The Cardinal Magazine 2017 Edition

THE CARDINAL A S T. J O H N ’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E

2017 EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE CARDINAL MAGAZINE Editorial Committee Monika Matuszak

A Message from the Head of School......................................... 1

Director of Communications

Jennifer Miramontes

My First STEAM Day........................................................................ 2

Director of Advancement

A Special Tribute to Fr. John........................................................6

Advancement Coordinator

Meet Our New Vicar......................................................................... 7

Church Administrator

St. John’s Cardinals Score............................................................. 8

Gwen Croce

Cynthia Drennan

Contributing Writers

Creator of Robodoc Visits St. John’s.......................................21

Monica Barnum Gwen Croce Cynthia Drennan Connie Girolamo James Jordan Monika Matuszak Jennifer Miramontes Patti Peebles Stephanie Peters Yvonne Priore Catherine Sjostedt Patty Stoecker Shannon Wernemar Bryan Winn Melissa Zakhar

Curing the Stigma...........................................................................22

Photography

Cardinella is Community.............................................................. 10 A New Age Library..........................................................................12 A Fresh, New Look for the Middle Division.......................... 14 Inside the Johnson STEAM Center...........................................16 Leading the Makers.........................................................................18 Going Above and Beyond the Textbook................................19 The 22nd Mission Project............................................................ 20

Dream Big, Work Hard..................................................................24 Cardinal Fund Recognition........................................................ 26 Inspiring Investment .....................................................................28 The Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field................................ 30 New Faculty and Staff....................................................................31 The Class of 2017.............................................................................32 Save the Date....................................................................................33

B. Keene Photography Monika Matuszak

Design and Print One Step Services

The Cardinal magazine is published by the Office of Advancement.

We welcome your feedback. Please address any questions and comments to Director of Communications, Monika Matuszak at mmatuszak@stjohns-es.org.

St. John’s Episcopal School

30382 Via Con Dios Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 (949) 858-5144 www.stjohns-es.org

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Friends, This volume of The Cardinal perfectly captures the exciting time that we are experiencing in the life of the School. We have just completed a year marked by signal achievements, and we are looking forward to a landmark year.

We opened the year having experienced enrollment growth and continued to add students throughout the year. Our parents demonstrated their appreciation and commitment to the School by helping to exceed every philanthropy goal. This generosity will enable the School to continue to innovate and enhance our STEAM program. Through the parent gift at Cardinella, we will be able to add a production studio that will benefit all three divisions.

The School’s reputation for excellence and innovation grew throughout the year, as we were recognized by the OC Tech Alliance and became a consulting school to our peers who were seeking advice on how to implement a STEAM approach to teaching and learning. Our local reputation will expand nationally this fall.

I am proud that St. John’s will be featured in a national Planet TV telecast as one of the most innovative schools in the country. We will keep you informed about this exciting feature when we learn the release date.

In this volume, you will also learn about exciting enhancements to our Middle Division program, which will enable the School to fulfill its mission at an even higher level. From new electives, to an advisory program, to our life-long fitness approach to Physical Education, our Middle Division students can look forward to new possibilities.

When our students return in the fall, they will see a new state of the art turf field, which will honor the memory of alumnus Konrad A. Reuland. I am grateful to all who have contributed to this project that will benefit every St. John’s student.

Finally, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Fr. John, as he embarks on his new role as Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Fr. Christopher Potter has been assigned as our new Vicar and I ask that you help me in welcoming him to St. John’s.

Every great school must regularly renew itself. I am proud of all that our School has accomplished, and I look to the promise of our future.

Sincerely,

Michael Pratt Head of School

The Cardinal 2017

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MY FIRST STEAM DAY

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Friday, March 24, 2017 was a truly inspiring day for me as I experienced STEAM Day for the very first time.

Different from many schools’ traditional science fair, more integrated than a single classroom project, St. John’s fourth annual STEAM Day was a sight to behold.

-James Jordan Middle Division Principal

MY FIRST STEAM DAY

BY JAMES JORDAN Friday, March 24, 2017 was a truly inspiring day for me as I experienced STEAM Day for the very first time. Different from many schools’ traditional science fair, more integrated than a single classroom project, St. John’s fourth annual STEAM Day was a sight to behold. With over 400 students engaged in various stages of building in the Gym, testing on the Field, collaborating in the Multipurpose Room, and redesigning in our brand-new Johnson STEAM Center, I have never seen anything quite like it.

Teachers, administrators, parents, and even visitors from other schools remarked on the incredible learning experience that was unfolding before their eyes. To sum it up, one teacher said that what started as a singular event, has now evolved into something transformational. She continued, “The mindset has changed; we no longer have STEAM in a box; STEAM is an everyday occurrence at St. John’s.”

I agree, STEAM is certainly out of the box at St. John’s, as I witnessed engaged students focusing on the process rather than the product. I watched in awe as students took risks, failed, redesigned, and rebuilt their structures, contraptions, and devices. I saw students collaborating on different approaches, seeing in action the wisdom of the group. And, best of all, I did not see any adults taking charge of the learning process. Teachers were there to facilitate, parents were there to watch.

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So, why have I chosen STEAM Day as the vehicle to reflect upon my first year at St. John’s? Well, the research supports an integrated, collaborative, hands-on, and multi-dimensional approach to teaching and learning. STEAM in general and STEAM Day in particular are illustrative of the types of innovation and best practices that we need in schools now. In the book, Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era , Wagner and Dintersmith discuss the shifting importance of facts and competencies.

Before the Internet became ubiquitous, it made sense for schools to teach kids “just the facts.” However, in today’s world—let alone what the world of tomorrow will look like—there is no longer a competitive advantage in simply knowing more than the person next to you. Knowledge has become available to anybody with access to an Internet-connected device. Now it is more valuable what one does with the abundance of information at hand.

Albert Einstein once said “the formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution,” a view shared by Gary Johnson, President of the Surgical Group at Applied Medical, at St. John’s STEAM Panel event held earlier in the year. Furthermore, as world-renowned Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck teaches us, the learning process is now being understood as a mindset, not as intelligence. Researchers who study this suggest that at a young age we develop either a fixed or a growth mindset about the origins of our ability and success. Those who develop a fixed mindset accept the premise that we are born either smart or not smart, either able or not able. By contrast, people who develop a growth mindset operate from a fundamentally different perspective.

