Highlander Fall 2024

The Joy of Learning

2 TARTAN SNAPSHOTS

Learn the latest news happening around St. Margaret’s, from Early School to Upper School.

26 CLASS NOTES AND ALUMNI UPDATES

Learn the latest from your classmates, including travels, career changes, weddings and more!

30 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY NOTES

Get the latest news from St. Margaret’s professional community, from awards to retirements to anniversaries.

32 TARTAN SCENES

What’s happening in the St. Margaret’s community? Check out photos from the latest events on and off campus.

38 LOOKING FORWARD

Introducing the Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award for Philanthropy.

40 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

In recognition of the generous St. Margaret’s community and its support of a variety of philanthropical initiatives. 14 16 12 18 21 6

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.

The AI Revolution 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.

The Magic of Movement

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

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

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

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.

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.

Commencement 2024

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

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.

St. Margaret's Guide to

Philanthropy

A closer look at the many opportunities to philanthropically support the Tartan community this school year.

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Message from the Head of School

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,

Jeneen Graham Ed. D., Head of School

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dr. Jeneen D. Graham

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Ryan Wood

MANAGING EDITOR

Marites Olano

ART DIRECTOR

Sarah Kustera

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Perez

EDITORIAL BOARD

Patrick Bendzick, Jennifer Blount, Stephanie Capen, Victor Cota, Jeneen Graham, Marites Olano, Jonathan Tufo, Ryan Wood

CONTRIBUTORS

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.

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

31641 La Novia

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

949.661.0108 www.smes.org

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cross-Divisional Project

Sparks Curiosity for the Space Exploration Exhibit

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.

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.

Tartan Snapshots

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.

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.

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

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.

Boys Lacrosse Wins CIF-SS Championship

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.

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.

Athletics Roundup

• 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.

• 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.

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 .

JBY RYAN WOOD

As 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.

“To 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.

JOY THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION

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.”

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

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.”

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.”

JOY THROUGH STUDENT CHOICE AND AGENCY

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

JOY THROUGH SERVING OTHERS

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE PURSUIT OF JOY

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.

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 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

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.

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.

“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.”

THE REVOLUTION AT ST. MARGARET'S

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

BY RYAN WOOD

Artificial 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.”

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.

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.”

THE MAGIC OF

Moveme n t

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 RYAN WOOD

It 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.

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.

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.”

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

AND THE EVOLUTION OF ST. MARGARET'S CAMPUS

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

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.

WALLACE HALL BEFORE

AFTER: COMING FALL 2026

Chair-ish our Tartans

RESERVE YOUR PERMANENT SPOT IN THE ST. MARGARET’S COMMONS!

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

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

Redefining Performing Arts Through Technology

BY MARITES OLANO

In 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.

At 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.”

The 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.

Congratulations

2031

2028 CLASS OF CLASS OF

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.

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.

2024 THE CLASS OF

122

CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES ARE ATTENDING...

72 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN

29 STATES AND

2

COLLEGES ABROAD (FRANCE & GERMANY)

19

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

ALUMNI UPDATES

LETTER FROM THE TARTAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

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 Peffe r 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)

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.

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, David Larsen ‘16 President, Tartan Alumni Association

Mattingly Messina ‘13 Member, Board of Trustees

'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.

'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-YEAR 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.

'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.

CELEBRATIONS: TARTAN WEDDINGS

Jesse Clanton '01 & Christina Reisenweber '03

Georgina Lean '09

Phillip Guichet '09

Julia Mouchawar '15

Alex Smith '19

Camila Anderson Comas '15

'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-YEAR 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.

'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+.

'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-YEAR 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.

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!

'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

NOTEABLE: ALUMNI HOLIDAY PARTY

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:

OCTOBER 23

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.

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 PARTY ON DECEMBER 20, 2024!

Chicago Regional Alumni Event

OCTOBER 26

PAL/Alumni Dinner & US Play: The Great Gatsby

NOVEMBER 2

Forever Plaid Gala

NOVEMBER 7

Parent of Alumni (PAL) Party

NOVEMBER 9

Class of 2000-2009 Alumni Party

DECEMBER 20

All Alumni Holiday Party

DECEMBER 21

Class Reunions for '94, '04, '14 & '19

FEBRUARY 4

PAL Event: College Care Packages for classes of '24, '23, '22 & '21

FEBRUARY 12

Second Harvest Food Bank Event

MARCH 14

Parent Up Speaker: Jason Craige Harris

MARCH 20

PAL/Alumni Dinner and US

Musical: Alice by Heart

MARCH 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

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY NOTES

Honors and Accolades

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.”

