Highlander Winter 2015

HIGHLANDER WINTER 2015

Forging New Frontiers in Innovative Partnerships

Partnering with Leading Institutions Takes St. Margaret’s to Space and Beyond

Eric Harrington: Making Science Come Alive

Alumni Thriving in College

Where Are They Now? Graduates Attending Colleges Across the Nation

> Guideposts

By William N. Moseley, Head of School

Dear Friends, You will often hear me talk about the power of relationships in the important work we do. It is the synergy of our relationships, I believe, that makes our mission to educate young people more meaningful and even easier to achieve as we work together.

No better sign of the strength of the St. Margaret’s community is the many institutions, which stand for excellence in academia and innovation, that choose to align and partner with us for a better future for young people and a global society. These are exciting times and there is much to explore and discover as we work together with some of the greatest minds across the nation.

I am thrilled to share with you this issue of our newly redesigned Highlander magazine that focuses on the significant partnerships we have forged with leading universities, educators and institutions, and the work we do to ensure St. Margaret’s delivers a vigorous, creative and the highest quality academic program today and for generations to come.

There are many direct benefits of these partnerships for our students, educators and community, though allow me to borrow the simple, yet elegant words of Mr. Robert Jackson, co-founder of the Global Space Balloon Challenge and Stanford University engineering student. Our goal is to attract students, teachers and professionals to these efforts to help and inspire each other as they go.

Enjoy reading and please let us know if this issue inspires you to make a connection or share a learning opportunity with our vibrant learning community.

Sincerely,

Features

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Partnering with Leading Institutions Takes St. Margaret’s to Space and Beyond A look at St. Margaret’s partnerships with leading universities, think tanks, and subject-area specialists to develop exciting new programs and student learning experiences.

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Contents

William N. Moseley Head of School

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Eric Harrington: Making Life Science Come Alive

Acquaint yourself with St. Margaret’s Middle School science teacher Eric Harrington

Departments

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SMES Snapshots

Highlander, Winter 2015

Get the scoop on what’s been happening at St. Margaret’s lately St. Margaret’s Episcopal School William N. Moseley, Head of School

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Open Spaces A showcase of award-winning student visual arts talent

Highlander magazine is published by the Communications Office as a St. Margaret’s Episcopal School community magazine.

Editorial Director Anne Dahlem

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Class Notes and Alumni Updates Learn about the lives of your classmates and updates from the Tartan Alumni Association

Copy Editor Jennifer Perez

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Looking Forward

Managing Editor Nicole Peddy

A look at the new Maseeh Middle School

Editorial Board Jeannine Clarke, Anne Dahlem, Dr. Jeneen Graham, William N. Moseley, Nicole Peddy Contributors Roland Allen, Lora Allison, Philip Bauer, David Beshk, Stefanie Brunswick, Angel Ceballos, Anne Dahlem, John Danly, Dr. Jeneen Graham, Jillian Gray, Lauren Golledge, Eric Harrington, Thomas Hughes, Tessa Hurr, Dominique Ingato, Trevor Jue, Claire Kraft, Tait Lihme, Sebastian Luna, Evan Marks, Barbara McMurray, William N. Moseley, Barbara Nelson, Dr. Todd Newman, Stacey Nicholas, Lynn Ozonian, Nicole Peddy, Jennifer Perez, Darcy Rice, Leyla Riley, Michele Silverman, Jesse Standlea, Karly Thomas, Dr. Jennifer Ross-Viola, Gene Wie, Chase Williams, John Williams, Graeme Winder

Alumni from the Classes of 2013 and 2014 offer reflections.

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Alumni Thriving in College

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Where Are They Now? Graduates Attending Colleges Across the Nation!

Graduates of St. Margaret’s attend colleges and universities that are big, small, technical, artistic, international and Ivy League. View the map of alumni college destinations.

St. Margaret’s publishes responsibly. Highlander magazine is printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper manufactured from 100 percent Eucalyptus fibre, using soybased inks, made from renewable resources such as natural pigments and vegetable oils.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational or hiring policies, admissions policies, financial aid, athletic or other school-administered programs.

On the Cover Upper School students launched a high-altitude balloon in the Global Space Balloon Challenge. A GoPro attached to the balloon captured a spectacular image of the curve of the Earth, and the blue shell of the atmosphere at 100,000 feet.

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> Tartan Snapshots Sahar Khashayar Named 2014 Broadcom MASTERS® Finalist

Academics

Freshman Sahar Khashayar was recognized as a 2014 Broadcom MASTERS® finalist and represented St. Margaret’s in the Broadcom MASTERS Finalist Week in Washington, D.C. She was awarded the Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation in recognition of engineering excellence for her project on wildfire early warning systems using computer science.

Upper School Students Design Wearable Technology Upper School students designed their own glowing wearable technology they donned at the annual Glow Dance. They worked as fashion-forward designers in the EDGE Lab combining fabrics, electronics and programming, which was integrated into the garments they wore to the dance.

Tommy Kwa Qualifies for U.S. American Math Olympiad Exam Sophomore Tommy Kwa qualified to compete in the United States American Math Olympiad Exam (USAMO). The USAMO is an annual highly-selective high school mathematics competition. Qualifying for the USAMO is considered one of the most prestigious awards for high school students in the United States. Tommy is a St. Margaret’s Mu Alpha Theta member and was one of only 10 freshmen to qualify.

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Londa Posvistak Selected for Elite LEGO Engineering Educators Group Committed to engaging students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM teacher Londa Posvistak developed the LEGO program for St. Margaret’s in 2011. Mrs. Posvistak is one of only 18 educators selected by LEGOEngineering.com to be part of the elite LEGO Engineering Developers Group Educators (EDGE).

Junior Tyler Cheves Creates Web-Based Math Game Tyler Cheves, grade 11, created a web-based math game called Equation Stacker over summer break designed for people to improve their math skills. His vision is to help kids with math outside of the classroom.

This fall, 10 teams of Upper School students from the intro to engineering class launched model rocket engine powered cars behind the Pasternack Field House. The rockets were made with different designs to compare the effects of air resistance, rolling friction, mass and thrust above/below center of gravity.

SMES Students Give Standout Homilies at National Conference for Episcopal Schools St. Margaret’s students freshman Mitra Alikhani, and seniors Sarah Grace Engel and Christopher Lanham had the unique and prestigious honor to deliver featured homilies to some 570 Episcopal school leaders and friends at the National Association of Episcopal School’s Biennial Conference held in Anaheim in November.

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To read more St. Margaret’s news, visit Tartan Today online at tartantoday.org.

Students Launch Model Rocket Engine Powered Cars

Arts

> Tartan Snapshots SMES Brings Home 13 MACY Awards and Wins Top Awards at 2014 Orange County Cappies At the 44th MACY Awards at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, St. Margaret’s students received 13 MACY Awards for Little Women, including a Limelight Award, which recognizes a simple story retold in a grandiose fashion with beautiful music and colorful characters creating a masterful piece of musical theater. St. Margaret’s was also awarded four top awards at the 11th Annual Orange County Cappies Gala.

St. Margaret’s Highlander Chorale Tours Italy and Performs in Renowned Cathedrals After a year of anticipation, the Highlander Chorale fulfilled its goal of traveling to Italy for a 10-day tour titled, “An Italian Prelude.” The 57 students, from grades 8 through 12, performed three formal concerts in beautiful cathedrals for which many of the choral works were written.

Tartans Take Their Game to College St. Margaret’s celebrated National Signing Day with 10 Tartan student-athletes of the Class of 2015 who, by the midpoint of the college application season, have committed to play intercollegiate athletics for their schools next year. The 10 students are matriculating to an impressive group of highly selective colleges and universities where they will be able to continue their scholarly pursuits to the highest levels, as well as play their sport on the college stage.

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Tartan Football Advances to CIF State Playoffs

2014-2015 PTF Parent Up Distinguished Speaker Series This year’s PTF Parent Up Distinguished Speaker Series opened with New York Times bestselling author and journalist, Paul Tough, who discussed research around the role that non-cognitive skills – or character traits – plays in our children’s success. Also part of the series, renowned Harvard Business School Professor, Clayton Christensen, shared a set of his theories of innovation, disruption and growth with the community and put them in context of how these business theories also apply to our personal lives and parenting. Stanford psychologist and award-winning author Dr. Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., the final speaker of the 20142015 speaker series, presented a controversial and ground breaking new book, “Upside of Stress” that overturns long-held beliefs about stress.

Tartan Tee-Off Doubles Previous Year’s Fundraising Efforts Thanks to the leadership of the Tartan Tee-Off committee members, very generous donors, players and sponsors who are wholeheartedly committed to raising funds for St. Margaret’s, this year’s annual Tartan Tee-Off at El Niguel Country Club raised almost $200,000 for financial aid – more than doubling last year’s efforts. Fund-A-Need raised more than $150,000 for need-based financial aid, and players and guests enjoyed a silent auction, dinner and awards ceremony.

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To read more St. Margaret’s news, visit Tartan Today online at tartantoday.org.

