Progress: Fall 2022

Fall 2022

A Publication for Alumni and Parents

Lancer

FOR LIFE

DEAR FRIENDS OF SAINT FRANCIS, SFHSLancers

In this issue of Progress, members of our community share what it means to be a “Lancer for Life.” Our students spend four years learning what is special about this community: learning valuable lessons and making friendships that they will have for the rest of their lives.

For some of us who have spent many years in education, our experience at Saint Francis reveals that we have always been a Lancer. It just took us a while to come home.

Here’s my top 10 list of the ways that I know Saint Francis is home for me:

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SFHSLancers

sfhslancers

Saint Francis Lancers

Sunrise in the prayer garden. Soft rays of light gently touch the statue of Saint Joseph, and you know it’s going to be a great day.

Lancer cookies. Warm, delicious and, most importantly, served with a smile.

Educator pride. The way our educators love this school, our students assume that every educator is an alumnus. What a fun group to teach with!

Friday night cannon. Before social media it was the only way for Mountain View to track the game, and the best way that our neighbors can share in our fantastic school spirit.

Brothers of Holy Cross. Every time I see an educator or student humbly serving each other, I know that the Brothers’ legacy is alive and thriving on our campus, and I’m sure they are proud of us.

The tree(s). More than the Bay tree, our campus has such incredible symbols of enduring growth and quiet strength. What else can encourage a young child to climb, a student to reflect, and an adult to stop in their tracks?

Retreats and liturgies. These moments of prayer, reflection and sharing are unique blessings that I treasure more and more each year.

Lancer Family. It’s more than a phrase; we are truly known and loved at this school.

Andre House. Have you really attended Saint Francis if you don’t have a picture of yourself in front of this beautiful, historic home?

10. Sunset in our Quad. Our day on campus isn’t usually finished at sunset, but for a moment each day the Quad is briefly quieted, and it’s a beautiful reminder of the gift of the day we have been given.

Whenever we learn it and however we feel it, we are truly Lancers for Life.

Jason D. Curtis President

Saint Francis High School

LANCER FOR LIFE

Contents

11 Publisher Jason D. Curtis Executive Editor Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97 Editorial Staff Michele Tjin Kalix Marketing/Sarah Achenbach Design Kalix Marketing/Jason Quick Support Staff Bernard Nemis Diane Wilson Contributing Photographers Paige Allen ’23 Abhijit Nambiar ’24 Now and Forever Photography Michele Tjin E. Spencer Toy Progress is published by the Institutional Advancement Department for the alumni, parents and friends of Saint Francis High School.

Email us: progress@sfhs.com

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NEWS: Student and alumni highlights and profiles

INNOVATION@SF: Educator Shraddha Chaplot introduces herself and the new innovation program for students

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LANCER FOR LIFE: Stories on how Saint Francis has transformed students, alumni and parents

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IMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES: Anticipating the

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#LANCERLIFE

27 FROM THE ARCHIVES

opening of the Innovation Center

ALUMNI IMPACT: Jorg Heinemann ’84

ALUMNI: Letter from Greg

Calcagno ’83, upcoming events, class news, In Memory and Little Lancers

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LANCERS IN THE NEWS New Saint Francis Administrators This fall, Saint Francis welcomed one new administrator to the school community, as well as three Lancer administrators into new leadership roles, while rolling out an updated administrative structure to better support the school’s students and educators. The revised Executive Leadership Team, which comprises members from the Institutional and Leadership groups, will support and manage Saint Francis’ curricular and co-curricular programs to ensure an outstanding, accessible Holy Cross education for our students.

Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97

Natalie Lai ’06

Former Dean of Faculty (2016-2022) and Holy Cross educator (2003-current))

Holy Cross educator (2017-current) including affinity group moderator, ninth-grade Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program lead, SF Family Club moderator, freshman student council co-moderator, Holy Cross Achievers tutor and mentor, and anti-bias curriculum lead for the English Department

Vice Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, overseeing the school’s academic vision and programming “I’m deeply committed to the Saint Francis community and to fostering a transformational Holy Cross educational experience for all students. As vice principal of curriculum and instruction, I am thrilled to have more opportunities to engage with students, educators and parents and to advance our shared efforts in creating opportunities for our students to develop as creative, courageous and compassionate leaders of impact.”

Therren Wilburn Director of Athletics

Former Assistant Director of Athletics, Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, and Director of Athletics, Palo Alto High School

“I look forward to leading the department that has been a model of success for educationbased athletics in Silicon Valley. I want to share the experiences and lessons that I’ve gained in my career to build upon the established Lancer culture. More than anything, I am looking to be a role model to our student-athletes and the Saint Francis community.”

Director of School Culture and Belonging

“I want to serve and expand in the ways that I contribute to the inclusivity and growth of our school community that is rooted in our Holy Cross tradition and values. Cultivating relationships with students, educators and families inside and outside of the classroom in various capacities is what I eagerly look forward to in this new role.”

Michael Pilawski

Vice Principal of Campus Life, managing all the major co-curricular programs, namely Athletics, Student Activities and the Dean’s Office

Former Director of Athletics (2004-2022) and Holy Cross educator (1997-current)

“The opportunity to work with the talented educators in Athletics, Activities and the Dean’s Office is something I am looking forward to greatly. I am excited about partnering with our parent community and continuing to find ways for our students to thrive and lead in our campus life inside and outside of the classroom.”

Georgetown Law Connects with Lancers Saint Francis is one of three Bay Area high schools partnering with Georgetown Law School to bring more students of diverse backgrounds into the legal profession through Georgetown’s Early Outreach Initiative.

Last spring, Saint Francis students had the opportunity to meet with Georgetown Law students about their experiences applying to law school and their interests in law.

During the semester-long program, 13 Lancers spoke with practicing attorneys in a range of fields from patent law to medical law. The program included events to hone skills relevant to law, such as workshops on opening statements and negotiations.

Anika Jain ’22, a Brandeis University freshman and Humanities Fellowship program participant who studies politics and journalism, participated last spring. She is most interested in civil rights law and environmental law, and the Early Outreach Initiative gave her a vital perspective into the profession since no one in her family works in law. One highlight has been her ongoing connection with the lawyer mentor assigned to Anika through the Georgetown program – just one example of the insight and resources, otherwise inaccessible, to help Anika chart her course to law school.

“Ultimately, I want a career in public service where I can help people,” she says. “I believe that studying political science and law will provide me with the building blocks to get there.”

Pictured from left: Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97, Therren Wilburn, Natalie Lai ’06 and Michael Pilawski

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LANCER

profile Andrew Adkison ’23 Saint Francis Family Club mentor, junior and senior years TEDx Co-director Lancer Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Board Member National Honor Society Athletic Director’s Council World Languages Honors Society Varsity football since sophomore year, captain, 2022 Varsity basketball since junior year Varsity track since junior year BRIC Brothers, member Lancer Legacy: Sisters Kennedy Adkison ’21, Katherine Adkison ’24 and Kayla Adkison ’26

(Top) Andrew receives the Holy Cross Award at an assembly. (Right) Andrew on the football field.

“I tell the freshmen that they can choose who they want to be at Saint Francis. There are so many paths and opportunities here that they can really be the person that they want to grow into. ” Why is mentoring freshmen and helping them orient to the school through the Saint Francis Family Club (SFFC) important to you?

Everyone sees themselves in the freshmen. The transition from eighth grade to high school can be a little intimidating. The biggest thing for incoming freshmen is that they just lack experience with high school. SFFC gives them that experience. When I was a freshman, my older sister Kennedy was one of five SFFC freshman mentors in her advisory class, but the role of SFFC has since expanded. Now there are around 100 SFFC mentors, and each freshman advisory class has 25 students with five to six mentors per advisory. My mentors talked about their experiences at Saint Francis and outside of the school. They helped us find our own path. This year, my sister Katherine is a mentor and Kayla is being mentored as a freshman. I knew freshman year that I wanted to be a SFFC mentor.

