School Ties

FEATURES

26 Literacy in the 21st Century

32 It’s Not a Me Solution, It’s a We Solution

Cover Photo: Sienna G. ’28 dances at the All School Día de los Muertos celebration. (p. 23)

Editorial Team: Charis Adams, Deanna Bruton, Sally Carlile, Anna Heidinger, Lisa Hilgers, Kimberly Pinkson, Nick Vidinsky, Heather Wright Ojha

Dear Friends,

Community is a term often heard on our campus at San Domenico. Understandably so, as together with study, reflection, and service, community is among our four core values. We mean to not only provide our students with a sense of support and belonging in their learning careers at SD, but also teach our students the strength of community in enabling them to achieve their goals and to be change-makers in the world around them.

Our recent Employee Recognition Ceremony (page 8) is a perfect example. It was a particularly stirring event for me, and not just because I received a beautifully engraved gift in honor of my 22 years at SD! In truth, I was overcome with emotion and gratitude seeing the sheer number of faculty and sta who have dedicated so much of themselves to our School, for so many years. In a post-pandemic era when the “Great Resignation” threatens the stability of schools across the country, we honored 58 individuals who have been with us at San Domenico for more than 10 years, some of whom have been here for more than 40!

As an administrator, I am in awe of how my colleagues have helped SD deliver on our mission in the face of challenges in recent years—challenges facing our campus, our students, and the world. On a personal level, many of these educators taught, coached, directed, and counseled my own three children in their careers at SD. As a parent, I will forever be grateful to this community who has mentored and supported my children, giving them such a strong foundation not only as students, but as people.

As you read through this issue of School Ties, you’ll see the impact that this community has on all of our students. There is no shortage of examples exhibiting the academic environment that we all—faculty, sta , parents, guardians, and friends—foster for our K-12 students. In this last semester alone, our students met Dr. Jane Goodall (one of my childhood heroes) and Congressman Jared Hu man. Faculty and Family Association volunteers brought the Garden Fair back to life for the first time since the pandemic began. Our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive was the most bountiful in recent years, bringing in 53,000 items of nutritious foods for our neighbors in need.

The ways in which our incredible students reflect this community back to us through their own actions and accomplishments never cease to amaze me. You, too, will be amazed as you read through these pages and learn more about our Panthers winning Model UN conference awards, having their films screened in national festivals, earning All League recognition in athletics, supporting people in need, and so much more.

Every day, I am inspired by our community of students, educators, and families to take action in order to make the world a better place. I hope you are, too. Go Panthers!

Cecily Stock, MA, JD ’77 Head of School

GAME ACADEMY Learning Multidisciplinary Problem-Solving through Large-Scale Collaborative Production

Picture yourself watching a movie that you can control. You can make decisions as the story unfolds, determining which choices the protagonist makes and then seeing the results play out in front of you. This is exactly what SD Upper School students are creating as part of the Game Academy course sequence.

The game design industry is mind-bogglingly huge, larger, in fact, than the film industry. Still, in many respects, it remains in relative infancy. San Domenico Game Academy

Lead Bruce Gustin likens the current state of the industry—which includes technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality

(VR)—to that of personal computers in 1980: on the precipice of exponential growth and ubiquity. Apple, Microsoft, HP, and Facebook’s parent company Meta are all investing billions in the sector, as these companies see the future being not about games per se, but simulations. For instance, imagine a doctor performing a dozen heart surgeries—and analyzing the results—before ever operating on a real patient.

Gustin created many of the courses now being taught in the SD Game Academy, all of which have gained UC approval (fulfilling University of California application requirements by demonstrating the rigor of a

college preparatory course). The program at SD is singularly unique in its integration with other Upper School arts programming. San Domenico is the first school in the country to o er this level of cross-functional collaboration between programs because we believe the future workplace demands integrated skills.

The Game Academy course sequence begins with Essentials of 3D and XR Environments, before branching into courses that include not just programming, but digital art and English as well. Second-year Game Academy students can join students from our animation, digital art, and film pathways, where together

they learn to produce three-dimensional work in the 3D Animation/XR Assets course, or learn storytelling across film, television, and games in an Honors English course. The third-year class brings these writers, musicians, modelers, and animators together to make a single, complicated, multidisciplinary project using industry tools including Unity, Maya, Blender, Substance 3D, and Logic Pro. Fourth-year students return as production managers to steer the next year’s entire project.

The big learning moments extend far beyond the technological tools at hand. “In the Game Academy, we are not teaching students how to code,” explains Gustin. “We’re teaching them how to think through a problem. How do you identify, understand, and then solve that problem? How can you know if the solution actually worked?”

Through large team projects, students learn collaboration, project management, and perseverance. They learn how to work with people, how to understand project scope, and how to successfully change direction midstream. In short, they are learning how to succeed in the world.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION CEREMONY SD Honors the Stalwarts of Our Community

We know that SD would not be the special place that it is without the selfless dedication of our incredible faculty and sta . With our school theme for this year focusing on community and interconnection, a recent Professional Development Day presented the perfect opportunity to reinstate our Employee Recognition Ceremony: a tradition of honoring colleagues who have devoted themselves to San Domenico for many, many years.

This is no small group! We are proud to share that our ceremony recognized 58 colleagues who have each been a part of our community for at least 10 years, 16 of whom have surpassed 20 years at SD!

These colleagues have experienced monumental and dramatic changes over their time at San Domenico: the extension of coeducation into our Upper School, the relinquishment of our Catholic identity, and of course the pandemic, when we had more students in-person at school—all day, every day—than any other school in the Bay Area.

These community members didn’t just survive these changes; they have been leaders in creating the San Domenico that we know and love today: they have been innovators in integrating technology, expanding arts programs, putting SD on the map for our work in sustainability and ecoliteracy, creating hybrid learning environments, rethinking our religious studies classes, taking us to two state basketball championships, and raising our awareness around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. They have worked tirelessly to maintain and renovate our campus as we have gone through rapid growth, ensuring that we can do all of this work responsibly and in a financially sustainable manner.

It is because of their collective e orts that our school is thriving!

20-24 Years

Shelley Flint, Director Of Sustainability

Kathy Laughlin, Director of Counseling

Guillermo Reyes, Maintenance *Retired 10/7/22

Lisa Richter, Lower School Counselor

Carrie Robley, Asst. Head of School for Student Life

Je Skaggs, Associate Athletic Director

Hilary Staples, Upper School Teacher

Cecily Stock , ’77, Head Of School

Karlyn Strand, K-12 Librarian

25+ Years

Ulises Flores, Maintenance

Terry Hoy, Garden Support

Jennifer Nash, Director of Admissions

Patrick O’Connell, Maintenance

Jose Padilla, Director of Facilities

Luis Rodriguez, Maintenance

Dirk Weiss, Upper School Teacher

15-19 Years

Jose Arnulfo Claros, MaintenanceGrounds Crew Supervisor

Rob DeNunzio, Director Of Music Conservatory & Digital Arts

Sonya Evans, Upper School Teacher

Sofia Ferrufino, Maintenance

Mike Fulton, Resident Life Faculty

Brooke Gelber, Lower School Teacher

Jen Grimes, Upper School Teacher

Jose Hernan Mejia, Maintenance

Apolonia Hernandez, Epicurean

Robin Hu man, Upper School Teacher

Natasha McKeown, ’87, Upper School

Dean of Curriculum & Global Education

Ana Medrano, Maintenance

Kate Reeser, Director of Upper School/Asst HOS for Academics

Erica Smith, Director of Dance & Theatre Arts

Jorge Urias, Maintenance

Dave Whaley, Middle School Teacher

David Wise, Chief Financial O cer

Ramon Zavala, Epicurean Chef

10-14 Years

Kali Baird, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Doree Clark , Dance Teacher