Earning its first CIF-SS Football Championship since 2009, the Tartan varsity football team ended the season 15-1 with a loss to Central Catholic of Modesto in the CIF State Division IV bowl championship. Coach Barbee‘s concept of “We,” which was a motivating force for the Tartans during a season filled with adversity, was fully apparent as coaches, players and fans proudly reflected on a terrific season together. With 12 returning starters, the future remains bright for Tartan football.

Partnering

with Leading Institutions Takes St. Margaret’s to Space and Beyond

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S

t. Margaret’s believes in tapping expertise from

Teachers are honing instruction and

outside the schoolhouse and has established

curriculum and augmenting existing

meaningful partnerships with leading universities,

programs in creative ways. The

think tanks, and subject-area specialists to

academic team is also breaking new

develop exciting new programs and student learning

ground in content delivery and

experiences. Whether through Upper School students

teaching models.

exploring the edges of space or partnering with the MIND Institute to beta-test mathematics instructional software with fifth graders, as a preeminent independent school, St. Margaret’s is always looking forward, inside and out, to bring innovative and advanced learning opportunities to its students. Further, other leading institutions from across

“There is such incredible power in building partnerships with truly excellent organizations,” said St. Margaret’s Academic Dean Dr. Jeneen Graham. “St. Margaret’s has benefited from the expertise from UCI, the Pacific Symphony, edX

the nation, are finding tremendous value in partnering

and other organizations that equally strive toward excellence and

with St. Margaret’s, as well.

innovation in their domain.”

Through St. Margaret’s broad set of partnerships with leading

“In addition to learning through others’ experience, we are also able

institutions, teachers and students are working with experts in

to more deeply examine and evolve our own teaching and curriculum.

specialized fields of study from engineering, to ecology to music,

We share our expertise and offer our unique perspective to the work

bringing new inspiration and perspectives. They are gaining access

that our partners are undertaking, as well. Sustaining these

to innovative curriculum in engineering, math and computer

partnerships long-term yields year-over-year value for our students,

programming fields and creative projects working alongside college

educators and the broader community in new teaching and programs.

professors and students. St. Margaret’s is serving as a research

Through our partnerships, I believe we are more thoughtful,

partner, sharing resources and its own expertise with universities

more innovative, and ultimately a much stronger institution,”

to advance pedagogy and student learning in the 21st century.

said Dr. Graham.

In the following pages, take a closer look at St. Margaret’s growing partnerships: Student Internships at University of California, Irvine’s Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering

The Pacific Symphony

UCI’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering FABcamp

MIND Research Institute

edX (Harvard, MIT and St. Margaret’s)

TEDx

The Global Space Balloon Challenge

Winder Academy of Music

The Ecology Center

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A Summer of Engineering Exploration Since 2005, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, has generously offered a unique summer research internship opportunity exclusive to St. Margaret’s for a selected group of its junior students. After completing a rigorous application process, up to 10 students are accepted for the program, and are matched with UCI professors and graduate students in their area of interest for six weeks of intense, hands-on lab work and research. At the end of the summer, the students give a presentation to faculty members and parents, and receive one unit of college credit.

Working daily in an engineering laboratory, the interns gain valuable experience in an academic real research environment. Areas of research have included: nanosystems, electrical engineering and computer science, chemical engineering and material science, advanced power and energy, construction engineering and biomedical engineering.

“This internship is an amazing opportunity for high school students to experience real, college-level engineering before their senior year.

The exposure to programming, the college lab environment, and independent problem solving gives interns a major advantage in preparing them for an engineering major in college. St. Margaret’s has a long-standing partnership with UCI engineering, and the internship is endowed, ensuring that our students will always have access to this exceptional program,” said St. Margaret’s parent Stacey Nicholas. Herself an electrical engineer, Ms. Nicholas spearheaded the development of the internship program at UCI.

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“It was a pleasure mentoring Ben Wang over the summer as part of the UCI internship program,” said Dominique Ingato, doctoral student in chemical and biochemical engineering at UCI. “Ben was very eager to start research, and he quickly became proficient in cell culture techniques. He learned a great deal about our research in gene therapy during his time in the lab, and I have no doubt that this will be very useful for his future academic and research plans.

As a graduate student with a passion for teaching, I genuinely enjoy mentoring younger students in the lab whenever I have the chance.

Ben was a particularly great mentee since he showed lots of enthusiasm for all of the techniques and concepts I taught him over the summer. I am already looking forward to hosting another intern in the lab next summer!”

The summer of 2013 marked an extension of the UCI student internship program. For the first time, St. Margaret’s students participated in a five-week internship in the Longhurst Research Lab in the Susan Samueli School of Integrative Medicine at UCI. The Longhurst research group studies the effect of electroacupuncture on hypertension. Four St. Margaret’s seniors gained an understanding of immunology, integrative physiology and the central nervous system. At the end of the internship, each student presented research findings in a public colloquium held at UCI to an audience that included mentor professors, St. Margaret’s administration, as well as high school, undergraduate and graduate students.

“It was an amazing experience for the students,” said Upper School Science Department Chair and teacher Dr. Jennifer Ross-Viola.

“Most undergrads do not get the hands-on exposure that these students experienced in just five short weeks, let alone high school students. Our students worked one-on-one with the professors in the lab, which is not the norm for this type of an internship.

Moreover, the fact that they had to give a professional seminar open to the general public was an invaluable experience for them.

I was very impressed with how much the students learned and how well they were able to explain their research and results.”

The Exciting and Innovative World of Engineering

Below is a list of students who participated in the 2014 summer internship program, and a summary of their projects: Zack Venable Project: Joshua Tree National Park Transit Feasibility Study Summary: Incorporate a voluntary transit system to alleviate vehicle congestion and reduce emission.

David Weaver Project: Creating a Positive Feedback Device for Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients Summary: Create a device that would use sound as a positive feedback mechanism to help stroke patients relearn a movement.

Lance Lew Project: SCALE Dashboard Creation Summary: Use the Internet of Things (a network of connected technologies that can send and receive data) to promote public safety.

Ben Wang Project: BioTel Summary: Learn important procedures in a molecular biology and chemistry laboratory and examine the cytotoxicity of NK92 cells on certain cell lines.

Greg Justice Project: Maximum Water Content of a Methane Flame Summary: Design and implement an experiment and learn about a potential alternate energy source.

Christian Carnahan Project: Atomic Force Microscopy of Graphene Summary: Examine the surface of graphene using atomic force microscope.

Liam McGregor Project: Stroke Recovery Through Music Summary: Develop and test therapy methods for stroke patients using music.

Partnering with University of California Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering, St. Margaret’s brings the one-of-a-kind FABcamp and APPcamp to students during summer. This hands-on engineering program is designed to expose middle school students to the exciting and innovative world of engineering, focusing on a different type of engineering each day – chemical, electrical, systems, civil, etc.

“Education researchers have described middle school as a critical period for math learning. Students at this level are being introduced to algebra and must develop a more sophisticated theoretical understanding that will be the foundation for advanced study in STEM subjects. FABcamp and APPcamp were developed as a strategic response to STEM education reform efforts. The camps target rising seventh and eighth grade students and expose students to the design process during a critical period of their academic development. It also expands their understanding of the ways science, mathematics and technology can be applied to solving real-world problems,” said Director of Academic Innovation, Partnerships at UCI Leyla Riley.

FABcamp curriculum focuses specifically on engineering disciplines, computer aided design, rapid prototyping and fabrication technologies.

APPcamp focuses on computer science, basic coding and mobile application development platforms. Students work on projects that emphasize STEM concepts and correlate with Common Core Standards and the Framework for Next Generation Science Standards.

Camp activities promote 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication and problem solving in a collaborative

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environment. During the camp, students apply what they learn through design by “FABricating” solutions using 3D printers and other materials.

Academic Dean Dr. Jeneen Graham said, “The UCI FABcamp provides students opportunity to understand what an engineer does and how the skills they develop solve real-world problems every day.

The camp is run by UCI engineering faculty and students and provides an unforgettable experience for students to design, build and finish projects during the camp.”

“The partnership between the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is just one example of how private institutions can collaborate with public institutions to impact STEM education and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Ms. Riley. “We have already started refining the curriculum and projects for summer 2015 and are very much looking forward to the future of this partnership.”

EdX Partnership Brings St. Margaret’s To The World St. Margaret’s Episcopal School announced in September a unique partnership with edX, a global online learning community founded

by Harvard and MIT, to offer online high school courses to students around the world.

EdX extended its reach to high school students with the launch of a new initiative to offer advanced high school and introductory college-level MOOCs, massive open online courses, in a wide variety of subject areas, ranging from mathematics to science, English and history.

St. Margaret’s, one of only two high schools in the nation to be selected by edX to participate, joins the ranks of leading universities also participating, including, MIT, Boston University, Georgetown University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Texas, Wellesley College and Davidson College.

“EdX provides access to innovative teaching methods and rigorous learning opportunities from the world’s leading institutions for as many learners around the world as possible,” said St. Margaret’s Head of School William N. Moseley. “We were thrilled to be invited by edX to submit course proposals for this new high school program and even more excited to be given the opportunity to not only serve a larger community, but to also learn and grow ourselves as an education institution within this cohort of some of the best universities in the world.”

