

The development of the Poly Honor Code this past year has been a remarkable experience, and I appreciated the memorable opportunity to collaborate with peers and adults in this noble endeavor. I am excited about Poly’s future and look forward to visiting campus to see how the Honor Code has changed the Poly community for the better.

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Polytechnic Upper School Honor Code As a member of the Polytechnic community, I will act to foster inclusion and to promote excellence in all that I do. I commit to approach my decisions with integrity, kindness, and generosity both on and off campus.

IN THE CLASSROOM

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Hixon interns spark learning

By Kara Ramirez, Hixon Intern Program coordinator, assistant director of admission, and former Lower School faculty member

For the past 18 years, the Poly campus

as a fitting partner to offer a unique set

has received an infusion of energy and

of courses and experiences for student

enthusiasm in the form of aspiring

teachers to build their skills before

teachers — “Hixon interns” — who relish

enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program.

a learning opportunity that grew out

Hundreds of students have continued

of a gift from philanthropists Adelaide

their pathway into teaching after

and Alexander Hixon ’30. As longtime

leaving the Hixon-supported teacher

champions of teachers and education

preparation at PCC and have attended

in the wider community, the Hixons

one of many colleges and universities.

identified Pasadena City College (PCC)

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As part of that program at PCC, Mrs. Hixon imagined an internship at Poly, where aspiring teachers could learn from master teachers in our Lower and Middle School classrooms. Since then, the interns have graced our campus each year, bringing educational theory from recent coursework and a desire to gain hands-on experience in an independent school classroom.

While Mrs. Hixon envisioned this program as a service to aspiring teachers, perhaps it is Poly that has received the greater gift. The interns’ rich and varied backgrounds, their eagerness to jump right in and lend a hand (especially in the spring when teachers most need a boost), and their expressions of gratitude for this opportunity have provided endless enrichment to our Poly community.

Over the years, the interns have been one of the best sources of employee diversity on our campus. In one of my early years at Poly, I was asked to mentor Rose, a young student from PCC who needed little direction to immerse herself in our classroom and immediately noticed our class library needed some organizing. As we began to talk more about her teaching goals, she shared her history of walking across the U.S.-Mexico border as a 7-year-old, working hard in school to learn English, helping at home with her siblings (including a brother with autism), and planning to attend Fresno State for a bachelor’s degree.

A few years later, Rose called to share with me that she had fulfilled her dream and had been hired as a credentialed special education teacher. While I had been the official mentor, it was Rose who helped remind me of the power of determination and hard work.

One of this spring’s second-grade interns, Raquel Molina, found her Poly internship to be so meaningful because she got to know the children who loved sharing their day with her. She found great joy in relating to the students and says, “History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes.”

Molina was pleasantly surprised by all the specialists at Poly and how often our students visit teachers outside their homeroom class. She adds, “While observing a P.E. class, I was completely amazed that we had enough volleyballs for every child. It’s such a small detail, but it makes me so happy. I’ve seen nothing like that in a school.”

Molina’s internship experience affirmed her plans to become a teacher, and she dreams that one day every child will have the same access to resources that she witnessed at Poly.

The interns come from a variety of places, educational backgrounds, and interests. Viet Nguyen, an intern this spring, is originally from Vietnam and moved to California when he was 11. He worked hard in public school while learning English and went directly from high school to UC Santa Barbara as a pharmaceutical/biochemistry major. Although he worked for a pharmaceutical company for two years, Nguyen eventually became a Hixon intern by following his natural interests toward teaching. After finding a place for his special leadership abilities with his church youth group, Nguyen began taking child development classes and found his way to Poly. “The internship has taught me how to be flexible and how things can change in an instant. My mentor has been great in helping me learn how to move forward to get my credential and how to calm the class before moving on to the next activity. It is exciting. I wish we could have a twosemester internship!”

Last year, sisters Jennifer and Katherine Wong had the good fortune to be guided in Poly’s Middle School

by Dr. Robert Farrar, a longtime mentor teacher in the internship program. In reflecting on the experience, Jennifer says she appreciated seeing the exchange of ideas, the freedom for students to express and defend their opinions, and the expertise with which Farrar guided students to find their voice. Katherine explains that having parents unfamiliar with the education system in the United States left her feeling unprepared for what lay ahead at UCLA where she would next enroll, but that Farrar took on a mentorship role that reached beyond pedagogy in the classroom and helped ease her way.

Not all the interns have followed a direct path from high school to community college to a four-year degree program. This year Mireya Ramirez was an intern in our Lower School Spanish class. A mother of four grown children, Ramirez immigrated from Mexico more than 20 years ago, took English classes at her local high school, and worked to provide for her family. In recent years, she decided she wanted to go to college and has been taking classes at PCC with hopes of becoming a preschool teacher.

She has loved seeing a variety of ages of students at Poly and learning from master teacher Veronica Covarrubias.

For our Spanish language students, a second teacher in the classroom to help with written and spoken Spanish is a wonderful boost. For Ramirez, this time at Poly has F E AT U R E

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been incredibly helpful for learning how to design lessons, manage multiple classes each day, and meet the needs of a variety of age groups.

It is always difficult to say goodbye to the interns when they have become such invaluable members of our community. Thanks to the potential further employment opportunities of PolySummer and Poly After School, some of our interns return to campus, continuing to expand their skills during and after their degree programs. Poly now employs several former interns in either a full– or part–time capacity.

One such colleague, Jacklyn Gonzales, now coordinates Poly’s after-school, bus, and summer programs. After leaving the apparel merchandising industry to pursue her long-time dream of working with children, Gonzales enrolled at PCC to take child development classes. As a Hixon intern to one of Poly’s fourth-grade teachers, she loved how the teachers and students interacted closely here, and she was impressed by the intelligence of both adults and children. Gonzales embraced the Poly sense of community and formed bonds with faculty and staff during her internship. She recalls that coming from an under-resourced public school herself, she was surprised and impressed by the opportunities for our students, from PE to art, music, science and technology. Even further, Gonzales found confirmation of her plans to work in education after initially feeling nervous about working at a school: “I gained confidence and joy in seeing myself in a school full time.”

Our former Hixon interns have also become lead teachers at Poly, putting their newfound experiences into practice. Second-grade teacher Bordeaux Martin began here as a Hixon intern more than four years ago. Originally from 12

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South Africa, Martin enrolled at PCC as an international student and seized the internship opportunity. “The classes I took at PCC were general education requirements toward an associate’s degree, but I already had earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and had taught in private schools in Taiwan and Thailand,” Martin explains.

“At Poly I was placed as an intern with Katie Currin in third grade. Having a mentor teacher was really encouraging and inspiring. This was a great opportunity for me to see how to be a different kind of teacher.” The internship reminded Martin of how much he enjoyed having his own classroom.

Looking back now he says, “The internship was almost like a second calling to my calling.”

Both Gonzales and Martin recall meeting Mrs. Hixon when she visited their intern cohort on campus. “During our lunch with Mrs. Hixon, you could tell she wanted to hear everyone’s story,” Martin says. “After the internship, I mailed her a thank-you card, and she responded to me with a note of thanks for my thanks. She was really a champion of teachers.

I sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t gotten the internship, would I have gone on to something else? It was an amazing opportunity, and now I find myself in a community where I feel accepted, appreciated, and encouraged.”