I was looking for opportunities to help people.

How does SFFC work?

We lead freshman orientation for two days before school starts.

We’re with them all day, give tours around campus and talk about campus life. Throughout the year, we meet with our [assigned] freshman advisory class once a week. Ms. Lai, our advisor, creates the curriculum, and we go through various topics like listening and

taking care of our emotions. We do different activities and try to make it fun. We use it as a space where they can grow and learn.

What do you get out of the program as a mentor?

Being a mentor has definitely inspired me to be a leader and follow a career path that involves leadership. I am planning to apply to the military academies. SFFC gives you a chance to connect with younger kids and gives you a new perspective on interacting with different types of people. In sports, as older athletes, we have to set an example.

Words are really powerful, but I think that the biggest thing that younger kids look up to upperclassmen for is their actions and how they perform. I have been blessed to have good mentors in my family, coaches, teachers, older students. I just want people I mentor to grow to be leaders themselves someday.

What have you learned about leadership as a TEDx co-director?

It’s definitely helped me work better with other people and see different perspectives. Everyone’s different with certain abilities and experiences. You need to take people’s personal stories into account.

The biggest thing with TEDx is that, sometimes, you just want your story to be shared because it isn’t always heard or told in the way you want. TEDx gives people a chance to share their story and give back to the community.

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LANCER ATHLETICS NEWS ABOUT MR. WILBURN n Former Assistant Director

of Athletics, Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, and Director of Athletics, Palo Alto High School

n B.S., kinesiology and sport

management, and M.S., sport management, San Jose State University

n Co-founder and Executive

Board member, the First Chance U. Foundation

n Youth sport coach, YMCA

of Silicon Valley; past volunteer roles include basketball coach, Menlo Park City School District; food distributor, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley

Mr. Wilburn, second from right, with former Saint Francis athletic directors (from left) Tim Houlihan, Steve DeMaestri and Michael

In July, Saint Francis welcomed a new director of athletics, Therren Wilburn, a talented administrator who is passionate and purposeful about the role athletics play in the development of students’ body, mind and spirit. We asked him to reflect on his new role leading Lancer athletics.

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ATHLETICS IS A GREAT AVENUE TO BUILD PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT LAST THROUGHOUT ONE’S LIFE. Innately you learn how to assimilate with others while learning to define your role for the greater good. I think some qualities that athletics teaches are time management skills, how to make ethical decisions and understanding how effort often equals results.

EDUCATING THE WHOLE HUMAN IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE HOLY CROSS MISSION AND CORRELATES DIRECTLY WITH ATHLETICS. It’s my job to remind coaches that we are investing holistically into our student-athletes’ wellbeing, on and off the playing surface.

I AM MOST EXCITED TO JOIN A THRIVING ATHLETICS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. Not often in athletics are you able to join a program with such tradition and respect among competing schools. It’s wise to assess current practices and then, with innovative thinking, implement changes that make the department more efficient. That’s the mindset I am taking into my first year here at Saint Francis.

From top: The softball, baseball and volleyball teams celebrate big wins last spring.

2021-22 Sports Accolades The 2021-22 school year was historic for Saint Francis High School. CalHiSports.com named Saint Francis “State School of the Year” for its remarkable sports achievements. It marked the second time in 29 years that the school earned the top spot, thanks to an unforgettable 2021 fall football championship and strong finishes in softball, baseball and boys volleyball. Of note:

• Softball wins first-ever California Interscholastic Federation Northern California Division I championship • Baseball and volleyball win the Central Coast Section (CCS) titles • Jessica Oakland ’22 named State D1 Girls Athlete of the Year and Ms. Softball Player of the Year • Sydney Stewart ’22 named Most Valuable Player of Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American Softball Game • Terry O’Donnell ’87 named California State Coach of the Year for Girls Swimming and Diving, awarded by the California Coaches Association • Jonah Carson named 2022 VolleyballMag.com National Boys High School Coach of the Year • Greg Calcagno ’83 named State Football Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports • Girls cross country wins CCS and places fourth in the state

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Innovation@SF

with Shraddha Chaplot, Head of Innovation

I

often envision what the perfect project, experience and moment looks like for our students. Once I’ve replayed the details of the scenario over and over, I work backward like a true reverse engineer and figure out all the components to make it happen.

They need to see who they can be. They need to see that they have a part to play in the future of our community and society.

When I joined Saint Francis in July 2020, daydreaming and reverse engineering were exactly how I approached my role in leading innovation for the school. After all, believing that the impossible can become a reality is at the heart of every invention and innovation.

I’m so excited to create this possibility. We’ve only just begun.

In 2021-22, our Innovation@Saint Francis program provided amazing opportunities for 100 students; allowing them to explore real-world issues. As we build on the success of our partnership with Santa Clara University’s Healthcare Innovation and Design team (formerly the BioInnovation and Design Lab) and our partnership with htmelle (see below), we have opportunities for more partnerships.

Our goal is for EVERY student to participate in at least one Innovation project experience during their four years with us.

To accomplish this, we seek to grow and partner with people and organizations within our community and beyond who will provide projects, programs and partnerships for our students.

These scenarios allow students to see their purpose in the world, to challenge their potential and to shift their mindset from being passive observers to active participants and contributors.

This is the perfect way for our alumni and parent community to engage. If you have an idea, let’s chat. If you don’t have an idea, let’s chat anyway and explore! I will work with you every step of the way to bring project ideas for our students to life.

Opportunities await for our current Lancers. They are actively applying for and working on the next programs with Santa Clara University, including Innovation in Dementia Care, the Healthcare Innovation Mentorship Program and the BioFeedback in Immersive Environments.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Be our guest at the upcoming events: • Innovation in Dementia Care Pitchfest and Celebration: Nov. 30, 5:30 p.m.

• An Evening in Virtual Reality: Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m.

Look for more event details on our calendar: sfhs.com/calendar To learn more about our upcoming projects and programs visit sfhs.com/innovation or email me at shraddhachaplot@sfhs.com.

I deeply believe in this generation. They are activists using their voices, heart, knowledge and actions to change the world.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: HTMELLE This past summer, htmelle provided 17 Lancer girls with an opportunity to explore design thinking, cognitive science, computer science and entrepreneurship skills in an integrated five-week, on-campus bootcamp. The months-long preparation ensured a smooth and meaningful experience

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for our participants and partner.

“Saint Francis High School was a dream partnership for htmelle,” says Marielle Ednalino, htmelle executive director. “The school community fully embraced our mission, and they understood that creating success together meant deep collaboration instead of just handing us a set of

keys and a classroom. It taught us how to foster a warm and welcoming community that encourages

new friendships and experiences to be a part of a bigger family.”

WHAT’S IN MY

Brush Pens

“I always have my brush pens in my backpack. I started with calligraphy and then veered more toward brush lettering because it was more bouncy, curvy and flexible. I use my lettering in signs for various campus activities, such as newspaper and student government.”

Backpack?

Leadership inspires everything Arhana Aatresh ’23 does. As one of the three TEDx co-directors, she oversees creative direction of the event, works with every speaker to hone their talks, and plans event logistics, with work starting a year prior. She joined the TEDx board as a sophomore; this year, she’s shepherding a bumper crop of TEDx applications. She’s excited about possible new TEDx outlets like lunchtime “mini-talks.” Arhana, who is in year two as editor-in-chief of The Lancer, the student newspaper (thelancer.sfhs.com), champions others’ voices: “TEDx is one of few spaces where students can authentically share their ideas beyond creative writing and the newspaper. It’s rooted in personal experiences and inspires others.”