DAVID BESHK RECEIVES THE SUSAN A. REMSBERG AWARD

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.

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.

KELLIE PAUL

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.

JANICE AVALONE

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.

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 YEARS

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 COMMUNITY 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)

TARTAN SCENES

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.

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.

PTF New Board Installation Brunch

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.

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.

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.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

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 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.

Q&A

With Ryan Korinke of St. Margaret’s Board of Trustees

BY RYAN WOOD

Ryan 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

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

2024-2025 BOARD OF

TRUSTEES

OFFICERS

The Right Reverend John Harvey Taylor, Chairman

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)

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.

BOARD MEMBERS

Susan E. Brown

Sam Corliss

The Reverend Canon

Robert D. Edwards

Suad Elias-Atala

Jess Klausner

Ryan Korinke

Benn McCallister

Mattingly Messina ’13

Alethea “Ali” Monge

Victoria L. Otterbein

Mark Risner ‘86

Tania Robertson

Katie Rodin

Jay Spenuzza ’03

Roger Yang

TRUSTEE EMERITI

David Bush

Sarah E. Chester (1976-2020)

Stacey Nicholas

Jeffry Stoddard

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.

BY STEP HAN IE HO BACK, Director of Annual Giving, & JONATHAN TUFO, Executive Director of Advancement

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.

It 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.

PARENT TEACHER FELLOWSHIP (PTF)

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:

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.

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.

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.

CAPITAL GIVING

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.

THE ST. MARGARET’S ENDOWMENT

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.

TARTAN ALUMNI LEGACY ENDOWMENT (TALE)

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.

TARTAN OPEN

Golf tournament to raise funds for need-based financial aid.

BREAKTHROUGH SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

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 CAMP

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.

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.

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

2

Ongoing GIVING

INTRODUCING

The Stacey Nicholas Inspire Award for Philanthropy

St. 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.

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.

"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 GRAHAM

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.”

2023-2024

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

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.

- JONATHAN TUFO, Executive Director of Advancement

INDIVIDUALS

Anonymous • • • • • Noha and Sam Abboushi • •

Danielle Aceves-Dalal and Raj Dalal • Theresa Acosta and Blake Reemtsma • Beth and Hank Adamany • •

Hana Adams '18 • Danette Adams •

Adrienne and David Adelman •

Amy and Christopher Ainsworth •

Maureen and Chris Aitken • • Leah Albagli • Mitra Alikhani '18 • Roland Allen • Maala and David Allen •

Lora and Michael Allison • •

Pat and Charles Allison • Calla Allison • Kirsten Allmeroth '18 • Aline Fagundes and Arthur Almeida • Maria Mendoza Molina and Moises

Alvarez Garcia •

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 • •

Cynthia Anderson

• Jennifer Anderson-Hammond and Andrew Hammond •

Ingrid and Rick Andrews •

Stephanie and Jason Angelos •

Aneliya and Javaid Ansari •

• Yasmeen Antone '13 •

Patricia and Chris Appel •

Kelley and John Arena •

Jill Ann Arnold • •

John Arnold •

Jennifer and Scott Arundale

•

Carla and George Arzente •

Mozhgan Ashtari

Janice and Michael Avalone

•

Augustine Awadalla '26 •

Odette Bailey •

Kathryn Bailey '24

Mara Balak '03

•

•

Wendy and Tim Ballard • •

Nicki and Scott Barber • •

Katherine and Robert Barnes • •

Danielle and Gill Barnett • •

Coco and Bob Barnum •

Christina Batiz and Ari Canelos •

Maia and Chris Bauman • •

Brandy and Tommy Beadel • •

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

•

Karen Bennett

Pamela and Harold Bennett

•

Meghan and Nicholas Benson • •

Karla Kraft and Anderee Berengian •

•

Michelle Bernier

Jennifer and Brad Bertoglio

• •

Lauren Bertoglio •

GIVING LEGEND:

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

Carol and Mike Bertolino • • • •

Colleen and David Beshk • •

Rosie and Ronald Beshk •

Sarah and Shad Besikof • Geovanna Besikof •

Jamie Bewernitz and Jelle Brons • • • •

Rebekah and Vineer Bhansali • •

Jason Bi •

Austin Birch '13 •

Jennifer and Eric Blau • Erin Browne and Chris Bledsoe •

Reshma and Ryan Block • • Jennifer '87 and Lance Blount • •

Carol and Pierre Boldt • •

Brooke Ziccardi Boman and Chris Boman • •

Margaret and Joseph Boneno • 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 •

Masy and James Bunnell • • Julie and Robert Burch • • Elmira Burke • Kelly Burroughs • Joe Busch • Kristen and James Caggiano • • Kira Cahill '09 • Alanna and David Cajthaml • • Camille Caldera • Robert Canchola • Susan Canchola • • • Patty Canright • • Jade and Sean Cao • • • • Amabel and Michael Capelle • • • • Stephanie Capen • Cindy and Christopher Carbajal • Karen and Scott Carnahan • 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

• Linlin Che and Cheng Zhang

•

Michelle and Tom Chen •

•

Judy Chen

Celine Chen

Donna and Brian Chen

Ruth and Patrick Cruise •

Pam and Ken Cruse •

Jennifer and Joshua Cuda

•

Jen and Christian Cunningham •

Meredith and Glen Curran •

David Espinosa •

Kim Eudemiller • Taylor '06 and Brett Everhart •

Maureen and David Fancher • Tamara and Darren Fancher '89 • • •

• Ivy Chen and Cody He

Jaymie and Rory Cutaia •

•

•

Jessica Zhou and Mike Chen •

Jinhong Tian and Huairong Chen

Yuan Wang and Yang Chen

Connie Chen and John Shen •

Celine Song and Peter Chen

• Cici Chen and Johnny Yeung

• Carina Chen and Roger Lo

Tina Liu and Hao Chen •

Lisa Chen and Ping Gong

Claudia Chen and Damon Liang

•

Ying Chen and James Sun

Jing Wang and Zhen Chen

Yan Wang and Li Chen

Donghong Liu and Xuejian Chen

•

Will Chen

Elizabeth and Craig Cheney

• Emily Chin '13

•

Annie and Phillip Chin •

Lisa Cho and Wonjae Yoon

Annette Han and Ryan Choi

Jae and Hoon Choi

•

Alyssa Chong '18

Elis and Kenneth Chong

• Stephanie and Daveen Chopra •

•

Ran Li and Robert Chou

Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury

Ciaoli Jin and George Chu •

Meng-Chieh Tsai and Shan-Chi Chuang

Minyao Chen and Kevin Clampitt '89

•

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

• Carolina and Colin Cormac

•

Cherise and Victor Cota • • Rosanna and Tracy Coveyou •

Cheryl and Dennis Cragun

Christina and Patrick Crerar

•

Evan Daboub '13

Cheery Song and Richard Dai

Maggie Zhang and Charles Dai

Sherry Dai and Ki Lun Ng

•

Anne Dalfiume

Sonia Patel and Danny Dalton

Susan and Joshua D'Amaro •

Vanessa and David D'Amour •

Catherine and Dave Dandel

Gregory Danz '93

Shannon and Bret Davis

Peggy Day and Kip Knight •

Valerie Chen and Leo Day

Kristeen Day •

Timothy Day

Kari and Michael De Vries

Courtney and Richie DeBeikes

Cynthia and James DeBoard •

Nicole and Joe deBuzna

Gina and Philip deCarion

Semira Bayati and Peter DeCarlo

Jaime Del Rio '18 •

Ryan DeLucia

•

Luyao Wang and Da Deng •

Betsy and Charles Denham •

Chandler Desforges '13

Ashlie and Paul DeVincenzi

Liz and Ben Diachun •

Lori and David Djavaherian

Natalie and Peter Dolukhanov

Queenie Xiao and James Dong

Marcella and Chris Dornin

Katharine '00 and Ryan

Downey '98

Ellen McNutt Drey and Kristopher Drey '88 •

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

• •

•

•

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 •

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 • •

• •

Suad Elias-Atala and Francisco

Romo-Pardo • • •

Kelly and Gardner Ellner • •

Lindsay '00 and Rob Eres

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 • Catherine Gopaulsingh and Scott Friedman • Kimberly Fross • Pauline and Chris Frye • • • Angie Gao and Thomas Fu • • Huifeng Fu and Raymond Wang • Cindy Fu and Gary Zhang • • Nicole Fukuoka '09 • Marisa and Mike Gallegos • Nancy and Robert Ganem • • Bin Gao and Wenjiang Yang • • Chang and Chao Gao • • Jing Gao and Chaohua Song • • Yi Li and Neil Gao • • Kathryn Garcia '13 • Michelle and Rico Garcia • • • Aaron Garfinkle '18 • Karen and Scott Garner • Christopher Gaudreau '03 • • Lisa and Michael Gazzaniga • Laura and Azmin Ghahreman • Sarah Mathias and Bobby Ghandehari • Cristin and David Gianulias • Tuce Giblin •

