Highlander Fall 2024

FALL 2024

The Joy of Learning

Innovation in Performing Arts

Tartans Thrive & St. Margaret's Commons Update

Commencement 2024 in Photos

St. Margaret's Guide to Philanthropy

CONT E N T S DEPARTMENTS

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TA R TA N SNA PS H OTS Learn the latest news happening around St. Margaret’s, from Early School to Upper School.

26 CL A SS NOT E S AN D ALU M NI UP DAT ES Learn the latest from your classmates, including travels, career changes, weddings and more!

30 P R O FE SSIO NAL COM M U N IT Y NOT E S Get the latest news from St. Margaret’s professional community, from awards to retirements to anniversaries.

32 TA R TA N SCE NES What’s happening in the St. Margaret’s community? Check out photos from the latest events on and off campus.

38 LO O KING FO RWARD Introducing the Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award for Philanthropy.

40 HO NO R R O L L OF DONORS In recognition of the generous St. Margaret’s community and its support of a variety of philanthropical initiatives.

On the Cover Upper School students conduct a lab in their Advanced Biotechnology Studies Honors class, a science elective where students experience scientific research while still in high school.

FE AT U R E S

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The Joy of Learning St. Margaret’s seeks to inspire joy and purpose each day at school, building a foundation in every student for a lifetime of learning.

AI Revolution 12 The at St. Margaret's Recognizing that AI is here to stay, St. Margaret’s remains committed to integrating the technology in ways that empower both teachers and students.

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14 The Magic of Movement

How St. Margaret’s health and wellness initiatives bring students together to practice and develop healthy habits every day.

16 Tartans Thrive and the Evolution of St. Margaret's Campus

The next step in the exciting future of St. Margaret’s campus is here.

18 Innovation Illuminates the Stage Performing arts has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, driven by an infusion of innovative and imaginative elements that redefine the experience.

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21 Commencement 2024 The festivities for the Class of 2024, as well as milestones for the classes of 2028 and 2031, captured in photographs.

34 Q&A with Ryan Korinke A Q&A with Ryan Korinke of St. Margaret’s Board of Trustees on the endowment, the financial health of St. Margaret’s and more.

Margaret's Guide 36 St. to Philanthropy A closer look at the many opportunities to philanthropically support the Tartan community this school year.

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GUIDEPOSTS

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S T. M A R G A RE T’ S E PI SCO PAL SC HO O L H E A D O F SC HO O L Dr. Jeneen D. Graham

Message from the Head of School

E D I TO R I A L D I REC TO R Ryan Wood M A N AG I N G E D I TO R Marites Olano A R T D I R ECTO R Sarah Kustera

As we celebrate our 45th anniversary this fall, it is inspiring to look at how much St. Margaret’s has grown since that first day of school on October 1, 1979, when we opened with 79 Lower School students in portable classrooms.

Today, we stand strong with 1,234 students and a 25-acre campus that continues to grow and improve to meet the always-evolving educational landscape.

I am humbled by the visionary leaders, generous philanthropists, dedicated parents, amazing students and devoted professional community members who through the years have woven together a rich history that has made St. Margaret’s what it is today. The story of our school continues to unfold, with the best chapters yet to come. This issue of the Highlander Magazine explores how St. Margaret’s is thriving today, and how our school community is joining together to ensure a bright future for our children.

The cover story takes a deeper dive into our mission’s call to educate students for lives of learning, and how seeking joy in the academic journey through agency, choice, collaboration and service develops a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

We also cover the amazing innovation taking place in performing arts, and catch up with our alumni—which now total more than 3,000 with the addition of the Class of 2024. And we look forward, examining the financial health of the school with Board of Trustees Investment Committee Chair and St. Margaret’s parent Ryan Korinke. Lastly, we are so thrilled to update the community on the Tartans Thrive capital campaign in anticipation of the St. Margaret’s Commons.

Whether you are a student, professional community member, parent, grandparent, alumni, parent of alumni, legacy parent, legacy grandparent, community partner or friend—what an exciting time to be a member of our Tartan family!

Here’s to another great school year! I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

In gratitude,

CO P Y E D I TO R Jennifer Perez E D I TO R I A L BOARD Patrick Bendzick, Jennifer Blount, Stephanie Capen, Victor Cota, Jeneen Graham, Marites Olano, Jonathan Tufo, Ryan Wood CO N TR I B U TO RS Tom Baker Photography, Patrick Bendzick, Jennifer Blount, Lynda Collier, Tyler Jo Gaines, Ryan Korinke, David Larsen, Angela Mackenzie, Dania Markum, Mattingly Messina, Rian Otto, Jonathan Tufo Highlander Magazine is published biannually by the Communications Office as a St. Margaret’s Episcopal School community magazine.

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, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other schooladministered programs.

Our mission at St. Margaret's Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

S T. M A R G A RE T’ S E PI SCO PAL SC HO O L 31641 La Novia San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949.661.0108 www.smes.org

Jeneen Graham Ed. D., Head of School HIGHLANDER

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Tartan Snapshots Scan here to read more St. Margaret’s news and watch films at www.smes.org/news

St. Margaret’s Partners With OC Head Start for Meaningful All-School Service Learning Project

Middle School Students Build Sensory Toys for Early School Students Middle School students engaged with Early School students as part of a sensory research project. The collaboration between the grade 7 students and Early School involved Middle School students’ “Tartan Toy Company,” developing toys to help enhance Early School sensory skills. The unit involved designing a sensory toy focused on fine motor development for 3-5 year olds. The lesson encouraged Middle School students to apply the design thinking process to solve a problem, thinking like innovators and creators.

St. Margaret’s students engaged this spring in the All-School Service Learning Project—an annual springtime activity that brings the school community together around a shared purpose in service to the local community.

This year, the school partnered with Orange County Head Start to build gardens at each of the organization’s two San Juan Capistrano locations.

Grade 5 Classrooms Travel Through Time for a Colonial ‘Revolutionary Experience’ St. Margaret’s grade 5 students took part in “A Revolutionary Experience,” dressed in costumes reminiscent of colonial times, with activities and games that more closely brought students to the time period around the United States’ founding.

The unit was a way to bring history to life and for students to experience what life was like during the American Revolution.

Students rotated between three activities, each of which applied their learning in creative and fun ways. The experiential day was the culmination of several class projects around the Revolutionary War.

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Five Tartans Honored in NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing Competition St. Margaret’s had five Upper School students recognized in the Achievement Awards in Writing competition conducted by the National Council of Teachers in English. A total of 633 students were nominated from across the United States and around the world.

The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students to write and to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation.

Cross-Divisional Project Sparks Curiosity for the Space Exploration Exhibit

Early School’s WOW Night Celebrates a School Year of Meaningful Learning The Early School was transformed into a marvelous showcase of student learning as the 6th annual WOW Night brought families to St. Margaret’s for a celebration of the meaningful play-based learning that took place throughout the school year.

Families are invited to WOW, or Works of Wonder, an annual event in the Early School for an opportunity to see student work and student-led projects. Families visited classrooms, the atelier (art studio), the Demonstration Lab and the Outdoor Classroom.

The Space Exploration Exhibit was a crossdivisional collaborative project between St. Margaret’s Upper School astronomy students, Middle School astronomy club students, and grade 3 science students. The Space Exploration Exhibit displays hand-built physical models of past, present and future space missions, and is specifically designed for Early and Lower School students to spark curiosity about the vast universe, invoke a sense of wonder about the unknown, and highlight the process of scientific discovery.

STEAM Expo Brings Students to St. Margaret’s for Joyful Learning and Fun Engaging activities and joyful opportunities at the annual STEAM Expo brought students to St. Margaret’s for a day of fun.

The STEAM Expo is a celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math taking place at St. Margaret’s. The event featured a STEAM playground designed for Early School and Lower School students, which stretched from Chalmers Field into the Lower School STEAM classrooms. Students could engage in hands-on activities, touch scaly reptiles, look at different slides under microscopes, test out the St. Margaret’s robotics team’s award-winning robot, engineer LEGO vehicles, view Lower School science projects from throughout the year, and much more.

Students Visit Crystal Cove State Park Tide Pools for Enriching Cross-Divisional Field Study Grade 2 students joined Upper School marine science students for a special trip to Crystal Cove State Park to observe its tide pools.

The Upper School marine science class joined the Lower School students who took advantage of mid-day low tide to conduct a field study at Rocky Bight tide pools. The unit lesson included a deep look into tide pool organisms, and programming centered around marine debris. Special participation from Lower School science teacher David Beshk also added to the learning by way of an additional rotation to learn more about geographic coastal landforms.

HIGHLANDER

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Tartan Snapshots THE ARTS

Upper School Students Honored for Excellence in Musical Theater Upper School performing arts students were honored at the Spirit of the MACY Awards, held at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. The program included performances by St. Margaret’s Upper School students. All high schools in Orange County are eligible to be adjudicated by the Spirit of the MACY judging team. Schools compete against other schools in the county for Best Show, Best Ensemble, Best Actress and Actor and more.

Tartan Seniors Celebrated for Their Pursuit of the Arts in College St. Margaret’s Class of 2024 included two students who committed to pursue the arts at the college level. Alex Kim and Els Page have been a part of St. Margaret’s arts programs for a number of years, and will continue studying their specialty after their time at St. Margaret’s. Director of the Arts, Dan Pacheco, remarked on their dedication and accomplishments, “This is an extraordinary achievement to be accepted by these schools to continue their arts education.”

Early School Students Connect With St. Margaret’s Orchestra to Try Musical Instruments

Students Immerse in Disney's Soundtrack Sessions Blending Harmony Between Education and Musicianship In a transformative session, Middle and Upper School band and orchestra students immersed themselves in Disney's Soundtrack Sessions at Disney’s Imagination Campus located outside Disneyland.

Guided by Disney music professionals, the workshop honed fundamental skills and delved into the emotional nuances of music, offering insights into the expectations of professional musicianship. Students were exposed to how a professional musician is measured. They learned that an expert must be totally dedicated to honing one’s skill on their instrument. They must be proficient in rhythm, tone and intonation, and able to play in all key signatures. Furthermore, a musician must be able to sight read on the spot. They must be flexible, make corrections quickly, and work well with a team. These insights offer students the opportunity to shape their goals as they further develop their skills.

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St. Margaret’s PreK-12 campus allows opportunities for cross-divisional connection, offering students of different ages the opportunity to experience joyful learning, connection and fun. The magic of St. Margaret’s early childhood-grade 12 campus came into focus in the Darcy Rice Center for the Arts, as orchestra students in the Upper School and Middle School had a special activity for Early School students. The older students oversaw an “instrument petting zoo” where young students could hear, see and even try a variety of musical instruments up close.

TA R TA N AT H L E T I C S

Athletics Roundup

Boys Lacrosse Wins CIF-SS Championship

• Two St. Margaret’s track & field athletes won individual titles at the CIF-SS Div. IV finals in May. Everett Capelle won gold in the 1600m with a time of 4:16.47. Mark Cyr was also crowned CIF champion, winning the discus with a throw of 156-11.

St. Margaret's boys lacrosse program realized a long-held goal of bringing home a CIF-SS lacrosse championship, downing Loyola High School 10-9 in the Div. I final.

• Zoe Reynolds won the 100 butterfly in 59.05 at the CIF-SS Div. III finals, leading the Tartans to a fifth-place finish. She also finished second in the individual medley.

St. Margaret's went 20-2 and did not lose to a Southern Section opponent. St. Margaret's first CIF-SS sanctioned championship elevates the 2024 team to the annals of Tartan lacrosse history, joining the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Championship teams of 2013, 2015, and 2019, and the 2005 State Club Championship squad

Boys Volleyball Captures Fourth CIF-SS Title St. Margaret's captured its second CIF-SS Championship in three years with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20) win over Southern California powerhouse San Clemente in the Div. III title bout.

The win marks the fourth CIF Championship in program history, with titles in 2001, 2010, and 2022.

Tartan Student-Athletes Commit to Play College Sports A total of 19 student-athletes from the Class of 2024 will continue their academic and athletic careers at a range of prestigious colleges and universities.

To view the complete list, visit www.smes.org/athletic-commitments .

HIGHLANDER

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BY RYA N WO O D

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s Tartans walk across the stage and accept their diplomas from St. Margaret’s Episcopal School at the end of their senior year, they do so ready for the next chapters of their lives. They are equipped with a foundation of knowledge, yet are also prepared with a skillset and mindset to continue a path of personal growth and learning long after they leave.

It is a key word in St. Margaret’s mission statement: educate the hearts and minds of young people, for lives of learning, leadership and service.

A lifetime is a long time, and students graduate with most of their lives ahead of them.

How does a school like St. Margaret’s help construct a love of learning in such a way that it endures for a lifetime?

One answer? Seeking joy.

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“T

o be a lifelong learner, it is imperative that learning is a joyful pursuit,” Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said.

“To be clear, joy doesn’t mean easy. On the contrary, some of the most challenging learning experiences deliver the joy of growing mastery and competency. Young people want to challenge themselves and when that learning is filled with agency, purpose, meaning and a true sense of competency, it is joyful.

“Our professional community is always seeking to inspire joy and purpose for our students each day at school, and they do a remarkable job intentionally building a foundation that benefits our students and engages them to learn for the rest of their lives.”

Research has shown that for students to embrace a lifetime of learning, it is imperative for learning environments, like St. Margaret’s, to inspire intrinsic motivation among its students. Intrinsic motivation around learning requires a sense of purpose in their work and a sense of ownership in making decisions that are most engaging to them. In the book Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self Motivation, Dr. Edward L. Deci writes that “people yearn so strongly to feel competent or effective in dealing with their environment that competence could be thought of as a fundamental human need.”

“At St. Margaret’s, there is an array of opportunities for children to develop true competence and mastery,” Dr. Graham said, “which is part of the joy in the learning process.”

Similar concepts were explored by Finnish educators and researchers Taina Rantala and Kaarina Maatta, who conducted observational and ethnographic research over two school years while seeking to unlock the secret to what makes learning joyful. The two studied video, photographs, personal observations and student interviews to document children’s expressions and feelings during a variety of academic settings— all in an attempt to understand the joy of learning and the factors that enhance it in a school setting.

From that research, the two compiled 10 theses that positively influence a student’s joy of learning. Among them, the researchers noticed that joy is enhanced when: • • • •

Students experience success.

Students have certain amounts of freedom.

Students are surrounded by other joyful learners.

Students are active participants in their own learning.

A typical day highlights how these factors are baked into the school culture at St. Margaret’s. Students of all ages are exercising agency and choice in their academic and cocurricular work. They are engaging in learning opportunities in the classroom and outside across St. Margaret’s beautiful 25-acre campus—and even away from school. Alongside other passionate learners, St. Margaret’s students thrive in a tight-knit community that celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and a love of learning in collaboration with one another. As part of a vigorous academic program, students are fulfilled as they learn through serving others.

The St. Margaret’s experience develops and uplifts intrinsically motivated learners. When students finish Upper School, they graduate with a sense of purpose, diploma in hand, embarking on a lifetime of intellectual curiosity, an embrace of a growth mindset, a motivation to serve others, and an appreciation—and joy—for what they know and what is still left to learn.

J OY T H R O U G H C O M M U N I T Y A N D C O N N EC T I O N Commencement is a cherished event which brings the school community together to celebrate the graduation of the senior class each June. One highlight is student leaders giving heartfelt speeches which share takeaways from their memorable years at the school.

