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

Innovation@SF

with Shraddha Chaplot, Head of Innovation

Ioften 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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 Backpack?

“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.”

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.”

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.”

Photo With Fellow ASB Leaders

“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.”

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

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.”

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

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

WILL LI ’23

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.” 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.”