These individuals believe that although genetics might frame a starting point in our development, it’s really one’s determination and persistence that predicts success. In other words, a child’s effort and attitude towards learning will determine his or her success.

The notion put forth by Dweck and her colleagues in the book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, is further supported by the latest advances in neuroscience, specifically regarding the concept of neuroplasticity (i.e., how the brain can grow itself through experiences).

“[the project] truly helps us recognize the different gifts and talents in our students that would not necessarily come out in a standard classroom. Plus, it is a great time watching the students launch their rockets and see their success.” Next year’s STEAM Day may see increased collaboration with local high schools, particularly in the area of sharing feedback on what was learned and why decisions were made.

Put simply, when we learn, it causes growth of brain cells. Although most of the neurons where information is stored are present at birth, there is lifelong growth of the supporting and connecting cells that enrich the communication between neurons – these are called dendrites.

Dendrites increase in size and number in response to learned skills, experiences, and information. New dendrites grow as branches from frequently activated neurons fire. The more ways that something is learned, the more memory pathways are built. Likewise, if we do not use the information that we have, the brain will prune those pathways. In short, you’ve got to use it or you lose it. This is STEAM education! What we now know is that hands-on, experiential, multi-sensory learning activities don’t just help in the retention of knowledge, but they actually make learning more enjoyable and change our brains!

an enclosed pig pen with a working gate.

Students first read the book Charlotte’s Web in class. Following this English Language Arts hook, student groups prepared for the STEAM build by using classroom iPads to conduct research and then design a blueprint. Utilizing only basic supplies they then built their structures and reflected on their results as teams.

In the Middle Division, 8th graders built rockets in the unit of study entitled “blastoff.” This build has evolved over the last three years to become an allencompassing project wherein students build a rocket out of a soda bottle, test it, and then redesign/rebuild, and retest it. Teachers say they are proud to incorporate a variety of their academic subjects into the project, and they have enjoyed watching students work collaboratively in mixed groups.

One teacher reflected that

And what did the kids think about STEAM Day? One Elementary Division student gushed, “It was simply amazing. It inspires me to build things in real life. I want to be a game maker when I grow up and doing projects like our STEAM build inspires me to make and create.” This is precisely what we are trying to accomplish.

For the majority of us, school has always been dictated to us, something we consume, rather than something we cocreate. We are now entering a phase in our development as a species that doesn’t just encourage us to create student-driven and centered learning environments; we must create such learning environments for our very survival. A focus on critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration are part of what we do at our School every day. STEAM Day is simply a great way to showcase this unique learning process, and I am excited to be part of the future of education at St. John’s.

So, how did our STEAM Day encapsulate the latest brain research and what works best in education? Let’s take a deeper look into what students in each division actually did: In the Early Childhood Division, Preschool students learned to fly a kite as part of their unit of study on wind. Children were able to use the scientific method as they tested the hypothesis of how wind would affect the three different types of kites they built, and then they analyzed the results based on their successes and failures.

In the Elementary Division, 3rd grade students were tasked to create The Cardinal 2017

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A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO FR. JOHN

BY PATTI PEEBLES AND CINDY DRENNAN The door to the Church Office opens. We hear, “It is I.” And Fr. John enters. He says this because we can’t always see him from our offices and this way we don’t need to call out “hello?” He’s thoughtful that way.

For the past twelve and a half years we’ve worked with Fr. John, our daily work lives have been filled with these “Taylorisms” and so many others. In addition to “Taylorisms” our workdays were filled with music (him on the guitar), singing (him again), laughing, and telling great stories, all amidst the daily duties of our church and school work.

Whether Fr. John was figuring out a budget issue or counseling a newly engaged couple, there was always conversation, he always wanted to know more about the issue, the people. No detail was ever too small for an inquiry from Fr. John. He likes getting to know people, likes their stories.

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“Fr. John is a part of the fabric of our lives, a part of the brick and mortar of this place.”

What will we miss the most about having Fr. John around every day? The way he used those stories to create literally the Best. Sermons. Ever. Fr. John is probably the most engaging speaker we’ve ever encountered. A meeting or gathering needs an opening prayer? He’s got that covered. Your Boy Scout Court of Honor or graduation service needs a closing prayer? Count on Fr. John to weave together an incredible prayer that incorporates aspects from every speaker on the docket. A Celebration of Life service with Fr. John as the homilist always leaves loved ones comforted and guests filled with fond remembrances and hearts a little less heavy.

What will St. John’s social media miss? Fr. John’s “Oh, oh… I’ve gotta take a picture of that.” If you’re friends with him on Facebook -- and who isn’t -- you know how fast he is with the cell phone picture.

What will the kids miss? Fr. John made the altar accessible to all children, made it seem less fussy and more fun. We learned to have pure hearts and be less concerned with perfection. We were reminded it’s okay to make a mistake, to do things out of order. And the kids will miss all the corny lyrics he would write to Lady Gaga tunes and teach it to them in Chapel.

Fr. John is a part of the fabric of our lives, a part of the brick and mortar of this place. He’s our friend. And the. . .

Best. Boss. Ever.

MEET OUR NEW VICAR

BY MONIKA MATUSZAK

St. John’s is delighted to welcome our new Vicar, the Rev. Christopher Potter.

Excited to be joining St. John’s, he shares a little about his life and what he looks forward to accomplishing through his ministry.

How did you hear about St. John’s?

My first conscious awareness of St. John’s came out of the relationship with my colleague, Fr. John. I had only looked at the website and heard from Fr. John about the Church and School.

My first trip to this beautiful campus only came last year when I participated in a training for HR personnel for the Diocese. I was immediately struck by the serenity of the place and the energy that exists here – even apart from the excitement of the students!

What did you do prior to St. John’s?

Immediately before taking the position as Vicar of St. John’s, I was the Priest in Charge at The Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Placentia, CA for three and a half years. Before that, I was an assisting priest in Whittier and in Buena Park. Prior to this ministry, I was the director of a residential treatment program for children with disabilities who were in physical or psychiatric crisis for nearly 15 years. A few other jobs preceded that one, but I have been most proud of my association with those agencies and companies who advocate for people’s full inclusion in society – especially those with disabilities.