For Poly teachers, having an intern in the classroom helps elevate our own teaching practices by requiring some extra thought as to how and why we teach a lesson, set up a classroom space, assess a skill, manage a class, or respond to a student. Second-grade teacher and mentor Jenine Almahdi says, “I’ve been so lucky to host interns and to have such wonderful people working alongside me. It’s been so good for the students to have another personality in the classroom. The students become attached to the interns as part of the community.”

Almahdi also points out that this close look at a classroom allows the interns to learn a lot about students: personalities, challenges, and successes. “It’s a good eyeopener for them before having to really commit to coursework and formal student teaching,” she says, “and it’s a reminder for me to break down what I’m doing and explain the bigger picture. I always try to balance the intern’s classroom experiences with the kids and the behind-the-scenes work.”

The Hixon interns bring their own perspectives and experiences that enrich the Poly community — they are great for the students and for us.

It is a testament to the program how often we work with people who are interested in the education field and who then decide to pursue teaching full-time. The internship program is inspiring these individuals to take the next steps to become teachers, whether at Poly or in other environments. Thanks to the vision of the Hixons, the ongoing support of PCC, Poly’s administrators, and talented mentor teachers, the internship program continues to thrive, and our community is truly better for it.

Teaching fellows learn too Like the Hixon internship, the Middle School fellows program at Poly offers hands-on experience and mentoring from an expert teacher for a year while providing our students even more individual attention from an adult in the classroom. The fellows begin the year primarily observing classes and participating in other aspects of school life like Outdoor Education trips. As the year progresses, these teachers take on more responsibility in the classroom, including teaching, grading, and planning lessons.

“From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until coming to Poly this year that I discovered what I really want to be is a Poly teacher,” says Cole Hoffman, Middle School math fellow and coach. “Poly opened up so many doors to me.” From working in the eighth-grade math classroom and coaching two basketball teams and Middle School softball to spending time in the Lower School classrooms developing ideas for interdivisional work, Hoffman was able to get a taste of many areas of Poly.

Fellows find their path to Poly in a variety of ways and not always through an obvious career track.

“My time working as a litigator always left me feeling a bit uninspired and unfulfilled,” explains Middle School fellow and coach Mike Oliviero. “When I took stock of my work experiences, I found my happiest moments were in substitute teaching and leading outdoor adventure trips for teens.

I wanted to work at an independent school with intellectually curious and devoted colleagues where I could wear the many hats that embody my skills.”

“Poly was a godsend,” Oliviero adds. “The fellowship has been a truly life-changing experience that has given me an entrance with excellent training into a meaningful and fulfilling career of service to students and education.”

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Connecting in a new way Students find passion and purpose through service learning

By Heather Jolly, former Lower School service learning coordinator

In recent years, service learning has become an increasingly common term used by students, faculty, and administrators at Poly. But what is service learning really all about?

One way to begin explaining service learning is to consider what it is not. Service learning is not community service or simply an extracurricular activity. It is not teacherdirected, nor is it a one-time act of service or fundraising for a cause. “Community service, as many of us know, has been a part of educational systems for years,” says educator and author Heather Wolpert-Gawron, “but what takes service learning to the next level is that it combines serving the community

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with the rich academic frontloading, assessment, and reflection typically seen in project-based learning.”

In her book “The Complete Guide to Service Learning,” Cathryn Berger Kaye defines this research-based method as guided classroom learning applied with action that addresses an authentic community need through a process that promotes youth initiative. It should provide structured time for reflection and the demonstration

of acquired skills and knowledge. In other words, students investigate issues and then design, implement, reflect upon, and teach others about how they have met real-world needs. The key to service learning is the reciprocity: It is designed to help the server and the served.

Significant support for developing this concept at Poly comes from the recently created Jesse Thyne Fund for Peace and Justice Education in the school’s endowment.

Honoring the memory of Jesse Thyne ’94 and the dedication he embodied by helping a community in need from within as a Peace Corps volunteer, the fund is specifically directed to Lower School service learning. The main donor and Thyne’s family (his nephews are current Poly students) place the utmost importance on the value of personal connection in service.

Harper McDonald, parent to two Lower School students last year, has supported Poly’s program as the Lower School parent service learning liaison the past two years. “Service learning is an incredible platform that our children can utilize to understand that they have the passion, smarts, and ability to change the world and to be of service to others,” she says. “Service learning not only draws upon skills in math, writing, public speaking, creativity, and project management, but it encourages our children to be active citizens in our city and world.”

This past school year at Poly included many service learning themes, particularly in the Lower School.

Kindergartners spent time each week in their garden space, where science came alive as they diligently observed the stages of their garden’s life cycle unfold.

They learned sustainability and food waste concepts through worm composting and recycling efforts and in providing reusable plates for the hot lunch program. Poly’s youngest students demonstrated kindness, empathy, cooperation, and communication skills as they maintained the garden. A fellow teacher noticed that disruptive behavior disappeared when the students worked in the garden. What a magical place our kinder “garden” was this year — a place where children connected to nature and to others!

Some opportunities for service learning are spontaneous while others develop with the regular curriculum. Floriane Siegel’s first-graders were passionate about helping students in Houston after learning about Hurricane Harvey’s destruction there.

They connected with Adopt-a-Classroom to determine what school supplies were needed, and the class created a video and bulletin board display inviting the Poly community to donate to the cause. Also under the service learning model this year, the long-standing tradition of the first grade Penny Drive evolved into a new experience with less focus on raising money and more on learning about the need for basic items

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like underwear and socks for low-income and homeless children in our community.

Another student-driven example occurred during a Lower School morning meeting when a third-grader shared that his family was sending penguin cards to a young boy suffering from terminal cancer. His teacher, Heather Sweet, made room in the day for all of her students to make cards to send to the boy, facilitating a shared writing activity. Word quickly spread, and by the end of the week, the entire Lower School had learned about children in local hospitals suffering from terminal illnesses and made cards in their multi-grade Panther Pod groups to brighten the days of the patients.

The third-grade teaching team revamped much of their curriculum this year and explored ways to make their classes’ service at Families Forward Learning Center more meaningful. They turned the initial visit into a research trip, when Poly students played with the children in the Families Forward program to get a sense of their interests and their English proficiency. Back at school, the students explored concepts that would be appropriate to include in a nonfiction book about the United States to add to the organization’s bilingual book collection. As they move on to fourth grade, these students will take on a leadership role by teaching the rising third-graders about the children at Families Forward and raising awareness of the need for books during Poly’s Fall Book Fair.

During Genius Time in Jenine Almahdi’s secondgrade class — a period dedicated to design thinking — 16

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a student became very passionate about helping homeless people in Los Angeles. After reading several nonfiction books and learning about two local relief organizations, the student made an ad for a collection for local homeless people. She wrote an announcement for a Lower School community meeting asking the school to donate items such as sleeping bags, flashlights, water, and canned food items. This kind of studentdriven project addresses a need in the community while having a high learning effect because the engagement is more meaningful and relevant to real-world issues.

“What stands out for me is the impact that one child can make in the world when that child is triggered by his or her own interests, is encouraged to research and determine the best ways to take action, and can inspire fellow classmates to partner up toward a collective mission,” McDonald says.

This past year’s fifth-grade student council representatives focused on one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, quality education for all. Having learned about the need for books among students who live in poverty in the local community, the fifth-graders used funds from the Used Book Sale to purchase books, invited the Poly community to make bookmarks during the Pet and Hobby Show, and later visited the Pasadena Unified School District health clinic to deliver the collection of books for children receiving services there.