Her Laptop

“It’s my portal for everything I do, including the curriculum I create for Inclusive World, a non-profit devoted to developing skills of differently abled youth, where I’ve volunteered since seventh grade. All the TEDx talks are on it and my sheet music.

This past summer, I used my laptop to conduct a literature search, reading over 250 papers from which I analyzed data, for my internship at a startup in Mountain View. Additionally, I have been working as a research intern for a UC Davis lab, where I have worked on a project in the realm of cognitive science, examining what factors like socioeconomics and politics influence people’s delay of gratification related to COVID-19 preventative behaviors like mask wearing and social distancing.

I hope to get a PhD in neuroscience and go the research route.”

Chile Garlic Cashews

“My favorite snack — chile garlic cashews from Trader Joe’s — is always in my backpack. I enjoy cooking, too. One of my favorites is a salmon dish that I always grew up cooking with my dad. It has an Asian vinaigrette with mustard, and it’s wonderful because it’s a cool combination of flavors.”

Photo With Fellow ASB Leaders Sheet Music From “Mamma Mia!”

“I’m an accompanist for the string ensemble, but last year, I tried something new and I joined the pit orchestra for the spring production, ‘Mamma Mia!’ It was such a blast! In the pit, all three pianos were wired to the house. You need headphones to hear signals coming back, and you can’t always hear the group playing. My favorite song to play was the ‘Overture’ because it combined the best parts of all the songs.”

Arhana, bottom left, first row.

“I’ve served student council for all four years now, but I started in student government in fifth grade. At Saint Francis, there’s been more room to grow especially now with ASB [Associated Student Body].

The leadership conference was wonderful.

We met leaders from five other Holy Cross high schools. We did community bonding and workshops, listened to speakers, and brainstormed on ways to bring the speaker’s topic to our campus.

We’re looking at things that carry on past our time at Saint Francis and ways that the entire school can put its energy into something that matters to them. We hosted a leadership retreat for all Student Council and Rally Board members in August based on our Austin conference.”

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What I Did During Summer Vacation

High school students across the country returned to a more traditional summer of in-person activities in 2022. Saint Francis High School students and educators enjoyed a variety of academic, cultural and leadership experiences — unique opportunities to explore their passions and dig deep into their purpose.

Mrs. Moorhouse, left, and her sister with the docuseries film crew

ABIGAIL BULLOCK ’23 Helped provide medical care in the Dominican Republic

For two weeks, through the program Global Leadership Adventures, Abigail and 23 teens from around the U.S. assisted a local doctor at three medical clinics for underserved people. She recorded basic health information and constructed bathrooms for families who didn’t have one with recycled plastic bottles and strips of chicken wire.

“I learned that one can live a good and fulfilled life on the most basic things. This trip helped me realize that I definitely want to work in the medical field and with kids, perhaps pediatric nursing.”

Abigail Bullock, front

ALLISON MACK ’23 Traveled to Fiji for adventure, community service and cultural learning

Through Global Leadership Adventures, Allison had a two-week adventure swimming beneath hidden waterfalls, snorkeling, zip lining through rainforests and experiencing a new culture in an intimate way. She lived with native Fijian families, participated in traditional ceremonies and dances and learned to farm and cook their food. She also protected the marine ecosystem by picking up trash along the beach and helped local rangers rebuild forests and protect dunes.

“I enjoy learning about new cultures and interacting with different families and villages. I remember these interactions in the villages the most.”

Allison Mack (second from right, kneeling)

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ROSALYN MOORHOUSE

Religious Studies teacher

Participated in a nine-week study with her identical twin at Stanford University to examine the merits of a plantbased diet

Mrs. Moorhouse was assigned an omnivore diet, while her sister Carolyn Sideco consumed a vegan diet, and the two followed a rigorous fitness regimen during the study. A former “gym rat,” Mrs. Moorhouse sought to get back into shape after two years of a sedentary, pandemic lifestyle. She learned that she already eats well when she is mindful of it.

The experience also allowed her to reflect on what it means to be a twin.

The results of the study and the journey of the volunteers will be shown in a future docuseries and be available for streaming.

“Of all the twin pairs in the study, we are the least alike. It’s fun to be a twin, and we have some of the twin stereotypes. But we have varied interests and giftedness and enjoy being recognized as both individuals and as identical twins.”

From left: Will Li, Zachary Romero, Isabella Pignati, Esther Yang, Arhana Aatresh, Abigail Bullock (Senior Student Council), Diya Hasteer, Boladale Erogbogbo

LILY ARANGIO ’23 Organized a march against gun violence

After the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting, Lily collaborated with local March for Our Lives chapters in the Bay Area for an anti-gun violence march and rally that drew 500 people from San Francisco to San Jose. A member of the march lead team, Lily led chants, talked with attendees and saw the greater community assemble for a common cause.

“It’s easy to be discouraged when headlines constantly share devastating news, but the protest was a great reminder that there are so many people out there fighting for a better, safer world.”

WILL LI ’23 Attended a leadership conference hosted by the Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward’s University with fellow Saint Francis ASB members and students from other Holy Cross high schools

Will and his Associated Student Body peers spent a week in Austin, Texas, honing leadership styles and engrossing themselves in a larger Holy Cross family. They collaborated on presentations, learned about the history of Holy Cross, and did outreach like building homes for the homeless and cleaning saddles for a therapeutic horse riding ranch. The Lancers also shared a meal with Brothers who have retired to Austin.

“Meeting other students from Holy Cross schools made me appreciate how extensive the Holy Cross community is and all the diversity within it.”

AARAV SONTAKKE ’25 Interned with a University of California, Berkeley researcher in astrophysics

Aarav was the only high school intern at the Berkeley SETI Research Center at UC Berkeley. He analyzed data of 1,200 stars classified as eclipsing binaries — star systems in two stars revolve around each other, partially blocking a portion of light as they pass in front of our view — in a database for astronomers, identifying anomalies where stars were misclassified.

“There is so much to know and so much to learn.

Whether it is the nagging curiosity or the drive to want to contribute to humanity’s knowledge of our universe, astrophysics fascinates me because there are so many beautiful creations of nature left undiscovered.”

Aarav Sontakke on the UC Berkeley campus

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“Holy Cross will grow like a mighty tree and constantly shoot forth new limbs whose branches will produce yet others, and all nourished from the same sap and endowed with the same life.”

BLESSED BASIL MOREAU, FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS, CIRCULAR LETTER 65

Lancer

FOR LIFE E

ngagement is a word tossed around a lot in the Bay Area. Social media and tech firms talk about engaging users, one of the key metrics for a digital world designed to skim the surface.

At Saint Francis High School, our definition of engagement goes much deeper. The Brothers who founded our school embraced the Blessed Basil Moreau’s measure of mission – the formation of young people.

They knew, as our Holy Cross educators know today, that formation is not a singular, “one-and-done” activity. It comes from big moments and everyday experiences, in class, on campus walkways and out in the world.

And it transforms everyone in our Lancer community, today and for life.

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Q+A Jason Curtis President

Q A

Why is engagement important to us as a community?

Engagement is different from participation and involvement.

Engagement is a place where people’s hearts and minds are changed. It’s easier to form young people if everyone around them is being formed as well.

If they are surrounded by educators who are constantly learning and want to have experiences of grace, then students are much more likely willing to be formed. How much more likely would they be if we also engaged our parents? We have a simple ministry: We form people who come to us, and not only have our students come to our door, but also our educators and our parents.

The Rules of Engagement

Q A

What does it mean to be formed?

If I think about the feelings our students have for an experience they have, whether it’s senior retreat or their athletics, there is something that will stick with them forever, something they will always want to get back to. I’m not talking about a win or a loss. There are moments of grace where we understand there’s a fundamental truth and we are different because of the experience. As adults, we all

can think back to those times where it wasn’t merely a good moment, it was really a true moment, where we found or discovered a truth. I see that truth in our alumni. It’s clear that they have been formed and transformed by their time here.