What are your hobbies?

Though I’m on a temporary hiatus due to injury, I am an avid bicycle rider. I usually ride 20 miles per day on local trails. I hope to pick this up again very soon. Secondly, I am also a motorcycle rider. Begun as a child and continued as a choice for commuting, I love the feelings that come with feeling the wind on me, smelling the smells around, and getting to my destination with much less stress. (DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend motorcycle riding for the faint of heart. The risks are enormous. I have made the decision at this time to accept these risks, but they are never out of my thoughts!)

What do you hope to accomplish at St. John’s?

My greatest hope is to entice people to come with us as we explore what it is God wants for and from us. This community is strong in faith and in its commitment to the Gospel and to quality education.

When God brings new people to us – either to the Church or to the School – I hope to be able to nurture the seed of faith and of love in them that God has planted. I hope to welcome them into a ‘family’ who will stand with them and by them as they share in greater measure in the joys of being a part of St. John’s.

What else should we know about you?

I am a single dad who lives with my daughter and with my sister.

My daughter’s mother, who lives in Riverside, loves and cares for Lauren deeply. Together, they are an unstoppable force in the wars against bullying and exclusion. Lauren is my greatest teacher and a constant source of spiritual enlightenment. Though she is identified as having a disability, her great insights and beautiful nature leave me wondering whether her disability actually exists.

I treasure the quietness and richness of early mornings. I am usually awake about 4:00 each morning and spend time in quiet prayer and meditation to strengthen my soul. (Another great thing about early morning is that coffee NEVER TASTES BETTER than it does at that hour!)

I am a self-taught IT nerd. I have had, in a previous workplace, the responsibility of keeping over 35 networked computers running smoothly and of answering the calls from friends and family alike.

What I really like is when I get calls from a family member who hasn’t called me in months and they start with, “I know how much you love computers…” I love reminding them that I love them, TOO! And this one is really weird… I read my Facebook feed only once a day!

What are you looking forward to most working at St. John’s?

I look forward most to being part of a family that prays and learns together. I love doing the activity of the Gospel (feeding the hungry, welcoming the marginalized, caring for the poor, bringing justice and mercy to all) with people who ‘get it’ and who love the opportunities to get together. My commitment to Episcopal education runs deep. I believe that what St. John’s offers is different than other private schools because we appreciate the value of risk, of letting children explore in new ways

The Cardinal 2017

and of nurturing children who grow up to be leaders and lovers of God’s world.

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ST. JOHN’S CARDINALS SCORE

BY BRYAN WINN

Our Cardinals had a successful year with many wins, new records, and championship titles. From our Girls “B” Volleyball Team finishing as undefeated, league champions to our Boys “A” Basketball Team taking home four championships, 2016-2017 was an outstanding year for the Cardinals.

2016-2017 ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS BOYS “A” BASKETBALL TEAM:

BOYS “B” BASKETBALL TEAM:

• Winner of the Mountain League Championship

• Undefeated Record and a Canyon Championship

• Mater Dei and St. John’s Episcopal Tournament Championship

GIRLS “B” VOLLEYBALL:

• 10th Year Parochial Athletic League County Championship in School History

• Undefeated League Champions

• “Most Valuable Player” honors went to Nick Davidson and Connor Dunn

COED “A” SOCCER:

• “Defensive Player of the Year” was awarded to Arnav Pagidyala

• Seventh and 8th Grade Students Reached Semi-Finals

• The “Coaches Award” went to Carson LeSage • “Most Inspirational” plaque was awarded to Nemo Chen

In addition to our successes this year, we are proud to announce that in September 2017, St. John’s will debut a new state-of-the-art turf athletics field which will further support the athletics program and physical education curriculum enjoyed by our students. This field will be named the Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field in memoriam of St. John’s alumnus and former National Football League player, Konrad Reuland who passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2016 of a brain aneurysm. Please see the Konrad A. Reuland Memoriam piece on page 30 to hear about this compassionate man’s life.

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• “Most Valuable Player” honors to Carter Aase and Robin Zhang • “Coach’s Award” recipients were Steven Peters and Maddy Mangano; • Harry Zhang earned the “Most Improved Player” plaque

This fall, St. John’s will also install a new par course providing exercise stations to complement a fitness track around the field. A par course, or fitness trail, is a set of outdoor exercise equipment with stations promoting good health and fitness. This par course will be available to students during physical education classes and recess. Use of the par course will be incorporated into a redesigned physical education program around the model of lifetime fitness. Students in Middle Division will have the opportunity to participate in a new Yoga program or they may choose to stay fit using our new par course.

Students in 5th through 8th Grade who would like to participate in after-school sports will be participating in their chosen after-school sport during their physical education class (classes meet twice per week). This will be a great way for teams to begin practice early and allows students extra time in the afternoon to finish homework and for family and outside-of-school activities.

St. John’s is excited to incorporate these new offerings into our physical education curriculum while continuing

the growth of the athletics program. We are proud of our scholar athletes, who have found success on the court, the field, and the track, while finding new ways to boost Cardinal spirit! One of the popular changes this year was our all-school student-led pep rallies. Nearly all St. John’s students were introduced to each athlete and some even took part in fun activities involving peers and faculty and staff. This new tradition will continue next year, encouraging the efforts of our athletes and celebrating our soaring Cardinal Spirit.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR This award has been given annually, since 1992, to the outstanding Middle Division student-athletes, male and female, for the academic year. Eligible athletes must compete in at least three sports per year and display outstanding sportsmanship, exemplary character, dedication, and athletic achievement.

2016-2017 MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: CONNOR DUNN- 8th grade

2016-2017 FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: The Cardinal 2017

OLIVIA HAHN- 6th grade

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CARDINELLA IS COMMUNITY

BY STEPHANIE PETERS, CARDINELLA 2017 CHAIR, AND TEAM CARDINELLA

We are so proud of the fantastic year that Cardinella 2017 - STEAM into the Future had due to the overwhelming support of our amazing St. John’s community. Cardinella is a great example of our parents, teachers, staff, and community partners working together to raise money to make our great school even better. With so many successful events to support the Cardinella efforts led by our talented Team Cardinella, from the fun ugly sweater themed Deck the Wine Wall party, to the first ever Kids’ Cardinella displaying the amazing class baskets and teacher experiences during a festive day of activities, to the beautiful

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videos produced by Mopro, to Cardinella itself, we were thrilled to beat our goals and raise over $355,000 in total revenue.