A team of St. Margaret’s faculty developed three new courses for the edX high school initiative that will begin in early 2015, introduction to psychology, taught by St. Margaret’s Academic Dean Dr. Jeneen Graham with Middle School math teacher Jeremy Dailey; advanced Spanish language and culture, taught by Middle School foreign language teacher Marta Austin; and the road to selective college admissions, taught by Director of College Counseling Roland Allen and Associate Director of College Counseling Amy Warren. The team also includes Director of Technology and Innovation Lynn Ozonian and Director of Extension Programs Tait Lihme.

“It’s extraordinary to think that St. Margaret’s educators will be teaching students all around the world. This partnership with edX embodies important tenets of our mission, service to others and lifelong learning, and we are very grateful for the opportunity,” said Mr. Moseley.

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Anant Agarwal, chief executive officer of edX, says these new high school courses fill an important need.

“We know that nearly 150,000 edX learners are high school students, and developing high quality, engaging, and interactive courses to specifically meet the needs of this student population is a high priority for us at edX. These courses will open up a gateway of learning to new knowledge and disciplines for learners across the globe, continuing to increase access to high-quality education for all.”

Upper School Students Launch Balloon in Global Space Challenge

According to edX, colleges and universities find that many students could benefit from taking a few extra courses to help close the readiness gap between high school and college. To address this need, edX launched the high school initiative with an initial collection of 26 new online courses.

“The edX courses currently offered from St. Margaret’s – selective college admissions, intro to psychology and advanced Spanish language – are among the most requested subjects from our learners.

We look forward to launching many more such courses from St. Margaret’s in the coming months,” said Mr. Agarwal.

“An important goal of edX is to go beyond offering courses and content to also research and understand how students learn, how technology can transform learning, and the ways teachers teach on campus and beyond,” said Dr. Graham, who is leading the St. Margaret’s edX team. “This is also of high interest for our St. Margaret’s professional learning community as we too seek to continually learn and grow as educators and to evolve teaching and learning to best serve learning styles and interests of our own students.

“This opportunity is incredibly exciting for us as a community of learners and in many ways it is an opportunity for St. Margaret’s to continue to lead and innovate as an institution, as well.”

The edX high school initiative and St. Margaret’s participation has garnered national media attention, including coverage in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Washington Post, NPR Marketplace, Forbes Magazine and The Boston Globe.

To read more about St. Margaret’s edX partnership, visit Tartan Today on smes.org and search edX.

What is an edX MOOC? A MOOC is a massive open online course that is aimed at unlimited participation for students around the world. It is open and free to anyone who chooses to register. EdX MOOCs are touted as the best courses, from the best schools, taught by the best teachers. Courses are fun and social, designed for self-paced learning with lesson-focused short videos, automated feedback and engaging interactive features, like active discussion boards among students and teachers.

One of very few high schools in the world invited to participate, eight members of the Upper School engineering class launched a handcrafted high-altitude balloon in the Global Space Balloon Challenge in a remote spot near Bakersfield, Calif. during the wee hours of the morning April 18. During the inaugural balloon challenge, St. Margaret’s joined 60 teams from 18 countries on six continents. Colleges from around the world including Stanford University, University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and others from Europe and Australia launched balloons the week prior and after St. Margaret’s launch day.

According to its website, “The Global Space Balloon Challenge (GSBC) is the coming together of people around the world to simultaneously fly high altitude balloons from every corner of the globe, celebrating an age where anyone can reach the edge of space for a few hundred dollars and a few weekends of work. By providing a specified launch window and central online platform, the GSBC enables teams to showcase their unique cultures while working together to educate the next generation and push the boundaries of what is technologically feasible.”

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Teams launched high-altitude balloons, a large weather balloon (typically filled with helium) attached to a box that houses sensors and instruments. The St. Margaret’s team, consisting of Class of 2014 graduates Liam Lasting, Max Palladini, Brooks Robinson, Andrew Victor, Charles Williams and Matt Williams; current senior Connor Parks, current junior Daniel Freed, and Upper School science teacher Steve Harless, designed the instrument compartment, balloon arrangement, researched launch sites, predicted landing spots based on historic meteorological data and contacted the Federal Aviation Administration and local airport authorities regarding launch information.

The team recovered the balloon in a field approximately 23 miles south of the launch site. GoPro videos and photos captured spectacular images of the curve of the Earth, and the blue shell of the atmosphere at 100,000 feet. The balloon also spent some time hovering over St. Margaret’s. It traveled over the Fountain Courtyard and captured Upper School students going to Chapel, then moved to Chalmers Field.

The following Friday, the team, along with Mr. Harless, headed to the California interior to launch the balloon in the International Balloon Race. St. Margaret’s was one of only a few high schools invited to compete in this university-level competition.

The St. Margaret’s team was originally introduced to the Global Space Balloon Challenge by St. Margaret’s Alumnus and Global Space Balloon Challenge Co-founder and Director of External Relations Charles Cox.

Pacific Symphony Orchestra Musician Mentors Begun in spring 2013, the St. Margaret’s musical partnership with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra provides St. Margaret’s students the opportunity to interact with and learn from professional musicians on the instrument that they study.

The partnership was established for the 2012-2013 school year with the St. Margaret’s student orchestra. The program was expanded to include band students for the 2013-2014 school year.

According to Orchestra Director Gene Wie, “All of our instrumental music classes are able to participate in an on-campus residency by the musicians of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. From instrument family clinics, to section rehearsals, to side-by-side performances, our students are extremely grateful to receive these dedicated interactions with a member of our local professional orchestra.”

Through a detailed schedule that provides the opportunity for meaningful and frequent visits, student musicians are placed in groups by instrument in different practice rooms throughout the Performing Arts Center to work with a professional member of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra who plays their instrument. The Pacific Symphony also arranges for an administrator to be a floating supervisor among each of the groups. The professionals then perform with the students during the spring concerts.

“The meaningful part of this music-mentoring program is that it allows our student musicians to get instruction in their instrument and build a relationship with a professional who specializes in the instrument over the course of weeks. This has certainly raised the level of playing proficiency among our students. Many of these professionals are part of our adjunct music faculty,” said Director of the Arts Darcy Rice.

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Sharing Environmental Understanding and Problem Solving with The Ecology Center “We love collaborating with St. Margaret’s. St. Margaret’s is an early adopter, always first to engage in our newest programming.

We have launched mobile exhibition and programs at the school, and continue to engage students and faculty in unique/cutting edge conversations at our facility. However, I believe that we’ve just barely tapped the surface of possibility for what collaboration could look like. Future collaborative goals include developing a long-term farm/garden/science program with a special facility located close to campus. Together we would give the St. Margaret’s community, especially students, empathy and experience to where food comes from, how to grow it, and ultimately how to be of service in supporting the local community by distributing fresh organic produce to families locally without the same opportunities. The dream would be to integrate food/garden education into the entire school experience, Kindergarten through 12,” said Evan Marks, executive director of The Ecology Center.

St. Margaret’s partnership with The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, a regional hub for eco-education that engages and empowers individuals and families, has evolved over the past six years. It originated as a field-trip destination, but the partnership now supports St. Margaret’s curriculum and looks for new and innovative ways to share environmental understanding and problem solving with members of the St. Margaret’s community.

St. Margaret’s strong connection to the people and programs at The Ecology Center allows students to learn through hands-on experiences and also discuss the issues facing our world with a problem-solving mindset. Students in grades 2 through 11 have taken field trips to the Center, and have explored the sourcing of California’s water through the water shed interactive demonstration.

The Ecology Center’s Executive Director Evan Marks, has been a steadfast partner with St. Margaret’s, speaking at TEDxSJC last fall.

In addition to being a learning resource for St. Margaret’s students, The Ecology Center has consulted with St. Margaret’s on implementing garden-based curriculum, and faculty and staff continue to attend professional development opportunities hosted at the Center’s historic site in San Juan Capistrano. In the last three years, St. Margaret’s has had two seniors, Ellie Schwartz, Class of 2013, and Josh Davis, Class of 2014, conduct their Independent Senior Project at The Ecology Center, and the SEEDS Club (Upper School Sustainability Club) provides annual support each spring in preparation for the community-wide Earth Day celebration.

“The partnership between The Ecology Center and St. Margaret’s is vital to continuing the conversation of moving our school forward on sustainable practices. We want to foster in our students an understanding of the global relevance of sustainability, but with The Ecology Center in our backyard we can begin the thinking and problem solving on a local level. For example, St. Margaret’s is situated on a critical watershed into the Pacific Ocean, and we have the opportunity to impact the quality of water that hits that ocean,” said Director of Community Life Lora Allison.

On the Ground Floor of Spatial-Temporal Math® St. Margaret’s is on the ground floor of Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math® beta testing succeeding its partnership with the MIND Research Institute, a nonprofit education organization dedicated to ensuring that all students are mathematically equipped to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

A game-based instructional software for Kindergarten through grade 12, ST Math® is designed to boost math comprehension and proficiency through visual learning. During the pilot program with Lower School teacher David Beshk’s grade 5 class, students took part in games for 10-15 minutes while MIND Research Institute researchers observed the students and assisted as necessary.

“The games were purposely designed without directions, so students were challenged to persist and work through the process of figuring out the objective,” said Mr. Beshk. “The main character in the games was Gigi the penguin. Students had to successfully navigate Gigi through various challenges, all the while exercising working memory.”