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 • • Helena and Mathi Gurusamy • Tram and Tim Gustin • • • Ruby Gutierrez and Francisco Jaramillo • Gail and Ed Haft • Ellie Mahjubi and Bruce Haghighat • • Casey and Brandon Hagy • • • Elena and Armond Hairapetian • Candi Hall • Jessica Hallissey • Maryam and Bobby Hamidi • Ashley and Nicholas Hamilton • Keri and David Hammer • Hollyce Hammond • Rachel and Ali Hamzeh • Amy Han and Fei Li • Felice Han and Ken Hou • • Elizabeth Hanauer and Paul Pohoresky • Aaron Hancock • • Sarah Hancock • •

Miranda Wang and Kyle Hao • Jake Hardy • • Heather and Bryan Harney • • Kristina and Rupert Harper • Amy and Chet Harrison • • •

Anne and Mark Harrison

•

Howard Hart

Stephanie '86 and Geoff Harvey • 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 •

Vivian Huang and Eason Sun

Lara and Conor Hughes

Janis Hughes •

Laura Hunt Newman

Pat and Marc Hurlbut

Crystal and Robert Hutter

Michelle Ligao and Leon Huynh • •

Georgeann and John Iavarone

• Thierry and Jun Ihara

• Jill and Jarod Ikeda • Abigail and Jeremy Illenberger •

Nikki Imai

•

Lisa and Richard Isola

•

Mary and Kambiz Izadi • •

Georgina Jacobson and Kevin Clare • Shannon Jacquez • Tricia and Frank Jaksch

• •

Melissa and Stephen James •

Monica and Collie James •

Elizabeth and Paul Janczyk '04 •

Sunny Lim and Steve Jantzi •

Negar Javanmardi and Arsalan Liaghat • •

Amy Sun and Bing Ji •

Lijun Zhang and Changsong Jia •

Yongdie Jiang and Bin Xu •

Lin Yuan and Kai Jiang •

Serina Jiang and Jack Wang •

Yi Jin and Jianwen Yao

•

Serena Jin and Tianyi Zha •

Anneliese Johansson •

Polly Johnsen

•

Michele Johnson •

Monica and Thomas Johnson

Andrea and Steve Johnson

Lauren and Weston Johnson

Cynthia Johnson •

Veronica Johns-Richardson •

Jennifer Jung '13

•

Joy and David Justus • Zeljka Jutric

•

Katie and Rick Kalvoda •

Leo Kamgar '18 •

Eva and Michael Kammerer

Kai and Sinan Kanatsiz

Tina Huang and Wiliam Kang

Lisa Kao and Fergus MacDonald

Denise and Keith Karlsen

Anna and Christos Karmis

Kristine and Andy Ke

Ni Wen and Songping Ke

Jeffrey Keane •

Colin Kentros •

Gloria Kepiro •

Fatima and Ahad Khan

Lia and James Kieckhafer •

Angelica Botero and Roger Killer

Randa and Dean Kim '94

Julie and Anthony Kim

Katie and Jae Kim •

Kimberly Kim •

Linda Chung and Moses Kim

Kristen and Jay Kim •

Seungyun Ha and Jay Kim

Amanda and Brian Kim

Florence and Ed Kim

Yi Feng and Soyoung Kim •

Debbie Kim and Simon Lee

Carol and Brian Kim

Tenicka and Jay Kingsley •

•

Kristian Kiraly '09

Kimberli and Jordan Kitaen

Jess and Rob Klausner •

Afshan and Brian Kleinhanzl •

Christopher Knight '05 •

Jake Kofdarali '18 •

Kimberley and Ryan Korinke • • •

Ayaka and Amit Kothari •

Milena Pamukova and Daniel Kovachev • •

Joan and Harold Kraft •

Julia Kramer '18 •

Ivy and Ben Krysiak •

Nicole and Brad Kuhn • •

Jake Kuljis '18 •

Jaclyn and Brian Kurzawa • • •

Wendy and Paul Kushner • •

Sarah and Mark Kustera • • •

Joanne Liao Kuy and Devin Kuy • • •

Jane Park and Eric Kweon • • • •

Krissy and Virgil Kyle • •

Anthony LaFrano • Wendy LaFrano • Ben Lah •

Azadeh Lakani and Alireza Noorian •

Patricia and Bruce LaMotte • Steve Lampe • Amanda Salter and Carl Langfeldt • • •