One of the most organic and completely studentdriven service learning examples this year occurred when, in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, a fourth-grader was inspired to help Puerto Rico. She and three friends spearheaded a project for their entire grade to provide water filters to the region after learning clean water was the greatest need. They spent time researching filters and found the cost of a single one to be $75. To raise awareness and funds, the students planned a service learning booth at the Poly Pet and Hobby Show, where they worked in shifts to educate visitors about helping Puerto Ricans and made clay crafts representing Puerto Rico’s national flower, animal, and other national symbols. “Every fourth-grader signed up to help for a 15-minute shift,” one of the proud student leaders reports. “We raised $544.13. With the money, we bought and donated seven water filters to Puerto Rico. The fourth-graders each wrote a letter to thank those who helped our efforts.”

Another fourth-grader wrote in a reflection about this experience, “We found out about this lady named Maria who lost her whole house from the storm. She’d been sleeping at a friend’s home. So we got loose change from our backpacks and ended up with about $77 to give her. During assemblies, we had been talking about how to help Puerto Rico, and at our morning meetings,

we performed a skit to inform the Lower School of what was happening. Being a part of all this effort made me realize that there is always something to do to help. It doesn’t have to be big as long as we are caring and doing something to help somebody.”

Service learning offers benefits for the entire community. Students grow academically, socially, and emotionally as they develop life skills, explore numerous career options, and come to appreciate civic responsibility. Teachers become energized in the work, often seeing students blossom and develop untapped strengths while also collaborating more with colleagues and community partners. Parents find new avenues for conversation with their children and help support service learning with family experiences. Community partners receive much-needed help and often find themselves learning from the students as they interact with them.

“I’ve truly seen how being of service to others has become second nature to some of the children, certainly driven by their own values first, but then highly encouraged and propped up by the teachers and staff who share those same values,” McDonald says. “It is a beautiful thing.”

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Honoring long-time service The following faculty and staff members recently retired or moved on from Poly after 20 or more years of service.

Sally Jeanne McKenna Since joining the staff 30 years ago and serving as the director of admission for the past two decades, Sally Jeanne McKenna has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to the Poly campus. She first worked in the library and then with former headmaster Mike Babcock as his assistant while she raised her three daughters. Her keen understanding of people and of the learning process, as well as her knack for identifying students with special potential, were a perfect fit for the admission process at Poly. Year after year, along with her team, McKenna accomplished the seemingly impossible task of forming a group of young children who would become a diverse and close-knit family during their 13 years as a class together.

Stuart Freed In 1984, Stuart Freed was hired by Mike Babcock as the entire Technical Theatre Department. He later moved into the classroom to teach Wood Design, one of Poly’s original classes since its founding, and Ceramics. Over the years, he worked to build Poly’s Ceramics program and was instrumental in designing the studio “as it should be” when it was moved to the Hixon Building several years ago. He taught generations of students about creativity, dexterity, and seeing how beauty unfolds in a piece of clay or wood. Freed retired in June after more than three decades of teaching at Poly.

Tricia Marrs The last remaining employee hired by former headmaster Willis Stork, Tricia Marrs retired in June after 44 years at Poly. During her time teaching Lower School art, she touched the lives of more than 2,000 children, inspiring them to create, design, and express themselves in their artwork. She could spot a good class helper and found a way to bring out the artist in any child by offering a great range of materials and projects. Whether Marrs was supporting the curriculum by having fourth-graders paint the California missions on ceramic tiles or celebrating first-graders’ gardening efforts with their infamous painted sunflowers, she made sure to be a part of the school’s life beyond her classroom. From every sunflower, giant Statue of Liberty painting, clay house, pumpkin, or animal, her students have learned lessons that are crucial in every experience: to look carefully, to take chances, to imagine boldly, and to offer welcoming arms to what is new.

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Cindi Yamoaka When Cindi Yamaoka joined the Poly faculty 20 years ago, the school still had a pre-kindergarten program. She served as a pre-kindergarten assistant until the program was discontinued after the 2004-05 school year, when she made the transition to kindergarten assistant and Lower and Middle School Library assistant. She later worked solely as the library assistant on the North Campus. Her love for books and for children was evident, and she made an effort to make every visitor to the Library felt welcomed and important.

Milestone anniversaries The following faculty and staff celebrated milestone anniversaries this year:

20 years Kelly Ward, Middle School technology integration specialist; Ryan Katsuyama ‘90, information system manager and coach; Felix Reyes, Operations staff; Clint Daniels, Lower and Middle School psychologist; Melan Jaich, speech and debate coach.

25 years Nora DeMesa (not pictured), accountant.

30 years Rick Caragher, Upper School history teacher, Global Initiatives Program co-coordinator, and coach; Wayne Ellis, Lower and Middle School physical education and Upper School athletics and former coach; Jon Fay ‘81, director of summer and extended day programs and Upper School math teacher; Grace Hamilton, Upper School English teacher and Writers’ Center coordinator.

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IN THE ZONE Review of the year in Poly athletics

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new school records

Swimming and diving Grace Carey ’18 — 24.06, 50-yard freestyle; 52.64, 100-yard freestyle

Prep League champions:

Susannah Laster ’18 — 55.38, 100-yard backstroke; 2:03.46, 200-yard individual medley CIF champion

Fall: girls golf, football Winter: boys basketball, girls water polo Spring: baseball, boys tennis, boys track and field, softball

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Tom Amsbry ’18 — 514.6, diving Track and field Sophie Phinney ’20 — 11:43.53, 3200m

CIF appearances:

Fall: boys water polo, football, girls golf, girls tennis, girls volleyball, boys/girls cross country

Xian Shively ’18 — 1:57.65, 800m; 4:18.80, 1600m; 9:07.11, 3200m

Winter: boys basketball, girls basketball, girls soccer, girls water polo

Haller Rice ’18 — 21-8, long jump

Spring: badminton, baseball, softball, boys golf, boys tennis, swimming and diving, track and field

81 12 24 16 1 4

All-Prep League selections

1

CIF-SS team champion - baseball

Prep League MVPs

3

NISCA All-American (Daria Lenz ‘18 and Sophie McAfee ‘21, diving; Susannah Laster ‘18, swimming)

4

CIF-SS team academic championships (football, girls golf, girls water polo, and boys basketball)

3

CIF-State team academic championships (football, girls golf, and boys basketball)

Prep League individual champions All-CIF-SS selections All CIF-State selections CIF-SS individual champions

Our student-athletes not only excelled in their field of play, but in the classroom as well. This year, Poly Athletics teams earned academic recognition having the highest grade point average in the enrollment category of 1,499 students or less.

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PANTHERS

IN THE ZONE

Back (L to R): Jack Babcock, James Olson, Matt Loomis, Xian Shively, Graham Olson, Jackson Hayes, Cameron McFarlane, Ben Bryson.

Front (L to R): Ryan Clayton, Matthew Queen, Nicolas Medrano, Sophie Schleifer, Krystal Irwin, Sarah Johnson, Ali Ulin, Natalie Clark, Christian Henderson.

Not pictured: Justin Curl, Paul Soulanille.

Class of 2018 had 19 students complete 10 of 12 athletic seasons The Class of 2018 had 19 student-athletes participate in 10 out of 12 seasons of sport, with eight student-athletes competing in all 12 seasons of sport.