“This research relationship shows students and teachers the importance of the research process. It was important to see how our kids enjoyed the program before investing in a full-scale adoption. It follows the model of using data to drive instruction,” said Academic Dean Dr. Jeneen Graham.

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Integrating with classroom instruction, ST Math® incorporates the latest research in learning and the brain and promotes masterybased learning and mathematical understanding. The ST Math® software games use interactive, graphically-rich animations that visually represent mathematical concepts to improve conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills.

tasks that involved vague directions. The computer games didn’t include any directions, so students were forced to think flexible and persist through difficult tasks. The first few days included many complaints and ‘I can’t figure this out.’ But over the two weeks, students became increasingly more comfortable with the challenge and capable of ‘figuring it out,’” said Mr. Beshk.

“After the assessment, I noticed an improvement in the class’ ability to problem solve and the students’ comfort level with problems/

TEDxSJC Connects “Never Stop Questioning,” was the theme of the inaugural TEDxSanJuanCapistrano at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School featured a compilation of innovators in education, arts, science, ecology, technology and public purpose who presented thought-provoking and energizing TED Talks to a limited group of 100 attendees in the McGregor Family Theater on November 1, 2013.

The event theme was derived from Albert Einstein’s famous quote: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Attendees were treated to nine speakers with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise: Alan Cross, writer and producer; Kelly Dooley-Kalley, founder and designer, BodyRock Sport, and St. Margaret’s alumna; William Fitzpatrick, renowned violist and educator; Paula Golden, executive director, Broadcom Foundation; Thomas Hughes, writer, scientist and student at St. Margaret’s; Michelle Khine, associate professor,

Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine School of Engineering; Johnny Li, mathematician and researcher at Harvard University and St. Margaret’s alumnus; Evan Marks, founder and executive director, The Ecology Center; and Nanea Reeves, chief operating officer, Machinima, who each shared their big ideas stemming from their passions and dreams and how they imagine the future.

In addition to shared ideas, the inaugural TEDxSJC led to a unique opportunity and collaboration of ideas between two of the event speakers.

“Dr. Michelle Khine was a fellow speaker, and her talk was absolutely brilliant. Her story was remarkable,” said Thomas Hughes, grade 7. “After the talk, I was quite interested in what she had to say, so I went up to her and we started a conversation. Talking about energy, nano-fabrication, and recent projects in her lab, at one point she offered up the idea that I would come by. I had the joy of coming in to meet and have lunch with the team, getting to experience the lab and the students working in it.”

Thomas parlayed that meeting into a summer internship twice a week, six hours a day in Dr. Khine’s lab. At the lab, Thomas worked on a variety of projects, from superhydrophobic surfaces to conductive clay. One of these projects was developing the field of palladium carbon monoxide sensors. Carbon monoxide, being an odorless gas, is difficult to detect. Palladium sensors are one of the ways in which to detect the gas.

“For 12 hours a week, I was surrounded by some of the most brilliant people I will ever meet. Intelligent and creative, I got to observe while they worked their magic, some of them experimenting for a Ph.D. thesis, others building a company. The people involved had dedicated their time, effort and money to making the next great toy kit: A Hundred Tiny Hands. Full of scientists and businesspeople, being in a meeting with them was like watching a bulldozer roll over a tin can. They blasted through every obstacle, efficient and smart.

Every setback was a way to improve, and so I learned not only the attributes and costs of conductive dough, or the contact angle of a standard water droplet on a polystyrene mold, but I learned how to think, improve and fix,” said Thomas.

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

Thomas’ connection with Dr. Khine also led to an introduction to Dr. Roger Fabian Pease, a nano-physicist at Stanford University.

“When visiting San Francisco over a break, I had the joy of meeting him. He first introduced me to the Kelvin Electrostatic Generator, a brilliant contraption that generates energy from the charges of water. He proceeded to demonstrate a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), as well as a cleaning room, where transistors are synthesized. I was introduced to many of his colleagues, all as

brilliant as he, and all as inviting. It was a fantastic experience, and I have since established a correspondence with Dr. Pease.”

“Thomas is a member of a rare group of people who are both innovative thinkers and effective communicators. It will be fun to see what he does with that gift,” said Tait Lihme, St. Margaret’s director of summer school and extension programs.

The Art of Making Music From pen and paper to the bright lights of the stage, Upper and Middle School students went behind the scenes of the entire music production process through St. Margaret’s partnership with Winder Academy of Music, a creative-based music academy in Orange County whose primary focus is identifying and connecting students to their musical art through the application of innovative teaching techniques and enhanced creative studies. The Art of Making Music (AMM) focused on creating, producing and performing music from scratch. Special guests included Nashville Hall of Fame Song Writer Roger Murrah.

“Perhaps the ultimate highlight of the camp was when some of the students got to sit down with legendary songwriter and publisher Roger Murrah. He spoke candidly and honestly about the music industry and what it takes to become a great songwriter. They also had the rare opportunity to perform their individual songs to Roger and in return received professional critique and guidance,” said Graeme Winder, Winder Academy of Music owner and music director.

This two-week camp held in July began with conceiving, developing and writing music and/or lyrics; next, students moved into instrumentation, production and furthering a song’s development.

Finally, they experienced the differences between studio recording and live performances.

Using the latest in recording and audio technology in the Performing Arts Center orchestra classroom, recording practice rooms and recording studio, students participated in fun, creative activities such as groove sequencing, digital composition and more.

Throughout the experience, students created a solo piece and a group piece with professional studio recordings made from each project.

In addition to Apple-based hardware and software, synthesizers, and all the recording studio equipment, including mics, servers, mixers, etc., students also used a Maschine Studio, the next evolution of a breakthrough hybrid music-production platform that makes creating music fast, intuitive and totally natural. The Maschine Studio provides users with the all-hands control only available from hardware, plus the phenomenal flexibility of a software environment.

“It is incredible what young students are capable of when given the right creative environment in which to explore. My team and I were

amazed at the quality of music projects that the camp students produced and recorded. From soulful R&B to headshaking dubstep, so many different styles and ideas came to life inside the recording studio at St. Margaret’s,” said Mr. Winder.

The entire program culminated in an exciting live concert in front of family and friends in the Marcus D. Hurlbut Theater.

“Several of the students attending the camp had no formal musical training or lessons,” said Director of Summer School and Extension Programs Tait Lihme. “During the live performance at the end of the program, each student introduced their piece, and gave some background about their inspiration. All of the students remained on stage as a team during the performance. If the song was instrumental, they simply moved back to the group while it played and then bowed at the end. For those who had vocals, the instrumental track was played, but the singing was live. It was truly a community performance.”

HIGHLANDER

15

> Open Spaces St. Margaret’s students in grades 7 through 12 submitted more than 130 pieces of artwork for the 2015 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. The submissions represented a range of artistic media, such as ceramics and glass, design, drawing and illustration, painting, photography and sculpture. Below is a sampling of the impressive artwork that was submitted.

Students recognized at the regional level in this juried competition had their artwork move on for jurying at the national level.

St. Margaret’s students received a total of 49 Scholastic art awards (11 Gold Keys, 19 Silver Keys and 19 Honorable Mention). Pieces marked with an asterisk received a Scholastic art award.

Blake Pasternack, Photography Alyssa Maita, Photography

Zoe Kramer, Photography

Anna Moellenhoff, Photography

Quentin Talley, Photography

Kim Manzo, Ceramics*

Dunay Bach, Painting* Nick Williams, Sculpture

Sofia Swell, Sculpture

Allison Demas, Drawing and Illustration

McKinley McQuaide, Sculpture

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

Callie Shaw, Photography

Fred Hudoff, Sculpture

David Weaver, Photography

Shuqi Yang, Painting

Noel Segerstrom, Photography

Katie Weaver, Photography*

William Schwartz, Sculpture*

Danielle Drislane, Photography

Connor Jordan, Sculpture

Brent Cahill, Photography* Will Rosenthal, Photography

Ryan Jensen, Photography

Debbie Zamarripa, Ceramics

Makenna Mitchell, Photography*

Open Spaces entry selected by St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Arts Department

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17

> Faculty Profile

Eric Harrington:

Making Life Science

Come Alive

T

he popular ABC television reality series Shark Tank features aspiring entrepreneurs presenting their ideas to a panel of shrewd potential investors.

Taking a page from the show, Middle School teacher

Eric Harrington last spring introduced Tartan Tank as an innovative teaching tool for his grade 7 life science students.

But, it isn’t financial backing students are after – it’s the nod of approval for that singular winning, knowledge-based idea that most impresses the team of discerning judges. Tartan Tank is just one of the ways Mr. Harrington makes science come alive for students, using inventive, hands-on learning techniques that span curricula.

“Our goal is to entice everyone in our class,” he remarked. “There is some aspect of each activity that plays to a student’s strength –art, math, English. As we’re learning an important science concept, each student is assimilating it in the way most meaningful and useful for him or her. If my students enjoy what they are doing, they are learning, and they just might discover a passion for science along the way.”

With Tartan Tank, grade 7 teachers work collaboratively to help students learn across a variety of curricula to solve a problem with empathy for a product’s user in mind. The competition challenges student teams to invent or improve on a product with a real-world application.