Jason Clarke, Director of Information Technology

Dianne Dornbush, Enrollment Systems Manager

Tracy Froehlich, Director Of Human Resources

Kaitlyn Gallagher, Upper School Teacher

Silvia Hernandez, Epicurean

Ryan Hopper, Middle School Teacher

Suzanne Kelly, Middle School Teacher

Mirza Khan, Director of Philosophy, Ethics & World Religions

Dana Kindig, Middle School Teacher

Ann Krinitsky, Director of Virtuoso Program

Aran Levasseur, Upper School Teacher

Shannon Machado, Controller

Nancy Meyer, Front Desk/ Transportation Coordinator

Meagan Motley, Athletics

Teresa Notari, Health Services

Tammy Ouellette, Disbursements/ Payroll Accountant

Annemarie Robinson, Middle School Teacher

Katie Ryan, Lower School Learning Specialist

Amanda Tredinnick, MS’01, Upper School Teacher/Student A airs Coordinator

Rosa Vigil, Epicurean

Madeleine Wood, Upper School Teacher

Heather Wright Ojha, Advancement Systems Manager

#WINATSOCIAL Preparing our students for a digital world

Kali Baird, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jennifer Cronan Flinn, Director of Design, Engineering, and Educational Technology

SD has launched a partnership with The Social Institute (TSI), a national leader in curriculum designed to equip students to navigate the complex intersection of well-being, social media, and technology.

At a time when students spend many hours a day on digital devices and cyberbullying and reputation-damaging posts run rampant, TSI o ers a comprehensive program for students in grades four to 12 with turnkey, best-in-class resources that support students, educators, and families. Reinforcing strengths like character, empathy, and teamwork, TSI inspires students to make positive, healthy, and high-character choices that fuel their health, happiness, and future success.

All students in fourth through 12th grades participate in a WinAtSocial lesson once a month around one of seven social standards.

SEVEN STANDARDS TO #WINATSOCIAL

PLAY TO YOUR CORE

Reflecting our values, character, and interests in our actions.

PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY LIKE YOU’RE FAMOUS

Staying in control of our personal information.

STRIKE A BALANCE

Balancing our time and attention on technology with the people around us.

Tenth-grade students recently completed “Understanding and Mastering Our Mind and Body’s Response to Stress.” As one student shared with us, “Over the last few weeks in school, built-up stress in our bodies has had a huge e ect on our performance in school and extracurricular activities, both mentally and physically. By learning these strategies, we can become better at dealing with the stress and rising above, instead of crumbling!”

Fifth-grade students completed the lesson “Handling Our Emotions Even When It’s Tough.” One student noted that “sharing your emotions with a friend or trusted adult can sometimes help you process your feelings and see the situation from other people’s perspectives. Another strategy is to write your thoughts down in a journal or [on a] piece of paper and this might help you calm down and handle the problem in a way that you’re proud of.”

CYBERBACK

Having each others’ back and supporting each other.

FIND YOUR

INFLUENCERS

Surrounding yourself with positive role models and credible influences.

USE YOUR MIC FOR GOOD

Amplifying your voice to create meaningful change.

HANDLE THE PRESSURE

Finding your own path no matter the pressure from others.

Our goals for incorporating WinAtSocial at SD include the following:

• Create an interactive, aligned experience across grades four to 12

• Curate anonymous data to inform programming

• Support an already strong SEL program

As educators across the world can attest, students have been deeply impacted in various ways by the pandemic.

WinAtSocial is one way SD is addressing these new challenges.

Life skills we’ll be building and discussing through this program:

• Reflecting our values, character, and interests in our actions online and offline.

• Balancing our time and attention to technology with the people around us.

• Surrounding ourselves with positive and credible influences.

• Amplifying our voices to create meaningful change in our world.

• Finding your own path no matter the pressure from others.

• Protecting our privacy and personal information that others may request.

• Having each other’s backs and combating cyberbullying.

Parents and guardians are invited to get involved too and to access the WinAtSocial Parent Toolkit and Playbooks (see directions below). These offer a host of supplementary resources that provide insight into social media, technology, and student experiences, offering family discussion prompts that you may wish to incorporate into your family conversations.

Register for your free Parent Toolkit by scanning the QR code to access the easy step-by-step guide. Our school code is 165a0F2364B9D2

Many families refer to this portal as the “CliffsNotes of social media and tech”!

SD in Quotes

“ We are all changing. In learning to change, to respect, to discover, and to love, we become a little smarter and a little stronger every day. As the earth rotates every day, each of us is faced with a new possibility for growth. The earth changes, and we change with it. That is what it means to be human.”

Addy S. ’24

“ San Domenico teaches you how to be a good person, a person who knows how to be good and care for your peers and others, your family and yourself. What I love most about being a parent is seeing my kid’s confidence and love of learning flourish.”

— Angela Bauman MS ’95, Board of Trustees, Parent

’32, ’35, ’36

“ Community means to be included, to be accepted, and kindness all around.”

Marjorie D. ’34

“ When you acknowledge another person, acknowledge their background, acknowledge their experience, acknowledge who they are, then you help create a space where people feel safe to share about themselves. With open minds, with kindness, with an authentic honoring of diversity, we can make San Domenico a place where everyone belongs and everyone feels acknowledged for who they are.” — Aarya C. ’24

“ I ask three things from my athletes: Be nice to each other, make eye contact when speaking to me, and always try your best. That is my secret sauce. More than 50 percent of what I teach are life skills, because reinforcing good behaviors taught at home enables me to teach kids about the sport I love and care deeply about.”

Director of Aquatics Mark Anderson

“ I like making a di erence every day.”

— Brianna M. ’29

“ I am always impressed that San Domenico goes beyond academics and provides the students with tools to become responsible citizens. The only way to heal the divisions in our society is to provide the students with the ability to see beyond themselves.”

— Phil Allen, grandparent

“ I still feel like I’m at my second home when I come back here. I love to reconnect with my teachers and my peers when I am back home… when I come back to SD I see people that I know all the time, it is really just such a special place.”

Lily Cline, ’22

Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

On November 18, we were beyond thrilled to bring this beloved tradition back to SD for the first time since before the pandemic. Grandparents and special friends joined us for a joyous day of community celebration, and it did not disappoint!

Guests gathered in the Carol Franc Buck Hall of the Arts for a welcome reception before being treated to live performances by students across all grade levels. Grandparents and friends then accompanied their students on classroom visits, where students were eager to share their recent projects and another favorite SD custom: soup break!

This year’s event coincided with the loading of the food truck, the culminating moment of our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Guests were treated to yet another special SD tradition, and it was beautiful to witness multiple generations of our SD community lending a hand in service of others.

We can’t wait to see you all again next year!

LOWER SCHOOL

The Intersection of Science and Art

First graders visited Golden Gate Park and its two famous science and art museums in order to observe how art is used in the science museum. Students paid particular attention to the artists who create the exhibits, authors who write the descriptions, photographers who help show us tiny things, and the visual aesthetic of each exhibit. Cultivating the skills of observation is key to the San Domenico academic curriculum.

LOWER SCHOOL | Fifth Graders Meet Dr. Jane Goodall

SD students attended a program at the Oakland Zoo with Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, scientist, and compassionate activist. Dr. Jane, as she prefers to be known, travels around the world speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees and other species, along with other environmental issues. “The experience was unreal,” said Emmy S. ’30. “Dr. Jane has such a huge impact on the world. It was inspiring and felt like a dream.”