Q A

What does a community that’s engaged look like?

To have engagement you need two things. First is that people need to trust that we truly love them. As an educator, I want to convey to my students that they’re known and loved by me, and parents need to trust that we care about their formation. Second is that people need to believe that other people also care about their formation, whether that’s classmates, teammates or other parents. That’s why you get to know other people. At our parent events, we all meet each other to find out what others value. That’s where people start to fundamentally get formed because they’ve opened up about something they’re passionate about. In schools if we don’t allow educators to really be their full selves, they can’t share what they’re truly passionate about, and I think they’re less effective as educators. Similarly we limit parents when we only see them as parents and not as adults who are seeking more formation. So for adults, we’re focusing on what’s important to them and finding a way to make that happen.

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Lancer FOR LIFE Making a Dramatic Difference: MARY JO CARROLL, RETIRED TEACHER

productions, helping drama director Laura Rose. Last year, principal Katie Teekell ’00 tapped Mrs. Carroll to assist with her freshman advisory classes, knowing that new students would greatly benefit from Mrs. Carroll’s friendly personality and long Lancer history.

Mrs. Carroll having fun during the 2013 production of “Legally Blonde”

A

s a little girl, Mary Jo Carroll loved playing teacher to her dolls. When she became a real teacher, she inspired thousands of students during her 60-year career – 33 years at Saint Francis teaching English and Religious Studies – before retiring in 2021. When the pandemic eliminated her plans for numerous volunteer possibilities, Mrs. Carroll returned to one of the places she loved most: backstage during Saint Francis’ drama productions.

Since 1988, Mrs. Carroll has assisted with rehearsals and costuming for school drama

Though unplanned, it’s been the perfect retirement activity for Mrs. Carroll. She loves the ongoing connections with students, hearing “Hi, Mrs. Carroll!” from across the yard (she also receives the same greeting wherever she goes, jokes her husband Don), and eating lunch with colleagues. “Being here again gives me the opportunity to still say, ‘Thank you, God, that I’m here,’” Mrs. Carroll says. “To be part of the students’ maturation process and formation, there’s nothing like it,” she says. “To watch how my colleagues enriched the lives of their students and brought forth the good qualities was so great. You can see why I missed being at Saint Francis.”

She credits her Lancer mentors from Ms. Rose, who taught her how to work with students during auditions, and administrators and department chairs, especially retired English teacher Len Christensen who helped her get acclimated to full-time teaching. The Brothers who worked and lived on campus showed her the ways of Holy Cross. “They shared their knowledge and expertise and

their humility with which they lived their lives,” she adds.

To be sure, retired life has its perks. There’s no 5:30 a.m. wakeup call; she can stay up late; and she can meet friends for weekday lunch. Her continuing role at Saint Francis, whether answering freshmen’s questions or advising on the next theater production, has its perks, too. “I absolutely love it,” she says.

“I had such a marvelous experience at Saint Francis, and I’m so grateful for it. I’m hoping that it lasts as long as it possibly can for me.”

Lancer Roundup: Taught English and Religious Students from 1988 until 2021 Assisted with more than 60 Saint Francis drama productions to date Parent of Mary ’88 and longtime Saint Francis teacher Don Carroll Favorite productions: • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 2012 • “Fiddler on the Roof” 2016 • “The Miracle Worker” 2017 Favorite Saint Francis moment: Sitting in an English Department meeting, listening to her colleague and son Don Carroll speak: “I remember really liking what I heard from him, being impressed with what he had to say, and being proud of him.”

Paying It Forward: MARIO GOSALVEZ ’01, FOUNDER, 40 LANCERS PROGRAM

“S

uccess in life is largely predicated on opportunity. This was a way to pay forward all the doors that have been opened for me and many others in the Lancer alumni community.

In developing the 40 Lancers program, I wanted to play a small role in providing the same for others.

“The success of this program has shown me that we can all find ways to make an impact on this community. I’ve been inspired by my fellow Alumni Council members who immediately stepped up to get the program off the ground and the friends and family who also jumped at the opportunity six years

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ago. Seeing our first two beneficiaries graduate and thrive in college has been especially rewarding and motivates us to continue the momentum. We are currently on our way to sponsoring our third student.”

Lancer Roundup: Executive Vice President, Filice Insurance Agency Member, Saint Francis Alumni Council, 2016-current

Best Seat in the House: DR. WILL STRAW, VOLUNTEER TEAM DOCTOR

“I

began volunteering in 1982 because of Richard Carr, a physical therapist I met at Palo Alto Medical Clinic who had kids at Saint Francis. He was a benefactor and served on the Board of Directors. He was looking out for Saint Francis and thought that I’d be a good person to serve the athletic department as a volunteer team physician.

“I started with just boys basketball, then girls basketball and then I started covering football, and I’ve been doing that ever since. On the sidelines you have the best seat in the house.

Dr. Will Straw on the Lancer sidelines

Lancer Roundup: Parent of Kate ’93, Erin ’98, Colleen (RIP) and Bill Jr. Team doctor, San Francisco Giants from 1986-1998 President, Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association, 1996 Team doctor, San Jose Sharks from 1991-1999

“At a girls basketball game, one of the Lancers tripped and hit her head on the floor toward the end of the second quarter. She had a big laceration on her forehead, and there was blood everywhere. We took her to the training room with her parents, and I stitched her up. In

the middle of the third quarter, she went back in the game. To the surprise of everybody, she was the leading scorer in the game despite the injury. People have always been appreciative of what I do. No one has ever questioned if I said somebody shouldn’t go back in the game.

“Most schools in our league have a team doctor, but not all. Some high schools don’t have athletic trainers, so our athletic trainers and I would cover both teams and help out whenever needed. So we’re very lucky at Saint Francis to now have two athletic trainers and a team doctor and great facilities.

“Our student trainers, especially in football, are always eager and willing to learn. They ask me questions about medical things, and I let them help me with cutting the stitches, little things to pique their interest in medicine.”

“I am a Lancer for life because the foundation that the Brothers and my educators provided for me as a high school student laid the groundwork for my own vocation. No matter where my path led after graduation, I consistently felt a pull back to this campus and community. To now have the opportunity to help create that same sense of welcome and belonging for our current students, educators and families is truly a blessing.”

PRINCIPAL KATIE TEEKELL ’00

Keeping It in the Family:

Digital Do-Gooder:

JJ MONTALVO ’26

MARY ARNONE, PARENT

“I

“M

“My family has taken the mantra of ‘Pride and Poise’ from Saint Francis football and carried it to the local community, specifically in Sunnyvale Pop Warner and Little League. We’re a very big family, and one thing that stands out to me is how many of my family members are involved in the community and giving back.

Whether it’s through coaching youth sports or running youth organizations, my family has taught me the value of a solid education, working hard to achieve good grades and to always be a person of great character – a lot of which they learned at Saint Francis.”

“I am convinced social media and the world in general aren’t kind to our teenagers. Sometimes even our parenting can be overbearing and echoes a sense of not measuring up, Parent of JaneAnne ’18 and and I say this as a parent who has done Anthony ’22 this very thing. Online, I try to point out things that are good. I leave comments for the Saint Francis accounts when I see the talent of the students on display. I am, quite frankly, moved by some of the stories and photos I see. I think students and staff should hear that they are valued by God and that their gifts flow from Him. They have things that are valuable to offer the school community.”

am the 24th Montalvo family member to attend Saint Francis.

I’m not going to be the last.

I have a younger sister in the fifth grade at Saint Simon.