The speeches are authentic and often personal, yet there are commonalities between their words year over year. The students frequently reflect on their time at St. Margaret’s as part of a larger lesson their classmates can take with them. Often those reflections are shared experiences such as class retreats, group projects, cross-divisional connections, athletic contests and performing arts productions.

A learning environment plays a big role in how learning is enjoyed. Tartans young and old often speak to the power of their peers and describe St. Margaret’s culture as one that embraces academic achievement, celebrates a wide range of interests and lifts one another up in the pursuit of their passions­—whatever they may be.

Elise Peffer ’24, last year’s Associated Student Body president, summed it up in her Commencement speech: “Behind the scenes, we lean on one another for advice and we encourage each other to reach our personal and academic goals. And through all of this we’ve shared some of the best and most fun memories together.”

The culture around learning at St. Margaret’s aligns perfectly with a thesis presented by Rantala and Maatta, who state that “the joy of learning is often a common joy, too.”

HIGHLANDER

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Any time our community is able to connect with each other is a gift, There is so much joy and learning that occurs from crossdivisional interactions like these.”

St. Margaret’s encourages education to be collaborative, and as Elise said to the Commencement audience, students are cheered on by their peers in the pursuit of learning. Students naturally learn together within their classroom or with classmates in their same grade, yet St. Margaret’s also embraces the learning possibilities all across the school. The unique Early School-grade 12 campus means more opportunities for interactions and more opportunities for joyful learning.

This spring, students in the Upper School’s marine science class went with grade 2 students to the Crystal Cove tide pools for an enriching crossdivisional field study. The older students and younger students together observed marine creatures like blue-banded hermit crabs and Pacific ochre sea stars. To further the learning, the Upper School students created models of adaptations that tide pool critters use to survive in an alwayschanging and tough environment, and led mini-lessons to the captivated grade 2 students.

Through years of cross-divisional learning interactions like these, which bring together students of all ages, teachers have noticed the benefits that result from this unique strength in the St. Margaret’s experience—role modeling, character development, inspiration and community-building, to name a few.

Even more profound, though, teachers are inspired by the joy that such connections bring. Younger students and older students love being around each other, love learning from one another and love the peer-centered approach that these connections naturally embrace.

St. Margaret’s professional community seeks out such learning opportunities, oftentimes developing curriculum during the summer months in collaboration with teachers from other divisions. In one

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example, Middle School students in grade 7 life sciences visited the Early School to research a project developing toys that help fine motor development for preschool-aged children. The older students played in the Ingrid S. Andrews Outdoor Classroom with the Early School students, documented their observations and ideas based on that play and then designed and developed age-appropriate toys. They created prototypes off those designs and invited Early School students to the Middle School to test out the toys.

It was a beneficial pursuit for both sets of students. The older students observed early-childhood development in action and flexed creative muscles through the design-thinking process in an attempt to enhance the experience of their younger peers. The Early School students, meanwhile, are often eager to share their insights and knowledge, which practices and strengthens social skills.

“Any time our community is able to connect with each other is a gift,” Middle School science teacher Eric Harrington said. “There is so much joy and learning that occurs from cross-divisional interactions like these.”

Student feedback has confirmed the joy and insight students gain from learning touchpoints that transcend divisions. Class of 2024 valedictorian Rishabh Mallela referenced one interaction in his Commencement speech soon after Elise’s, noting that even tutoring younger students in math is an opportunity for himself to learn.

“Not because they start teaching me calculus, but because they question something I have never questioned, and help me understand it better,” he said. “There is knowledge and wisdom all around us, only waiting for us to give it credit.”

J OY T H R O U G H S T U D E N T C H O I C E A N D A G E N C Y Inside St. Margaret’s renowned Early School, joy and learning are inextricably woven—one organically accompanied by the other.

For preschool-age children, joy is a natural occurrence as they begin each morning full of curiosity at the big, unexplored world that awaits them.

Every day is a day to discover something new.

Early School teachers recognize the value of this innate gift, and construct curriculum centered around a child’s own interests and wonder—a playbased philosophy backed by a century of research. It is centered around an understanding that young children find joy when they are allowed agency in their own learning, overseen by trusting, loving teachers who ask productive questions and extend the learning that thrives within a child’s own motivations.

At St. Margaret’s, those possibilities are endless. In the school’s Garden, children are free to explore, and they learn at their own pace about fruits and vegetables, the bugs in the soil, and the chickens in the coop.

In the Outdoor Classroom, children build with blocks, discover their inner artist through dramatic play or painting, and immerse in physical education through a gross motor development area with mats, ropes and a balance beam.

Inside the innovative Demonstration Lab, a full-service kitchen designed with young children in mind, students learn about concepts like counting and measuring in hands-on ways when making foods like egg bites, salads and kale chips using the Garden’s harvest.

In the Early School, the seeds for lifelong learning first begin to sprout— and it is a joyful pursuit that sets the stage for the rest of their years at St. Margaret’s.

“Children are great learners, and the Early School’s constructivist philosophy empowers them to construct knowledge and ask questions as they play,” Early School Director Dr. Cris Lozon said. “When students are given ownership in their own education, even at a very young age, engagement follows and a joy of learning takes root.”

As students advance into Lower School, Middle School and Upper School, the importance of student choice remains a priority.

Through the reading and writing curriculum modeled after the Columbia University Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, students in kindergarten through grade 6 are given agency over their writing topics and have extensive classroom libraries to provide ample choice in reading material.

During a reading unit on biographies, for example, some students gravitate toward activists or historical figures, others toward transformative athletes, still others toward innovators in science or the arts. Classroom libraries— many of which have been expanded through PTF grants—ensure ageappropriate reading options are plentiful.

Starting in Middle School, students further forge their unique educational paths through elective classes, which continue to expand each year until grade 12. Middle School students have electives in creative writing, digital design, film, orchestra, studio art, robotics, computer science, theater technical arts, and emerging technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

The Upper School electives are even more wide-ranging and are assessed each year based on student interest and faculty expertise. Students have the opportunity to study data science, explore the universe in astronomy, understand American social movements and their relevance today, nurture skills in photography or filmmaking, and so much more.

In a way, the academic program at St. Margaret’s comes full circle if a student’s interests endure as they sometimes do. The youngest learners in St. Margaret’s Early School are observed building with large blocks in the Early School’s Outdoor Classroom, collaborating with HIGHLANDER

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J OY T H R O U G H S E R V I N G O T H E R S St. Margaret’s sponsors and plays host to two extraordinary summer programs which serve the youth of the local community through education, exploration and fun.

Breakthrough SJC is a tuition-free academic program for local students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, providing academic support to help them with their goal of graduating from college. More than 75 motivated students are guided by 18 teaching fellows. This summer, multiple teaching fellows were St. Margaret’s alumni.

Across campus, Special Camp finished its 33rd summer providing an unforgettable experience for local youth with disabilities. The campers took part in off-campus adventures, performed in a talent show and made new friends with volunteer counselors and camp staff, half of whom were St. Margaret’s alumni.

That so many Tartan alumni return to lend their talents to these community programs speaks to St. Margaret’s and its mission to educate students for lives of learning, leading and serving.

St. Margaret’s service-learning program is designed for students to embrace community issues and challenges, engender empathy for others, nurture deeper connections and engagement, and build life skills.

School leaders recognize that a robust service-learning program is a meaningful investment, both for the community and for the students. Time is carved out of the school day for service-learning initiatives. Upper School students take part in service learning with their advisory as part of the ExEd block, while Middle School students can enroll in a service-learning elective during the school day in addition to the many opportunities throughout the year.

School-wide, the All-School Service Learning Project takes place each spring and brings students together around a shared purpose in service to the local community. Last year’s project was the building of educational gardens at each OC Head Start location in San Juan Capistrano, and the project included cross-divisional teaching moments, collaboration and connection among St. Margaret’s students of all ages.

The lessons of these hands-on service experiences leave students with a new understanding of societal issues and inequities, and deep personal connections to the rewards of investing in and giving back to the community.

It is a joyful pursuit. In the 2016 publication of The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu came together to discuss humankind’s ongoing pursuit of joy and happiness. When assessing what brings joy, the leaders noted factors like the ability to reframe situations more positively and the ability to experience gratitude as factors that make a difference. classmates and learning about stability and function as they make playhouses or other structures stemming from their imagination.

St. Margaret’s oldest students are learning similar concepts in a much more complex way next door in the Johnson Wallis Visual Arts Center, as they construct scale models for a semester-long architecture elective using 3D printers, laser cutters and more.

In both cases, the ingredients for meaningful learning are in place—play, collaboration, active learning, creativity, and the choice to follow a path of learning that brings them joy.

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But there was another factor: a life of service.

“Joy is the reward, really, of seeking to give joy to others,” the Dalai Lama said.

T H E P U R S U I T O F J OY In the book The Optimistic Child, Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman explores the pursuit of happiness among children, and he writes extensively of the need for adults to do more than just “fixing what is wrong.”

“I think if you can leave a young person like myself feeling confident in themselves and supported by the surrounding community, you’ve succeeded in making them feel seen and have brought them joy for years to come.”

Raising children, he writes, “is about identifying and amplifying their strengths and virtues, and helping them find the niche where they can live these positive traits to the fullest.”

Which brings us to the start of the 2024-2025 school year. As the professional community gathered together for the opening meetings, they were treated to a special presentation organized by Director of Equity and Inclusion Victor Cota.

The theme was joy, and four Upper School students who are part of the Tartan Inclusion and Diversity Education (TIDE) student leadership group along with Middle School teacher Meredith Vazquez reflected on that theme through the telling of insightful personal narratives about their true, authentic selves.

Their stories were vastly different, yet each spoke of the joy of their unique lived experience, and the sense of pride they feel with who they are and where they fit within a student body that has 1,234 unique students and 1,234 unique stories.

They also shared their insight on the concept of joy within a learning environment.

Upper School senior Elina Shook told the professional community, “I think if you can leave a young person like myself feeling confident in themselves and supported by the surrounding community, you’ve succeeded in making

them feel seen and have brought them joy for years to come.”

Sophia Barnes, who spoke alongside Grace Burke about their growing friendship and how joy has become a centerpiece in their school experience, added that “Both Grace and I have had the ability to grow as leaders and as TIDE students because we continue to lead lives of learning that allow us to continue experiencing joy and creating it for others.”

And senior America Reyes-Mendoza gave a message of optimism to the faculty and staff before they started the new school year: “My hope is that you can find joy for yourself, and that you can help each other and your students feel seen, be loved, and live in joy.”

Whether it’s through service learning, a vigorous academic program, the ability to forge a unique educational path, or even through the sharing of personal reflections and strengths around identity and self, learning is everywhere, all the time, at St. Margaret’s and beyond.

School leaders recognize that if the mission calls on St. Margaret’s to build a foundation for a lifetime of learning, it is a pursuit that must be joyful.

“The learning experience at St. Margaret’s is second-to-none, and our students graduate from here engaged to continue their personal journeys full of growth, curiosity, and, yes, joyful learning,” Dr. Graham said. “This is our greatest hope for our students, and what drives us every single day.”

Introducing Dr. Ryan Carey, St. Margaret's Director of Experiential Education and Extension Programs St. Margaret’s is pleased to introduce Dr. Ryan Carey, the school’s new Director of Experiential Education and Extension Programs.

extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of experiential education, along with a proven track record of collaborating with faculty to develop, design, and implement academic and immersive experiential programs.

In this administrative role, Dr. Carey provides leadership and creative vision as St. Margaret’s continues to evolve pedagogy and practice to challenge and inspire student learning, with an emphasis on experiential education. He also oversees St. Margaret’s extensions and summer programs.

Dr. Carey completed his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College before graduating with a Master of Arts and a Ph. D. in American history from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Carey has an extensive background in experiential education.

He joins St. Margaret’s after 12 years at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was part of the history faculty and ran the Upper School’s experiential education program. Dr. Carey possesses

“It is exciting to have Dr. Ryan Carey join St. Margaret’s and bring his experience, vision and leadership to our school community,” St. Margaret’s Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said. “As we continue to innovate our educational programs in ways that enlighten and inspire our students to pursue lives of learning, leading and serving, having an educator like Dr. Carey collaborating with our talented professional community to enhance our experiential and summer curriculum will be of tremendous value to St. Margaret’s and our students.”

HIGHLANDER

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As artificial intelligence rapidly advances, St. Margaret’s school leaders are exploring the technology and its future in schools.

BY RYA N WO O D

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rtificial intelligence has the capacity to change the world—but what will it mean for education?

St. Margaret’s is tackling that question head-on, as professional community members, students, parents and more are embracing the fast-growing technology and discussing its potential impact on students and schools going forward. The 2023-2024 school year was a transformative one for AI in education, and St. Margaret’s led important discussions through parent touchpoints, ethical conversations with students, and professional development for faculty and staff centered around making this impactful technology a positive force in the academic journey of each student.

One of the most important touchpoints occurred over four weekday afternoons in the spring, when more than two dozen professional community members met in St. Margaret’s Library to explore, understand and shape the future of artificial intelligence at St. Margaret’s as part of the school’s AI Think Tank.

“Having educators from all across the school come together to think through and talk through artificial intelligence at St. Margaret’s has been so valuable,” said Angela Mackenzie, director of educational technology and library and leader of the AI Think Tank. “Our goal is to prepare our school community for a balanced and human-centered approach to AI, and the conversations, questions and perspectives that have emerged from these discussions have gone a long way toward creating a roadmap our school community can embrace.”

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Mrs. Mackenzie is well-versed in the upsides and downsides of the AI revolution. She is a member of the AI task force for the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) and has participated in panels about artificial intelligence at ATLIS national conferences each of the past two years. With an understanding of the potential impact of this growing technology in schools, Mrs. Mackenzie identified four objectives for the St. Margaret’s AI Think Tank to consider: EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT: Leveraging AI to improve learning outcomes and educational experiences.

ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE USE: Establishing ethical guidelines and privacy standards for AI use in the school.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Exploring and developing guidelines for the use of AI in professional tasks, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in school operations.

FUTURE PREPAREDNESS: Equipping students and members of the professional community with the skills and knowledge to navigate an AIinfluenced future.

The sessions have featured diverse topics centered around AI, and members shared their thoughts, lingering questions, causes for excitement and causes for concern at the end of each session. At one session, four Upper School students joined to participate in workshops and offer a much-needed student perspective.

Image created using Adobe Firefly AI Image Generator

THE REVOLUTION AT ST. MARGARET'S

The work at St. Margaret’s has gone far beyond the AI Think Tank, though.

Understanding a need for education about AI across the entire community, school leaders worked with St. Margaret’s Parent Teacher Fellowship to dedicate a PTF Parent Up Speaker Series event to this important topic.

Dr. John Spencer, author of The AI Roadmap: Human Learning in the Age of Smart Machines, met with St. Margaret’s parent community in April in an engaging and insightful talk. Dr. Spencer stated that while AI has enormous potential to help students understand and learn more efficiently, “We have to make sure we do not accept AI’s answers uncritically” as the tools are not perfect and are not substitutes for essential human skills like creativity and curiosity.

The Parent Up presentation was Dr. Spencer’s second visit to St. Margaret’s during the school year, after first presenting to the professional community during an in-service day in the fall. There, he spoke of AI’s growing impact in education, noting that as technology rapidly evolves, human qualities like wonder, curiosity, adaptability and empathy are more valuable than ever.