MIDDLE SCHOOL | Eco-Serve Club Supports Sustainability

Sustainability and service go hand in hand for Eco-Serve Club members, who want to be a force for good in their community and on their planet. “I wanted to join a club where you serve people, the world, and the environment,” explains Felice K. ’28. These enthusiastic students support sustainability-related activities on campus, including the Garden Fair and Walk ‘n Roll Day, and have raised money for victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Preservation project in Mexico.

MIDDLE SCHOOL | Middle Schoolers Make a Metric Mini-Me

Sixth graders practiced math and metric-based proportions by drawing “Metric Mini-Me” self- portraits. This project, led by science teacher Dave Whaley for more than 15 years, combines an art project with a hands-on exercise in mathematics, computation, and use of the metric system. Working in groups of two, students vertically measure their own legs, fingers, torsos, and even their ears in centimeters, then reduce those figures in scale to create accurate drawings of themselves. Viewing these 36 drawings as a whole calls to mind our rallying phrase “We are SD”—a visual and mathematical reminder that we all are growing, stretching, and studying together.

MIDDLE SCHOOL | Spartans and Athenians Tradition Continues

San Domenico’s tradition of Spartans and Athenians goes back more than 50 years, instilling a sense of friendly competition with fun and games during vibrant spirit rallies. Dressed in blue for Spartans and red for Athenians, Middle School students eagerly cheer on their fellow classmates while maintaining good sportsmanship, friendly competition, and a fierce loyalty to their team.

UPPER SCHOOL | Student Biologists Gather Data at Rodeo Beach

Environmental Science students rolled up their sleeves and pant legs to collect scientific data at Rodeo Beach, working with biologists from the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary. The scientific field trip was part of LiMPETS, a citizen science program that monitors the coastal ecosystems of California and helps youth develop a scientific understanding of the ocean. The students got firsthand experience in the field, getting sandy and wet in the name of science.

UPPER SCHOOL | Congressman Jared Hu man Visits San Domenico

Congressman Jared Hu man visited campus to speak with Government and Civics students about the role of congressional representatives in relation to local government. The students were encouraged to ask questions and be inspired to participate in the civic process. Hu man fielded student questions on a wide variety of topics, including California’s high-speed rail project, careers in journalism, the power of a free press, and issues surrounding cryptocurrencies and their energy-intensive e ect on the climate crisis.

UPPER SCHOOL | Digital Music Class Releases Original Music Albums

Students released two self-produced albums this fall, to the eager excitement of students, faculty, and sta . For the first album, students created their own songs using loops available within the Logic Pro X session software and used principles of basic orchestration to decide their instrumentation and form for each song. For the follow-up album, every note was composed by the students. No loops or additive sound files here—just pure, original melodies! The album covers were designed by SD visual arts students.

Garden Fair

The return of the Garden Fair this October was a resounding success! The Garden of Hope was filled with live music, a bustling farmers market, and the sound of children’s laughter. Our SD community renewed old friendships and made new ones, all while sipping fresh-pressed apple cider, listening to music played by current students, and eating delicious gourmet food.

Panther Cookouts

Continuing this wonderful new tradition, Family Association Vice President for Upper School Melodie Holley and past FA President Tara Evans-Boyce joined other volunteers to flip burgers and feed the crowd at fall Panther sporting events, further building our Panther spirit and community.

Virtuoso Program

When Virtuoso Program director Ann Krinitsky was asked to summarize the theme for our 44th “Vivaldi at San Domenico” orchestra concert, her immediate response was “a joyous return.” And so it was! This year we were thrilled to welcome audiences back into the Carol Franc Buck Hall of the Arts, our musical home. The fall programming included the annual Vivaldi at San Domenico performance, followed by solo recitals and culminating with our Fall Chamber Music concert. “Bravo tutti” to all our VP performers.

MATILDA The Musical

Packed with raucous dance numbers, catchy songs and a huge ensemble of wacky characters, this year’s Upper School performance of MATILDA The Musical was a joyous, soulful, magical show, celebrating the irrepressible spark inside all of us. With the support of our amazing Theatre Arts team and directed by Director of Dance and Theatre Erica Smith, once again our student actors and backstage crew showed us their talent, humor, creativity, and sheer joy in performing before a live audience.

116th Tableaux and Alumni Holiday Reception

Another beautiful Tableaux! This year, we joyously welcomed the return of live singing. Our chorus of faculty, sta , students, and alumni was led once again by retired SD teacher and choral director Michael Mello. The event was made even more special with a pre-performance holiday party for SD alumni. Celebrating our oldest and most beloved tradition with so many familiar faces was a beautiful reminder of the enduring San Domenico spirit.

Day of the Dead

Our Spanish teachers chose butterflies as our theme for this year’s Día de los Muertos celebration on Kesterson Field. Students danced, told stories, recited poetry, and sang songs in Spanish to the joyous applause of the entire school. And of course, the season wouldn’t be complete without the SD Halloween parade!

World Peace Day

Each year, our community of students, teachers, and sta celebrates International Day of Peace—also known as World Peace Day—by adding a new language panel to our Peace Pole: a custom that reaches as far back as 1981 at San Domenico. This year we added our first African language, Swahili. By adding the Swahili words meaning “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” we as a community take one step closer to a better understanding of the world around us.

ON CAMPUS | COMMUNITY EVENTS

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Our entire community collected 53,000 items of healthy, nutritious foods for people in need throughout Marin and San Francisco as part of our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. This year’s total is the most we have collected in recent years. With 60,000 residents in Marin County currently in need of food assistance, these donations will surely be needed.

Literacy in the 21st Century LEARNING

THE POWERS OF VISUAL PERSUASION

One of our most steadfast and important traditions at SD is our dedication to innovation. After 172 years, we are still here—stronger than ever—because we are not the same school we were yesterday. We are constantly adapting, providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to meet the challenges of their times.

We have always prioritized literacy as a core component of a San Domenico education. But literacy in the 21st century has become much more than the written word. Literacy has become visual. How do SD students learn to discern between honest and dishonest messaging? How can SD students learn to com-

pose honest messaging that can change the world for the better? How can SD students join the visual, online conversations of our times so they can graduate as empowered citizens?

These thoughts are top of mind for Director of Digital Arts Harry Maxon, whose SD filmmakers recently found themselves in New York City amid thousands of students from around the world, at the 2022 All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF). Four San Domenico student films were accepted into this prestigious festival and screened for sold-out audiences at the AMC Empire 25 Theater in Times Square, the busiest movie theater in the world.

Since we launched our film program nearly 10 years ago, we’ve seen our students win accolades for their work. But this festival—like our Digital Arts program—is about much more than that. All American was started by an English teacher who believes students in the 21st century must learn to compose visually.

For Maxon—who also comes to Digital Arts via English (he holds an MA in English from NYU, an MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, and an MAT in English from Duke University)—our Digital Arts program is not just about making movies; it’s about enabling our students to give voice to what matters most to them.

Growing our Digital Arts program to meet the needs of our students is a priority for San Domenico. Students now have access to professional-grade cinema cameras, app-op-

produce. “This is what drives me as an educator,” says Max on. “To be able to empower students to produce anything they can imagine is why we are all here.”

It’s all about storytelling. Of course, all the tools in the world are nothing without good storytelling, and that is at the core of Maxon’s approach to teaching literacy through Digital Arts. It starts with the students’ first project as film students at SD, Two Truths and a Lie. Students present the viewer with three “facts” about themselves, one of which is untrue. With this simple exercise, students quickly realize how easy it is to use visual storytelling to sway or even deceive an audience. “It’s less important that they want a career in film,” Maxon explains. “It’s more important that they graduate being able to recognize dishonest messaging and compose honest and persuasive messaging to move the audience of their choosing.”