At Cardinella in March, the community came out in force to celebrate St. John’s at high-tech AV Irvine. We all had a fantastic time while raising funds with a fun night of outstanding silent and live auctions which were a huge hit, the popular wine wall, a Hotel Del Champagne opportunity drawing, dinner, dancing to The Lucky Devils Band, and a heartfelt tribute to our beloved Fr. John for his 12 years of service.

Your efforts in supporting Cardinella are tangible and will impact St. John’s for years to come, starting this fall. Not only did our community raise general funds to enhance technology in the classroom and enable other St. John’s initiatives, but we exceeded our goals for specific gifts. The 2017 parent gift will support the development of an on-campus production studio which will be

The Cardinal 2017

available to our students as part of the curriculum and also as a club. The 100-yard dash gift will support par course fitness stations that will be adjacent to the new sports field and integrated into the PE program. We can’t wait to see you next year at Cardinella, which is sure to be a can’t miss event!

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A NEW AGE LIBRARY

BY SHANNON WERNEMAR

School libraries are experiencing a paradigm shift. They

As an independent STEAM school, St. John’s is uniquely

are no longer predominantly quiet spaces where books

positioned to capitalize on current library trends,

are the primary focus. Libraries are transforming into

which embrace our innovative culture. We have the

colorful, open, airy, communal work environments that

opportunity to create a 21st Century Library Commons

stimulate creative thinking, engage tactile learning,

which cultivates and enhances our children’s love of

and facilitate entry to the infinite world of digital

reading, enriches classroom curriculum, supports

research and reading. Classroom functionality within

STEAM, and serves as a technology hub for electronic

the library is commonplace. Technology is no longer

and digital media resources. Many schools nationally

viewed as an accessory or support, rather, it is integral

have adopted the Library Commons approach. As a

in accessing online research and electronic media. The

leader in differentiated education, we too, have begun

curation of digital resources is equal in importance to

the process of transforming our Library.

the development of the print collection. Librarians have a responsibility to educate children on the research and citation process both traditionally and digitally.

Preparation for high school is critical to teach learners/ students how to research effectively and cite a variety of sources appropriately.

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Most recently, we have created a robust and differentiated digital Library Commons through our detailed Cardinal Guides online resource. A team of dedicated library professionals rigorously vetted and curated thousands of educational websites and digital resources. We have purchased and expanded

our collection of online databases and e-books. These

Library will offer cozy and inviting reading nooks for all

resources are integrated into an online library platform

ages, a fun story area for our younger students, hip and

that enables children, educators, and parents to access

cool collaborative work stations for the older grades,

educational material by grade and subject matter. Video

instructional classroom space, a production green

tutorials, research guidelines, virtual makerspaces,

room, as well as a quiet room for independent study

e-books, and interactive sourcing tools enhance

or small group work. Cardinal Guides will continue to

the digital learning experience to best prepare our

be enhanced to offer the most relevant platform of

children for online educational success. Recognizing

e-books, digital assets, and curated annotated links

that integrated into everything we do at St. John’s is

organized by age and subject in a variety of languages.

our focus on ethics and social responsibility, we use

Maker kits tied to children’s literature will be developed

Common Sense Education curriculum to teach digital

to provide creative and tactile stimulation to younger

literacy and citizenship and prepare our students to use

children through kits and manipulatives. Technology

technology safely, effectively and responsibly.

will be used thoughtfully to embrace globalization,

Supporting St. John’s on its Library Commons transformation is an incredible team of parent volunteers, affectionately known on campus as the Library Task Force. Since the fall of 2015, in addition to creating Cardinal Guides, the Library Task Force, who work hand-in-hand with our esteemed School Librarian, have weeded out over 6,000 books, refreshed the appearance of the library, improved the collection

support our International students, and expose our children creatively to the global community. Seamless access to reliable and secure hardware with appropriate speed and durability to meet faculty and student needs will be assured. Finally, we will continue to redesign and refresh curriculum for 5th-8th grade students to reengage students and provide relevant and necessary library skills for high school.

of Middle Division titles, developed an ongoing weeding and shelving maintenance schedule, spearheaded fundraising campaigns, supported book fairs, and, most importantly, created a community of people dedicated to our School, our children, and our Library.

The Library is also a welcoming place for parent volunteers and is the only

“Our shift to a Library Commons is exciting and timely.

It accentuates the critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration inherent in our STEAM approach to learning.”

- Catherine Sjostedt, St. John’s Librarian

place on campus that parents are invited to help during their children’s class time. We

At St. John’s, we are passionate about independent

have two parent volunteers for each Kindergarten

education. We are passionate about STEAM. We are

through 2nd grade class that work with our Librarian

passionate about best preparing our children for the

to assist children with book selection and circulation.

future. Embarking on our Library Commons initiative

The next step in creating our Library Commons is to design and build a new physical library space that allows for interaction, collaboration, and study for the Early Childhood Division through 8th Grade. The new

The Cardinal 2017

allows us to balance tradition and innovation while working alongside our educators to provide the very best educational experience to our students supported by the unwavering dedication of our parents. We are excited to share our journey with you.

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A FRESH, NEW LOOK FOR THE MIDDLE DIVISION

BY JAMES JORDAN All excellent schools routinely review their programs, and so in an effort to continuously improve, we are proud to share the following exciting changes for next year.

New Schedule – First period now begins at 8:00 a.m.,

Advanced Electives – Advanced electives are now

all periods are 45 minutes, and all academic classes are fully rotating and will be taught before lunch. There will be a consistent lunchtime of 12:30 – 1:10 p.m. (with the exception of Thursdays: 12:45-1:25 p.m.). The afternoon blocks will be reserved for our enrichment, elective, and PE/Sports options. Science will now meet daily, and there will be an advisory period/program which will meet each day after lunch. On Thursdays, there will be an extended advisory period, which will allow us to hold class meetings, host speakers, incorporate our Drug Awareness and Health programs, and, of course, time for pep rallies without needing to create a new schedule for the day.

available to all students in grades 6-8. The following electives will meet three times per week for a trimester: Advanced Drawing, Farm to Table Gardening, Introduction to Programming, World Drumming, Passion Projects, Poetry Jam, and TV Production. The goal of these electives is to provide increased exposure to different types of activities beyond the regular curriculum. Makers/Robotics and Yearbook are advanced electives that will meet three times per week for the year. Students indicated their preferences on a course request form at the end of the last school year; priority will be given to students based on seniority (e.g., an 8th grader will have priority over a 7th grader).