Jack Babcock – Cross country (1), football (1), soccer (4), golf (1), tennis (1), track and field (1), volleyball (1) Ben Bryson – Football (4), basketball (2), baseball (4) Natalie Clark – Volleyball (4), water polo (4), softball (1), swimming (3) Ryan Clayton – Football (4), basketball (2), baseball (4) Jackson Hayes – Football (4), basketball (4), baseball (3) Christian Henderson – Football (4), basketball (2), golf (4) Justin Curl – Cross country (4), basketball (2), soccer (2), golf (1), track and field (2), volleyball (1) Krystal Irwin – Dance Team (8), diving (4) Sarah Johnson – Volleyball (3), cross country (1), basketball (4), track and field (3)

Matt Loomis – Football (4), basketball (2), baseball (4) Cameron McFarlane – Football (4), soccer (2), baseball (3), track and field (1) Nicholas Medrano – Cross country (4), soccer (2), golf (4) Graham Olson – Football (4), basketball (4), volleyball (4) James Olson – Football (4), basketball (4), golf (1), volleyball (2), track and field (1) Matthew Queen – Football (4), soccer (4), baseball (4) Sophie Schleifer – Cross country (4), soccer (4), track and field (4) Xian Shively – Cross country (4), basketball (2), track and field (4) Paul Soulanille – Fencing (8), badminton (4) Ali Ulin – Volleyball (1), tennis (1), basketball (4) softball (4)

12 student-athletes continue their careers in college The Athletic Program is proud of Poly’s student-athletes who are able to achieve a level of athletic excellence that they are able to carry with them as they continue their careers at the collegiate level. This year, the Class of 2018 had 12 student-athletes who will go on to play at a high competitive level for their colleges and extend their athletic careers.

Tom Amsbry — Amherst College, diving Grace Carey — Washington University in St. Louis, swimming Jeffrey Haegelin — Wesleyan University, swimming Jackson Hayes — Bates College, football Krystal Irwin — Air Force Academy, diving Susannah Laster — Dartmouth College, swimming Daria Lenz — Stanford University, diving Cameron McFarlane — Stanford University, football Graham Olson — Pomona-Pitzer, football Lauren Park — University of Chicago, tennis Sophie Schleifer — Haverford College, cross country/track Xian Shively — Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, cross country/track Back (L to R): Jeffrey Haegelin, Xian Shively, Graham Olson, Tom Amsbry, Jackson Hayes, Cameron McFarlane.

Front (L to R): Susannah Laster, Sophie Schleifer, Krystal Irwin, Daria Lenz, Grace Carey, Lauren Park.

PANTHERS IN THE ZONE

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Alumni Association president’s message Another vibrant and productive year has come to a close on the Poly campus, and it is always a particular joy to watch a new class of students become Poly alumni.

On June 7, I had the privilege of attending both Honors Day and Commencement for the Upper School. At Honors Day, the Alumni Association Service Award, which is presented annually to one or more seniors who has best modeled outstanding service to and in the community, went to four exceptional senior women — Anna Hackel, Alexandra Patzakis, Cameron Smith, and Elizabeth Shepherd. As founding members of the Upper School Outreach Council, these students have transformed the nature of community outreach at Poly by educating peers about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and championing the new practice of connecting all Upper School service experiences to at least one of these goals. I think that we can all be proud that our award is recognizing such strong local and global awareness and action.

The end of the school year also marked a strong finish to a year of Alumni Board activity in support of strengthening alumni connections to one another and to our school. This year, we welcomed several alums back to campus to share their life experience with today’s students at PolyConnect lunches, alumni panels, and Distinguished Alumni Day. We connected

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young alumni through mixers, alumni families with young children through Cub Club gatherings, and alumni near and far through regional events. In addition, we kicked off Alumni and Reunion Weekend with an alumni panel that helped educate us all on the changing face of philanthropy in our world. Over the next few months, we’ll be working to ramp up our career connections and job shadow programs in hopes of providing new resources to all.

We’ll also be sending a brief survey to the entire Poly alumni population to gauge how we can deliver ever more value to your alumni experience and help make current student programs even better. If you don’t already receive email from Poly, please share your email address with the Alumni Office to ensure you receive a survey!

The other 28 members of the Alumni Board and I are here to make sure that you are able to stay close to this wonderful community. We always welcome your input, requests and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to reach out through Poly’s Alumni Office if you would like more information about connecting with Poly.

Go Panthers!

Lori MacPherson ’85

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Events Alumni 101 for graduating seniors The Alumni 101 program is one of the last stops that Poly seniors make on campus as they shift from being members of the student body to members of the Alumni Association. On May 25, the senior class gathered in Garland Auditorium one last time to be welcomed to the alumni community by current Alumni Board members John Coogan ’07 and Amit Sura ’00, along with Megan Latta ’10 and Director of Alumni and Community Relations Katherine Vieser. The panel discussion covered a wide range of topics, from the importance of staying in touch with Poly to what it’s like transitioning from Poly to a large university or to a new part of the country. The students had a chance to ask questions and share their own concerns and fears as well. The program aims to provide seniors with helpful guidance and reassurance as they begin their college careers, to share ideas about vocational choices, and to explain the benefits of the Alumni Association. If you are interested in volunteering to speak to seniors at future Alumni 101 events, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@polytechnic.org.

Regional gatherings for Poly alumni In January the Alumni Association kicked off the new year with regional gatherings in Orange County and San Francisco, followed

by Downtown L.A., Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., in March. A total of 120 alumni and friends from the classes of 1962 through 2014 attended the events. Thank you to all who attended!

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Community Service Day On March 10, alumni, current students and parents gathered for our annual Alumni Community Service Day in both Los Angeles and New York. An alumni community tradition for 17 years, the event brings together alumni and their families for a day of giving back to the community. This year Poly partnered with Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena, Ronald McDonald House of Pasadena, Families Forward, L.A. Regional Food Bank, and KIPP Academy in New York.

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Events Alumni and Reunion Weekend

In late April more than 500 alumni and guests returned to Poly to celebrate Alumni and Reunion Weekend in myriad ways. “Who gives – Changes and trends in philanthropy today” was the topic for the Alumni Roundtable held at Caltech’s Athenaeum, featuring Jennifer Cheng ’78, Jennifer Fleming DeVoll ’77, and Lucianne Phillips ’71; John Horn ’78 moderated. At the 50-Year Club Dinner, the Class of ‘68 was inducted into the group, whose members are alumni who graduated from Poly 50 or more years ago. After dinner, guests enjoyed a performance of the Upper School spring musical, “Anything Goes.” Saturday morning, alumni and their families, parents of alumni, and former faculty and staff enjoyed the annual Alumni Family Picnic – Homegrown Eats. New for the event this year, guests enjoyed special menu offerings from Poly’s

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own alumni chefs and restaurateurs, including Alexandra Poer ’87 (Alexandra’s Table), Andrea Uyeda ’91 (ediBOL), and André Vener ’91 (Dog Haus). Saturday evening, the 15th through 50th reunion classes gathered on Arden Lawn for a reception and class photos before dinners for each class around the South Campus.

The Class of ’98 won the Willis Stork Award for highest participation in the Poly Fund (42 percent), and the Gosney Cup for highest dollar amount raised for the Poly Fund ($34,341) went to the Class of ’88. It was great to see so many alumni, parents of alumni, and former faculty back on campus to catch up and enjoy the time together. Thank you to all who attended! Special thanks to the 2018 reunion committees, whose incredible efforts throughout the year made the weekend a success.