Cut to this past June, when brand-new equipment arrived on campus just in time for Maxon and his film students to take on a new challenge: produce a 10-minute film from concept to final cut—a project that would typically require a full year on a normal production schedule—in a mere 10 days, in order to meet submission deadlines for the 2022 AAHSFF.

erated lights, gimbals, drones, and car mounts. They are learning cutting-edge virtual production techniques using video game engines and motion trackers (as seen on productions like The Mandalorian). They are collaborating across disciplines, with Game Academy, Animation, and Visual Arts students each bringing their skills to the table to create something new. With these tools and our educational programming in place, there is no limit to what our students can

With an emphasis on storytelling, the team goal was to be accepted into the festival, where the students could then see what they are up against in terms of technical achievement, in preparation for next year. And that’s exactly what happened. Reunion, along with three other SD films, earned a spot in the most esteemed student film festival in the world.

The future is now at SD.

We are building tremendous things in Digital Arts at San Domenico, and sending four films to the All American High School Film Festival is only the beginning. This signature program is simply the only one of its kind in the world.

Head of School Cecily Stock with Brendan Buist-Sohn ’28 and Maddie Walton ’28 at the Teen Indie Awards.

It includes our new Video Game Design Academy, virtual production cinema tools, a screenwriting pathway (wherein students can pitch their scripts to Hollywood producers), a Children’s Book and Animation experience, 2D/3D animation and visual e ects, digital music, and filmmaking with cutting-edge professional tools.

Combine real-world motion capture with artificial worlds built via video game engine, and the result is the ability to film actors within the virtual world without the need for green screens and compositing. In short, it is the future of filmmaking. This leap in film technology is as significant as the introduction of sound in 1927’s The Jazz Singer. And our students are at the very forefront.

This is innovation in action, purpose-built for San Domenico students to continue graduating as literate citizens who can shape the future of their communities, their countries, and themselves.

It’s Not a Solution, It’s a Wë Solution

really a meditation, albeit one that might be hard to keep up with if you zone out. Their minds are quick, their hearts big, and they throw out brilliant quotes left and right. They share nostalgia for a time gone by, gratitude for what is, and hope and excitement about the future.

We met up with Laura, a member of the class of 1985, and Liz, class of ’87, on Zoom as they took a break from their

workdays. Laura is a senior director and business HR lead for People Operations at Google and Liz is a wealth manager at Ensemble Capital, as well as an accomplished author of mystery books (written under a pen name we took an oath not to disclose). All this after leaving a trail of positive impact in other professional pursuits along the way. “That’s one of the things about San Domenico,” says Liz. “You learn not just to believe in yourself, but also to try to build a toolbox that you can rely on in the future.”

“Yes, It was never just the academics,” Laura adds. “Even though you don’t realize it when you are a kid, it’s the critical thinking skills and the ability to have resiliency that you are learning both directly and indirectly through the role models such as Sister Gerald picking up trash and recycling around campus. You saw her do it, so you knew it was the right thing to do.”

This theme of trying and resiliency comes up often in our conversation: “learning early on,” as Liz says, “that when life happens, and things change, as they always do, you can pivot and try new things. It’s really powerful and important. We’ve both carried that into our lives and it has served us well.”

Laura remembers being introverted when she started at SD, in sixth grade. “We were a big PBS and reading family,” she says with a laugh. “So I was quiet, maybe a bit shy. But it felt safe to try new things at San Domenico. There’s this thing, part of the SD way. It may take a while to trust the stability and kindness, but eventually, the actual physicality of the gorgeous campus, the way that discipline at SD still keeps the student whole, the way inquiry is taught— your questions and opinions matter—once you accept that

Laura and Liz Revenko

Reflections on an interview with SD Alumni Laura ’85 and Liz ’87 Revenko.

SD really is there for you, you start to shed pretense at an early age and get to know your true self.”

This dynamic, they add, plays into how it feels coming back to campus, seeing former classmates, and serving on committees and the Board of Trustees. There is consensus among those with whom the sisters meet that the value and practice of Veritas, of seeking truth in yourself and others, is empowering because you get to know your personhood, your grounding, what you stand for, who you are. When you come back for events like reunion, you see people who are older but they are still the same person. “You didn’t have to fake who you were then, and you don’t have to fake who you are now. You graduate already knowing who you are AND with the ability to keep growing,” Liz reflects. “You don’t get stuck in the door of ideas; you take ideas and keep going and growing,” Laura says.

Speaking of growing, “I was a little unsure about joining the board,” admits Liz, who became a trustee in 2018. “About what it would be like, what I would see, given all of the changes. I have been gratefully surprised to find it is still my SD. It’s a unique position to be an alum and trustee. It was incredible to be in an all-girls school back then and, as I sit in committee and board meetings today, side by side with women and men who are new to the school, I see and feel they get it. They get what SD is, and it is deeply satisfying.”

Like chemistry, the Revenkos explain, the elements have remained the same because the protons, the values, have kept the base strong and consistent. “The changes have not diminished what we had,” Laura adds. “Rather, this is the maturing of San Domenico. The School was strong enough to expand out without losing its essence. It’s not just the graduating of fine young girls or fine young boys. It is graduating fine young individuals who are used to being asked, as we were, ‘What do you think?’ and they are ready to problem-solve, like we were. Like we are.

“During such a tumultuous time in history, being anchored to the strong foundation that is SD is really nice to have,” she notes, reflecting on her current work with the Mission Enhancement Committee, which she joined

in 2021. “A touch point that goes back hundreds of years, that you can go back to any time. You also take it with you. Given the global issues of the day, growing up as part of an educational community that included students from Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Mexico, and so on, you learn to welcome a diversity of people and thoughts and experiences. It’s an invaluable perspective to hold as part of this bigger DEI conversation, a broader, deeper wovenness to do right by others, which is so Dominican in nature. It’s not a me solution; it’s a we solution.”

The sisters appear to bounce o each other’s passion and intellect. “Yes,” confirms Liz. “Let’s apply the San Domenico way as a framework for problem-solving. This inquiry, reflection, inclusion, seeking of truth, it forces recognition that you are part of a community, and not just the SD community but part of a global community.”

“Which reminds me of this word that keeps coming up in our work on updating the mission statement: wisdom,” says Laura. “And when you know you have wisdom, you have the confidence to use your voice.”

Wise words from two wonderful San Domenico alums.

You graduate already knowing who you are AND with the ability to keep growing.

Liz Revenko, Sister Gervaise Valpey, and Sister Carla Kovack, Prioress General

Your Governing Representatives

In accordance with National Association of Independent Schools’ best practices, San Domenico’s Board of Trustees "reflects the strategic expertise, resources, and perspectives needed to achieve the mission and strategic objectives of the School." Trustees bring a wide range of backgrounds and are responsible for governance and guardianship of the School’s mission. It is the board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves, and to monitor the success of the School in fulfilling its mission.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee (EC) acts in place of the board in between meetings in the manner prescribed by the bylaws as expressly delegated by the board and reports any actions to the board in a timely fashion. The EC serves as a sounding

board for the Head of School, supports the Board Chair in coordinating the work of the board, and develops a process for the annual performance evaluation of the Head of School (HOS). EC members must be trustees.

RICHARD E. GOLDMAN

Board Chair/ Parent ’22

Education: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Profession:

Co-founder and Executive Vice President, Men’s Wearhouse

1973-2002 (retired in 2002); Managing Partner, HatchToday; Author, Luck by Design, Certain Success in an Uncertain World (Morgan-James, 2009;) Executive Producer, Riding My Way Back (documentary short film, 2014)

Interests/Activities: “I enjoy spending time with my family—wife, kids, and grandkids—and I also enjoy reading and mentoring new business ventures.”