The in-service day was meant to advance a conversation among the professional community on how to best approach AI in the classroom, and several teachers used takeaways from the day to implement AI in certain classroom projects. In an English IV seminar, Upper School teacher Jamie Bunch used an AI platform in an assignment where students could write letters to W.E.B. Du Bois to better understand the Harlem Renaissance in an innovative way.

Middle School teacher Ashley Baffa, meanwhile, introduced the technology with her earth science students as they brainstormed ideas for a final astronomy assignment designing an exoplanet. Using Perplexity AI, a tool that cites online sources used to generate its answers, Mrs. Baffa gave students the option to try the program while brainstorming features of the exoplanet they are creating. She had three guidelines: •

Start with your own ideas and use it to gather more ideas.

•

Ask questions to get more information or a better understanding.

•

Check sources – do they seem trustworthy?

“By fostering a human-centered approach, we aim to equip our school community with the skills and knowledge needed to harness AI as a powerful tool for learning, ensuring that our values of creativity, curiosity, and ethical responsibility continue to thrive in the age of smart machines.”

Mrs. Baffa was encouraged by how her students approached AI in class, noting that “it’s been very useful and most students see it as another tool.”

In the Upper School, Kate Purpura recognized the potential of AI as well, and wanted to demonstrate its capacity to help others.

The Upper School student, with the blessing of the Upper School’s Peer Counselor leadership group, used a platform called PlayLab AI to create an AI chatbot with potential as a “virtual peer counselor.” Kate gave the chatbot articles and databases to work with that would help answer questions it may be asked by students, using sources such as psychology institutes, scientific studies and books that specialize in mental health.

An AI chatbot cannot replace the value of one-on-one interactions with St. Margaret’s all-school counselors or the well-trained Upper School Peer Counselors, yet Kate’s project leveraged the power of artificial intelligence and used it as a tool to help students navigate an often challenging world.

“I think that as a student, I feel that AI in education can be good,” Kate said, “when used correctly and for the right reasons.”

Mrs. Mackenzie agrees. Recognizing that AI is here to stay, she says the key is making it a force for good—at St. Margaret’s and beyond.

“As we look to the future, St. Margaret’s remains committed to integrating AI in ways that empower both teachers and students,” Mrs. Mackenzie said. “By fostering a human-centered approach, we aim to equip our school community with the skills and knowledge needed to harness AI as a powerful tool for learning, ensuring that our values of creativity, curiosity, and ethical responsibility continue to thrive in the age of smart machines.”

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Movement T H E M AGIC OF

St. Margaret’s prioritizes the health and well-being of its students from a young age, promoting an active lifestyle through programs and curriculum in every division.

BY RYA N WO O D

I

t was a fitting finish to a memorable school year—a health and wellness initiative in the Lower School that aligned with academic learning, brought students together and celebrated the gift of movement.

Guided by the kindergarten’s curriculum focus on Global Goal No. 3: Good Health and Well-Being, the entire Lower School participated in a Watercolor Run at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Students and teachers ran laps around Chalmers Field, with pump-up music in the background and parents cheering them on. As the participants ran, they passed through stations where their white T-shirts were doused with dyed water of one of the Lower School’s four house league colors—blue, red, yellow or green. It was a culmination of a year of house league competition that brought the four groups back together for one final activity promoting fun, fitness and community.

The kindergarten-led Watercolor Run is just one way the school is advancing its priority of health and wellness among students, creating a culture where movement is sought out and an active lifestyle takes root.

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From the Early School’s Outdoor Classroom and all its movement-inspiring areas which foster gross motor development, balance, strength and coordination; to the Lower School’s personal fitness and wellness program; and continuing into Middle School and Upper School PFW and athletics, movement is a constant for St. Margaret’s students, part of a purposeful trajectory that starts with the youngest Tartans and continues for many long after graduating from the Upper School.

During a typical day at St. Margaret’s, there are almost always students out and about, running laps, practicing a sport, challenging themselves with plyometrics or working out in the weight room. Lower School students attend PFW at least twice a week, with curriculum for younger students designed to develop leadership, sportsmanship and fitness. As students move into grade 3 and higher, skills are developed that prepare students for sports offered once they enter Middle School—including volleyball, flag football, cross country, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and more.

That development has even led to cross-divisional interactions. During one, grade 5 students visited Middle School athletic practices during the school day to train with the older students in the sport of their choice. The Middle School students welcomed the younger Tartans to their practice, collaborating on drills and activities and serving as mentors throughout the session.

“The crossover gave Lower School students a closer look into what athletics will look like for them in Middle School,” Lower School PFW teacher Jennifer Cuda said.

Once in the Middle School, students have the option of playing a sport or enrolling in the division’s PFW class. Both options take place during the school day, ensuring students have a block of activity and movement mixed in with other academic classes.

More than 95 percent of Middle School students participate in a sport, and the PFW class for students not in a sport teach foundational strength-and-conditioning skills in a safe and ageappropriate manner.

“From journaling to goal-setting, to warmups and cooldowns, to the progression of the exercise program itself, everything is intentional,” said Patrick Bendzick, St. Margaret’s assistant head of school for health and well-being. “The curriculum is designed to give students the skills needed to pursue an active lifestyle, and all the value it brings.”

The Middle School curriculum carries over into Upper School, which has similar PFW/athletics options. More than 80 percent of Upper School students participate in one of 26 Upper School sports, and a differentiator of Tartan athletics is that the school’s many multi-sport athletes are accommodated and celebrated for their contributions to more than one team.

When student-athletes are not on the practice field, they are often in the weight room where they go through a developmentally appropriate, structured strength-and-conditioning program overseen by head strength coach Michael Davis, who works closely with teams to prepare student-athletes for peak performance.

of Middle School students participate in athletics. of Upper School students participate in one of Upper School sports offered.

It makes for a busy day in and around the Tartan athletic facilities. Yet that schedule will soon be more manageable thanks to the planned St. Margaret’s Commons, a 30,000-square-foot facility that will serve all Tartans in their nutrition, fitness and community needs.

Upon its completion in 2026, the new St. Margaret’s Commons will include an expanded sports performance center with a spacious weight room and an outdoor pavilion for plyometrics and other training.

“With 26 sports here on campus, our biggest challenge is trying to find the space to get athletes to train either simultaneously or in a staggered format,” St. Margaret’s athletics director Dan O’Shea said. “With the outdoor plyometric area as well as the indoor training area for weights, we will be able to maximize our resources here on campus and provide the single best experience for our student-athletes.”

The Upper School experience is just the last stop in a long journey of health, well-being and movement for St. Margaret’s students, starting in their youngest years in the Early School and lasting through graduation—and, hopefully, well beyond that.

“This is a lifelong priority for St. Margaret’s,” Mr. Bendzick said. “There is ample research about human success and happiness and the role an active lifestyle can play in that. We will continue to monitor research and trends for our students to learn about, practice and develop healthy habits. It is an essential part of the St. Margaret’s student experience.”

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A N D T H E E V O L U T I O N O F S T. M A R G A R E T ' S C A M P U S

The next step in the exciting future of St. Margaret’s campus is here.

WALLACE HALL BEFORE

This summer, Wallace Hall was demolished to make way for the St. Margaret’s Commons—a 30,000-square-foot facility that will benefit all Tartans in their nutrition, fitness and well-being, while serving as a gathering space for the entire school community. The St. Margaret’s Commons is the centerpiece of the Tartans Thrive campaign, which has energized the school community around elements of human thriving: healthy bodies, minds and spirits; and meaningful connection.

The St. Margaret’s Commons will include a kitchen preparing fresh, nutritious meals to all students throughout the day.

A Great Hall will serve as an important community space. There is an expanded sports performance center for strength, conditioning, recovery and sports medicine. A student loft will serve as a gathering spot for students to unwind, relax and catch up on school work.

Studios and other spaces such as a film lab will focus on athletic preparation, performance and recovery.

The St. Margaret’s Commons will open in 2026. To learn more about how you can support Tartans Thrive and the St. Margaret’s Commons, please visit TartansThrive.org or reach out to Jonathan Tufo, St. Margaret’s Executive Director of Advancement, at jtufo@smes.org.

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AFTER: COMING FALL 2026

New interior renderings, clockwise from left: Great Hall dining area, Main Lobby and Recovery Studio.

Chair-ish our Tartans

R E S E R V E YO U R P E R M A N E N T S P O T I N T H E S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S C O M M O N S !

St. Margaret’s is encouraging the entire school community to pull up a chair and honor current students, Tartan alumni or entire families. This year, St. Margaret’s is offering a special opportunity to forever become a part of the St. Margaret's Commons by placing your family or student’s name on a Great Hall dining chair or Film Lab stadium seat.

This initiative is a collaborative effort by St. Margaret’s, the Board of Trustees, and the Parent Teacher Fellowship. Chairs will be emblazoned in both The Great Hall dining area, the central space for food service and community time; and the Film Lab, a gathering space for large groups of students with 138 theater-style seats in a stadium-seating configuration.

To learn more about this exciting initiative, please scan the QR code!

Film Lab Stadium Seat

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Redefining Performing Arts Through Technology

BY M A R I T E S O L A N O

I

n the heart of the performing arts department, innovation unfolds as a symphony of creativity and education intertwines, crafting an experience that transcends beyond instruction to ignite the joy of learning.

Here, amid the harmonious blend of tradition and cutting-edge techniques, a new story takes place—one where students and faculty are empowered to explore, experiment, and embrace the transformative power of the arts. From pioneering productions to cross-divisional collaborations, each endeavor enriches the stage and cultivates a profound passion for knowledge­—fostering a community where curiosity and joy thrive, and the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds.

In the dimmed ambiance of Hurlbut Theater, the stage springs to life with a harmony of light and sound, transporting the audience into a world where creativity extends into collaboration between disciplines. The realm of performing arts has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, driven by an infusion of innovative and imaginative elements that redefine experiences.

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t the recent Spring Orchestra Concert, the audience was left awe-struck as students performed a medley from the movie La La Land. With Orchestra Director Linling Hsu at the helm, the student performers treated attendees to a spectacle in which traditional boundaries between film and a live performance dissolved seamlessly. Clips from the critically acclaimed film interwoven with musical elements created a mesmerizing fusion of mediums that captivated the senses, engaging the audience in a fully immersive experience.

Dan Pacheco, St. Margaret’s director of performing arts, praised the collaboration that produced such a successful, innovative concert. “Linling Hsu is extraordinary and has been creating innovative approaches to music education in both formal and informal settings. She came up with the idea to have students in the orchestra play coordinated clips of the film La La Land with a spectacular result!”

The collaboration stemmed from an orchestra unit exploring music in films. The lesson aimed to elevate students' musical experience and broaden their understanding of the symbiotic relationship between music and visual media. Drawing inspiration from educational field trips like the Disney Soundtrack Sessions and learning about classical music concerts all over the world that incorporate multimedia in their performances, the students were provided an opportunity to infuse the curriculum with a similar sense of excitement and innovation.

Ms. Hsu expressed the joyful experience and the rewards of the collaboration. “As a teacher, it was immensely gratifying to witness their dedication and growth throughout the process, culminating in a memorable performance that captivated both performers and audience alike,” she said.

In essence, the connection with film and music not only enriched students' musical education but also fostered a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration and creativity. It's a testament to the transformative potential of music education, inspiring faculty and students to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues of artistic expression with a renewed sense of purpose, motivation and wonderment.

The cinematic arts department, led by film teacher Karen Bennett, were tasked with synchronizing music and visuals and mapping out musical cues through streamers and punches, essentially a visual click track for the conductor to follow.

Through rigorous rehearsals and fine-tuning, orchestra students embraced the challenge of bringing the music of La La Land to life, striving for precision with each rendition.

A former Hollywood music editor, Ms. Bennett showcased her experience in creating a tempo map with punches and streamers for Ms. Hsu to use while conducting the orchestra.

According to Ms. Bennett the planning of this remarkable innovation required intentionality. “I needed to find clips that would tell the complete story in a much shorter amount of time while also following with the music that was already in place,” she said.

“In this case, we started with the ‘La La Land Medley’ and then I mapped out the tempo to determine how many bars and beats we needed and where the important moments would happen in the story. I re-cut the film to tell the story while matching the music. At the end we included a drummer who had the audio track in headphones so they could play along with the orchestra.”

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he integration of cinematic techniques into theatrical performances has been a hallmark of the department's evolution.

Students in theater and cinematic arts classes curate spinechilling tales for the annual FrightFest, leveraging custom-designed projections that envelop the stage in eerie atmospheres. This process involves the creation of digital scenes that are then projected onto the stage, effectively transforming the space into a cinematic canvas.

Scrims adorned with dynamic projections transport audiences through enchanted flower fields in Shrek and swirling tornadoes in Wizard of Oz while digitally enlarged characters from Oz interacted with student performers, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.

Beyond visual effects, stagecraft itself has been redefined with daring innovations. The grade 4-5 musical Peter Pan saw performers taking flight on intricate rope swings, while the Middle School musical Matilda displayed performers with suspended swings that nearly reached the audience, encapsulating childhood dreams in a fun spectacle. Harnesses allowed students to soar and defy gravity, executing acrobatic feats that enrich the narrative of each production as seen in the Upper School musical Mary Poppins in which students flew on stage, flipped in the air, and climbed set pieces sideways.

Technological advancements extend to lighting design, where St. Margaret's is transitioning to LED technology revolutionizing the department's capabilities. Once limited by manual adjustments, lighting cues now unfold with digital precision, transforming stage ambiance at the touch of a button.

The upgrade enables dynamic shifts in color and intensity, enhancing emotional resonance and thematic depth in performances like never before. This shift to LED technology not only improved the efficiency and flexibility of lighting design but also opened up new creative possibilities, allowing for more intricate and immersive lighting experiences.

In a recent piece at the spring band concert, Band Director Chris Carbajal conducted with a lightsaber as the band played the Star Wars theme while lights produced images of stars twinkling synchronously in the background, creating a celestial backdrop that mirrored the movie’s ethereal melodies. In another production during The Tartan Revue, a theatrical haze enveloped the stage, evoking the raw energy of a rock concert while amplifying the impact of intricate lighting choreography.

As these innovations continue to shape the landscape of performing arts education, the department remains committed to pushing boundaries and nurturing creative excellence. Students are given the opportunity to experiment and explore new ideas, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. Each production becomes a testament to the transformative power of technology in storytelling, inspiring students to dream bigger and explore new frontiers in the realm of imagination.

In the evolving tapestry of the performing arts, innovation is not merely a tool but a joyful catalyst for redefining what is possible. Performing arts is innovative at St. Margaret’s, which enhances production and student learning – one captivating performance at a time.

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COMMEN CEMENT 2024

Congratulations 2031

CL A SS OF Grade 5 students in the Class of 2031 bid farewell to the Lower School by tossing their red sweaters in the air after their final time wearing them. The students were led out to Chalmers Field for the ceremony by their parents and were cheered on by the rest of the Lower School, as they watched one of the division’s favorite traditions.

CL A SS OF

2028 Students in the Class of 2028 officially finished their years in the Middle School and looked ahead to the Upper School during the annual Grade 8 Promotion ceremony in June.

The ceremony featured a speech by the Middle School student council president Dane Olsen and a presentation of certificates to the 105 students in the grade 8 class.

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COMMEN CEMENT 2024

THE CLASS OF

2024 122

CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES ARE ATTENDING...