Mia Souiyah and Sam Laraki • Maddi Larsen '13 • Gordon Larson '18 • Maxine '03 and Eric Laube • • •

Megan and Reginald Lavender • • • Georgina Lean '09 •

Alissa and Timothy Leason • • • •

Robin and JK Leason • Caroline Lechaux • Christian Lee '08 • •

Joyce and Andy Lee • • Alice Lee '18 •

Thuy and Jay Lee •

Annaka and Jefferson Lee • •

Betsy Lee •

Janet and Jimmy Lee •

Joanne and Jimmy Lee • •

Yifan Song and Shane Lee • •

Grace and James Leigh • •

Alexis Leon '13 •

Tami and Ryan Leshaw • • • •

Jaclyn and Stefan Lessard • •

Winnie Shiao and Allen Leung •

•

Jiaying Miao and Zhongqun Li • Fiona Li '34 • Qirui Song and Davis Li • •

Aileen Zhang and Qiang Li • Mingzhen Li and Yuan Shao • •

Winnie Wen and Benson Li • 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

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 • • •

Kimberly and Robert Lewis • Heather Lewis • Qingna Sun and Jun Li • • Yanchun and Xiangyang Li •

•

Zhaoxia Wu and Jieming Li • Jing Zhang and Shaohui Li •

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 • • • •

•

Shawn and Bill Lutz

Kristina and Gleb Lvovich • • Nguyetthanh Ly

•

Adriana and John Lyons

•

Xiaolin Wei and Feiyu Ma •

Sissy Ma and Will Zhu • •

Cindy Yue and Mark Ma

• Tessa and Dan Maas

• • • •

Angela and Lester Mackenzie • •

Darla and Andrew Magana • Mojgan Mahdiani and Mohammad Sheikholeslami •

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

Julie and Jens Meggers •

Shabnam and Steven Mehr '94 •

Patricia Mejia and Ramon Morales •

•

Katie Melkonian

Dana and John Melsom • •

•

Lisa Mers

Erin and Eric Mertlbauer •

•

Adrienne and Karl Metz

Kristen and Brian Miazga

Naomi and Elliott Micha

•

Vicki Micha

Melissa Ysasaga and Steven Michels •

•

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

Grace Ni and Faqiang Sheng

Stacey Nicholas

Anda Nicolae and Costin Peiu

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

•

Tina and Bryan Oh •

Ryan O'Kane • •

Patricia and Kevin O'Leary •

Kathryn and Spencer Olsen • •

Lisa and Terry O'Neil •

Liz and Dan O'Shea • • •

Vicki and Tom Otterbein • • • •

Rian and Andrew Otto •

Geoffrey Overstreet • •

Holly and Eric Oxford •

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

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 • •

• Alison Meany '18

•

James and Rebecca Ocean •

Megan and Brendan O'Farrell •

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 • Angela and Steven Peykoff • Susan and Larry Phillips • Morgan Barrows and Anthony Pichardo • • • 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 • Luce and Ade Proctor • • Catherine Mariani-Pupil and Martin Pupil •

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 • Brittany Rovell and Ryan Rovell • Rachel Roy '18 • Wrenna Rubio • 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 • Emily Mehr Salehi and Mohsen Salehi • • Julie and Nader Salib • •

Brendon '06 and Mykaela Salisbury •

Alyssa and Paul Sandoval • Michelle and Matthew Sant • •

•

Olivia Santora '13

Cheri and Peter Santora • • • • •

May and Steven Sapra • •

Amanda and Michael Saunders • •

Shawna and Chris Schaffner • Allison Schauppner • •

Lisa Byer-Scheel and Norman Scheel • Janet Keller and Bernard Schneider • • Stephanie Schriver • Meredith and Stephen Schumacher • Elliott Schwartz '13 •