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

The Rowland Heights, Calif. native began his career in Oregon as a counselor in a school-based treatment center. “I realized that I loved working with kids to give them opportunities for growth and learning,” he remarked.

He returned to California to earn his credential for teaching biological sciences for grades 6 through 12 from Azusa Pacific University. He then taught middle school in the Long Beach Unified School District for 10 years. In 2004, he began teaching at St. Margaret’s, where his two young daughters are enrolled.

“Students work in cooperative teams, selecting a problem that impacts people individually, locally or globally, then find a solution. Once the kids pick a problem to solve, they research it to make sure it doesn’t already exist. If it does, they have to make it more innovative. The students love it and have come up with some ingenious ideas,” Mr. Harrington explained.

A few of the ideas from last spring’s competition included external iPad case speakers, climate-controlled jackets, and last spring’s winning idea, children’s toys covered with a bacteriainhibiting synthetic sharkskin.

The skin of a shark has a unique structure with no flat surfaces, which bacteria need to breed, noted Mr. Harrington. The idea of applying a synthetic version of this uniquely sterile material to various objects intrigued the father of last spring’s Tartan Tank winner, whose attorneys are actually looking into using it on the medical instruments his company produces.

Mr. Harrington’s enthusiasm for teaching remains evident after more than two decades, and he reports that the rewards are full-circle: “Now, the best part of my job is having St. Margaret’s students return and report that their experience in my science class was influential. That’s truly gratifying.”

Mark your calendar for May 15 to watch the results of Mr. Harrington’s creative flair for teaching as the top 10 Tartan Tank finalists showcase their innovations in the Performing Arts Center.

“Students work in cooperative teams, selecting a problem that impacts people individually, locally or globally, then find a solution.”

“Since I started teaching at St. Margaret’s 10 years ago, I have always done some type of real-life application, which is really what science is all about. To learn science, you have to do it.

Mine is a lab-driven class so kids learn by doing.”

He has a definite knack for making science fun to do. For a forensics unit, Mr. Harrington devised SMI: St. Margaret’s Investigation, taking a cue from the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

When students arrive at school, they are met with a mock crime scene festooned with yellow tape and bearing a scant handful of clues. Each year has a different theme. One year it was the movie Despicable Me. The purple minions had committed a crime, and it was up to science students to piece together clues using minilabs in blood typing and hair and fiber testing to solve it. Another year, SMI investigated a crime with a Harry Potter theme; there was even once a zombie/mad cow disease-related crime on the St. Margaret’s campus.

“In real life, answers aren’t handed to you. You have to figure things out for yourself, and the key often lies in unconventional thinking.

We encourage creativity, collaboration, and developing problem-solving skills that translate to everyday life.”

HIGHLANDER

19

Thriving in

College CLASS

20

S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

OF

2013

M

ichigan, Tufts, Claremont McKenna and Haverford are four distinct institutions that span the continent. Yet, each campus is a perfect home to a St. Margaret’s alumnus in the Class of 2013.

This year’s stories of college transition recall a harsh winter that extended beyond spring break, travels home for holidays, missing In-N-Out, finding academic mentors, and forging

ties with new, close friends. The important take away is that these students, like hundreds of St. Margaret’s

alumni who precede them, are well prepared for success in the nation’s finest colleges and universities.

Equally as important, our alumni find comfort in distant places as they recall the days of their youth, and the school of the Tartan and the Cross.

By Roland Allen, Director of College Counseling

Chase Williams, Haverford College

. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Haverford College (and the East Coast in general) is many things, but unfortunately for those who are attuned to warm weather, it is not Southern California. Although this became apparent well before the biting cold and white snow showed up.

The weather, however, pales in comparison to the other differences between SoCal, or “Cali,” as most people refer to it over here, and the East Coast. Old tradition, greasy food, die-hard sports fans, and rigorous debate about which town on Long Island is better are a small sample size of the changes in environment I have experienced since arriving in Ardmore, Pa. And, although it is a significant departure from what I grew up with, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I am currently playing lacrosse at Haverford, and still deciding on my major. Between the small community of the lacrosse team and the broader yet still small (1,100 students) community of the school, in general I have made many new friends and many memories. The people here

are smarter than they lead you to believe, which means they have taken pretention out of the equation, and are just normal, intelligent people that I can relate to; it always makes me chuckle when my teammates discuss linear algebra and organic biology during a lacrosse practice, right before they score a sick goal.

While it is hard to believe that my first year as a college student is almost over, I feel no regret, as I believe I have made the most of my year so far.

Haverford is not without its faults and adjustments (see the above complaints about weather, and this white stuff they call snow). The school is academically rigorous, and no one would mistake Haverford for a party school. Being far from home and not being able to see my family is also hard, especially when most of my teammates’ parents live nearby enough to come to most games. Through this adversity though I have made two really great friends whose parents have become my “adoptive parents.”

I could not be more thankful for the relationships I have made since coming out here.

Like most freshmen would say, this year has had its ups and downs. Late study nights with early morning practice the next day are often juxtaposed with trips into downtown Philly for a concert. And, while I may have had some adjustments to make, I would not change any of my choices.

“It always makes me chuckle when my teammates discuss linear algebra and organic biology during a lacrosse practice, right before they score a sick goal.”

HIGHLANDER

21

THRIVING IN COLLEGE

Claremont McKenna

Sebastian Luna, Claremont McKenna College

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........................

My story is a bit cliché really. I never wanted to apply to Claremont McKenna. The idea of going to a small liberal arts school, only a little more than an hour away, was not exactly the most appealing. I had this idea in my head that I wanted to go to the East Coast, far away, experience something completely alien.

I envisioned old fashioned buildings, tall seasonal trees, a light sprinkle of snow as I walked to class. This is what I wanted.

Karly Thomas, University of Michigan

. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Do you know what a California winter is? The harshest one I can remember consists of mornings in the low 40’s and a handful of bothersome rainy days. For my entire life, this was the context in which I understood this season. It wasn’t until I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to study at the University of Michigan that real winter meant weeks of temperatures in the single digits, nearly 90 inches of snow, and an immediate friendship with my newly purchased parka.

Yet, as soon as I first stepped foot onto the campus of CMC, I fell in love. I’m not kidding, it’s ridiculously cliché. I loved it so much that I was worried that when I visited a second time I wouldn’t like it as much. This didn’t end up being the case seeing as I fell in love with it even more. So much in fact that I applied early decision and lo and behold I got in!

To be honest though, college isn’t as good as they say it is, it’s better. I felt, and still do, like I had come home, like I’ve always belonged here. This year has been surreal.

I hit the road running, literally. Before school started I took a trip with the cross country team to Lake Tahoe, which definitely set the mood for the year to come. I automatically made 70 close friends just by being on the team. When I got to school I was fortunate enough to be paired with an awesome roommate and neighbors who all ended up becoming my best friends. Everyone was so welcoming and inclusive it was almost overwhelming.

MICHIGAN With the weather complaint out of the way, I’d now like to point out this is the only consistent downside to being a Michigan wolverine. I absolutely love my school. It is a bit intimidating sharing this campus with 40,000 other people, but it didn’t take long before I felt like part of a highly spirited and welcoming community. It is amazing how something such as a football stadium blanketed in fans donning the Michigan maize conjures such a unifying spirit of comradery.

As exciting as this new larger sense of community is, it also helps to have something of a smaller scale I’ve become accustomed to thanks to St. Margaret’s. I am a student in the school of music, theatre and dance, which has about 200 students total; a number that really makes this huge university feel small. Being a theatre student also means I get to spend my days studying and creating what I love most, ranging from roles I already know how to fill such as assistant director and playwright, to new ones such as dramaturg and light board operator. This intensive, close-knit community of theatre artists combined with the overwhelming excitement that comes with a huge campus and huge student body is what really makes me feel lucky to be here.

I’ve visited home a few times now. Every plane ride to LAX has been charged with longing for sunshine, In-N-Out, my family, and my fellow Tartans. However, it has recently occurred to me the plane rides to the Detroit Metro Airport consist of the same sentiment. San Juan Capistrano will always be my first home, but it’s nice to know I’ve found another in Ann Arbor.

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

“Academically, the transition from St. Margaret’s to CMC was seamless.”

THRIVING IN COLLEGE

Academically, the transition from St. Margaret’s to CMC was seamless. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle the work load, but St. Margaret’s definitely prepared me to handle what was to come. I’m a neuroscience major with a pre-med tract, which is undeniably a daunting course load but, to be honest, I love it. I have brilliant teachers and really interesting classes, my favorite of which was my neuropsychology course.

In my first semester, three of my four classes had less than 14 students in them, with the fourth having only 18. I got to meet all my fellow classmates, as well as make real relationships with my teachers. We’d go out to dinner as a class and have walking lectures; I was even offered a research opportunity from one of my professors.

I haven’t been at college long, but when I am asked what advice I have for high school students going into college I say this: 1) Find an escape. Mine was lacrosse, joining the team was the best decision I’ve made all year. It is something I can go to after a long day of hard work. As awesome as college may be, everyone needs some time to cool off their noggin. Even being around your friends for too long, although fun, can get stressful.

2) Share. Whether it be tangible things or experiences, people remember acts of genuine selflessness. Your kindness is often returned tenfold.