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COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN

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STATES AND

2

COLLEGES ABROAD (FRANCE & GERMANY)

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PLAN TO COMPETE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

2

PLAN TO PURSUE AN ARTS-RELATED DISCIPLINE

Scan QR code for recaps and photo galleries from Commencement 2024

COMMEN CEMENT 2024

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C L ASS OF 2 0 2 4 HIGHLANDER

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A LU M N I U P DAT E S L E T T ER FRO M T H E TA R TA N A LU M N I A S S O CI AT I O N P R E S I D EN T

Dear Fellow Tartans, To the Class of 2024, welcome to the Tartan Alumni Association! We are thrilled to have you join our alumni community of over 3,000 Tartans. A special thank you to Natalie Lowenthal, Alex Kim, and Elise Peffer who have volunteered as the Class of 2024 agents. I would also like to make a special mention of Aaron Kim '24, son of Dean Kim '94, as our newest legacy graduate. On behalf of all Tartan alumni, congratulations on everything that you have accomplished during your time at St. Margaret’s.

We look forward to seeing you continue to pursue your dreams in college and beyond. The Tartan Alumni Association is ready and willing to support you however we can with your endeavors.

This was an exciting year for St. Margaret’s. Dr. Jeneen Graham completed her first year as our new Head of School. For the alumni who were fortunate to know Dr. Graham while students at St. Margaret’s, you likely remember the genuine interest and care she showed in our lives, her innate capacity to teach, and her deep sense of commitment to St. Margaret’s values. You will be happy to know that Dr. Graham continues to exude these qualities as our Head of School, as well as many others, as she leads St. Margaret’s. We feel so fortunate to be able to support her and her vision for our school.

We also celebrated Amy Roberts completing her first year as the new Upper School Principal. As Upper School Principal, Amy has brought an eye to developing experiential education at St. Margaret’s and has formed meaningful relationships with everyone in the Upper School.

We also welcomed Lynda Collier as our new Director of Alumni Relations this year. Lynda is the mother of two Tartan alumnae, Mary ’20 and Kat ’21, and previously served St. Margaret’s as PTF President and as a co-teacher. Lynda has become the cornerstone of alumni engagement, putting together many of the events alumni enjoyed this past year. She is a fantastic addition to St. Margaret’s and our alumni network will continue to benefit immensely from her efforts.

Finally, the Tartans Thrive campaign is off to an incredible start. As the school’s most ambitious campaign in history, we encourage all alumni to learn more about Tartans Thrive and consider giving to this transformational project (see page 16 for more).

We want to make sure that each of you feels like St. Margaret’s can always be considered a home. In return, we encourage all alumni to engage with the school in a variety of ways: •

Volunteer with the Alumni Council and explore ways to get involved with the school. If you are interested in joining the council please contact Lynda Collier (lynda.collier@smes.org) at the Alumni Relations office. We recently welcomed our newest Council member, Madison (Gottlieb) Cokington '12.

•

Join us at our local and regional events and connect with old friends and fellow Tartans. We are very interested in building strong, regional networks of Tartan alumni across the country.

•

Support Tartans in a professional capacity by providing ISP positions, informational interviews, internships, or career advancement opportunities.

•

Inform us of ways that you are serving your community and how other Tartans can get involved.

•

Consider donating to St. Margaret’s, either by supporting financial aid through TALE or the Tartans Thrive campaign.

•

Share your unique perspective with other students and alumni and help foster a sense of belonging in K-12, college, and beyond. Please contact Victor Cota (victor.cota@smes.org) for opportunities to assist with equity and inclusion efforts.

This is a great time to get involved at St. Margaret’s as our school and alumni network undergo important transformations. We hope to see you soon.

Tartans Forever,

Now, let us turn towards the future of the Tartan Alumni Association.

Our vision is that our Tartan alumni network becomes more robust, philanthropic, and inclusive. We, the Alumni Council, are committed to fulfilling this vision by providing support to Tartans, emphasizing the value of service in its many forms, and strengthening our sense of community.

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David Larsen ‘16 President, Tartan Alumni Association Mattingly Messina ‘13 Member, Board of Trustees

Class Notes

'88

Kris Drey and Matt Durso together started a new golf business called The Byrd. They sell a line of golf accessories that keep your essential gear in place and within reach at all times, helping you to focus and be present on the course.

Check them out at thebyrd.com.

C EL EB R AT I O N S: TA R TA N W ED D I N G S

'01/'03

Jesse Clanton ‘01 and Christina Reisenweber ‘03 were married on May 4 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. They own Oak Ranch Grill in Rancho Mission Viejo.

'09

15-YE AR REUNION: The Class of 2009 celebrated its 15-year reunion on June 8, 2024 at Five Vines in San Juan Capistrano. Kira Cahill and Gabriel Sousa had a baby girl, Sophia, on August 14, 2024. Phillip Guichet married his wife, Nishka, in April at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. The couple resides in Irvine where Phillip works as an interventional radiologist at UCI Health. Georgina Lean also tied the knot, marrying her husband T.J. Ward at the Monserate Winery in Fallbrook. The couple resides in San Juan Capistrano.

Jesse Clanton '01 & Christina Reisenweber '03 Phillip Guichet '09

Georgina Lean '09 Julia Mouchawar '15

'10

Spencer Keane, a production assistant for performing arts at St. Margaret’s, also has worked on the set of the Apple TV+ show For All Mankind where he assists actors with the look and functionality of their space suit costumes in addition to other responsibilities.

Camila Anderson Comas '15

Alex Smith '19

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'11

Jake Griffith and his wife welcomed their second child, Freya, in June. Their 3-year-old son, Hunter, is excited to be a big brother! Congratulations to the happy family!

'12

Katherine Schneider is the deputy director of public affairs at the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. She most recently was communications director for Sen. Ben Ray Luján and has also worked with Sen. Jacky Rosen and Rep. Joaquin Castro.

'13

10-YE AR REUNION: The class of 2013 celebrated its 10-year reunion on December 23, 2023 at Five Vines in San Juan Capistrano.

'14

Julianna Coleman graduated from Harvard Medical School in May and began her residency in OB/GYN at Harvard’s Mass General-Brigham & Women’s integrated program. Kelly Burke graduated from the Keck School of Medicine of USC with an M.D. and Masters of Public Health. She started her residency in Child Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco.

'15

Camila Anderson Comas and Houston Agan were married on August 17, 2024 at the Monserate Winery in Fallbrook.

Houston attended St. Margaret’s through 8th grade. Indigo Agan ‘19 and Tomas Anderson Comas ‘19 officiated the wedding. Sam Geller works for Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy as the Director of Marketing in Lexington, Kentucky. She also teaches as an adjunct at the University of Kentucky in their Equine Science and Management program. Samuel Harnisch launched a wealth management firm, Quantitative Financial Strategies (QFS) based in Denver. Julia Mouchawar married Tucker Ammons in July at The Ranch at Laguna Beach.

The couple resides in New York City, where Julia works as a strategic partner manager for DoorDash. Tyler Perko is in Houston, Texas working as the Trajectory Operations Flight Controller at NASA.

'17

Thank you to Jack Wolcott who spoke to the graduating Class of 2024 at St. Margaret’s Senior Banquet in May! Ryan Penske wrote a young adult book called The Dreamers. Her debut novel can be purchased wherever you buy your books.

'18

5-YE AR REUNION: The class of 2018 celebrated its five-year reunion on December 23, 2023 at Hennessey's in San Juan Capistrano. Sophie Payne graduated from USC with a degree in applied psychology. She works as a senior research associate for The Core Group Consulting and lives in Newport Beach. Anneka Miller graduated with her Master in Science from Columbia University in May, and was selected to be the commencement speaker for her college.

After working full time within digital marketing for the last five years, she is now pivoting into health tech and hopes to scale nutrition/health tech to promote longevity. She lives in New York City.

'16

Natalia Ohanesian is the founder of Bipty, a fashion rental app that makes it possible to rent clothing from thousands of closets across the country. Shelby Nicholas works as a story artist for Skydance Animation, and contributed her talents to the television series WondLa, which streams on Apple TV+.

Alumni: Are You Interested in Hosting an ISP? We are grateful for the alumni who have provided a valuable opportunity for current St. Margaret’s students as an Independent Senior Project (ISP) host. Interested in hosting an ISP in 2025? Reach out to alumni@smes.org to learn more!

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Class Notes

'19

Alex Smith married Remy Kaufman on July 21, 2024 on a boat in Newport Harbor. Alex graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Operations Research and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He also played on the Navy baseball team.

Alex is now stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, and will be there for the next three years with Remy. Paul Boranian is the co-founder of Golf Daddy which is now being sold in Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Robbie Graham is a teaching fellow at Classical Charter Schools in New York City.

Tomas Anderson Comas graduated as a Fire Suppression Aid. He is stationed in Malibu and will be protecting our beautiful state by supporting prevention and directly fighting wildfires.

'20

Thomas Hughes was named a Schwarzman Scholar along with three other Princeton University students. He received a scholarship for a one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

'22

Neela Gerayli, a film major at Chapman University, was seen on the hit NBC show The Voice performing with Chapman’s acapella group The ChapTones.

The group was part of a performance of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” alongside Reba McEntire, John Legend, Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay!

'23

Congratulations to the 122 graduates of the Class of 2024, the newest Tartan alumni! Alexander Kim, Natalie Lowenthal and Elise Peffer will serve as class agents, partnering with the alumni relations office in this work.

N OT E A B L E: A LU M N I H O L I DAY PA R T Y

Alumni kicked off the holidays with their alma mater for the annual Alumni Holiday Party. Tartans reconnected, sat by the fire and enjoyed delicious food and beverages at the Head of School's residence. SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY PART Y ON DECEMBER 20, 2024!

2024-2025 Alumni Events Alumni and Parents of Alumni! We invite you to take part in our many events throughout the school year! Here are a few to mark on your calendars: O C TO B ER 2 3 Chicago Regional Alumni Event O C TO B ER 26 PAL/Alumni Dinner & US Play: The Great Gatsby N OV E M B ER 2 Forever Plaid Gala N OV E M B ER 7 Parent of Alumni (PAL) Party N OV E M B ER 9 Class of 2000-2009 Alumni Party D ECE M B ER 20 All Alumni Holiday Party D ECE M B ER 2 1 Class Reunions for '94, '04, '14 & '19 FEB R UA RY 4 PAL Event: College Care Packages for classes of '24, '23, '22 & '21 FEB R UA RY 1 2 Second Harvest Food Bank Event M A RCH 14 Parent Up Speaker: Jason Craige Harris M A RCH 20 PAL/Alumni Dinner and US Musical: Alice by Heart M A RCH 24 Tartan Open Golf Tournament APRIL 25 PTF Library Luncheon

If you are interested in helping plan a class reunion please email Lynda Collier at lynda.collier@smes.org FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.SMES.ORG/ALUMNI

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PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY NOTES Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating Named Director of Counseling St. Margaret’s recently announced the appointment of Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating as the school’s new director of counseling. A highly accomplished professor, author and clinical psychologist with an extensive background in education, Dr. Kia-Keating is a nationally renowned expert and leader in resilience and wellness and joins St. Margaret’s after 17 years at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There, she was Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology in UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.

Her expertise led to invitations to lecture with Stanford Continuing Education; consult with the Center for Scholar and Storytellers at the University of California, Los Angeles; and serve as Visiting Associate Researcher at the University of California, Irvine, in recent years. She is the author of the forthcoming picture book A Suitcase Full (coming out in 2025) and writes extensively for publications like Psychology Today. She has also provided pro bono crisis response to schools across California.

Dr. Kia-Keating completed her undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College before graduating with a Master of Education from Harvard University and a Ph. D. in clinical psychology from Boston University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship in children’s outpatient and inpatient psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego before serving as the Clinical Director for school-based prevention programming serving San Diego and San Dieguito County schools.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating has joined our professional community and is leading our Counselor’s Office here at St. Margaret’s. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of psychology and counseling and her expertise in nurturing the health and well-being of children will be invaluable to our entire school community,” Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said. “Dr. Kia-Keating stood out among an impressive pool of candidates, not only with her vast experience and accomplishments but also in her vision for the important work she will be undertaking at St. Margaret’s. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dr. Kia-Keating and her family into our community.”

Honors and Accolades DAV ID B E S H K RECEI V E S T H E S US A N A . REM S B ERG AWA RD

Lower School science teacher David Beshk was the 2024 recipient of the Susan A. Remsberg Award, given annually to a St. Margaret's professional community member for outstanding contributions and significant impact on the school community, exemplifying a profound commitment to St. Margaret's mission and core values in the past year or recent years.

Mrs. Remsberg was in attendance to present the award.

The Susan A. Remsberg Award was established in 2019 following Mrs. Remsberg's retirement. It honors those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to our school's mission and core values. Among the esteemed past recipients are Jeannine Clarke, Tupper Spring, Janice Avalone and Lisa Mers.

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

Professional Community Emeritus St. Margaret’s bestowed its highest professional community honor, Professional Community Emeritus, upon the retirement two exceptional community members.

This prestigious title is reserved for those with a distinguished historical record of exceptional, meritorious service to St. Margaret’s. With the induction of Janice Avalone and Kellie Paul, the total number of Professional Community Emeriti at St. Margaret’s now stands at 22.

1985 KEL L I E PAU L

During her 40-year tenure, Mrs. Paul enriched the lives of thousands of St. Margaret’s students as a longtime Middle School math teacher and division math coordinator.

Mrs. Paul's contributions extended beyond the classroom, too, as she took on roles such as grade 8 dean, advisor, physical education teacher and volleyball coach.

Mrs. Paul joins fellow Professional Community Emeritus Susan Remsberg as the only two St. Margaret’s educators to reach 40 years of service to the school.

JA N I CE AVA LO N E

Dr. Avalone was awarded Professional Community Emeritus upon her retirement after 27 years at St. Margaret’s. She started in 1997 teaching Lower School religious studies and became the school’s first full-time school counselor in 2011.

1999

Dr. Avalone’s dedication and care developed the Counselor’s Office into a trusted space for all Tartans, and she tirelessly advocated for the health and wellness of the entire St. Margaret’s community during her remarkable tenure.

2023-2024 Anniversaries 30 YEARS Andrea Siracusa, Campus Services Wendy Romagnino-Perry, Technology Pilar Corral, Buildings and Grounds 25 YEARS Lora Allison, Upper School 20 YEARS Debbie Herrera, Early School Gina Moorman, Early School Michele Silverman, Arts 15 YEARS Vicente Morales, Buildings and Grounds 10 YE ARS Zachary Hanna, Arts Owen Beitner, Middle School Jonathan Tufo, Advancement

Denise Karlsen, Upper School Richard Metcalfe, Security Ashley Baffa, Middle School Veronica Johns-Richardson, Middle School Elizabeth O'Shea, Upper School Masami Stahr, Upper School Cheri Santora, Advancement Jason Tapie, Technology 5 YEARS Eliseo Rodriguez, Buildings and Grounds John Eclevia, Buildings and Grounds Petra Lowery, Lower School Lola Woodward, Lower School Derick Spirlin, Security Lisa Kraus, Campus Services James Conti, Upper School Adam Doty, Lower School Libby Grogan, Lower School Casey Hagy, Lower School Brian Kelly, Lower School David Lin, Upper School Rachel Mykkanen, Middle School

Alyssa Sandoval, Lower School Carly Taberski, Early School Marilou Bainco, Early School Angela Carreon, Early School Roxane Popour-Hammond, Lower School Christian Kim, Upper School

Tartan Transitions PROFESSIONAL COMMUNIT Y EMERITUS Kellie Paul, Middle School (40 Years) Dr. Janice Avalone, Counseling (27 Years) RETIREMENTS Lore Fredette, Early School (23 years) Mario Granados, Buildings and Grounds (22 years)

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TARTAN SCENES

PTF Library Luncheon St. Margaret’s Parent Teacher Fellowship continued one of its longest-held and most cherished traditions, as the 42nd Library Luncheon brought more than 380 Tartans together for friendship, generosity and celebration at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

The event was themed “How Does Your Garden Grow?" The Library Luncheon was organized by event chair Anastassia Steele and the Library Luncheon committee, which included Maxine Laube, Winnie Wen, Kelly Ellner, Blanca Shidla, Tracy Robertson and Jae Choi.