Lancer Roundup: Freshman football team Member of BRIC Brothers

y children are no longer students, so my primary reason to follow Saint Francis social media accounts now is to foster encouragement. I have been told that I am an encouraging person.

Kids and youth need encouragement because about 95 percent of the world tells them that they’re not ‘good enough.’

Lancer Roundup:

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Lancer FOR LIFE Avery Lu with Saint Francis students

Lancer Roundup: Parent of Sophia Lu ’24 Tech professional with 10+ years of working as an entrepreneur and training other entrepreneurs LancerHacks keynote speaker, 2020 Lancer Tank judge, 2022

Encouraging Innovation:

Volunteer mentor with entrepreneur class, 2022

AVERY LU, LANCERHACKS, LANCER TANK AND ENTREPRENEUR CLASS VOLUNTEER

“T

oday’s teenagers and college students have access to more knowledge, experience and tools than ever before.

With the proper guidance of the older generation, they have a better opportunity to tackle the big issues they care about.

Young people want to solve problems and are optimistic about improving things. That’s why I enjoy working with them. Classes like Entrepreneurship provide a healthy and safe environment for teenagers to explore and experiment with solutions, thus serving as a catalyst to seeing projects come to life and be implemented to solve real-world problems relevant to industry and society. This fulfills the promise of a Holy Cross education.

“When we attended the Saint Francis Open House when my daughter Sophia Lu was considering several private high schools, I came upon a booth for the Design Thinking and Social Justice class and met Fr. Steve Kim. I chatted with him and shared with him my background as a tech professional, entrepreneur and mentor to startups. Fr. Kim invited me to Lancer Tank in December 2019, and the following month, he introduced me to the student director of the 2020 LancerHacks hackathon who was in need of a keynote speaker to talk about the social impact of creating companies. At the event, I was happy to share my experience as an entrepreneur starting my first venture, Palo Alto Scientific, an AI sports analytic startup focusing on helping runners avoid pain and injury, as well as improve their performance.”

Learning to Lead, Lancer-Style: HALEY FLAHAVAN ’22, LEADER OF STUDENT AMBASSADOR GROUP FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“T

he goal of the student ambassador group is to draw student connections to the Board of Directors. I was really excited to get to know the board and for them to get to know me and see the impact they’re having. The other goal is to teach leadership skills so students can personalize their own leadership style.

Lancer Roundup: Co-director TEDx, junior-senior years Member of SF Family Club, junior-senior years Tennis, freshman-junior years Freshman, University of Oregon, majoring in psychology and business, minoring in creative writing

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“When Holy Cross educators from around the world visited Saint Francis, Mr. Curtis told me I had an hour to do whatever I wanted with them. I’ve never had that great a responsibility before. He said that the educators would need a tour of the campus but told me not to do a standard tour. I asked student leaders to take the educators to their two favorite spots on campus, and in the end, they all got a feel for what was meaningful to the students.

“Serving as a student ambassador made me realize that there are so many people with leadership potential; you just have to look for them. Some of the people that impressed me the most were people from TEDx. They don’t have the center-of-the-room personality, but they’ll say what’s meaningful to them. A lot of times leadership is categorized by the biggest, loudest or most charismatic personality, but often what people remember are the conversations they have.

“For my freshman year in college, I’m going to feel it out, but I assume I will be taking on some leadership roles. I feel I have the confidence to be a strong leader now so I’ve looked into research opportunities, and I honestly want to lead tours. I think I would have so much fun doing that. Every college tour I went on, I thought, ‘I’m going to be you in a year.’”

Grounded in Community

Returning Home: COURTNEY OGREN ’16, ENGLISH TEACHER

“W

hen I graduated college in May 2020, my internships were canceled. I’d never thought I would be a teacher, but I love Saint Francis and I applied to be a Holy Cross intern. This has always been my happy place, and I had such a great experience here. I was the first girl to play on the football team, and the coaches didn’t even bat an eye. My brother also had a great experience. My parents love the school and continue to support it, so it just felt right to come back.

The Bay tree is where connections are first made at Saint Francis, even before students start their high school journey.

It is a climbing structure for the youngest fans, a gathering place for families and an emblem of pride for all Lancers. The Bay tree was here long before us and will outlast all of us — it is an enduring emblem of strength and community rooted in every Lancer.

“During hybrid classes, I was a co-teacher to Mary Jo Carroll. She was not only a mentor teacher, but such a great person to follow.

She taught from the heart. She advocated for me to pursue a credential program. She saw how I interacted with the students and the relationships I was developing, and she was my witness.

“I’m getting a Catholic master’s in teaching and a teaching credential in math. I am so grateful to be back. I love what it’s given me. And I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay it, but I say to my students that I hope they have just as good or more of an amazing experience than I did.”

Lancer Roundup: English 1 teacher and freshman advisor Head JV girls soccer coach Co-moderator of the Yoga Club

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saint francis high school

LANCER FAMILY CONNECTION Embracing the idea of a global community is rooted in Holy Cross education. As we kicked off the 2022-23 school year with new and returning families, we are excited to come together as one and launch Lancer Family Connection.

As a Holy Cross school, we embody the BRIC (Bring hope, Respect others, Inspire integrity, Celebrate family) values as they shape who we are and how we create possibilities for the future. Lancer Family Connection is developed from the leadership work of Lancer parents over the past several years. The purpose is to ensure that every family is fully engaged in our school community— that’s the lens through which we view our connections and will frame parent and alumni involvement opportunities going forward.

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WHAT’S THE LANCER FAMILY CONNECTION?

Lancer Family Connection was created to provide a leadership and support structure that would allow and encourage every parent at Saint Francis the opportunity to engage in our mission. Lancer Family Connection is committed to an experience that allows us to: • Lead and share the vision that every parent in our community will be engaged in our Holy Cross mission of formation.

• Create a welcoming environment for all parents at Saint Francis in every connection to the school.

• Share management resources among groups (volunteers, event organizers, team and activity parent leaders, ambassadors and more).

• Establish a new model for parent engagement that will become the blueprint for high schools across the country.

• Provide inspirational experiences for every member of our community that creates a possibility for personal transformation.

• It’s how we share our Holy Cross family formation and realize the mission of Saint Francis High School.

CONNECT TODAY Current families can join our new Schoology Parent Groups, an online forum to encourage parent connections, engagement and updates.

To get started, log on to Schoology and visit the Schoology Parent Groups Page. You also can connect to it through the parent dashboard.

Questions?

Aurea DeFranco ’84 Parent Engagement aureadefranco@sfhs.com 650-968-1213, ext. 282 sfhs.com/lancerfamily

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Imagining the Possibilities Now

Then

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PROGRESS Fall 2022

W

hen Blessed Basil Moreau opened the first Holy Cross schools in France, he took on an unorthodox approach to education. For these schools to gain credibility during a time of anti-Catholic bias in post-Revolutionary France, Moreau fought to include subjects such as science in the curriculum so that students were engaged and conversant with the issues of the day. He introduced extracurricular activities, namely music and fencing, because it was important to teach not just the mind but also the heart. These values, which we take for granted today, were out-of-the-box thinking during Moreau’s time and represent the distinct charism of a Holy Cross education.

A steel beam signed by the Saint Francis community; construction at various stages

Today we continue to build on Moreau’s vision that “education is the art of helping young people to completeness,” and we’re excited about what is to come in the new Innovation Center, in which we foresee an incalculable number of possibilities. This facility, the first to be constructed as part of the Light the Way comprehensive campaign, was designed to foster community and collaboration, creativity and curiosity. We already had a glimpse of what can be possible when we educate students in innovative ways.

Last spring, we celebrated a partnership with Santa Clara University.