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Philanthropy The Otis Booth Foundation gift shines light on Poly sports

While annual giving to the Poly Fund is the school’s fundraising mainstay for essential operating budget support, we also celebrate the long-term commitment some community members make to ensure the longevity of specific valued elements of the school. This year such celebration is in order as The Otis Booth Foundation has completed a pledge of $1 million to establish perpetual funding for outstanding leadership in Poly Athletics.

This gift to the endowment for the Otis Booth Athletic Chair helps ensure that the invaluable experiences of Poly’s student-athletes will endure. “The Foundation’s vision recognizes the fundamental role athletics plays in the lives of our students and in bringing the Poly community together,” Head of School John Bracker says.

“An endowed faculty chair means that the Foundation’s deep commitment to a highly competitive and highly engaged athletic program will serve as a catalyst for future generations. What a gift!”

As Athletic Director Steve Beerman explains, sports at Poly are devoted to much more than winning competitions: “The athletic program, along with its support system, teaches life skills that carry beyond the field, court, and pool,” and two of its unique qualities — a no-cut policy allowing any interested Poly student to participate on a team and a teacher/coach model of instruction that brings faculty out of the classroom to lead sports — are at the heart of the broad community impact

of Poly sports. With at least 200 students playing in any given athletic season, nearly every Poly family and every academic department has firsthand Panther pride for a player or colleague coach at some point.

This Panther spirit infuses the Booth family, whose legacy at Poly reaches back to its founding. Franklin O. Booth, Sr. was in Poly’s class of 1908, and was reportedly the school’s first student body president. His son Otis Booth, Jr. ’38, for whom the foundation is named, was a Los Angeles Times executive and great-grandson of Times Mirror founder Harrison Gray Otis, as well as a successful investor who collaborated in Pasadena with his close friend (and eventual Poly grandparent), Charles Munger of Berkshire Hathaway. Otis Booth, Jr. saw his children’s and grandchildren’s success through their own Poly years, particularly as athletes in basketball, baseball, water polo, and football. Booth family members know the positive lifelong influence of a Poly team and its coaches.

Established with the foundation’s $1 million gift, the Otis Booth Athletic Chair supports ongoing funding for the department director’s post, thereby allowing more flexibility for hiring the highly valued walk-on coaching staff the school enlists to support its faculty coaches. “The coaches and support staff who walk on play a huge part of the Poly students’ athletic experience,” Beerman says. “These individuals, as well as trainers, a strength and conditioning coach, and a sports psychologist, bring knowledge and different experiences while embracing our philosophy and building positive relationships with our students.”

A wonderful side effect of the well-rounded sports program at Poly is an exceptional winning record.

To date our Panthers have garnered 170 Prep League championships, 39 CIF-Southern Section team championships, 76 CIF-SS individual championships, and 91 CIF academic championships. As student interest in multiple sports continues to grow with support for the program, remarkable achievements are certain for the Panther community in the decades ahead.

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Philanthropy Poly Fund 2017-18 sets new record Each year the Poly Fund helps close the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating our students, supporting every facet of life at Poly. This year the Poly Fund set a new record of more than $4 million, in large part because of our

dedicated volunteer force. If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities or giving to the Poly Fund, please contact Elizabeth Shdo, director of the Poly Fund, at eshdo@polytechnic.org or 626-396-6337.

6 phonathons

59 dedicated Poly Fund volunteers 294 student-athletes

20 musical, theatrical, and dance performances

24 unique Outdoor Education trips

1 very

successful Poly Fund!

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Class Notes

Commencement of the Class of 2018 The end of the school year provided the opportunity to welcome the Class of 2018 into the Alumni Association! Poly alumni first connected with seniors in an Alumni 101 session during Senior Week. Now that they have commenced their next wonderful journey, we say to our newest alumni, “Congratulations, Poly graduates, and good luck in college!�

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Class Notes Class Notes editorial policy: The editorial staff gives preference to those class notes that come from primary sources. We reserve the right to edit class notes (primarily because of space considerations and occasionally for clarity). We do not have the resources to fact-check class note entries; therefore, we cannot be liable for inaccurate or false information that may inadvertently find its way into a class note. We thank you for your understanding.

To submit a class note, send an email to classnotes@polytechnic.org.

Our thoughts are with all Poly community members whose homes and lives have been affected by the wildfires and mudslides in California.

1939-1959 Linus C. Pauling ’40 I’m sorry to hear of the passing of John F. Watkins ’40. It was always a pleasure to receive his yearly call and hear news of classmates. After leaving Poly, I attended Wilson, PJC, Flintridge, U.S. Army Air Force, Pomona College, and Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1952. I had a psychiatric residency and practiced in Honolulu for 35 years, retiring in 1990, and devoting myself to my hobby, restoring 356 Porsches. Now I’m too old to do much except enjoy children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren — and naps, of course. Q Harriet Sturtevant Shapiro ’43 I was amused to see the note from William Taverner Jr. ’43 and Betsy Luce Phillips ’43 in the previous issue of the OakTree Times, and I wish to report that I am still around, though not in California.

Instead, I’m in an excellent retirement home outside Washington, D.C., with my husband of 64 years, Howard Shapiro. I look back on a full life, including two sons

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and 15 U.S. Supreme Court arguments on behalf of the United States, as well as happy memories of Poly. Q Diane Stanton Martin ’43 I am still kickin’ and living in South Pasadena. I am in touch with Mark Hamilton ’43 and his wife, Regina, who still live in San Francisco. Q Daniel L. Crotty ’51 Our house in Ventura burned in December 2017. We lost everything, including bank accounts and checkbooks. To all alumni, prioritize your items “in case.” Q Steve Halsted ’52 Steve “Ted” Halsted reports that he was fortunate to survive the recent fire and mudslides in Montecito without damage.

As well as staying active in community activities, Steve and his wife, Carole, enjoy traveling, with trips in August to the Sierras, in October to Japan, and in January for their annual trek to colonial cities of Mexico. Steve enjoyed attending the 50-Year Club Poly Alumni dinner in April and seeing his grandsons Danny ’18 and Dylan ’21 perform in the spring musical, “Anything Goes.” Q

Lorraine Panos Clearman ’54 Book signing at Vroman’s with author Lynne McKelvey ’51’s first novel, “A Real Daughter.” Pictured left to right, standing: Mary Test ’57, Lorraine Panos Clearman ’54, Sandra Hixon ’57; seated: Lynne McKelvey ’51. Q

Barbara Breasted Whitesides ’56 I hope others remember Miss Hawkins, our kindergarten teacher, and Miss Hersey, our first grade teacher, who taught us the difference between left and right and how to read! We Breasteds had the fun of walking over to the Caltech building where, for a year or two, grown men wore soft foot coverings and kept moving to polish the great mirror for the new Palomar telescope. Their feet sloshed around in pink fluid. Q Glen C. Gustafson ’57 Got a new hip joint! I hope to be good for another 100,000 miles. Q Stan Hales ’57 Diane and I continue to deal with the challenges of losing our Santa Rosa home in the October Tubbs fire. We now plan to relocate to Dixon, only 10 minutes from our son, Chris, and his family in Davis. Q

Shana Goss Henze ’58 Shana and Chris Henze celebrated the week of their 50th anniversary at an extraordinary mas (traditional farmhouse) near St. Rémy de Provence. They met as teachers — she of French, he of English — at Poly in 1966, and then pursued a career in the Foreign Service after marrying in 1968. They have been living in Paris now for almost 35 years. Q

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Class Notes

PROFILE

Marcy Shugert ’91

by Harper Oreck ’19 On Jan. 21, 2017, tens of thousands of women marched through the streets of downtown San Diego in the name of female equality, joining the millions of people demonstrating in Women’s March events around the globe.