2024 Tartan Open The annual Tartan Open brought more than 120 golfers to El Niguel Country Club for a day of fun and fellowship in support of St. Margaret’s.

The tournament raised more than $85,000 for St. Margaret’s need-based Financial Aid program, which helps make the opportunities of St. Margaret’s accessible to capable and talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

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PTF New Board Installation Brunch

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

St. Margaret’s Parent Teacher Fellowship reflected on another successful school year and looked ahead to next year during the organization’s annual New Board/Old Board Brunch, an event that recognizes the work of the many parent volunteers and installs the incoming 2024-2025 board.

St. Margaret’s welcomed more than 450 loved ones to campus in May, as students performed songs, shared their Tartan experience and spent quality time with special people during the Lower School’s annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

The event celebrated the work of the PTF in 2023-2024 under president Crista Martin, before swearing in new PTF president Tania Robertson and the 2024-2025 PTF Executive Board.

The day serves as an opportunity for loved ones to see the Lower School first-hand and for students to provide a glimpse of their everyday at St. Margaret’s.

Swallows Day Parade St. Margaret’s student leaders, championship student-athletes and professional community members marched proudly alongside Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano and Special Camp as the community welcomed the return of the swallows at the 64th annual Swallows Day Parade. St. Margaret’s has been a proud sponsor and participant in the Swallows Day Parade for many years.

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Q&A With Ryan Korinke of St. Margaret’s Board of Trustees

BY RYA N WO O D

R

yan Korinke joined St. Margaret’s Board of Trustees in 2022.

Among his duties as Trustee, he has served on the Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Advancement Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee and the Capital Campaign Special Committee. Last year, Mr. Korinke chaired the Five-Year Budget Plan Special Committee, tasked with assessing the school’s financial stability and future strategy.

Professionally, Mr. Korinke is the former Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability at PIMCO.

“St. Margaret’s is in a strong position financially, and leaning into institutional priorities like the Endowment and capital projects will benefit the school and its students for years to come,” Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said. “We are grateful for Trustees like Ryan Korinke, who bring valuable expertise and foresight to our school and help it maintain its excellence today and into the future.”

Mr. Korinke and his wife, Kim, are the parents of two St. Margaret’s students—Railey ’30 and Tyrrah ’33. Before the 2024-2025 school year began, Mr. Korinke took some time to share more about his work on the Board of Trustees, including the important responsibilities of the Investment Committee and the financial health of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School:

How did your relationship with St. Margaret’s begin?

When our oldest daughter was getting toward school age, we thought very hard about the experience we wanted her, and eventually her sister, to have. We were drawn to the fact that St. Margaret’s educates the hearts and minds of young people, and especially that the heart comes first in that

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description. She did a year at the Early School before a work opportunity took us to Hong Kong for four years. Our experience there, while positive, only reinforced what a special school and community St. Margaret’s is, and we were fortunate enough to have both girls join the Lower School when we moved back to California.

Why have you chosen to spend your volunteer time with St. Margaret’s?

Education has always been a big focus for our family. We strongly believe that education is a critical investment in the future and to borrow a philosophy from another organization we are involved with—children who are given the gift of a quality education will be prepared for fulfilled lives where they can make a positive change for their families, communities and the world.

For St. Margaret’s specifically, there are really two things driving that commitment. The first is that it is a chance to set an example for my children.

They know I am involved with a variety of organizations, but they understand and relate to the time I spend trying to help St. Margaret’s very closely and I hope it helps inspire them to find ways to serve their communities as well throughout their lives. Second is that I am so grateful for the impact that St. Margaret’s has had on my family and in our community and if there was any way I could help further the efforts I was more than happy to do so. I am so thankful for the many parents and alumni who feel the same way and so generously give their time and talents as well.

I spent about 20 years of my career working for a large investment management firm, and have gotten involved with the Finance Committee and Investment Committee, among others. It has been rewarding to be able to bring my experience and knowledge to help the school in a few of these areas.

Can you tell us more about the Board of Trustees Investment Committee and its importance to St. Margaret’s?

The Investment Committee is composed both of members of the Board of Trustees as well as other community members with extensive experience in (1) investment management, (2) financial markets and/or (3) advising endowments and investors around the world. The principal task that the Investment Committee has is to invest the school’s endowment funds such that its purchasing power is maintained, ideally forever. The way that the Investment Committee goes about this is by creating and maintaining an investment and spending policy (or guidelines around what the endowment’s objectives, risk tolerance, types of permitted investments, and annual spending limits are); setting the asset allocation for the investment portfolio; rebalancing the portfolio on a regular basis and choosing how to express the various investment strategies by selecting the passive strategies or active managers for the endowment as well as which instruments or vehicles to use to implement those strategies.

As the endowment is very much still in growth mode, the Board and administration have limited any annual spending, with the ultimate goal to allow the endowment to help offset annual operating cost increases to mitigate substantial tuition increases, as we appreciate that tuition is a significant investment.

Additionally, the Investment Committee advises on cash investment and management strategies to allow the annual operating budget to receive interest income, while ensuring there is no material risk to these assets.

Finally, along the vein of helping ease the financial burden on Tartan families, the committee has been tasked this year with exploring some alternative revenue (i.e. non-tuition) ideas for the school.

What are some of the investment strategies that this committee discusses when they meet?

Similar to how Tartan families might invest their own savings, the endowment has exposure to public equities, fixed income and cash. Given our long investment time horizon, you would likely find that we will take a bit more exposure to growth investments (like public equities) than the average Tartan family might do with their own finances. As the ultimate goal for the endowment is to fund a portion of the operating budget and the

operating budget is quite sensitive to changes in inflation (think about our electric utility bill or how much harder it might be to attract a new teacher to move to South Orange County if home prices have appreciated a lot), we will also have exposure to inflation-sensitive investments, or real assets.

One of the things that we hope to be able to take advantage of more over time is the concept that given our longtime horizon, we should be more comfortable than an individual investor might be with illiquidity risk.

This would lead to larger exposure to alternative investments – venture investments, real estate, private debt, to name a few strategies that would fit in this bucket. It’s very typical to see endowment pools with more exposure to these types of strategies than other investor types. This will require the endowment to be a little bit larger as getting exposure to some managers and strategies in this space requires endowment funds of more than $25M.

Can you share with us a financial update on St. Margaret’s? How strong are the school’s finances?

One of the key projects that the Finance Committee worked on last year was an assessment of the school’s five-year financial sustainability and to provide recommendations along the lines of revenue, expenses and the endowment to help frame our next five-year strategic plan and areas of focus. The good news was that the committee felt the school was in a very strong financial position and should continue to be over the next five years. Never wanting to become complacent, we did explore areas like financial aid, alternative revenue streams, professional community benefits and compensation to see if there are seeds we can be planting now to help strengthen or finances over the coming years.

One of the many success stories at St. Margaret’s in recent years is the growth of the school’s endowment. Can you provide us an update on the endowment and its growth over the last decade?

As of June 30, 2024, the endowment was $23.5 million. It was $4 million in 2014, so it has expanded at about 19 percent annually over that time frame.

We appreciate all of the generous support to make this a reality from our Tartan community.

2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees is the guardian of the school’s mission. In partnership with the Head of School, the Board sets the vision and strategy for the school and ensures sound financial management and proper stewardship of resources.

OFFICERS

BOARD MEMBERS

The Right Reverend John Harvey Taylor, Chairman

Susan E. Brown Sam Corliss The Reverend Canon Robert D. Edwards Suad Elias-Atala Jess Klausner Ryan Korinke Benn McCallister

Dana Sullivan, President Cathleen Stahl, Vice President Paul C. Westhead, Secretary Bernard E. Schneider, Treasurer Jason A. Weiss, Bishop’s Representative Dr. Jeneen Graham, Head of School (ex officio)

TRUSTEE EMERITI

Mattingly Messina ’13 Alethea “Ali” Monge Victoria L. Otterbein Mark Risner ‘86 Tania Robertson Katie Rodin Jay Spenuzza ’03 Roger Yang

David Bush Sarah E. Chester (1976-2020) Stacey Nicholas Jeffry Stoddard

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BY S T EP H A N I E H O B AC K , D i r e c to r o f A n n u a l G i v i n g , & J O N AT H A N T U F O, E xe c u t i v e D i r e c to r o f A d v a n c e m e n t

PA R E N T T E A C H E R F E L L O W S H I P ( P T F )

phi·lan·thro·py: The effort to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable donations. From the Greek philanthrōpos meaning love of mankind.

I

t is hard to imagine a more powerful team than school and parents working together for the good of children. At St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, one of the many ways in which we work together is through philanthropy. Your gifts support the people and programs that make St. Margaret’s so special. You further our efforts to accomplish our strategic initiatives and remind us that fulfilling our mission and vision requires more than tuition alone. At St. Margaret’s, we have a responsibility to elevate the student experience, and your philanthropy is a testament to that responsibility. Together, we make a collective investment in each and every Tartan, who in turn make the world a better place.

There are many opportunities to philanthropically support our Tartan community. Here are some ways you can do so this year:

THE ANNUAL FUND The Annual Fund is the single most important annual fundraising opportunity. Gifts to the Annual Fund support every aspect of the student experience, from faculty excellence and technology to program enhancements. The Annual Fund directly impacts every aspect of the school and each student’s experience. It provides for the margin of excellence in all that we do. The school depends on the Annual Fund to contribute approximately 4% of the operating budget, which translates to $1.2 million this school year. The Annual Fund helps us to moderate tuition increases, which in turn promotes a diverse student body and maintains a tuition that is competitive with our peer schools. All gifts to the Annual Fund are tax-deductible.

The participation of our entire community is critical to the success of our work, regardless of the amount of the gift. Every student benefits from the Annual Fund. Community support for the Annual Fund reflects the strong culture of philanthropy at our school. Participation is a metric that is used nationally and most easily signifies confidence in the school.

Strong parent participation can be an indicator for foundations and other organizations that are considering a gift to St. Margaret’s. Our goal is to reach 100% every year.

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The mission of the PTF is to offer cultural, physical, spiritual and educational enrichment to the students, teachers and families of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School through community-building and fundraising. All PTF activities are conducted in accordance with policies and protocols adopted by St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.

PTF programming includes community-building events, appreciation gifts and program administration. Additional funds are raised through the following events:

1

Forever Plaid All-School Fundraiser – Bringing the entire St. Margaret’s community together, the Forever Plaid Fundraiser provides for an evening of fine dining and dancing to live music. Exciting live and silent auction items are also available. This is our primary fundraiser of the year and all proceeds benefit the school.

2

Online Auction – The PTF Online Auction consists primarily of priceless teacher/student experiences donated by our generous professional community. Student-centered items will be available for bidding by parents in every school division. All funds raised go directly to the PTF Grant Enrichment Program.

3

Library Luncheon – The Library Luncheon is the longest timehonored event sponsored by the PTF and is held every spring, celebrating our love for good books and good friends. Tables are decorated by parent hostesses and the PTF to perfection, and all guests enjoy an afternoon of camaraderie and fellowship. All proceeds benefit the library and the PTF Grant Enrichment Program.

C A P I TA L G I V I N G Capital gifts are larger, less frequently made gifts intended to have a significant impact on the school’s physical plant and facilities or endowment. The school will occasionally solicit these gifts for a specific building project or during a capital campaign. Multiyear pledges are commonly made as capital gifts.

Capital Construction Projects­— St. Margaret's is in the midst of a capital campaign for the St. Margaret's Commons. It will serve as the home and physical manifestation of the health and well-being strategic initiatives underway. Learn more about the Commons project on page 16.

T H E S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E N D O W M E N T The St. Margaret’s Endowment is a pool of funds invested for the longterm, where the corpus of the funds are perpetually used to generate capital gains and interest income to support the annual operating budget and some specific initiatives.

TA R TA N A L U M N I L E G A C Y E N D O W M E N T ( TA L E ) A restricted endowment to support the school’s Financial Aid program.

Alumni and parents of alumni are asked to support and grow this fund annually.

TA R TA N O P E N Golf tournament to raise funds for need-based financial aid.

BRE AK THROUGH SAN JUAN CAPIS TR ANO Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano is breaking the cycle of poverty through the power of education by serving students from underrepresented backgrounds starting in middle school through college graduation.

Breakthrough supports students from middle school to college graduation through tuition-free, college access programming. Nearly all Breakthrough SJC students are from low-income backgrounds and will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

SPECIAL C A MP Founded by Father Mike Wallens in 1992 to address the scarcity of resources for school-age children with disabilities in the community. With service, opportunity and love, we will continue to work toward inspiring future generations to eliminate the stigma associated with this beautiful community.

Through generous donors, we are able to support St. Margaret's in many ways, from enriching the daily academic environment to special programs like Breakthrough and Special Camp

Nov. 2 2024-2025

A YEAR OF GIVING

Scan here to learn more about our fundraising initiatives and determine how you can support our community this year.

We are honored by your trust and look forward to engaging in a philanthropic partnership.

mar. 24

FORE VER PL AID: C A SINO NOIR

TARTAN OPEN

Ongoing GIVING CAPITAL PROJEC TS ENDOWMENT BRE AK THROUGH

Sept. 3-6

Mar. 4-6

ANNUAL FUND TARTANS G IVING WEEK

ONLINE AUC TION

APR. 25

SPECIAL CAMP

P TF LIBR ARY LUNCHEON

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INTRODUCING

The Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award for Philanthropy

S

t. Margaret’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce the establishment of the Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award for Philanthropy.

This award is named in honor of Stacey Nicholas, parent of three St. Margaret’s alumni, a longtime volunteer, Board of Trustees member, and a lead benefactor to the school. The Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award will be given annually to a member of the school community who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and generosity to St. Margaret’s in advancing the school’s mission, programming and community while inspiring others to do the same.

The annual honoree will be determined by the Head of School in consultation with the president of the Board of Trustees.

“Stacey Nicholas embodies the Tartan spirit of dedicating time, talent and treasure to make St. Margaret’s a better place,” Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said. “Over the years she has shown remarkable dedication and love for this school as a parent of three Tartans, as a longtime member of the Board of Trustees and as a selfless volunteer and philanthropist who cares greatly about our school and its students.

The St. Margaret’s community is deeply fortunate to have such a dedicated Tartan like Stacey, and it is with immense gratitude that we create this award in her honor.”