3) Enjoy.

Regardless of who my close friends were while I attended St. Margaret’s, I feel like I could contact any alum who is also on the East Coast and meet up for coffee or a meal. Whatever the reason, whether I’m home sick or need advice or need recommendations on a good restaurant in Boston, etc. I have a network of people who, without a doubt, would support me and provide me with the help and resources that I needed. This sense of community that I took for granted while I was in high school has become the most defining part of my memory of St. Margaret’s and my experience in college.

“Participating in my classes was less daunting because of the emphasis placed on class participation and the small class size at St. Margaret’s.”

My first year at CMC has been amazing and my only regret is something out of my control. I wish time didn’t move so quickly.

This year has gone by too fast for my liking.

Stefanie Brunswick, Tufts University

. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After completing my first semester, and almost my first year, at Tufts University in Boston I have a renewed appreciation and understanding of my time at St. Margaret’s. After getting through the initial college hurdles from learning how to live with someone (let alone someone you’ve never met), picking classes, managing time demands of academics, playing soccer, meeting people, exploring your surroundings, etc., the gifts that St. Margaret’s endowed me with made themselves known.

Academically, I felt more than prepared for my classes, so much so, that at times I felt I had a leg up over my peers, especially in the level of writing that is expected of students. In addition, participating in my classes was less daunting because of the emphasis placed on class participation and the small class size at St. Margaret’s.

TUFTS

There is one thing, though, that St. Margaret’s provides every student that to me, trumps over the academic preparation. That is the large community that follows each and every student after the graduation ceremony. Leaving the St. Margaret’s campus and going to college across the country has made this more obvious to me. Almost 3,000 miles from home, I do not feel isolated.

HIGHLANDER

23

THRIVING IN COLLEGE

CLASS OF 2014

In the fall, St. Margaret’s 99 graduates from the Class of 2014 continued their academic careers attending 66 colleges and universities in 20 states, the District of Columbia and internationally, including Japan and United Kingdom. One hundred percent of the graduating class received admission to four-year colleges and universities.

We are proud of you Tartans!

Visit “Commencement 2014,” to view speeches and highlights from the 2014 Commencement Ceremony, Baccalaureate Service, Candlelighting Ceremony, Senior Banquet and Upper School Awards Ceremony. Be sure to check the College Choices list to see where the newest Tartan alumni will continue their academic careers or browse photo galleries. http://www.smes.org/about/publications/commencement/index.aspx

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

THRIVING IN COLLEGE

Match Class of 2014 Tartans

with Their Reflections

allos Angel CSwearbthmore College

Tessa Hurr rsity lumbia Unive

Trevor Jue

Attending: UCLA

Attending: Co

Attending:

Attending: Chapman University

1 Since Middle School, St. Margaret’s has prepared me for challenges I will face in the future, including the journal I undertook last year, living in Beijing with a woman who spoke literally no English at all. I’ve learned many lessons from good study habits to lessons on morals and being an individual of good character. I plan on taking my cumulative experience and letting it guide me, not only throughout college, but for my adult life as well.

2 I’ve learned a lot at St. Margaret’s, but the most important thing I’ve learned is how to stick it out through challenges.

3 I will miss the community, both the students and teachers.

4 Through St. Margaret’s rigorous college prep courses, I am prepared to take on any work that is given to me. Also because of St. Margaret’s attention to the use of different forms of technology, such as Blackboard and iPads, I can now use those skills in college and even further into the workforce.

John Da

Attendin nly g: Univers ity of St. Andre ws, Scotl and

Attending: Un otland St. Andrews, Sc

John Williams

Claire Kraft

Attending: New Yo rk

lledge Lauren Go iversity of

Attending: College of the Holy Cross

University

5 St. Margaret’s prepared me to handle college-level work and to appreciate everything that I’m given by my community and family.

6 I believe that St. Margaret’s has prepared me for college by providing an environment that encourages students to explore a wide variety of interests, academic and otherwise.

7 St. Margaret’s has prepared me for college because they have encouraged me to take risks and step out of my comfort zone. In addition, I feel that the rigor of the academics and the passion that the teachers have made the classroom environment both challenging and fun.

8 I will miss the tight knit community and the familiar faces I have seen around campus these past 16 years.

Answers:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........................

1. John Danly 2. John Williams 3. Trevor Jue 4. Lauren Golledge 5. Claire Kraft 6. Philip Bauer 7. Angel Ceballos 8. Tessa Hurr

Philip Bauer

HIGHLANDER

25

THRIVING IN COLLEGE St. Margaret’s graduates are attending these colleges and universities. This list represents the graduating classes of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

1

Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA

Concordia University 35 Irvine, CA

70

2

Amherst College Amherst, MA

University 36 Ithaca, NY

Marymount California University Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

71

3

Arizona State University Phoenix, AZ

Dartmouth College 37 Hanover, NH

McGill University Montreal, Canada

72

4

Austin College Sherman, TX

Davidson College 38 Davidson, NC

Middlebury College Middlebury, VT

73

Dickinson College 39 Carlisle, PA

Mills College Oakland, CA

5

Azusa Pacific University Los Angeles, CA

6

Babson College Boston, MA

Drew University 40 Madison, NJ

Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Drexel University 41 Philadelphia, PA

7 8

Barnard College New York, NY

Duke University 42 Durham, NC

9

Bates College Lewiston, ME

Elon University 43 Elon, NC

Baylor University 10 Waco, TX

Emmanuel College 44 Boston, MA

Beloit College 11 Beloit, WI

Emory University 45 Atlanta, GA

Berklee College of Music 12 Boston, MA

Endicott College 46 Beverly, MA

Biola University 13 La Mirada, CA

Eugene Lang College 47 New York, NY

Boston College 14 Boston, MA

Fordham University 48 Bronx, NY

Bowdoin College 15 Brunswick, ME

Furman University 49 Greenville, SC

Brigham Young University 16 Provo, UT

Georgetown University 50 Washington, DC

17

Brigham Young University, Idaho Rexburg, ID

Gettysburg College 51 Gettysburg, PA

Brown University 18 Providence, RI

Goucher College 52 Baltimore, MD

Bryn Mawr College 19 Philadelphia, PA

Grand Canyon University 53 Phoenix, AZ

California Lutheran University 20 Thousand Oaks, CA

Grove City College 54 Grove City, PA

California Maritime Academy 21 Vallejo, CA

Harvard University 55 Cambridge, MA

22

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA

23

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, CA

24

California State University, Dominguez Hills Dominguez Hills, CA

California State University, Fullerton 25 Fullerton, CA California State University, 26 Long Beach Long Beach, CA

56 Haverford College Philadelphia, PA 57 High Point University High Point, NC 58 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA Indiana University at 59 Bloomington Bloomington, IN 60 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 61 Kenyon College Gambier, OH

27 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA

62 Lafayette College Easton, PA

28 Chapman University Orange, CA

63 Lehigh University Allentown, PA

29 Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA

64 Lewis & Clark College Portland, OR

30 Colby College Waterville, ME

65 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA

31 College of Charleston Charleston, SC

66 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL

32 College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA

67 Lynchburg College Lynchburg, VA

33 Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO

68 Macalester College Saint Paul, MN

34 Columbia University New York, NY

69 Manhattan College New York, NY

26

S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

99 138

Northern Arizona University 76 Flagstaff, AZ 77

Occidental College Los Angeles, CA

78 Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK

152

89 137 64

74 Musicians Institute Los Angeles, CA New York University 75 New York, NY

145

154

58 135

141

116 115

96

101

21

73 95

17

103

94 119

123

79 Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK

144

80 Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA 81

Pace University, New York City New York, NY

82 Parsons The New School for Design New York, NY Pepperdine University 83 Malibu, CA Point Loma Nazarene University 84 San Diego, CA

16

22

122

150

20

24 74

83

Pomona College 85 Claremont, CA

118 65

13 142

29

85 128

23 5 139 77 25 153 120 26 80 28 35 117 93 140 84 121

86 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 87 Providence College Providence, RI

104 Swarthmore College Philadelphia, PA

88 Purdue University West Lafayette, IN

Texas A&M University 105 College Station, TX

Reed College 89 Portland, OR

106 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX

90 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY

The American University of Paris 107 Paris, France

122

University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA

91

Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI

The George Washington University 108 Washington, DC

123

92

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN

The University of Arizona 109 Tucson, AZ

University of Chicago 124 Chicago, IL

110 Trinity College Hartford, CT

125 University of Colorado, Boulder Boulder, CO

111 Tufts University Medford, MA

University of Denver 126 Denver, CO

112 United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, CO

127 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS

113 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD

128 University of La Verne La Verne, CA

114 University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada

129 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL

115 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA

130 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

116 University of California, Davis Davis, CA

131 University of Missouri Columbia Columbia, MO

117 University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA

132 University of New Hampshire Durham, NH

118 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA

133 University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN

119 University of California, Merced Merced, CA

134 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK

120 University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA

University of Oregon 135 Eugene, OR

121 University of California, San Diego San Diego, CA

University of Pennsylvania 136 Philadelphia, PA

93 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA 94 Saint Mary’s College of California Moragan, CA 95 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA 96 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA 97 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ 98 Scripps College Claremont, CA 99 Seattle University Seattle, WA 100 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 101 Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR 102 St. Olaf College Northfield, MN 103 Stanford University Stanford, CA