Marcy Shugert ’91 is now one of the women at the helm of the San Diego Women’s March organization, which has continued to promote feminist advocacy across Southern California since the 2016 election.

Shugert brought years of international Shugert pictured with Community Outreach Director Marc Baranov as marketing experience when she joined the they campaign for Priya Bhat-Patel.

San Diego Women’s March in November 2017, where she now serves on the board and oversees marketing. In addition to spearheading social media and youth outreach projects to strengthen the organization’s local presence, Shugert collaborates with statewide Women’s March leaders to pursue California-specific goals, such as hosting activist workshops and voter registration drives.

“I wanted to take a more active role in politics, particularly in the last couple years when I felt women weren’t being exemplified as equals,” she explains. When she turned to activism, Shugert brought both her marketing know-how and the advocacy experience she gained in the early 1990s as a student at Vanderbilt University, where she led an HIV/AIDS education group. Recalling the fear and stigma surrounding HIV-AIDS during that time, Shugert highlighted her time with the group as a valuable foray into social justice, which inspired her later work.

That experience also inspired Shugert to study abroad through Vanderbilt’s prestigious Michael B. Keegan Traveling Fellowship, which gave her the opportunity to conduct a yearlong research project in multiple countries. She focused on promoting HIV/AIDS prevention strategies for young women in countries at high risk for the conditions, combining her interest in social justice and outreach — both of which have contributed to her work today.

Ultimately Shugert has used her role in the Women’s March to advocate for the social change and feminist unity she hopes to see. Recently she has also joined Priya Bhat-Patel’s San Diego City Council campaign as communications director, and she encourages prospective activists at Poly to reach out to local organizations, including Women’s March groups across Southern California.

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1960-1969 Debra Taylor Smith ’64 I’m loving Seattle with Taylor and Joann and family. Cooper and Rosa are 14 years old; Kobe, 11. Lots of sports on the weekends.

Anytime I can, I love being with Ted, Amanda, and Bear in New York City. Come visit us in Seattle! I’m loving my garden club work in Seattle. And always a Digger! Q John-Paul Leonard ’66 Class of 66, as we are reaching 70 now, I got to wondering where the expression “threescore and ten” comes from. It’s from Psalms, verse 90:10: “The years of our days are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” A timely sentiment from a timeless source! This remaining remnant of life, let me make the most of it. Q Arthur M. Wood Jr. ’68 Our daughter, Daisy, welcomed our first grandchild, Lily Wood Tolles, on Feb. 1.

Daisy’s twin sister, Abby, is engaged to be married this November in Boca Grande, Fla.

I cannot believe I still have this trophy after all these years. 1963 was my first year at Poly (seventh grade), and my family had an unruly pug named Casey whom I entered into the Poly Pet and Hobby Show just for fun. Amazingly, Casey won Best in Show, which I assume demonstrates that my mother knew a good breeder. Anyway, I brought a photo of the trophy to our recent class reunion and shared it with the emcees of this year’s PPHS. Q P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

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Class Notes 1970-1979 Megan Edwards ’70 Megan is the co-founder of Imbrifex Books, a new independent publisher based in Las Vegas that burst onto the scene in 2017 with a debut list that includes both travel and fiction. Spotlighting the little-known but vibrant literary scene in “Sin City,” all Imbrifex Books debut releases have garnered national literary awards for 2017-18.

Timothy H. Robinson ’78 I got married a year ago to a lovely lady from Santa Barbara with two children. I am still working as a scientist for all the local water districts in the Santa Barbara area and am still very active in the outdoors. Q

boaters, we celebrated a festive nauticalthemed wedding around the harbor with many family and friends. Poly alums in attendance included Debbie Pilalas O’Malley ’88, Gabriella Santaniello ’88, Mike Femino ’90, and from the Class of ’91: Alex Sillman, Jason Garcia, Pehr Luedtke, Gary Chemsian, and John Keatley. Great to see so many old classmates, and we look forward to more visitors down the line!

Katherine Mackenzie ’96 Living in San Francisco is a blast. I am lucky to see classmates Katy Bennett Polsby ’96, Libby Fauvre Gerard ’96, and Allison Barnum ’96 on a regular basis, and I recently discovered that my daughter Ayla and Minnie Ingersoll ’94’s son are in the same swim class. Q

2000-2018

Scott Chacon ’05 Scott and Tessa Legato celebrated the first birthday of their twins, Beckett Graham Chacon (left) and Violet Olivia Parmele Chacon (right), who were born Feb. 18, 2017. The family of four recently moved to Pasadena. Q

1980-1989 Aisha Haque Craig ’86 So excited to be connected to Poly through my niece and nephew, Zakia ’25 and Abe ’28, in the Lower School. I am planning to hike Kilimanjaro this summer with our three children to commemorate my 50th.

Wish me luck! Q Jamie Reilly ’88 I’m living in Venice Beach with my wife and two children, Odessa and Ogden. I work at Vans running the creative department.

I occasionally make trips east toward Highland Park in pursuit of L.A.’s best tacos. Q

1990-1999

Troy Pilalas ’91 married Stefanie Sitzer on June 9, in Newport Beach, Calif. Both avid

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Class of 1996 classmates at a 40th birthday get-together. Pictured: Allison Barnum, Katy Polsby, Erin Larson Wulff, and Jaclyn Lenz Munzer. Q Ryan F. Holmes ’98 Ryan received his Ph.D. in health care ethics from St. Louis University on May 18, 2018. He celebrated the milestone in St. Louis with his wife, Catherine Blue Holmes ’95, his children, Jane and Thomas, his parents, and his in-laws. He is enjoying work as a bioethicist for Sutter Health System in the Bay Area, and he and Catherine are in the process of moving to Fremont, Calif. Come visit! Q

Hannah Frank ’05 I completed my Ph.D. on the ecological and evolutionary impacts of bat-pathogen interactions at Stanford in June 2017. On Aug. 26, 2017, I married Jon Flanders, a fellow bat biologist, in Montecito, Calif. We met at the 2013 International Bat Research Conference — you can’t make this stuff up. Poly alumni in attendance included Melissa Tanner ’05, Anna Terteryan ’05 and Helen Bermudez Foley ’05, as well as my brother, Peter Frank ’08. Q Abraham Kaslow ’05 Just finished year three of five of a general surgery residency at University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial. Plan to move back to California in 2020 to pursue vascular surgery. Q

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Class Notes

PROFILE

CONTINUED

Justin Worland ’10

by Michael Deschenes ’20 In his four years as a reporter and writer at TIME magazine, Justin Worland ’10 has had the opportunity to dive into topics with enormous political and social weight.

He has analyzed (now former) EPA chief Scott Pruitt’s work, investigated the police shooting of Walter Scott, documented the heartbreaking impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico, and explored the coal mining regions of West Virginia.

Worland’s journalism career did not begin with TIME, of course. At Poly he devoted countless hours to writing for The Paw Print. As editor-in-chief during his senior year, he ran “pub weekends,” days dedicated to editing, formatting, and finalizing an issue. He acknowledges the foundational role The Paw Print played in fostering his curiosity, Poly’s value of “learning for learning’s sake,” and the faculty who actively promoted freedom of the press. He gives a special nod to Greg Feldmeth, assistant head of school and longtime advisor to The Paw Print, for protecting the paper from censorship to uphold its mission to represent the student body.