Stacey’s love for the arts set in motion the foundational gift from her family to the Legacy Campaign for the Darcy Rice Center for the Arts, a 45,000-square-foot facility which opened in 2012 and includes the Hurlbut Theater, McGregor Family Theater, the Cloobeck Family Atrium, three music teaching rooms, a dance studio, 11 private practice rooms and more. The Nicholas family named the building in honor of former Director of the Arts Darcy Rice after his retirement in 2022, in addition to naming the Hurlbut Theater after former Head of School Marcus Hurlbut upon his retirement in 2013. This major capital gift is the largest donation received by the school in its 45-year history and has inspired countless other Tartans in their philanthropic support for missioncritical programs, advancements and capital endeavors.

Overall, Stacey and her family are the single largest donors to St. Margaret’s, and their giving has forever changed the trajectory of St. Margaret’s and the student experience for the better.

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Ms. Nicholas, a member of the Board of Trustees for 12 years, served on the Executive Committee as vice president, secretary and treasurer as well as chairing numerous Board committees including the Trusteeship and Governance, Capital Campaign and Advancement committees.

The Board of Trustees named her Trustee Emeritus in 2021 for her immeasurable contributions to St. Margaret’s.

As an active member of the Parent Teacher Fellowship while her children were St. Margaret’s students, Stacey held numerous volunteer positions across the school. In addition, she has enthusiastically supported and helped grow community programs at St. Margaret’s such as Breakthrough SJC where she still actively serves on the Advisory Board.

“Breakthrough SJC would not be where it is today without Stacey Nicholas and her support for the organization and its mission to break the cycle of poverty through the power of education,” said Victor Cota, St. Margaret’s director of equity and inclusion who was Breakthrough SJC director from 2015-2018. “She has been instrumental in Breakthrough’s evolution over time, especially related to strategic planning, university partnerships, and advisory board guidance.

Looking Forward

"Stacey Nicholas embodies the Tartan spirit of dedicating time, talent and treasure to make St. Margaret’s a better place...The St. Margaret’s community is deeply fortunate to have such a dedicated Tartan like Stacey, and it is with immense gratitude that we create this award in her honor.”

- DR . JENEEN GR AHAM

Her passion for education has changed lives for the better, and the St. Margaret’s and Breakthrough communities are forever grateful for Stacey’s enduring love and support.”

Ms. Nicholas has also been influential in connecting St. Margaret’s students to the broader educational community over the years. Among the programs she helped develop is the school’s longtime partnership with the University of California, Irvine’s Samueli School of Engineering, which has given Upper School students at St. Margaret’s the opportunity to work with top minds in fields like engineering, computer science and robotics as part of a summer internship program.

“To be able to partner with a school like UCI in a research capacity, and to have our students meet with UCI’s professors and learn from their academic leaders has been such a valuable experience for our students for 20 years now,” said Upper School science teacher Dr. Jennifer Ross-Viola, who oversees the program. “We are so thankful for this partnership, and forever grateful for the vision and support of Stacey Nicholas to keep this wonderful program thriving.”

In addition, Stacey has made important connections between St. Margaret’s and both the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, where St. Margaret’s teachers continue to visit this innovative world class art and design program for professional development.

RISD professor Ken Takashi Horii served as Artist in Residence at St. Margaret’s in 2019, working with Middle School and Upper School students on form and function in art and design.

The Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award will be given annually at the AllSchool Closing Ceremony at the end of the school year, in conjunction with the Susan A. Remsberg Award given to a professional community member, and the David G. Boyle Award given to a graduating Upper School senior.

“It just makes sense that an award celebrating leadership, generosity and philanthropy is named in honor of this uniquely generous and supportive member of our community, Stacey Nicholas,” Dr. Graham said. “Through this award, we look forward to recognizing and celebrating members of our school community who demonstrate the same love, care and support for St. Margaret’s that Stacey has demonstrated for so long.”

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2023-2024

HONOR ROLL OF DONOR S The following pages recognize the incredible generosity and support of our Tartan community during the 2023-2024 school year. With many important philanthropic initiatives underway to sustain and enhance our ability to further our mission of learning, leading and serving, it is humbling to see both the number of benefactors on this list as well as how many are supporting multiple programs and projects in concert with one another. This concept of total giving is a healthy marker of our community’s ability to and willingness to support the school where it is meaningful to each donor.

We thank you for your generous gifts and for your love and support.

- J O N AT H A N T U FO, Executive Director of Advancement

G I V I N G L EG EN D: Annual Giving Capital Giving, Building & Endowment PTF Events Tartan Open Community Giving, Breakthrough & Special Camp *Gifts for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

I N D I V I D UA L S Anonymous • • • • •

Patricia and Chris Appel •

Carol and Mike Bertolino • • • •

Masy and James Bunnell • •

Noha and Sam Abboushi • •

Kelley and John Arena •

Colleen and David Beshk • •

Julie and Robert Burch • •

Danielle Aceves-Dalal and Raj Dalal •

Jill Ann Arnold • •

Rosie and Ronald Beshk •

Elmira Burke •

Theresa Acosta and Blake Reemtsma •

John Arnold •

Sarah and Shad Besikof •

Kelly Burroughs •

Beth and Hank Adamany • •

Jennifer and Scott Arundale •

Geovanna Besikof •

Joe Busch •

Hana Adams '18 •

Carla and George Arzente • • • •

Jamie Bewernitz and Jelle Brons • • • •

Kristen and James Caggiano • •

Danette Adams •

Mozhgan Ashtari • •

Rebekah and Vineer Bhansali • •

Kira Cahill '09 •

Adrienne and David Adelman •

Janice and Michael Avalone •

Jason Bi •

Alanna and David Cajthaml • •

Amy and Christopher Ainsworth • • •

Augustine Awadalla '26 •

Austin Birch '13 •

Camille Caldera •

Maureen and Chris Aitken • •

Odette Bailey •

Jennifer and Eric Blau •

Robert Canchola •

Leah Albagli •

Kathryn Bailey '24 •

Erin Browne and Chris Bledsoe •

Susan Canchola • • •

Mitra Alikhani '18 •

Mara Balak '03 •

Reshma and Ryan Block • •

Patty Canright • • Jade and Sean Cao • • • •

Roland Allen •

Wendy and Tim Ballard • •

Jennifer '87 and Lance Blount • •

Maala and David Allen •

Nicki and Scott Barber • •

Carol and Pierre Boldt • •

Amabel and Michael Capelle • • • •

Lora and Michael Allison • •

Katherine and Robert Barnes • •

Stephanie Capen •

Pat and Charles Allison •

Danielle and Gill Barnett • •

Brooke Ziccardi Boman and Chris Boman • •

Calla Allison •

Coco and Bob Barnum • • •

Margaret and Joseph Boneno •

Karen and Scott Carnahan •

Kirsten Allmeroth '18 •

Christina Batiz and Ari Canelos •

Aline Fagundes and Arthur Almeida •

Maia and Chris Bauman • •

Maria Mendoza Molina and Moises Alvarez Garcia •

Brandy and Tommy Beadel • •

Cynthia and Nelson Amaral • • Milind Ambe • Joan and William Ames • Timon Amirani '13 • Lily Lin and Montgomery An • Kim and Michael Anderson • • Lea and Tom Anderson • •

Rachel and Chris Beauchene • Atousa Givi and Emad Behbahani • • Mallory and Owen Beitner • • Sandi and Dino Bekis • • Maile and David Bellosi • Marit Kreidel and Jeff Benabio • Andrea and Patrick Bendzick • • Sharon Benedetto •

Cynthia Anderson •

Karen Bennett •

Jennifer Anderson-Hammond and Andrew Hammond •

Pamela and Harold Bennett •

Ingrid and Rick Andrews • • • Stephanie and Jason Angelos • • • Aneliya and Javaid Ansari • • • • Yasmeen Antone '13 •

40

Meghan and Nicholas Benson • • Karla Kraft and Anderee Berengian • Michelle Bernier • Jennifer and Brad Bertoglio • • Lauren Bertoglio •

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

Gillian Duncan and Danilo Bonilla • Joni and Eric Boranian • Yvonne Bosu • Rosalyn and Michael Botuchis • • Marilynn Boyle • Janie Yap-Bredall and Scott Bredall • • Cecily and Don Breit • Angela and Cary Bren • • • Belinda and Kevin Brent • • • Lauren and Matthew Brinker • Francesca and Matt Brisbois • • Diana and Robert Brookes • Joslynn and Chip Broun • • Susan and Jeffrey Brown • • • Melissa Lodoen and Tim Bruckner • Amy and Vince Bruno • • Courtney Bryan • Jamie Anne and Chadwick Bunch •

Cindy and Christopher Carbajal • Max Carr '13 • Brenda and Christopher Carr • Devon Carr and Daniel Ivascyn • • • Christine and James Carreon • • Gianni Carson '13 • Jenny Cary and Melanie Cary • • Brandyn and Brad Cashion • • Heather and Timothy Causee • Robert Causee • Gauri Kanwar and Paroon Chadha • • Patty Cyr and Jason Chambers • • Alexander Chan • • Jared Chang '18 • Cheryl Liu and Howard Chang • Sunny Chang and Boat Quan • Ping Liu and Gary Chang • Jenny and Jason Chao • • Kristina and Mark Chatow • • • •

Maggie Che and Justin Tan •

Ruth and Patrick Cruise •

Linlin Che and Cheng Zhang •

Pam and Ken Cruse • • •

Michelle and Tom Chen • • •

Jennifer and Joshua Cuda •

Judy Chen • • •

Jen and Christian Cunningham • •

Celine Chen • • •

Meredith and Glen Curran • •

Donna and Brian Chen •

Jaymie and Rory Cutaia • •

Ivy Chen and Cody He •

Evan Daboub '13 •

Jessica Zhou and Mike Chen • • • • •

Cheery Song and Richard Dai • •

Jinhong Tian and Huairong Chen • •

Maggie Zhang and Charles Dai • •

Yuan Wang and Yang Chen • • •

Sherry Dai and Ki Lun Ng • •

Connie Chen and John Shen • •

Anne Dalfiume •

Celine Song and Peter Chen •

Sonia Patel and Danny Dalton • •

Cici Chen and Johnny Yeung •

Susan and Joshua D'Amaro •

Carina Chen and Roger Lo • • •

Vanessa and David D'Amour •

Tina Liu and Hao Chen • •

Catherine and Dave Dandel • •

Lisa Chen and Ping Gong • •

Gregory Danz '93 • •

Claudia Chen and Damon Liang •

Shannon and Bret Davis • •

Ying Chen and James Sun • • •

Peggy Day and Kip Knight •

Jing Wang and Zhen Chen • •

Valerie Chen and Leo Day • • •

Yan Wang and Li Chen • •

Kristeen Day •

Donghong Liu and Xuejian Chen • •

Timothy Day •

Will Chen •

Kari and Michael De Vries • • •

Elizabeth and Craig Cheney •

Courtney and Richie DeBeikes •

Emily Chin '13 •

Cynthia and James DeBoard •

Annie and Phillip Chin • •

Nicole and Joe deBuzna • •

Lisa Cho and Wonjae Yoon • •

Gina and Philip deCarion • •

Annette Han and Ryan Choi • •

Semira Bayati and Peter DeCarlo •

Jae and Hoon Choi • •

Jaime Del Rio '18 •

Alyssa Chong '18 •

Ryan DeLucia •

Elis and Kenneth Chong •

Luyao Wang and Da Deng •

Stephanie and Daveen Chopra • •

Betsy and Charles Denham •

Ran Li and Robert Chou •

Chandler Desforges '13 •

Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury • • •

Ashlie and Paul DeVincenzi •

David Espinosa • Kim Eudemiller • Taylor '06 and Brett Everhart • Maureen and David Fancher • Tamara and Darren Fancher '89 • • • Lina Lu and Jimmy Fang • • Boriana and Nelson Farias • • Reba and Michael Farjami • Setareh and Farshad Farjami • • Irene and Siegfried Fascher • Taiana and Frank Fasel • • Lori and Mark Fava • William Feige • Betsy and Martin Feldman • Iris Liu and Daniel Feng • • Sherry Feng and Alvin Tan • • Su Cui and Kunwu Feng • Elizabeth and Michael Ferrari • David Field '12 • Jill and Jim Fincher • Amber and Kevin Fink • • • Melissa and Jordan Fisher • • • • Justin Stykemain and Alan Flatt • Austin Foley '13 • Kate and Taj Forer • Danielle and Chris Fox • • • Claire and Daniel Frahm • • Staci and Ben Francois • • David Freed '13 • Channing and James Freeman '99 • • • • Michelle and Kent French • • Shuang and Rich Frick • Jessica Friedman '09 •

The Rev. Earl Gibson • Valli and Chris Gideons • Stacey Gillis • Emerson Glazer • Melinda and John Glowacki • • • • Suzi and Bryan Godber • • Marina Goffredo and Bill Carson • Jill and Richard Golubow • • Nicole and Xiaobin Gong • • Ashley and Ashton Good • • Dee and Galen Gornowicz • • Tracy and Michael Gottlieb • • Natalia Gourova and Anton Kedin • Michelle and Joseph Goveia • • Jeneen and Andy Graham • • • Rory and Derek Greer • • Amy and Liam Griffin • • Sheryll and Timothy Grogan • Tracy and Scott Grove • Geeta and Sanjiv Grover • Nina and Sanjay Grover • • Jennifer and Robert Grumet • Jim Guerinot • • Hilary Guerinot • • Laura and Sam Guevara • • Jacinthe Paquette and David Guichet • Phillip Guichet '09 • Monica and Joe Guillena • • Aysel and Ray Gunar • • Margo and Matthew Gunderson • Ge and Congba Guo • • Jia Guo and Gongxun Tang • • Mona Zhao and Dennis Guo • •

Ciaoli Jin and George Chu • •

Liz and Ben Diachun •

Meng-Chieh Tsai and Shan-Chi Chuang • •

Lori and David Djavaherian • •

Catherine Gopaulsingh and Scott Friedman •

Minyao Chen and Kevin Clampitt '89 • •

Natalie and Peter Dolukhanov • •

Kimberly Fross •

Ruby Gutierrez and Francisco Jaramillo •

Queenie Xiao and James Dong • •

Pauline and Chris Frye • • •

Gail and Ed Haft •

Madisen Clanton '13 • Sarah and Peter Clark • Victoria Cleary • • • Elizabeth and Dallas Clemmons • Maclay Coldren • Kathi and Joe Coleman • Helen and Philip Collen • • Lynda and Robert Collier • • • Clark and Greg Collins • Zeina and Shawn Collins • • • Casey and Andrew Comeau • • Catherine Connelly '13 • Christine and Gary Cook • Saxon and Chris Copps • • Sandra Corliss and Ryan Wyld •

Angie Gao and Thomas Fu • •

Ellie Mahjubi and Bruce Haghighat • •

Katharine '00 and Ryan Downey '98 • • • •

Huifeng Fu and Raymond Wang •

Casey and Brandon Hagy • • •

Cindy Fu and Gary Zhang • •

Elena and Armond Hairapetian •

Ellen McNutt Drey and Kristopher Drey '88 • •

Nicole Fukuoka '09 •

Candi Hall •

Marisa and Mike Gallegos •

Jessica Hallissey •

Katie and Craig Driver • • Wa Xu and Bin Du • • Sherry Ding and Raymond Du • June Chen and John Duenes • Anna and Nick Dulcich • Jen and Joe Duran • • Annie Eales '18 • Janice and Albert Eddow • Caren and Vernon Edler • Flavia and Charles Eifrig • • Johan Ekvall • •