Advisory Program – Our new advisory program’s mission statement is as follows: “The St. John’s Middle Division Advisory Program is designed to foster connectedness between students, faculty, and families. Each advisor serves as the primary advocate for his or her advisees through regular small group meetings that promote community and allow for open communication. Building on the close personal attention that our students already receive, advisors will provide an additional level of support to nurture their advisees’ academic, social, and emotional progress during the school year.” In short, advisors will serve as an “academic parent” at school; there will be daily meetings, and advisory assignments will be set up by gender at random by the principal. Advisors at each grade level will meet weekly to discuss how to best support students.

Sports/PE – Sports practices are now part of the school day! Students will practice with their teams two times per week and compete in afterschool games. For students who take PE (held at the same time as team sports), it will be rebranded as a life fitness curriculum (with both studio and cardio-based options).

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Clubs – The following clubs will meet twice weekly for a trimester: Book Club, Broadway Bound, Drawing Club, Robotics Club, Speech and Debate, and TV Production.

The goal of these clubs is to provide some exposure to different types of activities beyond the regular curriculum.

The following clubs require a separate application process and are yearlong: Octothorpes (Math club), Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL), and Student Council.

Field Studies Week – In order to minimize disruption to teacher and student schedules, all overnight trips will take place during the week of October 23. The Middle Division regular schedule will resume on Monday, October 30.

Performing Arts Elective Expansion Now students will be able to participate in Band, Choir, Dance, or Drama for their performing arts elective. The new drama elective will incorporate various aspects of the spoken word, as well as technical theater/stagecraft, and students writing and performing their own scripts.

STEAM Enrichment Progression All Middle Division students will be exposed to the following classes which will meet twice weekly: Robotics (6th Grade), Makers/Robotics (7th Grade), and Medical Detectives (8th Grade). We have formed a teacher group to develop an integrated, aligned curriculum in this area, and we hope to have it serve as an incubator for innovative curricular practices.

Leadership Structures – In order to better meet the needs of every student and family, we have created a Middle Division Leadership Team which will meet on a biweekly basis. Each grade will have a grade level coordinator, who is responsible for guiding the success of the grade’s students and teachers. The grade level coordinators for 2017-18 are: Mrs. Corbett (6th Grade), Mrs. Muthu (7th Grade), and Mrs. Sarachman (8th Grade).

In addition, we welcome Mrs. Petersen to an expanded role as Student Life Coordinator. She will be responsible for providing strategic direction and implementation for all areas of student life.

On-Campus TV Production Studio Through the generosity of our parent community, this year’s Cardinella Parent Gift will extend the development of STEAM by establishing an on-campus Production Studio. This studio will house a production set—complete with studio lighting, an anchor desk and green screen capabilities, professional quality HD studio cameras, editing equipment and software, teleprompters, audio and light boards and much more. Beginning in the fall, this production studio will be available to Middle Division students as an advanced elective and a club (in addition to the teachers making use of it as part of their own classes).

The Cardinal 2017

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INSIDE THE JOHNSON STEAM

MAKERS LAB

BY MONIKA MATUSZAK Last year St. John’s announced the opening of the new Johnson STEAM Center complete with a Makers Lab, Robotics Lab, and new Science Lab. With this new addition to our campus, our students have been engaging in hands-on, creative projects utilizing cutting edge machines and tools in a much larger space conducive for exploratory learning. From animal dissections to laser cutter designs, the Johnson STEAM Center is a haven of discovery learning.

Science Lab Beginning in Kindergarten, science at St. John’s incorporates Project Lead the Way, a cuttingedge science program, into the daily science curriculum. Students learn to take risks and think, using the engineering process of design, build, and rebuild. Middle Division students learn to think analytically and critically through classes such as Medical Detectives and through various engineering activities.

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CENTER

SCIENCE LAB

ROBOTICS LAB

Makers Lab A creative building space where students design engineering projects and learn to implement modern technology with craftsmanship. In the Makers Space, students have an opportunity to learn about 3D design and printing, experiment with a green screen and video production, repurpose old electronics, as well as make LED lights and circuit boards... just to name a few.

Robotics Lab Beginning in the Elementary Division, students are exposed to robotics as a standard part of the St. John’s curriculum. Projects range from designing levers and gears to building robots to assist in real-world challenges, such as cleaning up after a nuclear meltdown. Using the Vex Robotics Design System, the School’s competitive robotics team learns to automate and build according to each year’s robotics challenge.

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LEADING THE MAKERS

BY MELISSA ZAKHAR

As educators, we are called to inspire and enrich the minds of those we teach. So, who inspires us? How does one educator help pique the interest of another?

At St. John’s we are fortunate to work with amazing educators, who are also innovators.

Among us are talented, patient, and passionate individuals for making the world a better place. A better place not only for their students but also for their colleagues. Nancy Freese is one who inspires her colleagues. Her willingness to try new things, displaying what it means to be a risk taker, as she embarks on staying current with the 21st century teachings has crowned her a “go- to” gal.

Nancy Freese has inspired her division coworkers and has shared her knowledge across divisions. She met with Patty Stoecker, the Early Childhood Division Principal, to discuss ways she could collaborate with the Early Childhood teachers.

Nancy met with the Early Childhood Division educators and created a safe place to ask q u e st i o n s , t a ke risks, collaborate together on a project build, and learn more about STEAM, Makers, and project- based learning.

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Nancy served as a liaison to the Johnson STEAM Center and the Early Childhood teachers. She inspired us all to think outside the box. How can you use a green screen? How can we enrich a lesson while incorporating the iPad? What can you do with foil, egg cartons, and recycled caps? The Early Childhood Division students have used the green screen in the Makers Lab for extending an out of this world lesson and having their students appear in space! The iPad offered the visual of a real space shuttle launch as well as blue prints to build rockets. Recycled materials offered the foundation for building a class prop rocket.