LIZ REVENKO ’87

CFP®, CIMA®, CPCC, MA, MBA/

Vice Chair

Education: BA, Biology, Economics minor, Wellesley College; MBA, San Diego State University; MA, Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara; Certificate in Financial Planning, University of California, Berkeley; Certified Life Coach, Coaches Training Institute

Profession: Wealth Manager, Ensemble Capital Management

Interests/Activities: Hiking, reading, cooking, cheating on the family dog with neighborhood cats, spending time with family, ongoing learning.

GREG RIVERS

Treasurer/

Parent ’29, ’31

Education: BA, Finance, University of Southern California; MBA, Anderson Graduate School of Management, UCLA Profession: Founder and Managing Partner, Steelhead Advisors, M&A advisory Interests/Activities: Family travel, dog time, golf, tennis, skiing, hiking, fishing, and researching just about anything.

DAVID M. SOHN

Secretary/

Parent ’28, ’30

Education: BA in political science, Amherst College; JD, Stanford Law School; MSc, London School of Economics

Profession: Lawyer with focus on telecommunications, internet, and copyright law and policy, mostly in the nonprofit sector and legislative branch

Interests/Activities: Hiking, travel, basketball, all kinds of family time. Investment Committee member.

SISTER CARLA KOVACK, OP

Mission Holding, Ex O cio

Education: BA, History, Dominican University of California; Master’s in Spirituality, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley

Profession: Has been an educator spanning elementary through college teaching and administration. Currently serves as the Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael

Interests/Activities: Committed to earth kinship, enjoys gardening and walking our sacred paths. Advocates for those on the margins, especially the homeless. Serves on the board of Homeward Bound of Marin.

ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE:

The Advancement Committee works to support the goals of the Advancement Department and helps the Board of Trustees carry out its due diligence related to assuring fiscal health through philanthropy and fund development.

Richie Goldman, Committee Chair, Board Chair, Parent ’22

Heidi Cary ’61, Parent MS ’81, Grandparent ’21 and ’29

David Sohn, BOT Secretary, Parent ’28 and ’30

Keri Briones, Parent ’32

Melissa Grimm, Parent ’31 and ’32

Jennie Skelton, Parent ’29 and ’30

Taun Wright, Parent ’25

AUDIT COMMITTEE:

The Audit Committee assists the board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, reporting, auditing, and compliance practices of the School. Committee members must be trustees or past trustees.

Jose Seara, Trustee, Committee Chair, Parent ’22, ’23

Sr. Cyndie Cammack, OP

Carol Prince

COMMITTEE ON TRUSTEES:

The Committee on Trustees (COT) assumes the primary responsibility for matters pertaining to board member recruitment, nominations, orientation, and evaluation. The COT assesses the policies and procedures of the board, including the bylaws, and recommends revisions or changes as needed. The COT recruits a Chair and other members for the standing committees of the board. COT members must be trustees.

David Sohn, BOT Secretary, Committee Chair, Parent ’28 and ’30 Melinda Bihn, Trustee

FINANCE COMMITTEE:

The Finance Committee assists the school administration in developing and monitoring long-range financial plans a ecting operating and capital budgets, including setting tuition and compensation levels for board approval.

The Finance Committee recommends to the board the annual operating budget as well as budgets for capital projects.

Greg Rivers, Board Treasurer, Committee Chair, Parent ’29 and ’31

Liz Revenko ’87, Board Vice Chair

Robyn Rutledge, Parent ’31

Jose Seara, Trustee, Parent ’22, ’23

Gavin Holles, Parent ’27, ’29

Cli Mishalko, Parent ’24

Tom Vogelheim, Grandfather ’22

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE:

The Investment Committee reviews the performance of the School’s investments and makes appropriate recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

Liz Revenko ’87, Board Vice Chair, Committee Chair

Sr. Cyndie Cammack, OP

Annie Roth ’98

Eric Clothier, Parent MS ’09 and ’12

Brian Lahart, Parent ’23

Jason Morehouse, Parent ’24 and ’27

Kal Salama, Parent MS ’09

Michael Sobel, Parent ’28

MASTER PLANNING AND FACILITIES:

The Master Planning and Facilities Committee assists the School administration in overseeing the ongoing maintenance and growth of the School’s facilities and grounds and acts as stewards of the School’s Master Plan. The Master Planning and Facilities Committee makes recommendations to the

board on specific facility improvements that may require board approval.

Karl Hoagland, Committee Chair

Angela Bauman MS ’95, Parent ’32, ’35, and ’36

John Cappiello, Parent ’31, ’34

Meehyun Kurtzman ’82, Parent ’25

Amy Skewes-Cox ’71, former Board Chair

Ben Wilson, Parent ’28

MISSION ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE:

The Mission Enhancement Committee supports the mission of the School, engages in conversations within the School community concerning the mission, and proposes policies that enhance and clarify the mission.

Sr. Cyndie Cammack, OP, Committee Chair

Liz Brown, Parent ’26

Jamie Ginsberg, Parent ’24

Richard Goldman, Board Chair, Parent ’22

Sarah Lee ’07

Sr. Susannah Malarkey, OP ’48

Sandy Pfa , Parent ’28

Laura Revenko ’85, Board Vice Chair, Committee Chair

Kathleen Toney, Trustee and Parent ’91, ’02

Cleary Vaughan-Lee, Parent ’23

If you are interested in learning more about governance at San Domenico, please contact David M. Sohn, Board of Trustees Secretary and Committee on Trustees Chair.

TRUSTEES

ANGELA BAUMAN MS ’95

Parent ’32, ’35, and ’36

Education: BS, Construction Management, Cal Poly SLO

Profession: Vice President and Project Manager of Bauman Landscape and Construction Inc.; President/ Owner of City Sitework Inc. Member of United Contractors and American Concrete Institute

Interests/Activities: Family gatherings, biking, boating, fishing.

MELINDA BIHN

Parent ’32, ’35, and ’36

Occupation: BA in English with a minor in French; Master’s in Comparative Literature; Master’s in the Teaching and Administration of English as a Second Language; Doctorate in Educational Leadership

Profession: Head of School at French American International School and International High School. She has worked in both international schools in Europe and independent schools in the United States and speaks French and German. Melinda has served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Independent Schools and was a 2019 Fellow at the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership of Teachers College, Columbia University

Interests/Activities:

Melinda and her husband, Bill Wallace, are the proud parents of Sam and Rebecca (International High School 2017).

SR. CYNDIE CAMMACK, OP

Education: BS in Nursing, Humboldt State University, Arcata; MS in Nursing, Dominican University of California Profession: Clinical Informatics Education Specialist, Hospice by the Bay, Larkspur; Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Interests/Activities: Ongoing learning; making a difference in the lives of others, family, community, and friends; photography, art, music, reading, game playing, and nature, especially sky and ocean.

HEIDI HICKINGBOTHAM CARY ’61

Parent MS ‘81, Grandparent ‘21 and ‘29

Education: Dominican High School of San Rafael, Class of 1961; John F. Kennedy University, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies; MA in Clinical Psychology; California School of Professional Psychology, PhD in Clinical Psychology

Profession: President of the Diana Dollar Knowles Foundation; retired MFC therapist

Interests/Activities: Marin CAMFT Disaster Response Team –Mental Health, since 1993; San Francisco Opera Adler Program; San Francisco Ballet for school-age children. “I enjoy walking, traveling, photography, spending time with my eight grandchildren, and writing memoirs for my family.”

KARL HOAGLAND

Parent ’22

Occupation: Brown University, BA with Honors in Organizational Behavior and Management and Business Economics; Chartered Financial Analyst

Profession: Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Longview Investment Management LLC; Publisher, UltraRunning magazine. Formerly an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and Montgomery Securities; founder and CEO, Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants

Interests/Activities: Many sports and outdoor activities; time with family and friends, farming, travel, cooking. Trustee and Treasurer of the Western States Endurance Run, a California nonprofit that conducts the Western States 100mile trail race.