Under the guidance of a neuroscientist from Santa Clara’s BioInnovation and Design Lab, nine students developed a virtual reality app that measures biofeedback through pulse sensors to enhance calm and address mental health. The event was a showcase of student ingenuity and real-world learning experiences. How transformative would it be if we could offer additional hands-on meaningful opportunities for even more students to work with industry professionals? The Innovation Center will be the space for such collaborative work.

Imagine further if a group of STEM-minded girls designed a prototype during an after-school seminar led by an alumna in one of the maker spaces of the Innovation Center. What if the 3D Printing Club joined forces with the Environmental Club on a sustainability project? Picture middle schoolers from the Ave Crux program honing public speaking skills, coached by members of our speech team in the black box theater. And as these experiences play out, imagine if other students, parents, educators or anyone from the community could see what was happening and as a result, they couldn’t help but to be present in these moments by offering words of encouragement or simply being amazed at what is going on. What’s more, these serendipitous interactions lead observers to not just one student project but multiple collaborations happening simultaneously inside and outside the Innovation Center.

We are confident that these collisions of encounter will create spark and magic, energy and excitement for all who experience the Innovation Center.

We will bless the Innovation Center on Jan. 20, 2023, fittingly the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, which celebrates the man whose innovative ideas of education continue to inspire us every day. We don’t know yet what will take place in this hub of potential and possibilities, but we can’t wait to get started.

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ALUMNI IMPACT:

Jorg Heinemann ’84 The CEO of EnerVenue, Jorg is passionate about making a positive impact on the planet.

doing as a business and our purpose for our shareholders and for the planet. Then there’s how we do it and how matters — how we interact with each other, how we communicate, how we treat each other with respect, our values.’ ”

J

org Heinemann ’84 sees the world through the mind of a mechanical engineer, the soul of a changemaker and the heart of a Lancer.

As CEO of EnerVenue, a startup ready to revolutionize the clean energy sector with a simple, virtually non-degradable, renewable and lasts-forever battery, Jorg loves thinking about how systems solve problems. “My brain is wired like a mechanical engineer,” says Jorg, who earned his electrical engineering degree at the University of California, Los Angeles. “I’ll walk into a building, look at it, and be able to tell you where the plumbing is lined up, how the electrical is wired and so on.”

Coding before coding was a thing, his high school job was writing billing software for his father’s solar panel company. The German-born Klaus Heinemann, PhD, a Stanford materials research scientist and solar panel entrepreneur who holds several patents for solar energy engineering and ozone water purification, ran his company out of the family home with Jorg and his brother Jan “Mike” Heinemann ’86 helping with prototypes.

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At Saint Francis, Jorg programmed on bulky, original IBM PCs in the school’s first computer science class, ran track, played trumpet in the marching band, took lots of science classes and tried unsuccessfully for four years to score better than a B+ in Madame West’s French class. He thought of her often when he and his family — he has four kids, ages 16 to 28 — lived in France before he took the EnerVenue job. Jorg, who now lives in San Carlos, is an avid cyclist.

He and his wife, Jennifer, have ridden their tandem bike all over the world, though he admits the “control freak” in him can’t ride in the back.

It’s the Holy Cross values he learned, though, that inspire how he leads the growing EnerVenue team that’s skyrocketed from 12 to 200-plus employees since its launch in 2020: “What Saint Francis gave me that I carry with me forever is what I tell my team,” says Jorg, whose sister Connie Heinemann Maday ‘98 also attended Saint Francis. “I say, ‘There’s what we’re

EnerVenue’s nickel hydrogen battery has an impressive provenance. NASA has used the technology for decades on the Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station. But it was too expensive for commercial applications back on Earth. When the electric vehicle market prompted a need for long-lasting, safer batteries, EnerVenue’s founder Yi Cui, PhD, took another look at his invention and redesigned it with cheaper materials that outperform the old model.

“Our battery is engineered to last for over 30,000 charge/discharge cycles, which would be three times daily for 30 years,” Jorg explains. “It can be charged quickly or slowly, and then discharged quickly or slowly.” But unlike cellphone batteries, EnerVenue’s battery won’t catch on fire, wear out or need maintenance or replacing. It works in freezing and high temperatures and is extraordinarily durable.

The no-maintenance factor is a big deal in the power industry, Jorg says: “Maintenance is typically about one-third of the levelized cost. Having a battery that lasts forever with power, flexibility and doesn’t require any maintenance is game-changing. We call our battery ‘storage made simple’ because lithium batteries are really complicated. There’s all kinds of sophisticated software and systems to keep them at the right temperature and not charge too fast or too slow or drain too much. Ours is the opposite.”

He’s very proud of its plant-friendly properties. “EnerVenue’s battery is fully recyclable and can be made anywhere on Earth,” Jorg says. For the next two years, the

company is manufacturing its batteries for commercial applications, focusing on the grid scale energy storage market. With the EnerVenue batteries strung together with solar panels, “the combination solar-plusstorage effectively becomes the power plant of the future,” he adds. EnerVenue’s residential use envisions its batteries as part of the home construction, placed where previous batteries could not be due to fire and maintenance concerns.

Jorg’s journey to the clean energy field began with a successful 20-year consulting career.

“I had my dream consulting job at Accenture, mostly in the high-tech world, but I wanted to go back to the ‘family business’ of doing something that would have a better impact on the planet,” he says. “For my dad, it was about making a difference, about using clean fuels.”

With Accenture’s blessing, he formed a consulting practice within Accenture focused on sustainability. “One of the first things I did was contact solar companies like SunPower.” Instead of landing a consulting contract, SunPower offered him a job.

“By the time I left the company in 2016, solar was by far the lowest cost form of power generation,” adds Jorg, who went

In high school, Jorg built software and helped create prototypes for his father’s solar panel company.

on to leadership roles with multiple battery companies including Primus Power Corp. before leading EnerVenue.

“I am a builder-fixer at heart,” he says.

“Starting a company is probably the ultimate build-and-fix opportunity. It requires everything to come together.” Part of what charges his approach is what he learned

four decades ago in Mountain View. “Saint Francis works really hard to help instill in the students a sense of purpose and a sense of doing things that matter beyond the individual,” Jorg says. “What can I do to help society?”

Learn more about EnerVenue at enervenue.com.

Powering an Innovative Life

We asked Jorg Heinemann ’84 for lessons learned on how to cultivate an innovative approach to work and life.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. This is one of our core themes. There is a complicated answer to every problem, every technical challenge. The knee-jerk reaction is to add some kind of complexity to solve whatever the problem is. [At EnerVenue] we force ourselves to keep going until we find a really simple way to do it.

LEARN HOW TO LEARN. That’s what Saint Francis taught me, the belief that I could learn anything. It didn’t matter what it was. That’s followed me through my whole career.

We need people who are smart, creative and know how to learn. Learn the principles of how to get stuff done or how things work and then apply those creatively to solve tomorrow’s problems.

THINK NEARER TERM. When I started at Accenture, there were people in my starting cohort whose goal was to be a partner. They burned out in the first year because they realized how hard that was going to be. I didn’t focus

on a specific career goal. I focused on learning, making sure I was contributing something, working with good people, and having fun. That was my yardstick. As long as those things are true, good things are likely to happen.

GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. You’ll find a way.

I like to do transformational things. I like to take things that are not performing as well as they could, improve the processes and systems and restructure the team so we can achieve a goal.

EQ BEATS IQ. In high school I always wanted to be the smartest person in the room [wanted to, not was], thinking IQ was the key to success. The business world taught me that emotional intelligence actually matters much more.

Fortunately, that’s learnable, even for hard-wired propeller heads like me. Saint Francis’ increased emphasis on socialemotional learning in recent years aligns well with that need.

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FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

Dear Alumni, Since 2015, the Alumni Association has been hosting Grand Reunions on campus for Holy Cross and Saint Francis High School alumni marking 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years since their graduation. Alumni responded enthusiastically, excited for the chance to celebrate with their former classmates, and grateful that the school oversaw the event planning details.