Nancy has continued to show her passion for out of the box thinking, fostering open ended experiences, and promoting collaboration.

The students have thrived with the creative and meaningful STEAM approach that the teachers have delivered throughout the school year. Nancy has offered her time, and encouragement, while being enthusiastic to help as her fellow educators dive into a collaborative and innovative approach. With her guidance, we have grown as educators and we strive to continue to offer program enhancements that are purposeful and offer the children open-ended explorations.

So, who inspires us? We inspire one another.

Thank you, Nancy, for your wealth of knowledge, passion for Makers activities, and willingness to collaborate with the Early Childhood Division. We are grateful for your guidance and support. We look forward to continuing to offer the students and families of St. John’s the highest level of STEAM education.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK

BY MONIKA MATUSZAK When you first enter Mrs. Vedha Muthu’s classroom, you are immediately greeted with a warm smile and a class filled with engaged and attentive students. Displayed throughout her room are colorful and vibrant student projects ranging from a 6-foot tall DNA helix made of pvc pipes, to a prosthetic hydraulic hand made of recyclable materials. Not

It comes as no surprise that Mrs. Muthu’s work has been recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools, and this year, she received the Project Based Learning Educator of the Year Award from Parenting OC Magazine. One of her projects even garnered national attention on the NAIS Inspiration Lab blog. The featured project required students to create a strategic design process for building a prosthetic hand using only rubber bands, PVC pipes, cardboard tubes, hair claws, lanyards, and popsicle sticks. Students worked together to apply their knowledge of how the muscular and skeletal systems work in order to make their hand perform functions such as picking up a grape without crushing it; lifting a tenpound weight without breaking; and catching and throwing a ball.

only does Mrs. Muthu have a love and passion for teaching 7th Grade Life Science, but she makes the content “cool” and inspiring for her students by offering a variety of hands-on activities and authentic and meaningful ways of learning scientific topics. You will often hear a catchy beat or dance drifting out of her classroom as she performs songs and choreographed dance

moves to help her students remember m o re co m p l ex co n ce p t s . M r s .

Muthu combines artistic expression, philosophical reflections, technology, and engineering with traditional science to provide a welcoming environment in which students are empowered to take risks, have fun, and be creative themselves.

We look forward to seeing more unique and exciting projects in Mrs. Muthu’s classes and congratulate her on the successes she received this year!

Facing failure and developing resiliency is a vital part of Mrs. Muthu’s project-based curriculum.

Her students have strengthened these skills through problem solving activities tied into “real world” applications. One of many activities students found meaningful this year required them to build a structure that could hold two textbooks at least eight inches off the table using only four pieces of regular printer paper and some tape. Mrs. Muthu used it as a vehicle to help her students understand and appreciate the bone structures of our legs and how they hold us up. Talk about authentic learning!

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THE 22ND MISSION PROJECT

BY CONNIE GIROLAMO AND YVONNE PRIORE

Fourth grade students put their critical thinking and creativity skills to the test this year with a new spin on the traditional California “Mission Project”. In previous years, students were assigned to research one of the 21 missions built by Spain in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Students were then required to research information according to a predesigned outline or list of questions, culminating in a written report and model of their mission. However, we decided it was time for a change and turned to the Buck Institute for Education to engage students in a more STEAM-based approach to the mission project.

“It was wonderful to see the students so engaged and demonstrating their ability to think critically while being so creative.”

Once the plans were finalized, the building began. Students used cardboard to construct the framework of the mission. This took several weeks, and they faced many hurdles and challenges along the way. For example, they had to design a bell tower that could support bells, and attach it to the mission. In addition, they had to brainstorm ways to build stronger walls that could support the roofs for all the buildings. Along the way, they learned the importance of cooperation, collaboration, and compromise.

“This was the most

MEMORABLE STEAM activity in 4th Grade!”

The 22nd California Mission Project allowed students the opportunity to be placed in a realistic scenario from 1818 and they received a letter from the Archbishop of Mexico asking them to recommend a location for a new mission. Students were placed into teams and worked together to identify a site, create a design for the layout and buildings, make maps, and build the mission according to their specific design. Then their proposals were presented to a representative of the Archbishop. This project was cross-curricular, incorporating concepts from multiple subjects including social studies, language arts, art, and mathematics and engaged the students in a higher level of critical thinking.

This project mirrored a STEAM approach to learning, as it honed students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, collaboration, communication, and creativity. It was not an activity that simply offered a quick way to “cover” the history of California, but prompted

students to question, justify, and challenge each other’s ideas in order to engage in a more extended and inquiry-based investigation.

After receiving a letter from the Archbishop of Mexico the students were divided into small teams. They then developed a driving question, “How can we choose a good location and design for a new California mission?” The students then researched and developed a list of needs for their mission, which included: what is a mission, why were they built, what was their purpose, what buildings are in a mission, what does it look like, and what work is done there.

“The multi-curricular approach to the project made it relevant and meaningful.”

Next, the students used technology to Google a location based on the needs of the new mission. Once the site was chosen, the students began drawing a floor plan.

Through a collaborative effort, all ideas were incorporated into one final floor plan. In addition, they had to decide on a façade for the Church. The groups also had to collaborate to write a proposal, justifying their decisions for location, floor plan, and purpose for each mission. Each member of the team was responsible for one part of the proposal.

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The culmination of the mission building project was held one morning in February. Parents were invited to observe as the teams put the final touches on their missions. Some teams added spackle to create the image of adobe.

Others used popsicle sticks, lasagna, and cardboard for roofs. Great pride was taken in their final product.

“I really enjoyed planning our own mission. It was fun to see how different ours was compared to the others in my class.”

Shortly after the completion of the missions, the Archbishop’s representative came to our classrooms so the children could showcase their mission and present the final written proposal. Students needed to be persuasive and confident in their presentations.

They also had to answer any questions the Archbishop’s representative had regarding their mission proposals. Overall, this project allowed the children the creativity to plan their own mission from beginning to end, rather than us giving them directions each step of the way.