Sheri and Werhner Scott • •

Delphi and Robert Sech • Paige Selby '08

• Jennifer Sele • •

Maria and John Soto •

Tanya and Timothy Spangler •

David Sparks '13 •

Thomas Spellmire •

Connie and Peter Spenuzza •

Loreal and Jay-Paul Spenuzza '03 •

Lindsey and David Spindle •

•

Anza Spinelli

Elizabeth Spring and Paolo Benzan

•

Jessica and Robert Springer •

Matthew Denerstein and Michele St John •

Bonni and Dave Stachowiak •

•

Cathy and Rick Stahl

•

Masami Stahr

Jesse Standlea

•

Jessica and Nathan Stanley

Desiree Staples '09 •

Heidi and Cameron Steele •

Ian Thomas '09 •

Megan and Mark Thomas • • •

Vanessa and Clint Thompson •

Michelle and Matthew Tingler • •

Melody and Aaron Titus • • •

Logan Tomaselli '18 •

David Tomlinson '95 •

Lori and John Tomlinson • • •

Alana Torgelson • Andrew Torok '13 •

Jessica and Elisha Torrance •

Laura and Eric Toubin • •

Irma and Tony Trikas • •

Ying Zhang and Steven Tsui • •

Rebecca and Jonathan Tufo • • •

Gloria and Matthew Turnbull • •

Luling and Yao Wang • • •

Stacy and Scott Seminoff • Figen and Bernard Sen

Anastassia and Brendan Steele

• •

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

• Christine Shook • 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 • •

Matthew Soto '18

•

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

Liang Zhao and Jun Sun

Akiko and Glen Sutton •

Alex Swanson •

Megan Sweeney '13 •

Penny Tacquard

•

Heather Lee-Tam and Jack Tam •

Alexandra Tanner '13 •

Jason Tapie • •

Sharon and Mel Taylor

•

Kristina '05 and Michael Taylor •

Kristi and Thomas Taylor •

HT Teo and Boon Yong •

Jennifer and Ty Thaiyananthan •

Nancy and Paul Thede • • • •

Ashley and William Tyus • Jinhy Yoon and John Tze • • Beth and Scott Ullem • • • Flor and Daniel Uribe • Georgia and George Valaskantjis • • • GG Valaskantjis '31 • • • Rosario Valdez • Ashley and Brad Vanar • • • Vasi Vangelos • • Neeta and Jeff Vargo • Briana and James Vartanian • Socorro and Ernesto Vasquez • Edgar Vazquez • Meredith Vazquez • Irene and Chris Veitch • Emily Venable '13 • Bryce Victor '18 • Annie Wang and Michael Villa • Ricardo Villagomez • • Bryant Villamil '18 • Galina and Vitaly Vishnevski • Alexandra and Kostas Vitakis • Tobi and Conan Vitale • • Sophy Vollaro • Stacey and Irwin von Winckelmann • Shivani Maheshwari and Hemant Wadhwa • Sherry and John Wagener • Kirstie and William Wagner • Christina and Andrew Wainwright • • Alexander Waller '13 • Kristin and Michael Walseth • • Liyong Wang • • • Yali Liu and Mike Wang • • Jack Wang • • Hongyu Ji and Huanjie Wang • • Shuang He and Nick Wang •

Amy Zhang and Ken Wang • • Lili Wang and Wei Zhang • Rui Wang and Futao Yue • Tina Wang and Leo Yang • Xina Guo and Guang Wang • • Vivian Zang and Ligo Wang • • Chole Wei and Lu Wang • Liangjie Zhang and Ruiyuan Wang • • • Sophia Wang and Haifeng Wu • Lin Zhang and Yibo Wang • Yan Zhang and Gaolong Wang • Na and Bo Wang • Ashlee and Lei Wang • • Sophie Zhang and Mosbach Wang • Ying-Chih Wang • Summer Wang and Leo Zhang • • John Warden • • Christian Warner • • •

Margaret and Mark Warren • •

Amy Warren and Patricia Merz • Mary and Marty Wattenberg • • Katherine Wechsler '13 • Alexandra and Kent Weed • Julie and James Weidner •

Joanna and Liam Weiner • •

Jennifer and Karl Weingarten • Joanna and Jason Weiss • Keith Wellen • • Haley Welsome • John Welsome • •

Rong Wang and Wenbiao Weng • • Tracy Wesselman • Lisa and Justin West • • • Jan and John West • •