76

70

3

53 97 109

CANADA 114 71 30

15

9

72

37 132

90 36

68 102

155 32

7

11 81

130 63 124 151

66

56

54

133

61

39 27

92

125 126

104

19

110

14 6

87 91 18

48

47

69

41

146

136

113 59

127

51

75

50 108

88

33

62

34

8

12 44

2 156

82

46 111

55

86 40

52 60

67

131

112 147

38

78 134

57

43 42 143

79

SCOTLAND

49 31 1

149

45

4 106 100 10 105

107 129 137 University of Portland Portland, OR

147 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC

138 University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA

148 Waseda University Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

139 University of Redlands Redlands, CA

149 West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX

140 University of San Diego San Diego, CA

150 Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA

141 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA

151 Wheaton College Wheaton, IL

142 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA

152 Whitman College Walla Walla, WA

143 University of St. Andrews St Andrews, Scotland

153 Whittier College Whittier, CA

144 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT

154 Willamette University Salem, OR

145 University of Washington Seattle, WA

155 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA

146 Villanova University Philadelphia, PA

156 Yale University New Haven, CT

FRANCE

JAPAN 148

HIGHLANDER

27

Updates

> Alumni Updates Letter from the Tartan Alumni Association President Greetings fellow Tartan Alumni, Welcome to the first installment of the Highlander Tartan Alumni Association Update. An important goal of the association is creating programming that brings together current and former students in service of St. Margaret’s and one another. At the helm of the association is the Tartan Alumni Council, composed of 10 devoted former Tartans. Joining us in this effort, we are proud to announce Jillian Gray, who will be overseeing our alumni relations program and partnering with us on key priorities – social media, class agent volunteers and an alumni endowment.

In this newly created position, Jillian will focus on engaging more Tartan alumni and parents of alumni, with our alma mater. Together, we hope to expand the opportunities for alumni to come home to St. Margaret’s, experience the school today and give back to its growing alumni community.

Here is a sampling of Tartan alumni events and programs on the horizon: 1. The All-School Spring Fundraiser, March 14.

2. The Tartan Education, Advisement and Mentorship (TEAM) program. Jobs, internships and leadership opportunities connecting the entire St. Margaret’s community.

3. The creation of the Tartan Alumni Legacy Endowment (TALE).

This exciting new venture will help support future students and show how to be “Proud in Plaid.”

These are just a few of the programs we are working hard to develop and bring to our fellow Tartan alumni. Please consider getting involved and helping us carry on the tradition of learning, leadership and service. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact me or Jillian Gray, our new assistant director of advancement for alumni relations at jillian.gray@smes.org.

In Tartan spirit,

S. Todd Newman, M.D. ‘91 President, Tartan Alumni Association (and proud St. Margaret’s parent) snewman25911@yahoo.com

> Notable: Jillian Gray

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...............................

Meet Jillian Gray, assistant director of advancement for alumni relations.

Jillian has enjoyed a rich career in alumni relations at both the collegiate and independent school levels. Her experience includes leadership roles at The University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, The Bishop’s School and Chapman University. She has managed alumni councils, young alumni programs, reunions, regional events, alumni fundraising, student outreach programs, career initiatives and others. Jillian has effectively engaged alumni of all ages, and has demonstrated an ability to build collaborations across her institutions between current students, faculty, staff, past parents and alumni alike. Please join us in welcoming Jillian to our Tartan family!

Jillian lives in Orange with her husband, children and two dogs.

They love to travel (despite all the gear), ride bikes and spend leisurely days at the park.

In her words:

“It’s an exciting time to help build a formidable foundation to support alumni initiatives and engagement for decades to come.

For current students, my role is really to help them understand that their connection to St. Margaret’s is truly for a lifetime.

For alumni, my aim is to celebrate the innovative, masterful and altruistic work that they are spearheading throughout the globe, yet also ensure their relationship to their alma mater inspires them to stay connected through events, giving and volunteerism.

Finally for parents of alumni, I want to remind them of their important role in that connection – for their son/daughter… but also for themselves.”

Tartan Alumni You’ve Been Challenged!

The Tartan Alumni Association is proud to announce the creation of the Tartan Alumni Legacy Endowment – TALE. This fund will directly support financial aid for current and future Tartans. Through the very generous challenge gift of an anonymous Tartan, all alumni gifts will be matched dollar for dollar. Instantly, your gift will have twice the impact. What are you waiting for? Make your gift today and become a charter member of this exciting effort to ensure that the next generation of Tartans are poised for success.

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S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

Class Notes Tartan Class Notes 1987

This summer, a small group of ‘87s gathered poolside. Debra Clark Eusebio, mother of three (Hannah, 24; Josh, 20; and Nick, 14), travels from her home in Northern California to Orange County frequently to visit her son Josh, who attends Point Loma University.

Jennifer Bourguignon Blount, mother of two (Beau, 5 and Isabella ’19), joined St. Margaret’s as the Lower School assistant principal in 2012 and as Lower School principal in 2013. Jeannine Cordova Clarke, mother of two (Avery ‘20 and Gavin ‘18), continues to serve as St. Margaret’s Middle School principal. Jennifer Ramsey Risner, married to Mark Risner ‘86, is the director of admission at St. Mary’s, The Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers’ fourth school.

Angila Murrells Burke, mother of four: Parker (attending University of California, Los Angeles), Sydney and Madison (attending Cal Lutheran University) and London (age 8), recently returned to Southern California after 20-plus years living across the nation with her now-retired United States Marine Corps husband.

... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1989

On June 21-22, the Class of 1989 celebrated its 25th Reunion weekend. On Saturday, over wine and beer, great eats and in a festive atmosphere created by the Tartan Alumni Association, a third of the class gathered on campus in the Fountain Courtyard to reminisce and catch up on what’s new in their lives. On Sunday, classmates got to meet each other’s kids and additional family during a luncheon hosted at the McGraw family home. Pizza, games, cake and fun gave everyone a chance to relax

and enjoy hanging out with each other once again. Marshawn Clark put it perfectly when she said, “Our 25-year reunion is a constant reminder of how much I truly love my Tartan family. We may be older, but some things never change.” Attending the events were Kevin Clampitt, Rusty Carroll, Varney Fahnbulleh, Krysten Rudy, Marshawn Clark, Chris Allen, Robert Lazar, Kevin McWayne, Craig Barbieri, James Shearer, John Norton, Peter McGraw, Chad Susag, Kristy Khachigian, Darren Fancher and their spouses and significant others.

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1990 25th Reunion

Can you believe that it has been 25 years since we turned our tassels to the other side? It’s time to relive that St. Margaret’s pride and join our classmates for a memorable time. Save the date for our 25th Reunion June 5 and June 13, 2015.

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1999

On the heels of a festive 15th Reunion – thank you to everyone that was able to attend: Alyson Barker, Kim Loewen Bohy, Anna McLeish Brower, China Hansen, Emily Evans, Megan Canright, Nicole de Santis, Jimmy Freeman, Lucas Nagy, Trevor Connon, Andrew Baker, Aaron Escarrega, Brian Spina and Melissa Jameson Spina. Wedding bells rang for Kim Loewen Bohy when she recently married Nate Bohy in October. Both psychologists, the two met in graduate school. They are loving life in San Diego where Kim continues in private practice. Kim was snapped in her gorgeous wedding dress with fellow St. Margaret’s attendees, Anna McLeish Brower, Katie McLeish, China Hansen and Emily Evans. Ethan Schwaber shared, “I married Tara Warburton in August at Lake Quinault, Wash. My son Caleb is four years old and is the joy of my life. After I graduated from the University of Puget Sound, I went on to receive my Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. We live outside of Seattle. My wife and I both work for Boeing on the 737 MAX program, which is the new replacement aircraft for the current 737 model. I am an industrial engineer, specifically developing the plan for the first few MAX airplanes from factory rollout through initial test flights, certification and finally their delivery. It’s an amazing product that will deliver to airlines starting in 2017.”

1992

Jeff Flores was on campus recently with his wife and two daughters to celebrate Homecoming and represent the 1989 CIF Championship football team. He is a dentist, and he and his family have recently moved close to St. Margaret’s.

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1995 20th Reunion

Prepare for nostalgia and fun. Our 20th Reunion is just around the corner and our reunion committee is starting to plan a festive and memorable event. Stay tuned for all the details. We look forward to seeing you June 5 and June 13, 2015!

HIGHLANDER

29

2000 15th Reunion

Are you curious what the rest of the ‘00s are up to? Make plans to join us – June 5 and June 13, 2015 for our 15th Reunion… activities for the kiddos included! Stay tuned for all the upcoming information.

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2002

Lindsey Laszewski welcomed with her husband, Dan, their daughter, Naomi Easton into the world on August 12, 2014, weighing in at 8.7 lbs. and 22 inches. Lindsey and Dan love being parents and find that Naomi brings so much joy into their life. Meg Cayler sent in a quick update that she is living in Shanghai, China studying for her M.B.A. and preparing for future work. Allison Powell married Daniel Dupont on August 8, 2014 at The Resort at Pelican Hill. Many fellow St. Margaret’s alumni attended the nuptials including Rev. Ryan Newman ’94 who officiated the wedding. Allie and Dan currently live in Vancouver, Canada where they both work in marketing.

took some tongue in cheek Tartan sweetheart photos on a recent trip to Sun Valley, Idaho in full matching Tartan plaid.