CREATOR OF ROBODOC VISITS ST. JOHN’S

BY MONICA BARNUM

ST. JOHN’S STUDENTS LEARN HOW ONE ROBOT TAUGHT A MAN PERSISTENCE AND RESILIENCE St. John’s students were inspired this year as they listened to Dr. William Bargar, grandfather of St. John’s students Ryan (’25) and Alison Meisenzahl (’22), share his story of perseverance, exploration, and discovery. Dr. Bargar co-developed a robotic device, ROBODOC, to assist with surgery, which is now used around the world. He has received several awards for his contributions to science and robotics, as well as medicine.

In January 2017, he received the great honor of having the surgical robot he invented, accepted into the National Archives at the Smithsonian Museum for being the first robotic device ever to be used in human surgery.

After listening to Dr. Bargar speak for just a few moments, no one is surprised that he has accomplished all that he has in his career. He is an individual who never settled, but remained open to new ideas and innovation. He began his career as an engineer, but then returned to school to become an orthopedic surgeon, concentrating on hips, knees, and joints. This combination in his own words, made him a “hybrid.” He praised St. John’s for a STEAM approach to learning which he believes promotes the kind of thinking he has used throughout his career.

It was a revolutionary idea at the time to consider robots in surgery.

During his presentation, Dr. Bargar explained to students that robots are good at things people are not and vice versa. It was through teamwork and collaboration that his work began on animals including dogs and a snow leopard.

His team included a surgeon, veterinarian, a computer company (IBM), engineers, graduate students, a university, and a hospital. As much as St. John’s stresses collaboration through a STEAM approach to learning, Dr. Bargar shared The Cardinal 2017

that it was an essential component in his work.

It was November 7, 1992, that a robot was first used in surgery. Since then it has been adapted for knee replacement and is used around the world in over 30,000 surgeries.

His robotic device set the groundwork for the development of other types of surgical robots.

persistence. It took 16 years to get approval from the FDA to allow others to use a robotic device. He explained to the students, that setbacks will happen. It is how one responds to setbacks that matters. Had he not embraced this characteristic, the project might never have happened.

Dr. Bargar shared with the students what he considers to be the keys to his success. He explained that his team was lucky, but he was quick to use a quote from Louis Pasteur that says, “Luck favors the prepared mind.”

He stressed with students the importance of learning and being inquisitive. He then shared that he and his team were naïve, but he went on to explain that this was not a bad thing. He said, “If we had known how difficult it would be, we might not have tried.” Finally, perhaps his most important key to success involved

Dr. Bargar concluded his inspirational talk with three wishes for St. John’s students. “Be lucky, but be prepared, be naïve, but learn, be persistent, and keep trying!” The St. John’s community is grateful to Dr. Bargar for the inspiration he provided for our students. His talk also affirmed to the School community once again the importance of providing an education for our students that promotes innovation, creativity, collaboration, and perseverance.

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BY MONIKA MATUSZAK

CURING THE STIGMA “Eternally curious brain cancer scientist and supporter of women in STEM,” her Facebook page reads, describing St. John’s alumna Brittany Parker Kerrigan (formerly Parker).

Little did I know after spending an afternoon on the phone with Brittany that I would fully understand the power behind this statement.

When talking with Brittany, you feel as if you have known her for years as the conversation flows easily and her genuine Texas charm reveals itself after every pause.

As she discusses her life and accomplishments since graduating St. John’s in 2000, one would be astonished to see what she has accomplished at 31 years old. Although Brittany

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has always been a steadfast, hard-working individual interested in science, her passion to push gender stereotypes and accept a career in science really took root on her first day of organic chemistry during her freshman year of college. As she took a seat in the front row, a boy turned to her and asked, “Are you lost?”

Recalling the story, Brittany explained, “It doesn’t matter what people think about you.

You have to drown out the other voices saying you can’t.”

After graduating Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2004, Brittany went on to attend the University of California Irvine where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She then performed retinal disease research at Allergan, Inc. in Irvine, California before relocating to Texas to pursue her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). She is now a Postdoctoral Fellow in Translational Cancer Nanotechnology at MDACC, the number one cancer center in the United States, inside of the Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical center in the world. Brittany has been at MDACC since 2009 and spends her days studying the deadliest and

most aggressive types of brain cancer called glioblastoma (GBM). She specifically studies a subset of patients who have this disease that carry a particular genetic mutation that she discovered as a graduate student. Brittany uses nanotechnology to treat patients who have this particular mutation. “GBM is so deadly because there is a lack of knowledge of what is actually causing it and how it can be targeted. I utilize carriers that specifically

deliver the potent therapeutic to these brain cancer cells that harbor the mutation.” We sadly remember how aggressive and devastatingly painful this disease can be with the loss of St. John’s alumnus Brittany Maynard (’99) who decided that death with dignity was the best option to end her suffering of GBM in 2014.

Outside of the lab, Kerrigan is an advocate for women in STEM and is an active leader in the Association for Women in Science. The organization supports and maintains women in STEM at all career levels. After holding the president position of this organization for two years, she moved on to become involved in outreach initiatives in collaboration with the Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion Program at MDACC. “Some of my most favorite activities are going to local schools and giving workshops that empower girls to be successful and pursue careers in STEM,” Brittany exclaims. One workshop, Brittany shared, immerses girls into science, teaches them about famous women in science, and shows them what it means to be a woman scientist. Her biggest message for these girls is that it doesn’t matter where you come from, or from which socioeconomic background you hail, you CAN have it all as long as you work hard enough and leverage advantageous contacts.

“As a child I always thought a scientist was an older gray-haired man like Albert Einstein in a white coat.”

“When you ask a young girl to name a scientist, they often say Einstein or Newton. Rarely do you hear them say a woman. It is important that they know why this is an issue and what we as women can do to change this stigma,” says Brittany.

And sadly, these perceptions are all too true.

According to a new study by the journal Science featured on The Independent Online, “Girls as young as six believe that exceptional talent is a male trait. The stereotype being harbored from a young age is likely to reduce the chances of women pursuing prestigious careers.” The co-author of this study, Andrei Cimpian, a psychology professor at New York University, also found that women are less likely to gain degrees in fields where genius is regarded as necessary for success, such as math, physics and philosophy. So, what is society doing about this alarming misperception? Many

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organizations have adopted initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and empowering young girls to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

Take for instance Microsoft’s new ad campaign, #MakeWhatsNext: Change the Odds, where a few girls are asked what they would like to change in the world. One says they would like to find a cure for breast cancer, while another girl wants to address climate change. They are then provided with a virtual reality tour across the world focusing on their specific topic of interest, resulting in excitement. They are then immediately presented with the statistic that, “Only 6.7 percent of women graduate with STEM degrees.” (Bestcolleges.com) The girls are stunned, but empowered to break the stigma.