Reunion alumni were quick to point out that they did not want to wait 10 years to enjoy the next class gathering. As soon as we could, the Alumni Association added a Golden Grads Mass and Brunch for alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. We weren’t done. This year, the Grand Reunion expanded to honor classes from every five years, beginning with the 10-year reunion.

Alumni now have more chances to return to campus to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate. An added bonus of the new format is alumni have the opportunity to interact with Lancers from different classes. It’s always fun to see family members at the same reunion. Reunion guests may come from different decades, but they share similar high school traditions and Holy Cross values. No matter how many years since they graduated, they are all important parts of the Lancer Family. We like to remind them that they are Lancers for Life!

There is something magical that happens when alumni return to campus and get opportunities to interact with their former classmates, teachers and coaches.

As the memories flood back, alumni describe how Saint Francis impacted their academic, spiritual and social growth. These stories spur my memories of becoming more compassionate through volunteering at Villa Siena, boosting my confidence while conquering my hardest classes (thank you, Roger Johnson!) and forming lifelong friendships.

Many alumni were similarly transformed by their four years at Saint Francis. In this issue, you will meet several Lancers whose hearts and minds have changed as a result of a high school experience. Just as much as we want to form our students, we care deeply about our alumni. We are grateful when you stay connected and when you give back to students and educators because of the wonderful experience you had on campus.

I look forward to welcoming you back to campus for Saint Francis activities. To ensure you receive alumni information and invitations, and to share your personal milestones in Progress Class Notes, please visit sfhs.com/alumni/connect.

Our tradition continues … Go Lancers!

Greg Calcagno ’83 Alumni Director gregcalcagno@sfhs.com Twitter: @SFHSalumni Facebook: Saint Francis High School (Mountain View) Alumni Instagram: @sfhs_lancers_alumni LinkedIn: Saint Francis High School Alumni SFHS.com/alumni/giving

Hundreds of Saint Francis and Holy Cross alumni reconnected on campus for the Grand Reunion.

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Class Notes Barb Re Ondriezek HC ’62 shares that she and her husband, John, celebrated 55 years of marriage this past August.

becoming fluent in Spanish and Italian, and has been able to use these languages in business and in life.

Lana Afanasiev Guiffre HC ’69 shares that she remembers singing in combined concerts with Saint Francis and says hello to her Class of 1969.

Dave Wetlesen ’74 is semi-retired.

He is a substitute teacher for the local schools and teaches swimming.

Nadine Deach del Villar HC ’72 is thankful for the memories from St. Joseph Elementary School and Holy Cross High School and appreciates the Catholic education she received.

Robin Tischer-Smith ’73 broadened her knowledge of various academic subjects while attending Saint Francis and became interested in learning languages. She majored in the foreign languages and cultures program at Chester University,

Julie Gilberg Anderson ’81 and her husband, Andrew, were married on Nov. 10, 2021, at St. Mel’s Catholic Church in Fair Oaks, Calif. They honeymooned in Maui.

John Brazil ’84 lives in Mountain View with his wife, Libby. He works for the City of San Jose, managing the Transportation Options Program.

After 63 years, his parents continue to live in their original home one mile from campus.

Stay Connected, Lancers!

Visit sfhs.com/alumniconnect to: • Update your contact info to learn about SFHS alumni activities and opportunities • Submit Class Notes and share your latest news

Christine Capper-Singh ’84 lives in Mountain View and has three daughters, ages 29, 15 and 13.

She also has a dog, Jax, and raises backyard chickens. After 26 years at Stanford University in program management, Christine recently decided to start a new career as a real estate agent.

After living in Zurich for the bulk of the 2020-2021 COVID-19 lockdown, Guillermo Söhnlein ’84 recently relocated back to Atlanta, until at least June 2023, when his youngest son, Caleb, graduates from high school. After that, Guillermo will likely head back to Europe. His oldest child, Rebecca, is following in her dad’s footsteps, starting her second year of law school. His middle child, Daniel, is in the process of launching a new startup. Guillermo continues with his ocean, space and sustainability work by concurrently launching a submersible exploration expedition in the Bahamas, a robotic mission to Venus and a self-sustaining off-grid community in eastern Georgia.

Angela Wittman Tomaka ’84 lives in Los Altos with her husband, Paul. Her son, JT, recently graduated from San Diego State University. She enjoys taking piano lessons and gardening.

Linus Lau ’96 works as a music composer for films. One recent film he scored was “Last the Night,” which premiered in June.

Jennifer Ferrari Capelo ’97 is the events coordinator for Capelo’s Barbecue Restaurant & Beer Garden in Redwood City. Jennifer works alongside her Texas native husband, John, to bring Southern barbecue to the Bay Area. In addition to the restaurant, they offer catering and operate a food truck.

Joe Sabeh ’97 married Monica Pokorny on Aug. 28 at RitzCarlton Half Moon Bay. Lancers in attendance included Christin Whittell Ancich ’97, Rob Mibach ’97, Bryan Owen ’95, Shawna McGlennon Owen ’97, Mike Owen ’97 and Rob Poole ’97. They honeymooned in Italy.

Continued on page 25

Julie Gilberg Anderson ’81

Joe Sabeh ’97

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Class Notes Liz Smith ’98 received her second regional Emmy as a producer and writer with the PBS TV series “Changing Seas.” She also coproduced the feature documentary “Youth v Gov,” following 21 youths taking on the U.S. government in a ground-breaking lawsuit over their constitutional right to a healthy climate. The film, which is available on Netflix, has screened at 51 festivals around the world, winning 25 awards during the past year.

Jillian Crowley Koncewicz ’11

Courtney Budenholzer ’11 attended Sacred Heart University as a film student. She is working for a Bay Area company called Fridays Films as a video producer. She and her fiance moved to Nashville from New York during the pandemic and are very happy there.

Jillian Crowley Koncewicz ’11 and her husband, Kelan, were married in September 2021 in Orleans, Mass.

Blake Everhart ’07 is the producer and editor for various unscripted television shows as well as the Critics’ Choice Award-winning documentary ”Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives” and the documentary “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert.” He is also the producer of curated content for the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.

Brandon Potts ’12 is an investor at Framework Ventures, a thesisdriven venture firm that invests in and builds alongside early-stage crypto networks and founders.

Framework recently announced the launch of its $400M Fund III. Brandon was selected to the Litquidity 30 Under 30 list.

Continued on page 26

Little Lancers

Alumni, if you are the proud parent of a Little Lancer, please email LittleLancer@sfhs.com to receive a Lancer gift for your baby. Please include your address and the names of all family members.

Tierney, daug hter of Joe an d Adrienne Bateson Riccar di ’03 Klay, son of Nick and Julie Abbatelli and grandson of Da n ’78 and Lisa Isola Abbatelli ’79

Aus Dean, son of

tin and Ellen

d ’08 Belinsky War

Charlee (6 months) and Alice (3), children of Courtney Hagan ’98 Hughes and Jackie Hughes

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In Memory Br. Thomas Frey, C.S.C., who was a Holy Cross Brother for 72 years and spent more than 50 years teaching at various Holy Cross high schools, including Saint Francis, died Aug. 10, 2022.

He taught at Saint Francis from 1968 to 1969 and returned again in 1991 to 2004 to teach physics and religion and assist in Campus Ministry. A humble man of deep faith and prayer, he often turned to St. Joseph and St. Brother Andre Bessette as intercessors before God for the needs of others.

His devotion to the rosary inspired him to start the practice of saying the rosary after school with fellow educators and students, which is a tradition that continues to this day in the chapel at Saint Francis.