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2004

Lots of St. Margaret’s mini-reunions took place this past year as wedding bells rang, or are about to, for many in our class.

Dylan Gwaltney, Jenny Phillips and Steve Wetterau just got married. Stefanie Wilson is engaged, Geoffrey Neale is engaged, Jesse Cozean is recently married, Jamison Gee is engaged, Kyle Morison is married, Brian Booth is married, Carolina Barriga is married, Kyra Rogers is engaged, Adnan Anabtawi is engaged, Sahil Gandhi is engaged, Danielle Groux is engaged, Kendall Hacche is engaged and Paul Janczyk just celebrated his first year of marriage.

Congrats to you all!

California in 2009 and recently spoke at the school’s Silicon Beach Conference, as the founder and president of Urban Dust, a traceless messaging app. Umar Farooq Bajwa recently moved back from Dubai and is enjoying balancing married life (May 2014) and startup life (busy with several ventures). He’s quite active in the local tech startup community, and loves being back home in Southern California with his wife Erum. Laura Canright shared, “I love living in Texas and plan to live here for a while.”

She’s in medical sales in Fort Worth, Texas.

She t ransitioned from working in the ICU after three years at John Peter Smith County Hospital. Although as she says, “I am missing being bedside so I may go back to the ICU PRN.” Taylor Teague Palacio is working hard on her new online Christian boutique, and enjoying time with her two beautiful children Hailey ‘27 and Nathan 17 months. They reside in Rancho Santa Margarita. Nicole Hughes is keeping busy before her wedding to John Daniel Rivera next February. She continues to produce events and plan weddings both within the U.S. and internationally, while serving as a member of the Tartan Alumni Council. She recently hung out with Kimmy Crawford to see Jesse McCartney at his finale concert in Downtown Disney.

Chris Benderev was heard on NPR’s Weekend Edition recently for his piece on “Millennials: We Help The Earth But Don’t Call Us Environmentalists.”

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2005 10th Reunion

....................................

It’s nearly time to catch up on what our Tartan classmates have been doing these past 10 years. You might see updates on Facebook, but is it really the same as faceto-face time? Join us for our 10th Reunion, June 5 and June 13, 2015! Ryan Ozonian graduated from University of Southern

2003

Maxwell Moholy is enjoying married life and is in the midst of completing his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Idaho State University in Pocatello, which he expects to finish in 2016. Andrew Wood is practicing commercial litigation in Costa Mesa and is a new member of the Tartan Alumni Council.

McKinley McQuaide Caitlin Andrews ‘03 and Derek Steffien ‘05

30

S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

. . . . . . ..............................

2007

Congrats to Hallie Mayer who is starring in George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man at the Long Beach Playhouse. She’s playing the role of Raina and having a blast doing it. Kate Lanni Giacopelli has returned to St. Margaret’s as an assistant costume designer. You should see the amazing costumes she has worked on, most recently for the Upper School play Argonautika.

... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2009

Mack Santora is living in Columbus, Ohio working for JP Morgan Chase. He is in his third rotation of its corporate analyst development program where he has been able to delve into a variety of the company’s business divisions. Christina Poindexter is living in the Bay Area and was recently promoted to launch marketing manager for Google Search at Google.

... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2010 5th Reunion

Greetings Tartan Class of 2010! Can you believe our first-ever St. Margaret’s reunion is here? Please mark your calendars, and if needed make the trip to San Juan Capistrano for June 5 and June 13, 2015. It’ll be great to learn about all the fantastic things everyone has been up to. Don’t miss out on this traditional Tartan fifth reunion gathering! Hope to see you there. Jeff Jung is living in New England attending graduate school at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering. Also attending grad school are Alex Fragapane, who is working on his Ph.D. in physics at Stanford University and Freddy Valencia, who is studying for his biochemistry Ph.D. at Harvard University.

Drew Lind played at the NCAA tournament in Dallas with his Pomona-Pitzer soccer team, where he is served in his second year

....................................

tradition, and send your updates and happenings to alumni@smes.org. Don’t forget to see all the Tartan happenings on Facebook – search for St. Margaret’s Tartan Alumni Association.

2011

> Notable:

as team captain and helped bring home a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament victory for men’s Division III. He graduated in December.

Sarah Greenberg is attending Cornell University and is serving as a student representative on the Board of Directors at College Mentors for Kids, a mentorship program connecting college students to kids in grades first through sixth. Mitch Marmelstein is making an impact both on and off the court at Grove City College.

Recently, he scored a game-high 21 points in the team’s basketball win to eclipse the 1,000-point mark and join a truly exclusive club. Only 25 players in the school’s 116year history have reached this milestone.

’89 CIF Championship Team

. . . . . . . . . . ..........................

On November 7, 2015, three members – Jeff Flores ’92, Todd Newman ’91 and Ryan Westendorf ’91 – of St. Margaret’s first CIF Championship football team returned to campus for Homecoming and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their championship.

....................................

2013

Olivia Santora is attending the Marshall Business School at University of Southern California where she is in the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She was selected to participate in an internship through Dream Careers and worked for Fashion Designer Ramy Brook in her New York office this past summer. Gianni Carson is loving New York City and just wrapped working on Pace University’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It as props master. He was recently asked to join the production crew for Law and Order SVU as a production assistant and is excited to officially begin working on his first professional show.

....................................

2014

Greetings Class of 2014! Would you like to see your name in print in the Highlander magazine? Be a part of this Tartan alumni

Save the date and check out our new class reunion schedule for 2015!

All-Alumni Reunion:

. . . . . . . . . .......................

Friday, June 5, 2015 All alumni are invited to gather for this annual post-Baccalaureate celebration.

Class Reunions:

. . . . . . . . . .......................

Parents of Alumni

Saturday, June 13, 2015 Milestone celebrations for the Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010.

If your son or daughter no longer maintains an address at your home, please notify the Office of Alumni Relations at 949.661.0108, ext. 247 or alumni@smes.org, of his or her new address. Thank you!

HIGHLANDER

31

> Looking Forward

Maseeh Middle School

Artist’s rendering of bird’s eye view showing northwest corner of campus St. Margaret’s new, state-of-the-art campus for the Maseeh Middle School will open August 26, 2015, the first day of the 2015-2016 school year. The new campus is designed as a flexible, dynamic, dedicated space for active, collaborative and innovative teaching and learning. The Middle School was named in recognition of Dr. Fariborz Maseeh, for his tremendous contributions and longstanding commitment to the school, including his recent transformational multimillion dollar gift to advance curriculum, instruction and innovation initiatives, including digital education.

“Dr. Maseeh’s expert input on the role of technology and connectivity in advancing teaching and learning has been invaluable to our academic team as we have designed this new Middle School campus. His name has long been associated with innovation and growth. We can think of no more appropriate way to honor

32

S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L

Artist’s rendering of Maseeh Middle School including courtyard and outdoor learning spaces him and his investment in St. Margaret’s Episcopal School than with the name of our Middle School that represents the highest quality in academic leadership and innovation. We are deeply grateful to have his partnership and support as we continue to strive for excellence in moving our school forward in the 21st century,” said Head of School William N. Moseley.

24,000-square-foot, two-story stateof-the-art education center, 17 highly flexible, technology enriched classrooms outfitted to enhance instruction and learning, adaptability for the future, abundant, interior, natural light.

Centralized classes in humanities, math, science, computer science and performing arts for students grades 6 through 8.

14,000 square feet of outdoor educational space, including two outdoor classrooms, courtyard, common space and amphitheater, that reflects the local biome.

Design reflects curriculum and teaching advances that include leading research on learning styles and brain development, development of 21st-century cognitive skills, and the unlimited possibilities and applications provided by advancing technologies.

Technology-enriched learning spaces that allow for heightened display capabilities, interactivity, connectivity and collaboration among students and teachers.

Three science laboratories for earth science, life science and physical science learning that open to outdoor classrooms and courtyard for further experimentation.

Maker space fabrication lab that integrates the arts with the development of science, technology, engineering and math skills.

2/12/2015

Photograph of former dental offices during demolition 9/4/14

Construction timeline: 12 months, began August 2014. Opening August 2015.

Topping Out Ceremony 11/13/14

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 31641 La Novia San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2752 Change Service Requested

Tartan Traditions…

Events > Upcoming . . . . . . . . . ........................................

March 14: All-School Spring Fundraiser “Casino Royale” March 21: Swallow’s Day Parade March 25: Summer School Registration for 9-12 Opens April 1: Summer School Registration for Preschool-8 Opens April 6-10: Spring Break April 30: Library Luncheon May 8: Grandparents and Special Friends Day June 3: Last Day of School June 5: All-Alumni Reunion June 6: 30th Commencement Exercises

Each year St. Margaret’s students create flower arrangements and decorate potted plants to give to local senior homes for Valentine’s Day. This year, on the program’s 12th anniversary, enough flowers were planted to brighten the day of 390 senior citizens in five senior homes in San Juan Capistrano.