Kia and Paul Westhead • • • Harrison White '13 •

Shelley and Rick White • • •

Heather and Mark Whitehead • James Whiting '18 •

Manuela Vazquez and John Whitledge • • •

Molly and Barry Wilson • Staciana Winfield • •

Helen and Eli Winkler • •

Lynsey and Matt Winters • • John Wise • •

Dana and Jay Wohlgemuth • • • • Lila Wohlgemuth '26 •

Amy and Stephen Wolcott • • • • Andrew Wood '03 • •

Lauren and Ryan Wood • Wendy Wu and Julien Zhang •

Lily Yu and Jeff Xie •

Yijin Zhang and Wei Xie • Grace Yang and Clint Xu • Yanli and Jian Xu

• May Xue and David Zheng

Jennifer and Naveen Yalamanchi

Brittaney and Harish Yalamanchili

Annie and Roger Yang

Jennifer Strickland and Shawn Yang

Man Huang and Hao Yang •

Jessie Zhu and Jack Yao

Jennifer Lee and Grant Yasui •

Mona and Amir Yazdanshenas

Shirley Xu and Jimmy Ye

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

Tingting Zhang and Jason Zhai

Dan Yang and Jing Zhang • Zhen Xu and Qingxin Zhang

Ning Wu and Jinlong 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 & ORGANIZATIONS

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

AR Academics •

Art for Kids OC •

Aston Martin Newport Beach

•

Balboa Bay Resort •

•

BallPark Pizza

Barclay Butera Inc.

•

Basanti Indian Cuisine •

Blue Sky • •

Boxhaus Newport Beach •

Breakthrough Collaborative •

Broadcom Foundation •

Burch Family Foundation •

Cantor's Driving School •

Capital Group Cos. Charitable

Foundation

Celestial Skin Care Studio •

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. •

Chatow Law • • •

Ciao Pasta Trattoria •

Citation Capital Partners, Inc • •

City Ballet of San Diego •

Coastal Kitchen •

Common Thread •

David Yurman •

Deloitte •

Disneyland Resort •

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation

Employee MG Program • • •

Emerald Cove Camp •

Farmers & Merchants Bank •

Fidelity Charitable • •

Fitness International, LLC • Givenchy •

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching

Gift Program • •

goop Kitchen •

Graves Construction • •

•

Hotel Paseo

Hyundai Motor America • Inn at the Mission • Irvine Lanes •

JAL Metal Inc. •

Jewish Community Foundation San Diego •

JPMorgan Chase •

KD Development, Inc. • La Prairie •

Layered by Paige Elise •

Lemon Bay Tours •

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 •

Max Mara South Coast Plaza • Mazda North American Operations • McDowell School • Modern Elite Transportation • Moderna, Inc. • Monarch Real Estate • • Montage Healdsburg • Montage Laguna Beach • MOYNAT South Coast Plaza • Neiman Marcus • New York Life Foundation • NGY Group, Inc. • Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program at the Chicago Comm • OC Sheriff Department • Ojai Valley Inn • Okta, Inc. • Orange County Community Foundation • • Orange County's United Way • • Pacific Pearl Catering Co. • Panamelly Inc • Pendry San Diego • PILECO, Inc. • • Prada USA Corp • Qian Capital Inc. • Qualcomm, Inc. • Resort at Pelican Hill • River Jetty Restaurant Group • Rocco's Restaurant • Roger Dunn Golf Hawaii • • saltfineart • Samueli Foundation • • Schwab Charitable Fund • • • • Semira Bayati MD APC • Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation • • Simplifi EDU • South Coast Plaza • Sun Family Foundation • Sunwest Bank • • The Andi Collins Foundation • The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation • The Crean Foundation • The Ecology Center • The Golfer's Journal • • The Marion W. Minton & Walter J. Minton Foundation, Inc. • • 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 •

The Wilford Foundation • TK Burgers • Tom's 27 • • Tom's Chino • • Traveler's Choice • • Van Cleef & Arpels • Vanguard • Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program • • VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort and Spa • Veronica Beard • Vista Equity Partners • W.H. Engineering Group • • • Wear Iris Jewelry • Wells Fargo Community Support Wells Fargo Foundation Matching Gifts Program • Wendi's Donuts • Xclusive Taqueria Moderna • Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp •

** 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.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2752

Tartan Traditions…

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.