Worland continued his education at Harvard and became an editor of the university’s world-renowned publication, The Harvard Crimson, a position once held by John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Near the end of his college years, the bombings of the Boston Marathon resulted in three deaths and the wounding of 264 people. Worland covered the tragic event, writing several pieces in the solemn days that followed.

Today Worland is stationed in Washington, D.C., where he concentrates on energy, the environment, and national politics. He recently has written about Saudi Arabian attitudes toward oil, the potential impact of a trade war, climate change and pollution in U.S. cities, and Donald Trump’s nomination of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state. Worland’s love for journalism stems from his freedom in the work to talk to a wide array of characters, from a high-profile national figure to a “coal miner at a diner in the middle of West Virginia.”

The ability to decipher, distill, and deliver a complex and important story to the average American is incomparably rewarding to Worland. He notes, “Even in a high school setting, it felt like a way to do something positive and meaningful for the community.” Now as he expands upon his already accomplished career in journalism, we can expect to see Worland creating greater awareness on a national or even global stage for years to come.

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Adela Wu ’09 Adela is completing her M.D. at Johns Hopkins University in May 2018 and will be returning to California after nine years on the East Coast to begin a neurosurgery residency at Stanford Medicine in June.

Looking forward to reconnecting with Poly!

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Henry La Soya ’15 Henry is a junior studying biological engineering and finance at MIT and is cocaptain of the 2017-18 men’s tennis team.

Henry was recently selected to the New England Women’s and Men’s Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference Singles Team, All-Conference Sportsmanship Team, and All-Conference Academic Team. MIT won the NEWMAC conference title and advanced to the 2018 NCAA Division III championships. Q

Faculty and Staff Poly’s PoPs group of former faculty and staff was invited to a summertime luncheon at John Bracker’s home. The group engaged in a dialog around teaching practices from the past and during pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Barbara Bishop, Poly’s archives manager, displayed recent gifts to the school’s growing historical memorabilia collection. Guests included Tricia Marrs, Susan Grether, Pat Wickhem, Bill Pickering, Sylvia Newhall, Dorothy Wooddell, Diana Raney, Monica Pitts Zacharia, Maggie Jordan, Linda Stowitts, Linda Massey, Jolly Urner, Jenny Lewark, Howie Farer, Geoff Yure, and Cindy Yoshikawa (aka Cindy Yamashiro).

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In Memoriam We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those listed below and hope this section assists those who wish to honor their Poly classmates and friends. Poly publishes obituaries as space allows when we receive notice that an alumnus/a or former faculty or staff member has died. If we have neglected to list someone, please send us biographical information, which we will print in a subsequent issue. Please note: Listings include those received through June 2018.

Kingsbury Pitcher ’34 December 29, 2017, Santa Fe, New Mexico Kingsbury “Bill” was born in Pasadena on July 19, 1919. After attending Poly, he went to Stanford University, where he received a degree in economics. Bill enjoyed flying and skiing and dedicated much of his life to both. While attending Stanford, he and his friends formed a ski team and raced against all the great skiers of the time.

By 1942 he was teaching skiing for Pfeiffer’s ski school in Sun Valley. In the spring of that year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After his army career, Bill worked to establish a number of flight and ski schools that became great successes in the Southern Colorado area.

Jane Campbell Wells ’39 March 27, 2018, Beaverton, Oregon Margaret Jane Campbell was born Oct. 7, 1924, in Pasadena to Dr. Leon George Campbell and Margaret Flautt Campbell. She attended Poly and Westridge. Jane was a talented athlete and competed on horseback and in gymnastics, tennis, badminton, swimming, sailing, roller skating, and tap dancing. She attended Stanford and graduated from USC in 1948. She was a lifelong Kappa Alpha Theta. She met her husband, a former B-26 bomber pilot, John Barnard Wells, in 1947 and married in 1948. Jane and John celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2013, and John passed away in January 2014. Jane served the Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital for more than 35 years. She worked year-round preparing their annual Halloween weekend fundraiser, Treasures and Trivia.

Jane is survived by her sister, Patricia Campbell Duckett ’44; brother, Leon George Campbell ’53; their families; her children; and eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Jane Hopper Ware ’39 January 27, 2018, Richmond, Virginia Described in a local article as a “sculptor and erudite Californianturned-Richmonder,” Jane was born in Pasadena. Her memories of growing up in Southern California with her two brothers, Wilbur ’37 and Harry Hopper ’36 and sister, Florence Hopper Boom ’42, remained vivid throughout her life. Following her lifelong passion for art, she ventured across the country to Bennington College in Vermont, where she majored in sculpture and psychology. On family vacation in Gloucester, Mass., she met her future husband, Edward Winslow Ware Jr. of Boston. Shortly after they wed, the couple moved to Richmond. She later attended Virginia Commonwealth University, from which she received an additional degree in art education. She was a driving force in the founding of the Richmond Artists Association, 1708 and Art Space galleries, and Virginia Museum Council. Her works were featured in major exhibits in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and New York.

She leaves a legacy of her works in collections of banks, hospitals, colleges, businesses, and private collectors. Jane also taught art at

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St. Christopher’s and St. Andrew’s Schools. She was preceded in death by her siblings. She is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Robert S. Dulin ’43 January 24, 2018, Bayfield, Colorado Bob was born to Jane and Garretson Dulin in Los Angeles in 1928.

He married the love of his life, Susan Williamson Dulin ’45 (whom he first met when he was 6 and she was 4) in 1955. Bob attended Poly and then briefly attended UC Berkeley and Claremont Men’s College before completing his education at the School of Foreign Trade (now Thunderbird School of Global Management) in Phoenix, Ariz. He served in the Army and was stationed in Europe until his honorable discharge in 1952. Bob worked in the California banking industry with time spent at Security Pacific Bank and the Bank of California. Bob was a regular on Wickenburg’s Desert Caballeros trail rides in the mid-’60s and ’70s and later helped start the Durango Mountain Caballeros in the San Juans. He is the brother-in-law and close friend of Warren Williamson ’43. Bob is survived by his daughter, Cynthia “Cinnie” Dulin Herr ’68, and her husband, Frank; grandchildren including Molly Dulin ’09; sons, Jim Dulin ’76 and Ken Dulin ’80; and his brother, Garry Dulin ’38. He was predeceased by his sister, Ethlyn Ware ’47.

Caroline Luce Phillips ’43 February 13, 2018, Solvang, California Caroline “Betsy” was the third child of Addison Leech Luce and Sally Tazewell Waller Luce. She was born and raised in Pasadena. She is the sister of Isabel Luce Taylor ’35, Sally Tazewell Waller Holt ’40, and Addison “Chip” Leach Luce ’46, and mother of Catherine Phillips Reed ’68. She attended Poly, Westridge, and UC Berkeley, where she met and then married Ralph Phillips in 1948. They raised their four children in San Marino and Pasadena, and the family spent many happy years sailing and cruising on their boats to Catalina, the Channel Islands, and Mexico. Betsy was involved with many charitable organizations such as Junior League, Children’s Hospital, LACMA, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Huntington Library, Church of Our Savior, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, and St. Mark’s in the Valley. She is survived by her four children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law.