Cherise and Victor Cota • •

Suad Elias-Atala and Francisco Romo-Pardo • • •

Cheryl and Dennis Cragun • Christina and Patrick Crerar • •

Tram and Tim Gustin • • •

Marcella and Chris Dornin • • • •

Carolina and Colin Cormac • Rosanna and Tracy Coveyou • • •

Helena and Mathi Gurusamy •

Kelly and Gardner Ellner • • Lindsay '00 and Rob Eres • • • •

Nancy and Robert Ganem • •

Maryam and Bobby Hamidi •

Bin Gao and Wenjiang Yang • •

Ashley and Nicholas Hamilton •

Chang and Chao Gao • •

Keri and David Hammer •

Jing Gao and Chaohua Song • •

Hollyce Hammond •

Yi Li and Neil Gao • •

Rachel and Ali Hamzeh •

Kathryn Garcia '13 •

Amy Han and Fei Li •

Michelle and Rico Garcia • • •

Felice Han and Ken Hou • •

Aaron Garfinkle '18 •

Elizabeth Hanauer and Paul Pohoresky •

Karen and Scott Garner •

Aaron Hancock • •

Christopher Gaudreau '03 • •

Sarah Hancock • •

Lisa and Michael Gazzaniga •

Miranda Wang and Kyle Hao •

Laura and Azmin Ghahreman •

Jake Hardy • •

Sarah Mathias and Bobby Ghandehari •

Heather and Bryan Harney • •

Cristin and David Gianulias •

Kristina and Rupert Harper •

Tuce Giblin •

Amy and Chet Harrison • • •

HIGHLANDER

41

Anne and Mark Harrison • •

Elizabeth and Paul Janczyk '04 • • •

Afshan and Brian Kleinhanzl •

Howard Hart •

Sunny Lim and Steve Jantzi •

Christopher Knight '05 •

Fiona Li '34 •

Stephanie '86 and Geoff Harvey •

Negar Javanmardi and Arsalan Liaghat • •

Jake Kofdarali '18 •

Qirui Song and Davis Li • •

Amy Sun and Bing Ji •

Kimberley and Ryan Korinke • • •

Aileen Zhang and Qiang Li •

Ayaka and Amit Kothari •

Mingzhen Li and Yuan Shao • •

Yongdie Jiang and Bin Xu •

Milena Pamukova and Daniel Kovachev • •

Winnie Wen and Benson Li •

Lin Yuan and Kai Jiang • •

Joan and Harold Kraft •

Serina Jiang and Jack Wang • • • •

Julia Kramer '18 •

Kirsten and Daniel Harvey • Nancy and Fred Hasani • • • Lisa and Kevin Haskins • Selene He and Dennis Liu • • Juan He and Fei Zhou • Michelle He and Joey Wang • • • Ying Zhang and Alan He • Beth and Rob Healy • • Lisa and Peter Helton • Anita and Ira Hermann • • • Becca and Ted Heyming • • Megan and Nathan Hicks • • Shelby and Troy Hinson • Kristin and Sean Hinze • • Stephanie and Mike Hoback • • • Lule and Zen Hoda • • Jamie and Jake Hoffnagle • • Susan and Keith Hoffnagle • Jeni and Alexander Hoggan • Michael Hoopis • Alexa and Derek Horn • • • Katy Hou and Tom Mai • Patsy Howard • Judith Howton • Linling Hsu '98 • Ruth C. Hsu • Xi Liu and Thomas Hu • Gefang Hu and Zhiyun Zhang • • Annie Hua and Shuangyou Zhang • • Jennifer and David Huang • • Mrs. Peiqian Li and Mr. Weiqiang Huang •

Lijun Zhang and Changsong Jia • •

Yi Jin and Jianwen Yao •

Ivy and Ben Krysiak •

Serena Jin and Tianyi Zha •

Nicole and Brad Kuhn • •

Anneliese Johansson •

Jake Kuljis '18 •

Polly Johnsen •

Jaclyn and Brian Kurzawa • • •

Michele Johnson •

Wendy and Paul Kushner • •

Monica and Thomas Johnson • •

Sarah and Mark Kustera • • •

Andrea and Steve Johnson • • • • •

Joanne Liao Kuy and Devin Kuy • • •

Lauren and Weston Johnson • • •

Jane Park and Eric Kweon • • • •

Cynthia Johnson •

Krissy and Virgil Kyle • •

Veronica Johns-Richardson •

Anthony LaFrano •

Jennifer Jung '13 •

Wendy LaFrano •

Joy and David Justus •

Ben Lah •

Zeljka Jutric •

Azadeh Lakani and Alireza Noorian •

Katie and Rick Kalvoda •

Patricia and Bruce LaMotte •

Leo Kamgar '18 •

Steve Lampe •

Eva and Michael Kammerer •

Amanda Salter and Carl Langfeldt • • •

Kai and Sinan Kanatsiz • • •

Mia Souiyah and Sam Laraki •

Tina Huang and Wiliam Kang • •

Maddi Larsen '13 •

Lisa Kao and Fergus MacDonald • •

Gordon Larson '18 •

Denise and Keith Karlsen •

Maxine '03 and Eric Laube • • •

Anna and Christos Karmis • • •

Megan and Reginald Lavender • • •

Kristine and Andy Ke • •

Georgina Lean '09 •

Ni Wen and Songping Ke • • • •

Alissa and Timothy Leason • • • •

Jeffrey Keane •

Robin and JK Leason •

Colin Kentros • •

Caroline Lechaux •

Gloria Kepiro •

Christian Lee '08 • •

Fatima and Ahad Khan •

Joyce and Andy Lee • •

Lara and Conor Hughes • •

Lia and James Kieckhafer •

Alice Lee '18 •

Janis Hughes •

Angelica Botero and Roger Killer • •

Thuy and Jay Lee •

Laura Hunt Newman • •

Randa and Dean Kim '94 • • •

Annaka and Jefferson Lee • •

Pat and Marc Hurlbut • •

Julie and Anthony Kim • • •

Betsy Lee •

Crystal and Robert Hutter • • •

Katie and Jae Kim •

Janet and Jimmy Lee •

Michelle Ligao and Leon Huynh • •

Kimberly Kim •

Joanne and Jimmy Lee • •

Georgeann and John Iavarone •

Linda Chung and Moses Kim • •

Yifan Song and Shane Lee • •

Thierry and Jun Ihara •

Kristen and Jay Kim •

Grace and James Leigh • •

Jill and Jarod Ikeda •

Seungyun Ha and Jay Kim • •

Alexis Leon '13 •

Abigail and Jeremy Illenberger • •

Amanda and Brian Kim • •

Tami and Ryan Leshaw • • • •

Nikki Imai •

Florence and Ed Kim • •

Jaclyn and Stefan Lessard • •

Lisa and Richard Isola •

Yi Feng and Soyoung Kim •

Winnie Shiao and Allen Leung •

Mary and Kambiz Izadi • •

Debbie Kim and Simon Lee •

Kimberly and Robert Lewis •

Georgina Jacobson and Kevin Clare •

Carol and Brian Kim • •

Heather Lewis •

Shannon Jacquez •

Tenicka and Jay Kingsley •

Qingna Sun and Jun Li • •

Tricia and Frank Jaksch • •

Kristian Kiraly '09 •

Yanchun and Xiangyang Li •

Melissa and Stephen James •

Kimberli and Jordan Kitaen •

Zhaoxia Wu and Jieming Li •

Monica and Collie James • • • •

Jess and Rob Klausner • • • • •

Jing Zhang and Shaohui Li •

42

Capital Giving, Building & Endowment

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

PTF Events

Tartan Open

Fiona Li and Hao Zhao • • Annie Li and Yingjie Sun • • Lilian Li and Johnny Qu • • Xulian Li and Dezhao Yang • • Crystal Li and Jeffrey Liu • • Judith Jing and Peter Liang • May Liang and George Yan • • Mengping Wang and Michael Liang • • Stephanie Liang and Matthew Xu • • Qunicey Wang and Baojun Liang • • • Merielle and Joe Liao • • Qiming Liao and Chen Wang • • Joanne Tseng and Stanley Liao • • Jennifer and Michael Limb '06 • •

Vivian Huang and Eason Sun •

Annual Giving

Jiaying Miao and Zhongqun Li •

Linda Zhao and Gavin Lin • • Cristine and Tim Lindenfelser • • • Heidi Lindner • Melissa and Manrique Lino • Kimberly and Donald Lippert • Chase and Justin Lippert '07 • • Marie and Scott Lipsky • Yiwen Liu and Ajun Liu • Lucy Liu and Robin Wei • Yuan Lu and Hong Liu • Shan Tian and Sarvy Liu • Kate Yang and Tony Liu • Carol Liu and David Tang • Mary Ma and Clark Liu • • Jingwen Zhang and Jeffrey Liu • Linda Liu and Vincent Wu • • • Lei Zhao and Mingwei Liu • Elise Lu and Michael Liu • • • Lucy Liu • • Yuanyuan Liu and David Zhao • • • Tanya Liu and Brian Xu • Joanne and Rev. James Livingston • • Mireya Llaurado • Eileen and Greg Locy • Yolanda and Ronald Loder • Monica and Paul Lopez • Cris Lozon • • • Patty and Raymond Lu • • Christine Xie and Aubrey Lu • • Aida Lucatero • • Anna Perelman and Wayne Ludlum • Sebastian Luna '13 • Stacey and Zach Lundin • • • •

Community Giving, Breakthrough & Special Camp

Shawn and Bill Lutz •

Julie and Jens Meggers • •

Tina and Bryan Oh • •

Kristina and Gleb Lvovich • •

Shabnam and Steven Mehr '94 • • •

Ryan O'Kane • •

Nguyetthanh Ly •

Patricia Mejia and Ramon Morales •

Patricia and Kevin O'Leary •

Adriana and John Lyons •

Katie Melkonian •

Kathryn and Spencer Olsen • •

Xiaolin Wei and Feiyu Ma •

Dana and John Melsom • •

Lisa and Terry O'Neil •

Sissy Ma and Will Zhu • •

Lisa Mers •

Liz and Dan O'Shea • • •

Cindy Yue and Mark Ma •

Erin and Eric Mertlbauer • • • •

Vicki and Tom Otterbein • • • •

Tessa and Dan Maas • • • •

Adrienne and Karl Metz •

Rian and Andrew Otto •

Angela and Lester Mackenzie • •

Kristen and Brian Miazga • •

Geoffrey Overstreet • •

Darla and Andrew Magana •

Naomi and Elliott Micha • •

Holly and Eric Oxford •

Mojgan Mahdiani and Mohammad Sheikholeslami •

Vicki Micha •

Lynn and Steve Ozonian •

Melissa Ysasaga and Steven Michels •

Kolin S. Ozonian '02 and Nicole Ozonian • • •

Natalia Novacek and Jarrett Mahoney • Cecilia and Ralph Mai • Tawni Mai • Bree Salinas and Aaron Mandujano • Yajuan Chen and Kevin Mao • • Ying Harris and Xiang Mao • Elin and Kevin Markarian • Arreanna Marko '13 • McKenna Marmelstein '13 • Ghanim Marouf '00 • • Brooke and Abe Marouf '01 • • • Crista and Chad Martin • • • Lorena Martinez • Kristine and David Martinez • Max Martinez '18 • Shawn Haydel and Luis Martinez • • Valentina Martino '18 • Trisha and Joshua Marx • Michele and Brian Maryott • Tessa Maryott '25 • Trisha and Gary Marzolo • Pearl and Nick Mashour • • Linda and Gary Mason • Kimberly and Farzad Massoudi • Penny and Ryan Mateer • Kimberly and Colby Matthews • • Emily '95 and Matthew '94 Maxey • • Paul Mayer '09 • Regina McAleer • Natalie McAleer '18 • Diana and Craig McCallister • Andrea and Benn McCallister • • • • Annette and Sean McCarthy • • • • Chase McClure '13 • Karen McCollum • Jennifer and Timothy McElfish • • • Lauren and Scott McEwan '02 • Lisa and John McFarland • Hiroka and Jeff McGuane • Derek McIntire • Kate and Mike McKenna • Kristy McKnight • Angie and Patrick McLaughlin • • Grant Meadows '13 • Alison Meany '18 •

Agnes and Hendrik Michels • Kylie and Mike Middlebrook • • Anneka Miller '18 • Lane and William Minton • • Indrani Gill and Harry Mirchandaney • Janet Mitchell • • Brandon Miura '13 • Jeanne and Stefan Mohler • • Ali and Lindsay Monge • • • Erin and Michael Moore • Cyrus Mor '01 • • Gabriela Morally '13 • Tom and Natalie Moran • Shawna and Justin Morasch • • Bethanie and Brian Moriarty • • • Laurie Moroch • • • Mark Morris • • • Erin and Steve Morris • • Emily Morton '13 • Judy Morton • Jenny and Will Moseley • Cathy and Matt Moses • • Britta and Pedro Mota • • Xiaojun Mu and Bo Wang • • Laura Muller • Karen and James Murphy • • • Vinee and Upender Nanda • Jennifer and Todd Newton • •

Dan Pacheco • Susan and Toby Page • Jennifer and Buck Page • • Kimberly Page • Sophia Paik • Randolph Palombi • Michelle and Andy Park • • Judy Parsons • Linda and Erik Pasin • • Katie and Israel Passwater • • Kelsey Patch '13 • Kelsey Patch '13 and Patrick McGrorey • Swati and Ajesh Patel • • Amisha and Haresh Patel • Anita Patel • Leah and Patrick Patterson • Ashley and Darren Pavel • • Natasha and Torin Pavia • Sophie Payne '18 • Lisa and Christopher Payne • Rosaria and William Peffer • Samantha and John Pellitteri • Qiao Peng and Xihui Wei • Jennifer Perez • • Amy Perez • Kelley Perry • • Sandra and Ryan Pertz •

Betsy and Michael Purpura • Kim Putnam • Cindy Qi and Scott Yao • Carrie and John Quintanar • • • Deborah and Mark Radosh • Mindy Ranik • and Razmjoo • Deepthi and Vishnu Reddy • Erica and Paul Reder • Laura and Alden Redman • Cynthia and Ryan Reich • • • • Andrea and David Reinkensmeyer • Sonia and Jim Remick • Dante Renzulli • Angela and George Reynolds • Natalie Rezai • Tina Wang and Jeffrey Richman • Jennifer '87 and Mark '86 Risner • • • Mashid and Stephen Rizzone • Lori and Jeffrey Roberts • Lara and Casey Roberts • Amy and Jeff Roberts • • Tania and Michael Robertson • • Tracy and Ryan Robertson • Brooks Robinson '14 • • Jacqueline and Mark Robinson • Kimberly Robinson • Kendall Robison '16 • Katie and Mikel Rodin • • • Elina Rodina and Garrick Updegraph • Marisa Arpels and Ignacio Rodriguez • • Jessica Roe '09 and Scott Kirschner • Jill Rogers • Wendy Romagnino-Perry and Johnnie Perry • Veltria and Juan Roman • Jessie Xu and Charlie Rong • Izabella and Alex Rooney • Alison Rosenbaum and Benjamin Siegel •