During his years here, Br. Tom could also be found at just about every Lancer funeral he knew about, praying alongside Br. Eamon Schaeffer, C.S.C., to support Saint Francis families in mourning.

After he retired and moved to Austin, Texas, he continued to serve in whatever ways he could. In his early retirement years, he drove older Brothers to doctors’ appointments, and throughout his time in Austin, he brought communion to the infirmed Brothers and accompanied many of them as they journeyed from this life to the next.

Casey Douglas ’14

Casey Douglas ’14 proposed to his girlfriend, Paige Lueker, in Lawrence, Kan. Casey received a juris doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law. Nicholas Cauchi ’19 graduated from the United States Marine Corps officer candidate school and will continue his education at the University of Arizona, pursuing degrees in political science and Russian language. He expects to graduate from UA and commission as a second lieutenant in the USMC in May 2023.

Luigia Maria and Guido Andrighetto, parents of Steve (Donna) and Domenic (Sherry), parents of Anthony ’09 (RIP), Dante ’11, Mario, Mary ’18, Domenic ’13, Alex ’14, Lucas ’18 and Nicolas ’22 James Balquist, father of James ’85 and John ’91 Lucianna Barsanti, mother of Dan ’67 (Shelly), Mike ’80 (Michelle), Steve ’82 (Janette) and Joyce (Don) Kudrna, grandmother of Lisa Tripp ’91, Gina ’95 (Chad) Alves, Robert ’08, Alyssa ’10 and Nicole ’12

Nicholas Cauchi ’19

A fencer at Columbia University, Ashton Daniel ’19 was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 2021. This year, he won the NCAA fencing tournament and was the first ever to win the NCAA and Ivy League championships in the same year.

Guido Budelli, father of Bob (Tana), Diane Garibaldi ’68 HC (John), Dick ’70 (Robyn ’74), grandfather of Bobby (Sierra), Mikie (Brooke), Christopher (Naomi) and Adam ’06 (Sofia), Francesca Budelli Harter ’03 (Brady), John Ross (Alicia), Michael (Keely) and Joe (Sonia) Garibaldi Nancy Cariani, mother of Leslie ’84, Jennifer ’84 and David ’88 Tom Casey ’80, brother of Greg ’83, Chris ’85, Keith ’89 and Peter ’92 Kristie Driscoll, mother of Vanessa Driscoll Mulcahey ’05, Kara ’07 and Danielle ’13 Roger Geerts, husband of Sherri, father of Scott ’81, Todd ’82 and Eric ’83 Tom Gonzales ’96, husband of Becky, father of Emma and Leo

Ashton Daniel ’19

Mary Annette Holmquist, mother of Theresa ’74, Cynthia Holmquist Sackman ’77, Carrie Holmquist Kaufmann ’78 and Mark ’82, grandmother of Tony Sackman, Kyle

Sackman ’06, Rebecca Sackman Angelo ’07 (Danny Angelo ’07) and Stephanie Kaufmann ’09 Ruth Houlihan, mother of Karen Frohoff (Bill), Tim (Stephanie), Michael (Paula), Gerald (Karen); and Kevin (Nick), grandmother to Ryanne, Patrick, Brian ’05, Kelsey ’07, Matthew ’09, Kassandra, Lilah and Keira, greatgrandmother to William, Jackson, Nora, Luke, Sophie, Ariah, Liliana, Liam, James Timothy (JT), Rylie and Hallie Harvey Incerpi, father of Marc ’82 and Jon ’84 LaRena Lommatzsch, mother of Mike ’76 and Patty Lommatzch Romero ’83 (Luis), grandmother of Thomas Romero ’08, Adriana Romero Simmons ’10 and Daniel Romero ’15 Susan Loosse, mother of Meredith Loosse Lobeck ’89 and Amanda Loosse Hrncirik ’98 Nutan Malhotra, wife of Pankaj, mother of Urvashi ’12 and Arnav ’21 John Meccariello, husband of Lillian, father of John S. ’74, David, Lyne ’81 and Maria Williams ’89 Norman “Norm” Rousseau, husband of Jean, father of Peter (Karen Kleinman), Suzanne ’80 (Paul O’Leary), David ’81 (Lynn Warner), Mark ’82 (Leslie Wells) and Michelle Rousseau Coulter ’85 (RIP) Sue Scruggs, mother of David ’74, Jeff ’75 and Todd ’77 Dan Winn ’61 William “Bill” Zappettini, father of Anna ’83

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Gathering as a community at a liturgy

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

#Lancerlife

Saint Francis High School from the point of view of yearbook photographers

Photo by Paige Allen

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

Photo by Paige Allen

The junior class making some noise

Starting the day with fellow classmates at senior sunrise

Celebrating on the football field

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PROGRESS Fall 2022

ASB members speak to the student body

The senior class shows off its Lancer spirit

Photo by Paige Allen

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

Water polo coach Terry O’Donnell ’87

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar

Fighting to score a goal

The student cheering section in full force at a football game

The Bay tree always stands guard

Photo by Abhijit Nambiar Fall 2022 PROGRESS

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from the archives

FUTURE FORWARD

To celebrate January’s ribboncutting ceremony and opening of the new, state-of-the-art Innovation Center, we thought a look back at campus technology over the decades was in order.

Tinkering in Electronics Club in 1963

Larry Steinke, Saint Francis technology director, in 1998, a year after he began teaching physics at the school

In the science lab at Holy Cross High School in 1972, before the school merged with Saint Francis High School

Cutting-edge tech in 1987 in the Saint Francis computer lab with the recently introduced Macintosh Plus with its standard 1 megabyte of RAM and new SCSI port

Using the original MacBook, introduced in 2006, in a classroom

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HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR Liz Franco ’93, associate campus minister, explains the power of retreats

WHY ARE RETREATS SO TRANSFORMATIVE? Going on a retreat gives students an opportunity to step away from everyday routines and connect with peers on a deeper level. They reflect on their time at Saint Francis and on their relationships. They think and talk about things that they wouldn’t normally talk about.

And, they’re making new friends and allowing their hearts to open up a little bit more, which gives them permission to be vulnerable.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN CHANGED BY YOUR ROLE IN LEADING RETREATS? As I’ve grown with this program, I have found that through my interactions with my student leaders and the students and adults who come on retreat, it’s hard for my heart not to be changed.

Just listening to everyone’s story changes your heart. When that happens over and over again, it connects you to what it means to be Holy Cross.

WHAT DO YOU WANT STUDENTS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR RETREAT EXPERIENCE? That they are loved by the people who surround them — their families, their friends, their God, their teachers. A lot of times

students don’t feel noticed or heard so when they go on retreat, I want them to feel all of those things. When I train my student leaders, I’m very intentional about telling them that when a student is speaking, nothing else matters in the world because they are sharing from their heart. When you put that attitude in every scenario on retreat, it binds people.

HOW ARE YOU A LANCER FOR LIFE? I’ve been here for 25 years, I’ve met my husband John here, and I’ve raised my children here. But it comes down to a personal note.

When my husband was sick with brain cancer, this community surrounded us with love and support, and they’ve continued to do that in all parts of our life. Not only just with me, but with John and my kids when they were growing up and as students here.

There’s this care that exists, and it transforms you. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Now, John’s doing great, and he’s literally a miracle. When the doctor says the tumor is stable, that puts perspective in life. Sometimes when we get worried about the little things, it really comes down to those basic things that make us feel human.

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SaintFrancis FrancisHigh HighSchool School Saint Institutional Advancement Institutional Advancement 1885 Miramonte Ave 1885 Miramonte Ave. Mountain View CA 94040-4098 Mountain View, CA 94040-4098

Blast from the Past This rally photo from 1987 is proof that many of our educators are Lancers for life.

Whether they are still teaching or returning to campus for football games or alumni events, they have impacted generations of students.