Warren B. Williamson ’43 March 16, 2018, Pasadena, California Warren Brooks “Spud” Williamson, chairman of the Chandler Family Trusts, businessman, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on March 16. Spud was born in Los Angeles in 1928, the son of Frederick Warren Williamson and Ruth Chandler Williamson and grandson of Harry Chandler, the publisher of the Los Angeles Times. After attending Poly, he graduated from Midland

Poly

School in 1946 and received his college degree from Claremont Men’s College in 1951. He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953 before his professional career in the oil and gas business and later in the financial industry for many years. He became general partner at Crowell, Weedon & Co. in 1976 and retired in 1990. Spud married the love of his life, Alyce de Roulet, in 1954, and they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this past February. Spud remained involved with the Chandler family business, serving on the boards of the Times Mirror Company and the Los Angeles Times. He served on other area boards such as Art Center College of Design, Claremont McKenna College, Good Samaritan Hospital, and the LA Phil. Spud has been described by many as a true gentleman, a voracious reader, and a walking encyclopedia. His sense of humor was evident in his frequent stories full of great recall and specifics. He was also famous for his eulogies, which he called “lifeshortening experiences.” His business colleagues describe him as direct but tactful, and he kept things “short and sweet” — except his annual birthday celebration with family, which was never long enough. Spud’s passion was thoroughbreds, and he raced and bred champions and Breeder’s Cup contenders for more than 50 years. He served on the boards of Hollywood Park and the Oak Tree Racing Association. Spud is survived by his wife, Alyce; his three children, Sandra Williamson Fallat ’74, Dr. Ruth Chandler Williamson ’75, and Henry Williamson ’80; their families including grandchildren, Warren Williamson ’09, Ryan Williamson ’13, and Carolyn Williamson ’10; nephews, Fred Williamson ’79 and Chandler Williamson ’81; and great-nieces and -nephews, Molly Dulin ’09, Hughes Williamson ’14, Jonathan Williamson ’14, Colin Williamson ’16, and Claire Williamson ’20. He is predeceased by his daughter, Alyce Marie “Lisa” Williamson ’78, and siblings, Norman “Tad” Williamson ’47, Chandler Williamson ’45, and Susan Williamson Dulin ’45, and her husband, who was also Spud’s good friend, Robert “Bob” Dulin ’43.

John F. Hotchkis ’46 December 14, 2017, Los Angeles, California John Hotchkis, a prominent Los Angeles benefactor and fourthgeneration Californian whose family homesteaded the historic Rancho Los Alamitos, had a half-century-long association with the LA Phil, twice served on the UC Board of Regents, and was a board member of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. His ancestors acquired the sprawling ranch land in what’s now Long Beach as part of a Spanish land trust in the 1870s, and they ultimately gave the rancho to the city — along with the original adobe ranch house and barns — as a museum and educational center. John continued the family’s support of the rancho and was a benefactor to causes including Planned Parenthood, Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles, and the Painted Turtle, a summer camp for children with serious medical conditions. Active in civic and cultural groups through his life, John also had an adventuresome side. A fan of auto racing, he formed his own International Motor Sports Assn. team and raced at Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring — all shrines of sports car racing.

A businessman, John was the cofounder of Trust Company of the West, Hotchkis and Wiley, which was later sold to Merrill Lynch. When

Connections

he joined the LA Phil, he assumed a board seat that had long been held by his mother, Katharine Bixby, and he was chairman when Disney Hall opened in 2003. John is survived by his wife, Joan; four children, John Hotchkis Jr. ’77, Sarah Hotchkis Ketterer ’79, Mark Hotchkis ’87, and Carey Hotchkis; grandchildren; and siblings, Joan Hotchkis ’42 and Katharine Johnson ’39. He is predeceased by his first wife, Carolyn, and brother, Preston Hotchkis ’44.

Nancy Davis Nashu ’47 August 4, 2017, Pasadena, California Nancy was born in 1932 in Los Angeles and raised in Pasadena, where she attended Poly and Westridge prior to attending Mills College. She moved to San Francisco in pursuit of a fashion career, becoming a buyer at the Emporium. In 1960 she married Carson Embrey Boone and moved to Newport Beach to start a family. With the birth of sons Michael and David, Nancy split her time between Newport and San Marino, volunteering at Mothers’ Club of Pasadena and Descanso Gardens. Upon the death of her first husband in 1972, Nancy taught herself to type and returned to work at Pacific Mutual Insurance Company in Newport. She soon married John Malcolm Nashu, and the two later lived in the Seattle area until John’s death in 1994. In 2008 Nancy returned to Pasadena to be near her twin, Sally Holbrook ’47, son, and friends from school and the Valley Hunt Club.

Nancy is survived by her sister, Sally, and her three children. She is predeceased by her brother, Rev. John Davis ’40.

Joseph H. Rose ’49 March 5, 2018, Pasadena, California Dr. Joseph Holt Rose, son of Dr. Joseph Holt Rose ’14, was a pioneer of modern radiation therapy in the San Gabriel Valley. He spent three decades as chief of radiation medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital. He is the brother of Catherine Rose ’50 and Margaret “Peggy” Beernink Badger ’54. A Pasadena native, Joseph graduated from Poly and from The Thacher School in Ojai.

He then attended Princeton University and graduated cum laude in chemistry. He attended Berkeley and earned his M.D. at UC San Francisco. He later served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Triple board certified, Joseph presented extensive expertise in evaluation, planning, and treatment of many forms of cancer and thyroid disease. He married Halaine in March 1991, and they made their home in Pasadena. Joseph enjoyed piloting a Cessna 206 in the West and Canada, sailing, tennis, skiing, fishing, travel, and poetry.

Mary Eliza Scudder ’70 February 2, 2018, Mountain Center, California Mary “Lydee” Scudder was born in Massachusetts and lived there as well as Connecticut, London, and Altadena during her school years. Two of her most meaningful experiences as a young adult were living in Zambia with her father and later working on the Navajo reservation. In 2005, Lydee remarried and moved to Mountain Center, Calif. She was known for her warm smile, easy conversation, and dedication to helping people and animals. After rescuing two horses, she also began to practice equine-assisted therapy. She is survived by her parents, Molly and Ted Scudder; sister, Alice Scudder ’73; children, and beloved pets.

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P.S. Bordeaux Martin Bordeaux Martin joined the Poly community as a Hixon intern in 2014. He then assisted with PolySummer and the After School Program and served as a long-term substitute teacher before being hired as a secondgrade teacher on Poly’s Lower School team. Martin also has worked with Poly’s Global Initiatives Program and chaperoned a recent trip to Beijing. Prior to his move to Los Angeles, Martin was a teacher in Taiwan and Thailand. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and is currently pursuing a second degree in urban learning from Cal State L.A.

Q: You were introduced to Poly as a Hixon intern a few years ago.

What influenced your decision to stay at Poly?

I was impressed by the sense of community here at Poly. Everyone — colleagues, parents, and students — was so supportive and made me feel right at home. It is still my favorite part of Poly.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching the younger grades?

They love to learn. Everything is an adventure and new. Their passion for exploring and gaining new knowledge is contagious and inspiring.

Q: Congratulations are in order, as you recently became a U.S. citizen.

What does that mean to you?

So much! When my husband and I moved to the U.S., I had to enter on a student visa. It was a precarious time for us, as I did not have the same rights as other people. Now I am excited to become a citizen of a country I love and call home. It also helps with perspective; I always try to see a situation through more than one lens.

Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

So many places, but Colombia has been on the top of my list for a while. I want to see Bogotá, Cartagena, the jungles, and mountains.

Q: What is something most people might not know about you?

I used to be a total cat person. My dream was to have at least five. Now I am a dog person.

My dream is to one day have at least five dogs.

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