SANDY PFAFF

Parent ’28

Education: BA, Urban Studies, Connecticut College

Profession: Corporate Communications and Public Relations

Interests/Activities: Spending time with family and friends; traveling, biking, running, and playing tennis at SD.

ANNIE ENDOZO

ROTH ’98

Education: BA in Physics, UC Berkeley Profession: Wealth Planning and Investments (working with Baker Street Advisors LLC, a multifamily office in San Francisco)

Interests/Activities: Backpacking and hiking; cello; entrepreneur/co-founder of Mesa Beach Inc., an early-stage technology startup; financial literacy; Education for Women – Project Worth; American Heart Association –Young Professionals Board, Founding Member.

ROBYN RUTLEDGE

Parent ’31

Education: B. Commerce (Hon.), Queen’s University, Canada; MBA, Arjay Miller Scholar, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Profession: Investor, Operator, Adviser –disruptive businesses in the consumer sector; CEO of SBG Growth

Interests/Activities: Consumer behavior, regeneration, Peloton, snuggling, personalized medicine, baking, lifelong learning.

JOSE SEARA

Parent ’22, ’23

Education: MS in Naval Engineering, Polytechnic University Madrid, Spain

Profession: Founder and CEO of DeNexus Inc.

Interests/Activities: Family, skiing, sailing, mountain biking, outdoors in general.

Ex O cio on All Committees

Richie Goldman, Board Chair, Parent ’22 / Cecily Stock ’77, HOS, Parent MS ’08, MS ’10, MS ’12

Mission Enhancement Committee Update

Inspired by San Domenico’s ongoing work to update the School’s mission and vision statements, Dr. Brooke Jackson ’73 contacted us and reflected on her relationship with SD. “I worked in the admissions o ce for two years back in the mid-’90s,” she wrote, “and am proud that I was instrumental in formulating the ’Study, Reflect, Act’ language that became a part of San Domenico’s printed material. I arrived at that, by the way, because I sat down with Sister Gervaise and asked her to tell me about the core Dominican values that guided her in her lifelong vocation, and it was a powerful conversation.”

Jackson’s experience is much the same as our current process and insights. Since receiving the spring 2021 California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Accreditation report and recommendation to “consolidate its vision

and progress in the process of drafting a new mission statement that will succinctly and clearly identify the unique significance and purpose of San Domenico School to its current and prospective community, in language that reflects San Domenico’s enduring values, current identity, and the way it meets the needs of the students it serves,” the MEC has been gathering input from our extensive and diverse community. Thank you for your continued input in this process!

When we first embarked on this project, we gathered results in a survey shared with more than 8,400 alumni, current and former Trustees, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, current students, parents, and guardians, faculty and sta , and extended friends of the School. With this community feedback in hand, we then held small group listening sessions throughout last spring and this fall. Our most

Thank you attendees of our last Alumni Gathering to meet with the Mission Enhancement Committee, who presented an update on the refresh of San Domenico’s mission statement language!

L to R: Jennifer Lawrence Strohmaier ’68, Susannah Malarkey ’48, Brian Chase MS’97, MaryJane Elliott ’85, Margaret Carrigan Nau ’87, Meehyun Kim Kurtzman ’82, Dominic Lauren ’15, Rosalind Hernandez ’14, Jinx Kinslow ’85

recent meetings included in-person events with Sisters who have been involved with the School, the current Board of Trustees, and alumni from the classes of 1948 through 2015. Amid disparate ages and backgrounds, common language and themes have emerged, reflecting how much you care about your School and what makes a San Domenico education unique.

We acknowledge the power of words and how their meaning evolves over time, even as values endure. We remember that a vision statement articulates a future state that an organization aspires to achieve and that a mission statement describes an organization’s fundamental, unique purpose.

With all of the input and feedback you have shared, the MEC and Board of Trustees will now engage in an iterative writing process to express our updated vision and mission statements. It will most certainly be a robust and engaging undertaking. You can expect to hear from us in the spring of 2023.

Thank you to all of our community members who have shared your perspectives, and to all who are contributing to this important work.

SAN DOMENICO MISSION ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE 2022-23

Kali Baird

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Liz Brown, Parent ’26

Sr. Cyndie Cammack, OP Committee Chair

Shelley Flint, Director of Sustainability

Jamie Ginsberg, Parent ’24

Richard Goldman, Board Chair and Parent ’22

Mirza Khan

Director of Philosophy, Ethics, and World Religions

Sarah Lee ’07

Sr. Susannah Malarkey, OP ’48

LeaAnne Parlette

Director of Lower and Middle School

Sandy Pfa

Parent ’28

Kimberly Pinkson

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Kate Reeser

Assistant Head of School for Academics; Director of Upper School

Laura Revenko ’85

Carrie Robley

Assistant Head of School for Student Life

Cecily Stock ’77

Head of School

Kathleen Toney

Trustee and Parent ’91, ’02

Cleary Vaughan-Lee

Parent ’23

Nick Vidinsky

Director of Marketing and Communications

—

Sister Cyndie Cammack, OP, Mission Enhancement Committee Chair; Kimberly Pinkson, Director of Strategic Initiatives

From the Desk of Athletic Director Mark Churchill

There is a di erent vibe on campus these days as the San Domenico Panthers have been making huge strides in Athletics. This fall was no exception, with multiple teams achieving new milestones in league competition, including a league title in Flag Football and a trip to the NCS Division VI Championship Game for Women’s Volleyball. Four individual Panther athletes were recognized with BCL West All League selections in Cross Country and Volleyball.

The brand-new Sister Gervaise Valpey Aquatic Complex hosted the inaugural season for our Men’s and Women’s Water Polo teams, while student support is at an all-time high in the gym and on the fields, as fans have turned our Panther Cookouts into a lively new tradition in school spirit.

Come join us!

Mark Churchill, Athletic Director

Fall Sports Wrap

Cross Country The women’s team had its best finish ever with a NCS Division V sixth place team finish out of 27 teams. Captain Hayley

Ballard ’23 and Quinn Joyce ’24 led the Panthers with a 13th and 19th place finish, respectively. Joyce placed seventh at the BCL West League Championships and earned a spot on the All League First Team.

The men’s team improved this season with a seventh place finish. Devin Price ’25 had a standout season by placing sixth in the league and earning All League First Team accolades. George Kunze ’24 and Joaquin Foster ’24 both had incredible seasons and are looking forward to advancing the team to State next year.

Flag Football In only our second year of competition in the sport, the Panthers took the league title with a first place finish! A 6-1-1 record was made possible by outstanding performances all year long from Ozzie Shenk ’23, Julian Maunder ’24, Joseph Bikahi ’23, and Chidera Onyeukwu ’25.

Women’s Golf The Golf team had a successful season in its return from a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Eight girls joined the team and had some great matches against the BCL West and Central teams. They look to build o of this success with the leadership from Sook Lee ’24 and Michelle Wang ’25.

Sailing SD competed in two regional regattas and two district regattas this fall season. The Panthers wrapped up the season with a fifth-place finish in the Southern California District Regatta with standout performances from our three skippers Evie Littler ’25, Merritt Sellers ’26, and Anton Gavrilov ’25. With a handful of race wins this season, the team is looking to continue the upward climb on the

very competitive sailing circuit with more than 60 schools competing for the top spots.