Angela and Steven Peykoff •

Brittany Rovell and Ryan Rovell •

Stacey Nicholas •

Susan and Larry Phillips •

Rachel Roy '18 •

Anda Nicolae and Costin Peiu • •

Morgan Barrows and Anthony Pichardo • • •

Wrenna Rubio •

Grace Ni and Faqiang Sheng •

Sarah Liu and Zilong Nie • • • Kameron Nielsen • Sanaz and Sean Nikravan • • • Lijuan Zou and Yonghe Ning • Aviva Dobrenky and Howard Nissenoff • Rachel Xin and Lee Niu • • • Jin Wang and Kunlun Niu • Katharine and Martin Nonna • Tara and Brian Norton • • Melissa and Zachary Norwood • Heather and Marlo Nykolaychuk • • • Robert O Hill • James and Rebecca Ocean • Megan and Brendan O'Farrell • •

Karen Pierce • Symone Pinedo '13 • Cindy and Jeff Pintar • • • • Cheri Platte • Lizzie Plummer '18 • Leslie and Evan Pohaski • • Riley Pok '13 • Debby and Daniel Policicchio • Lydia Chiu and Lee Pooler • Shail and Shawn Powers • • • • Brandon Price '13 •

Erin and Jaritt Ruff • • • Pimonsiri and Pieter Ruig • • • • Chelsea and Tyler Runge • • • Jennifer and Mike Russo • Parker Ryan '18 • Rhea Sachdeva '18 • Nazli Azimi and Kevin Sadati • • Clementine '12 and Matthew Saggiani • Nazanin and Siamak Saidi • • Samantha and Brian Saiki • • Lesley and Ernesto Salazar • • Celia Saldana •

Luce and Ade Proctor • •

Emily Mehr Salehi and Mohsen Salehi • •

Catherine Mariani-Pupil and Martin Pupil •

Julie and Nader Salib • •

HIGHLANDER

43

Brendon '06 and Mykaela Salisbury •

Maria and John Soto •

Ian Thomas '09 •

Luling and Yao Wang • • • Amy Zhang and Ken Wang • •

Alyssa and Paul Sandoval •

Tanya and Timothy Spangler •

Megan and Mark Thomas • • •

Michelle and Matthew Sant • •

David Sparks '13 •

Vanessa and Clint Thompson •

Lili Wang and Wei Zhang •

Olivia Santora '13 •

Thomas Spellmire •

Michelle and Matthew Tingler • •

Rui Wang and Futao Yue •

Cheri and Peter Santora • • • • •

Connie and Peter Spenuzza •

Melody and Aaron Titus • • •

Tina Wang and Leo Yang •

May and Steven Sapra • •

Loreal and Jay-Paul Spenuzza '03 • • • •

Logan Tomaselli '18 •

Xina Guo and Guang Wang • •

Amanda and Michael Saunders • •

Lindsey and David Spindle • • • •

David Tomlinson '95 •

Vivian Zang and Ligo Wang • •

Shawna and Chris Schaffner •

Anza Spinelli •

Lori and John Tomlinson • • •

Chole Wei and Lu Wang • Liangjie Zhang and Ruiyuan Wang • • •

Allison Schauppner • •

Elizabeth Spring and Paolo Benzan •

Alana Torgelson •

Lisa Byer-Scheel and Norman Scheel •

Jessica and Robert Springer • • •

Andrew Torok '13 •

Sophia Wang and Haifeng Wu •

Janet Keller and Bernard Schneider • •

Matthew Denerstein and Michele St John •

Jessica and Elisha Torrance •

Lin Zhang and Yibo Wang •

Bonni and Dave Stachowiak •

Laura and Eric Toubin • •

Yan Zhang and Gaolong Wang •

Irma and Tony Trikas • •

Na and Bo Wang •

Stephanie Schriver • Meredith and Stephen Schumacher • Elliott Schwartz '13 • Sheri and Werhner Scott • • Delphi and Robert Sech • Paige Selby '08 • Stacy and Scott Seminoff • Figen and Bernard Sen • • Jennifer and Theodore Serentelos • • Yuliana and Oscar Servin • Rajeshree and Nirav Shah '95 • Elnaz Zarghami and Reza Shahbaz • Julie and Rob Shanahan • • Lydia and Thomas Shapiro • Erin and Steven Shapiro • • Paddi and Alex Sharifian • • Yuri and Vivek Sharma • Catherine and Kenneth Shaw • Maureen Shaw • Qiong Niu and Tianwei Shen • • Jean Wei and Rich Shen • Rong Zou and Zhikai Shen • Laura Sherlock • Seiko Takizawa and Steven Shi • Blanca and Benjamin Shidla • • • Andy Shin '18 • Bahareh and Homey Shorooghi • • Michele and Gary Silverman • Michele and Gregg Simon • • Daria Solodkaya and Artem Smirnov • • Deirdre and Douglas Smith • Aubrie and Jeff Smith • • Emma and Alan Smith • Sharon Smith • Tami Smith • Savannah and Garrett Snyder • Daniel and Ariana Solarz • Xi Chen and Jerry Song • • Maggie Tan and Calvin Song • •

44

Jesse Standlea • Jessica and Nathan Stanley • • Heidi and Cameron Steele • Anastassia and Brendan Steele • • • Jennifer and John Stephens • • Jackie and Bryan Stevens • • Layla and Rob Stone • • Timothy Strader • Scott Striegel • • Ben Strom • • Ryan Stueber '13 • Vicki Stump • Kayla and Sean Su • • • • Brandon Suchand '13 • Emily Suh '18 • Michelle and Scott Sukut • • Dana and Bryan Sullivan • • • • • Sara and James Sullivan • Carol and Bob Summers • Lauren and George Sumner • Debbie and Paul Sun • • Jiong Fei and Ed Sun • • Wendy Sun and Sam Wang •

Christine Shook •

Annual Giving

Masami Stahr •

Desiree Staples '09 •

Jennifer Sele • •

Matthew Soto '18 •

Cathy and Rick Stahl •

Liang Zhao and Jun Sun • • Akiko and Glen Sutton • Alex Swanson •

Ying Zhang and Steven Tsui • •

Ashlee and Lei Wang • •

Rebecca and Jonathan Tufo • • •

Sophie Zhang and Mosbach Wang •

Gloria and Matthew Turnbull • •

Ying-Chih Wang •

Ashley and William Tyus •

Summer Wang and Leo Zhang • •

Jinhy Yoon and John Tze • •

John Warden • •

Beth and Scott Ullem • • •

Christian Warner • • •

Flor and Daniel Uribe •

Margaret and Mark Warren • •

Georgia and George Valaskantjis • • •

Amy Warren and Patricia Merz •

GG Valaskantjis '31 • • •

Mary and Marty Wattenberg • •

Rosario Valdez •

Katherine Wechsler '13 •

Ashley and Brad Vanar • • •

Alexandra and Kent Weed •

Vasi Vangelos • •

Julie and James Weidner • • • •

Neeta and Jeff Vargo •

Joanna and Liam Weiner • •

Briana and James Vartanian •

Jennifer and Karl Weingarten •

Socorro and Ernesto Vasquez •

Joanna and Jason Weiss •

Edgar Vazquez •

Keith Wellen • •

Meredith Vazquez •

Haley Welsome •

Irene and Chris Veitch •

John Welsome • •

Emily Venable '13 •

Rong Wang and Wenbiao Weng • •

Bryce Victor '18 •

Tracy Wesselman •

Annie Wang and Michael Villa •

Lisa and Justin West • • •

Ricardo Villagomez • •

Jan and John West • •

Bryant Villamil '18 •

Kia and Paul Westhead • • •

Galina and Vitaly Vishnevski •

Harrison White '13 •

Alexandra and Kostas Vitakis •

Shelley and Rick White • • •

Tobi and Conan Vitale • •

Heather and Mark Whitehead •

Sophy Vollaro •

James Whiting '18 •

Stacey and Irwin von Winckelmann •

Manuela Vazquez and John Whitledge • • •

Megan Sweeney '13 •

Shivani Maheshwari and Hemant Wadhwa •

Penny Tacquard •

Sherry and John Wagener •

Staciana Winfield • •

Heather Lee-Tam and Jack Tam •

Kirstie and William Wagner •

Helen and Eli Winkler • •

Molly and Barry Wilson •

Alexandra Tanner '13 •

Christina and Andrew Wainwright • •

Lynsey and Matt Winters • •

Jason Tapie • •

Alexander Waller '13 •

John Wise • •

Sharon and Mel Taylor •

Kristin and Michael Walseth • •

Dana and Jay Wohlgemuth • • • •

Kristina '05 and Michael Taylor •

Liyong Wang • • •

Lila Wohlgemuth '26 • Amy and Stephen Wolcott • • • •

Kristi and Thomas Taylor •

Yali Liu and Mike Wang • •

HT Teo and Boon Yong •

Jack Wang • •

Andrew Wood '03 • •

Jennifer and Ty Thaiyananthan •

Hongyu Ji and Huanjie Wang • •

Lauren and Ryan Wood •

Nancy and Paul Thede • • • •

Shuang He and Nick Wang •

Wendy Wu and Julien Zhang •

Capital Giving, Building & Endowment

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

PTF Events

Tartan Open

Community Giving, Breakthrough & Special Camp

Lily Yu and Jeff Xie •

AR Academics •

Max Mara South Coast Plaza •

The Wilford Foundation • TK Burgers •

Yijin Zhang and Wei Xie •

Art for Kids OC •

Mazda North American Operations •

Grace Yang and Clint Xu •

Aston Martin Newport Beach •

McDowell School •

Tom's 27 • •

Yanli and Jian Xu •

Balboa Bay Resort •

Modern Elite Transportation •

Tom's Chino • •

May Xue and David Zheng • •

BallPark Pizza •

Moderna, Inc. •

Traveler's Choice • •

Jennifer and Naveen Yalamanchi • • •

Barclay Butera Inc. •

Monarch Real Estate • •

Van Cleef & Arpels •

Brittaney and Harish Yalamanchili • •

Basanti Indian Cuisine •

Montage Healdsburg •

Vanguard •

Annie and Roger Yang • • •

Blue Sky • •

Montage Laguna Beach •

Jennifer Strickland and Shawn Yang • •

Boxhaus Newport Beach •

MOYNAT South Coast Plaza •

Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program • •

Man Huang and Hao Yang •

Breakthrough Collaborative •

Neiman Marcus •

Jessie Zhu and Jack Yao • • •

Broadcom Foundation •

New York Life Foundation •

Jennifer Lee and Grant Yasui •

Burch Family Foundation •

NGY Group, Inc. •

Mona and Amir Yazdanshenas • •

Cantor's Driving School •

Shirley Xu and Jimmy Ye • •

Capital Group Cos. Charitable Foundation • • • • •

Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program at the Chicago Comm • OC Sheriff Department •

Wear Iris Jewelry •

Julie and Frank Ye • • Kevin Yee '18 • Susie and Cory Yeh '94 • • Yiyen and Mark Yen • Erin and Dan Yoder • Jen and Jamie Yoshida • • Mia and Sam Yu • • • • • Angela Zhou and Zhen Yu • Jinny Yun • Nazy and Ray Zadjmool • Parastoo and Rick Zarghami '96 • •

Celestial Skin Care Studio •

Ojai Valley Inn • Okta, Inc. •

Chatow Law • • •

Orange County Community Foundation • •

Wells Fargo Foundation Matching Gifts Program •

Ciao Pasta Trattoria • Citation Capital Partners, Inc • • City Ballet of San Diego • Coastal Kitchen • Common Thread • David Yurman • Deloitte • Disneyland Resort •

Dan Yang and Jing Zhang •

Xiao Ying Hu and Ke Zhang • Vivian Zhao and Zhen Zhang • Xiao Xing and Zhejia Zhang • • Leah Zhang and Qi Chen • • • Yinghui and Yong Zhang • • Tina Zhang and Todd Zhou • • Sara Zhou and Tony Zhang • • Irene and Ricky Zhang • • Jue Zhao • • • Jason Zhao • • Jenny Ye and Dean Zheng • Eva Jiang and Lawrence Zheng • • Yolanda Gu and CJ Zhou • Lili Wu and Victor Zhou • Yvonne Zhou • • Jiarui Yu and Xiaolin Zhu • • Esther Zhu and Edan Lee •

BUSINESSES & ORG ANIZ ATIONS ACI Jet • Acre Resort • Alderson Family Foundation • Amgen Foundation Matching Gifts Program • • AnQi Bistro by House of An • Aperture Cellars •

Vista Equity Partners • W.H. Engineering Group • • •

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. •

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Employee MG Program • • •

Ning Wu and Jinlong Zhang •

Veronica Beard •

Wells Fargo Community Support

Tingting Zhang and Jason Zhai • • • • Zhen Xu and Qingxin Zhang • •

VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort and Spa •

Emerald Cove Camp •

Orange County's United Way • • Pacific Pearl Catering Co. • Pendry San Diego • PILECO, Inc. • • Prada USA Corp • Qian Capital Inc. • Qualcomm, Inc. • Resort at Pelican Hill • River Jetty Restaurant Group • Rocco's Restaurant •

Fidelity Charitable • •

Roger Dunn Golf Hawaii • •

Fitness International, LLC •

saltfineart •

Givenchy •

Samueli Foundation • •

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program • •

Schwab Charitable Fund • • • •

Graves Construction • •

Semira Bayati MD APC •

Hotel Paseo •

Simplifi EDU • South Coast Plaza •

Inn at the Mission •

Sun Family Foundation •

Irvine Lanes •

Sunwest Bank • •

JAL Metal Inc. •

The Andi Collins Foundation •

Jewish Community Foundation San Diego •

The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation •

JPMorgan Chase •

The Crean Foundation •

KD Development, Inc. •

The Ecology Center •

La Prairie •

The Golfer's Journal • •

Layered by Paige Elise •

The Marion W. Minton & Walter J. Minton Foundation, Inc. • •

Lido House, Autograph Collection • Liliblue Interior Design, LLC. • Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry, Inc. • Lyric Opera of Orange County • Mallard Lake Detox Center • Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation • Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina • Matt Construction Corporation •

** Earnest effort has been made to recognize donors as they have indicated, however errors can occur. If your name has been mistakenly omitted, misspelled or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apologies and contact the Advancement Office.

Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation • •

Hyundai Motor America •

Lemon Bay Tours •

Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp •

Panamelly Inc •

Farmers & Merchants Bank •

goop Kitchen •

Wendi's Donuts • Xclusive Taqueria Moderna •

The Nicholas Endowment • The Parent Teacher Fellowship • • The PIMCO Foundation • The Ranch at Laguna Beach • The Red Balloon • The Robison Family Foundation • • The Route • The Westin South Coast Plaza •

HIGHLANDER

45

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

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

Tartan Traditions…

MISSION VIEJO, CA PERMIT No 15

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCT. 1: Admission Application Available OCT. 21-22: Fall Break NOV. 1: Homecoming NOV. 2: Upper School Admission Open House NOV. 2: PTF Forever Plaid All-School Fundraiser NOV. 12: Middle School Admission Open House NOV. 19: Kindergarten & Grade 1 Admission Open House

NOV. 21: St. Margaret's Day NOV. 27-29: Thanksgiving Break DEC. 17: Early School Admission Open House DEC. 23-JAN. 3: Christmas Break JAN. 7: School Resumes FEB. 1: Admission Application Deadline

St. Margaret’s Lower School music curriculum includes learning about music theory through practice with a ukulele. Students in kindergarten through grade 5 are often seen spread out across Chalmers Field during the school day, joyfully learning new chords while developing a love of music.