Women’s Tennis The Tennis team qualified for the BCL West/Central tournament with a fifth place finish (out of 12 teams) in league standings. Scarlett Wilson ’25 and Olivia Ginsburg ’24 made it to the back-draw semifinals in the BCL Individual

tournament, while both doubles teams of Eva Labourde-Turner ’23, Mariah Nyberg ’24, Nina Polyakova ’24, and Mina Swaim ’24 advanced after their first round wins.

Women’s Volleyball The Volleyball team had a very successful year by advancing to the NCS Division VI Championship Game—a first in SD Volleyball history—and qualifying for the Division V Regional Tournament. Led by captain Nina Marie Sadie ’23, Olivia Williams ’24, Mackenzie Flinn ’25, and Julia Lowenstein ’26, the team has a bright future ahead. Lowenstein and Sadie each earned All League Honorable Mentions for their incredible seasons.

Water Polo In our first year of competition, our Water Polo program got o to a great start by fielding a young team that can learn and grow from game experience. On the men’s side, Dimitrije Mutavdzic ’23, Yovan Mandic ’23, and David Martinca ’23 led the team in some great competitive matches against MCAL opponents. Players such as Vukasin Ragak ’24 will use that experience next season when we o cially join the MCAL league. On the women’s side, the Panthers enjoyed our first full season as a JV team playing against MCAL schools and in local tournaments with a large group of young, eager players led by Quinn Joyce ’24. The girls will join the MCAL league next year as a varsity team.

Fall 2022 Awards and Achievements

Marin Independent Journal Preps of the Week

Summer Jenkins

Basketball - Nov 28, 2022

Gavin Early Basketball - Nov 28, 2022

Nina Marie Sadie Volleyball - Sept 15, 2022

Champions

2022 NCS Division

6 Volleyball - Second Place

Country

Devin Price ’25

All League First Team

Quinn Joyce ’24

All League First Team

2022

Julia Lowenstien ’26

All League Honorable Mention

Nina Marie Sadie ’23

All League Honorable Mention

2022 BCL West Flag Football Club - League

2022 BCL West Cross

BCL West Volleyball

Class Notes

CLASS OF 1948

Sister Susannah Malarkey

Known to her family, fellow classmates and life-long friends as “Sudie” (nick-named as an infant by her two older brothers) is presently living at Lourdes Convent in San Rafael, while “home base” Dominican Convent is undergoing some updates and extensions. She shared that her former classmates (Class of 1948), former Latin and Religion students from her teaching years 1960-1965 continue to build upon those early relationships, and happily noted, “we grow old(-er and wiser) together”!

She had occasion to take a family relative couple from Oregon around the SD campus a week or so ago; she said “they were astounded at the dimensions and beauty of the campus and of every part of those magnificent acres, from the dorms to the dining area to the classrooms, to the offices, to the amazing sports facilities, to the full cultural opportunities and spaces for music, art, drama, dance, to the friendliness and courtesy of everyone - students, teachers, staff - they met along the way!!” She is sure they are spreading the word in Oregon ...

and San Domenico just might have some young Malarkeys knocking at the doors!!

CLASS OF 1963

Patricia Suhr Dawson

It has been a busy summer full of blessings for Patricia Suhr Dawson (class of ‘51). She was thrilled to attend her granddaughter’s college graduation. Susan graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and will be working as an ICU nurse in Boston.

From there Patricia attended the local high school graduation of her twin grandchildren. Brandon will be attending the University of Washington in the fall and studying chemical engineering. His sister Hazel will be attending the University of the Arts London and studying media communications.

Patricia continues to stay active by playing bridge, spending time with her family, and seeing friends like former classmates Louise deVries, Roberta Koop, Sue MacMillan, and Gail Wood.

CLASS OF 1956

Barbara Brovelli

She is still living on the

ranch along with her daughter, granddaughter and 3 great grandchildren (16 year old girl and two boys, one 4 and one 7 years old). All’s well!

CLASS OF 1962

Elizabeth Birsch

She is scaling back from her work creating public sculpture. Her current pieces can be seen in the Sebastopol City Sculpture Garden and in Cloverdale’s Sculpture Trail.

CLASS OF 1963

Deborah Todd Heim

She has been working with Therapy Dogs, Inc, now called Alliance of Therapy Dogs since 2005 in San Rafael, where Dogs for the Blind is based. The organization is always looking for volunteers and support.

Suzanne Ragghianti

After 53 years in Oakland and 32 years teaching in OUSD, she and her husband, Kevin, moved to Santa Rosa in late May. They are enjoying life in NW Santa Rosa!

CLASS OF 1966

Sandra Fly Wong

She and her husband, Warner, continue to work with Meditation students online in India

and now internationally. They are enjoying their 3-year old granddaughter who is learning to ski in Tahoe Donner where they currently live. They are grateful to live in the beautiful Sierra Nevada’s and enjoy nature’s abundant gifts.

CLASS OF 1968

Tess Kok Densmore “Yippee-i-ki-yay?” Tess shared when sharing that she pulled up stakes from Illinois and moved to the “Wild West!” She now lives at “The Ranch” in Oracle, AZ.

Jennifer Lawrence Strohmaier

Sends her greetings to the class of 1968, before and after. She moved to the Phoenix area in June 2009 to be closer to her sons and grandsons. Prior to leaving California, she became a self-taught medical transcriptionist/ business owner. (Giving thanks to Sr. Susannah for instilling in her a love of Latin). Additionally, between 1995 and 2009 she worked as a technical recruiter with a telecommunications company and in direct sales for a database producer which served public, academic, and corporate libraries. Otherwise she worked in corporate sales in several

industries from 1973 upwards.

When not working her businesses, she enjoys being a member of the Sun Lakes Garden Club where she has the opportunity to socialize on garden day trips throughout Arizona and listen to guest speakers on a variety of gardening topics. She shared a quote by Linda Runyon (deceased) from www.

She also works at Essential Bodywear, where she helps make donations to Project Uplift where they help the “I Support the Girls” organization by collecting gently used foundations for women and girls. Currently any donations they receive are being donated to the women and girls of the Ukraine.

Sip and Celebrate ~ Alumni Holiday Reception

Prior to the 116th Tableaux performance on December 2, alumni and former teachers gathered together in the Dino Ghilotti Motta Visual Arts Center (Middle and Upper School Art Rooms) for some holiday cheer and wreath making. The art rooms not only smelled like a winter wonderland with all of the fresh greenery, but this multigenerational gathering was a lovely reminder of the many connections and camaraderie that the San Domenico Alumni share. The night culminated in a short walk over to Carol Franc Buck Hall of the Arts to watch another moving Tableaux performance and hear the beautiful choral arrangements that featured not only current students and teachers, but a still talented alumni, including our own Head of School and Class of

alumna, Cecily Stock!

OftheField.com that was in a presentation at the garden club, “weeds (wild foods) are in every country of the world, so it’s beyond me why there is world hunger. An entire civilization is walking on their food.” and said the quote reminded her of San Domenico’s Garden of Hope and sustainability.

CLASS OF 1975

Denise Cossette McCollum

She and her husband Chuck met up with Hoonae Kim ’75 and Penny Nichols ’75 in August to discover the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. They had a tremendous time together getting close to nature and catching up.

Daughter/ granddaughter

Malia,

Denise Cossette McCollum ’75, her husband Chuck, Hoonae Kim ’75 and Penny Nichols ’75

‘77

Rebecca Taylor ’09, Michael Mello, and Angel Yannos ’09

Mel Hall ’70, Mary Bradley Quinlan ’70, and Sister Gervaise

Tilda Thompson ’64 and Thea Thompson ’88

CLASS OF 1982

Estafania Fu

I fondly remember my memorable years as a boarding student there!

My daughter, Tanya Yeung is also a boarding student at San Domenico. She has attended San Domenico since she was a freshman and will graduate in 2023. We both credits San Domenico for teaching usr to be more independent and loving people. We are proud to be a part of San Domenico’s past and present.

CLASS OF 1987

Lisa Wolcott

She is still living in

Fairfax and working as a veterinary technician at Fairfax Veterinary Clinic. She has worked there for almost eight years. Lisa proudly shared that her

daughter Daniela just graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a BFA degree.

CLASS OF 2004

Lauren Becker

Lauren celebrated her November wedding in Mill Valley with longtime friends since freshman year, (L-R): Kimberly Shannon ’04, Nicole Podell ’04, Alicia Bruckman ’04, and Maryam Khorasani ’04.

CLASS OF 2009

Nora Dalipi

Classmates joined each other for a mini reunion of sorts in New York!

(L to R) Shanna Kohn, Nora, Charlotte Kostelic, Daniela S. Class of ’09

CLASS OF 2019

Gabby Hu man

Shared that San Domenico formed her into a leader, whether she knew it at the time or not. SD gave her the experience she needed to become the president of her sorority, Delta Gamma, and the marketing lead at her school’s recreation center. She wouldn’t be the leader she is today without San Domenico.

Kade O’Reilly

For the entirety of his junior year, he was abroad at the London School of Economics (LSE) where he studied Finance and Economic History. In addition, he played on their basketball team and

Lisa Wolcott ’87 and her daughter Daniela

Kimberly Shannon ’04, Nicole Podell ’04, Lauren Becker ’04, Alicia Bruckman ’04, and Maryam Khorasani ’04

Shanna Kohn ’09, Nora Dalipi ’09, Charlotte Kostelic ’09, Daniela S. ’09

participated in a variety of clubs including the Business & Investment Group and Cooking Society. During his year abroad, he ended up traveling to over 15 countries. His highlights included mushing dog sleds and seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway, traversing the Sahara Desert

by camel, getting stuck in a multi-day blizzard in Iceland, and sailing to different islands off the coast of Malta. He recently finished his undergraduate degree at Bentley University in December 2022 and is moving to New York City in February to begin his career at J.P. Morgan.

CLASS OF 2021 Vincenzo Calcagno

Earlier this year, Vincenzo Calcagno, viola, and Bethany Bobbs, cello, produced and performed in a virtual benefit concert for the people of Ukraine. The concert also featured their friends and cohorts at The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music. They raised a total of $8,425.00, with 100% of the proceeds going to United Help Ukraine, an organization providing humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the people of Ukraine.

Both were also on the championship team last year.

Middle School

Emily Sklar MS’22

On November 19, 2022

Emily celebrated her Quinciñera with fellow Middle School alums serving as Damas in her Quinciñera court. Also joining in the fun was San Domenico Spanish teacher, Ms. Miranda! It was a beautiful occasion bringing together friends and family and connecting in celebration.

CLASS OF 2022

Piper Fleece and Jillian Bizjack

Piper and Jillian were on campus in November for a Varsity Girls’ basketball game against Redwood.

Kade O’Reilly ’19

Piper Fleece ’22 and Jillian Bizjack ’22

Katherine Garcia MS’22, Heston Masdea MS’22, Emily Sklar MS’22, Alida Karsten MS’22, and Rani Wright Ojha ’26

Randall Lawton (Former Faculty)

Elaine McChrystal Knapp ’45

Louise Lazarus de Vries ’51

Diane Johnston Paton ’53

Madelon Healy Montobbio ’ 61 on the passing of her husband, Mark Montobbio.

Sallie Werson ’ 63 on the passing of her wife, Eileen Wolfe.

Sarah Cope ’ 67 and Sue Cope Makovkin ’ 63 on the passing of their sister, Molly Cope Bell.

Susan Abbott Mumford ’67 and Katie Abbott Horn ’71 on the passing of their mother, Donna Abbott.

Debby Kocher Smith ’68 on the passing of her husband, Barry Smith.

Patricia Craven Sheehan ’54

Patricia Guy Waldron ’60

Marcia Johnson Stelling ’64

Jayne Brogan ’68

In Memoriam In Sympathy

Diane Beardmore Dahlberg ’68 on the passing of her stepmother, Diane Johnston Paton ’53.

Lyons Filmer ’69 and Alice Filmer ’73 on the passing of their mother, Elizabeth Filmer.

Amy Johnson MS’74 and Nina Hyatt MS’78 on the passing of their mother, Nancy Johnson.

Kate Supple Klein ’75 on the passing of her stepmother, Rozene Richards Supple.

Debra Kahn Wand ’77 on the passing of her father, Gary Kahn.

Cristina Robinson Bours de Gallegos ’74

Marty (Martha) Munson Zeller ’77

Gretchen Muller MS’75

Jennifer Kelly-Lalliss ’89 on the passing of her father, Erwin X. Kelly, Jr.

Amy Saunders Simpson ’89 on the passing of her father, James “Jamey” Saunders.

Sean Cleary MS ’95 on the passing of his father, Mark Cleary.

Joseph McCormac MS ’95 on the passing of his father, Michael McCormac.

Brooke Basse ’99 on the passing of her mother, Jewel Basse.

Vieve Mullins MS ’99 on the passing of her father, Peter Mullins.

Mark Cleary: August 7, 1946 – September 22, 2022

You may remember Mark Cleary as the parent of San Domenico Middle School alum Sean Cleary ’95, or you may remember him with his fellow dads launching the Stadium Club in support of SD athletics. Some of you knew Mark as a masterful leader who led with humility, creativity and inclusivity. He served on the San Domenico Board of Trustees as a member, led as chair and then as capital campaign chairman, bringing the three newest buildings to campus: Science and Technology, Athletic Center and Hall of the Arts. Later named an Emeritus Trustee, Mark continued his generous support of the School and of education in general. He often spoke with pride about his Jesuit education and his Dominican heart.

For the last eight and a half years Mark lived half-paralyzed from brain tumor surgery. He remained uncomplaining, brave and an inspiring example to family, friends and caregivers. The loss of Mark Cleary in the life and history of San Domenico is immense, and, at the same time, the mention of his name brings a smile for the joy-filled Irishman who gave of his heart to all that he chose to do in this life.

Alexandra Wheeler ’78, now Vice President and Chief Advancement O cer at The Julliard School, works on her chord fingering.

San Domenico Community & Career Network

Join today and let’s unite in our shared values and desire to give back!

San Domenico Alumni Career and Community Network is where SD Alumni unite to provide each other career and professional support. Whether it is to offer connections to service learning projects you are involved in (or ROSE project support!), internships, job postings, career advice, informational interviews, introductions, mentoring, resume reviews, and/or job shadowing opportunities - this is where SD Alumni can MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

www.sandomenico.org/alumni-network

SAN DOMENICO SCHOOL

1500 Butterfield Road

San Anselmo, CA 94960

Please forward this publication. If your child no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of the new mailing address by calling 415.258.1931 or emailing alums@sandomenico.org.

Non-Discrimination Policy

In keeping with our mission and core values of study, reflection, community, and service, San Domenico is a community of belonging where students, sta and families are dedicated to inclusion and respect for all. The school a rms the dignity of every student. It is the policy of the school to provide an educational environment in which all students are treated with respect and which is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination. The school prohibits harassment and discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability, or because they are associating with others with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Harassment, including sexual harassment, of any student by any other student or adult is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, the school prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports, or cooperates in the investigation of, an incident of harassment or discrimination.

All Alumni Reunion 2023

Save the Date: May 5-6, 2023

San Domenico is excited to invite all alumni back to campus for a warm and welcoming reunion! Special celebrations will honor the alumni graduation years ending with a three (3) or an eight (8). *

Details to follow ~ www.sandomenico.org/reunion