Or how about General Electric’s recent ad campaign, #BalancetheEquation, that ran during the 2017 Oscars, questioning what the world would look like if female scientists were treated like celebrities? They even announced a goal to have 20,000 women in technical roles by 2020. The ad showcased Millie Dresselhaus, the first woman to win the National Medal of Science in Engineering, and treated her like a celebrity, showing her face in Times Square, in emojis, sold out concerts, front page tabloids, etc. Campaigns like this are going viral and more and more companies are working together to solve the problem and reverse the statistics.

When asked how she felt about Smithsonian’s STEM Imperative that states that, “By 2018, it is projected that 2.4 million STEM jobs will go

unfilled,” Brittany said, “I hope that the recent initiatives to spread awareness regarding STEM professions to young adults will help to increase the amount of underrepresented populations (women and minorities) in these expanding job markets.” Brittany also emphasized the importance of strong mentors and role models as key in empowering young girls and encouraging a strong work ethic. “My role model is Dr. Elizabeth Travis, Professor and Associate Vice President of the Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion Program at MDACC. She spearheads efforts to maintain women and minority faculty and encourages them to succeed in their roles as scientists.”

St. John’s is known for our dedicated and inspiring faculty and staff who continuously serve as strong mentors for our students. When Brittany reflects on her time at St. John’s she reveals a love for the personnel and teachers and how loving and insightful they were. She still keeps in touch with many of them. Brittany also credited a short time playing basketball at St. John’s as a sport that “really helped my confidence in general.”

And what’s next for the tall, blond neuroscientist? I have a son and I want to raise him to respect women and change the world for the better. I also want to continue to do my outreach work and make a difference in the lives of the young girls I work with. And finally, of course I want to have a scientific discovery to improve the lives of my patients and increase the years they have around the dinner table with their families.”

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Title

DREAM BIG, WORK HARD

far left, St. John’s alumnus John Read (’98)

BY MONIKA MATUSZAK John Read, son of St. John’s Elementary Division Principal, Monica Read Barnum, graduated from St. John’s in 1998 with the dream of any sports buff, to join the NBA. How he achieved that dream is quite a story of true dedication and hard work.

John was fortunate to land an internship with the Lakers while attending college at Loyola Marymount, which brought his dream of a sports career to fruition.

He worked in the front office during his junior and senior years of college. As John recalls, “I faxed my resume to them many, many times and at one point I received an e-mail back that read, “If you stop faxing us regularly, we will consider you as an intern for our only internship (Public Relations) for the following season.” And so, the faxing stopped, and John was hired. During his time with the Lakers he delivered credentials to the visiting team hotels, compiled news clippings on the team in the mornings, and handed out hard copies of the news stories to the Lakers front office and coaching staff. He also drafted several articles for the monthly Lakers magazine, including one

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article on Phil Jackson returning to coach the team and another on the relationship between Laker players Andrew Bynum and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. On game nights, whether home or away, he would venture into the locker rooms after the games and transcribe player interviews for the media.

In other words, John had his work cut out for him in between studying for his college courses and managing a full-time internship.

Upon graduating from Loyola Marymount in 2006 with a degree in finance and investment banking, John took a job as an Investment Banker at Merrill Lynch in Irvine to see if a career in finance was the right way to go. However, two years into the job and John was itching to get back to sports. It wasn’t until he took a leap of faith and interviewed for an internship with the Dallas Mavericks, that his sports career finally became a reality. “I interviewed on a Wednesday, they offered me the job on Thursday, and I needed to get to Dallas for the start of training camp on the following Monday.” John was 24 years old when he accepted the Mavericks’ internship position

and was the only intern in the Mavericks front office at that time. He handled everything from media credentialing to writing stories for the team website. As John reflects, “There was an occasion in which the Mavericks’ coaching staff wasn’t sure if Chris Paul--Chris was playing for New Orleans at the time--would be traveling to Dallas due to injury concerns. They had me wait in the lobby of the visitor’s hotel to see if he actually got off the bus and physically made the trip to Dallas. This was before the days of social media and formal NBA injury reporting guidelines!”

John’s time and dedication with the Mavericks paid off; as he finally landed his dream job, and current role, as Manager of Basketball Communications for the Oklahoma City Thunder. And what a dream job it is. John is the liaison between the players and coaching staff and often has the enjoyment of experiencing a new routine every day. He handles all player messaging, assists coaching staff with statistical needs, work with players and their representatives and agents, and travels with the team on

the road during out of town games and tournaments. “It’s a fast-paced atmosphere, but I love being a part of the team and shaping the image of the organization. I’ve worked 8 NBA all-star weekends, attended the NBA draft, and the NBA finals. It truly is a dream,” states John.

for instilling a drive to excel and encourage him to stand out from the rest. John worked hard and recalls his math and English classes as being the classes that impacted a lot of his success in his sports career. “I still remember the English program and know that I excelled in writing because of

But it wasn’t sheer luck that landed John his dream job. John credits his accomplishments to “lots of persistence and hard work.” While he wouldn’t trade what he does for anything else, he stays quite busy, constantly working and traveling, even during the “off-season”.

The demands and pressure of his job are rather high, and as he states, “You have to be incredibly dedicated in order to work in this business. I’ll go six months without a single weekend off.”

“I was really shy as a kid and St. John’s helped nurture me and provided me with a foundation to grow and build confidence.”

John is a true believer of internships as a means to develop a strong work ethic and drive. But the real driving force to success, John believes, is developing confidence.

And that confidence started right here at St. John’s. “I was really shy as a kid and St. John’s helped nurture me and provided me with a foundation to grow and build confidence,” says John. John was an avid basketball player during his years at St. John’s and remembers his teachers fondly

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my experience at St. John’s. I also believe that I am decent at math because of Mrs. Hardy,” John reflects. He also remembers his friendships from his time here and the sense of community. Many of his best friends are still those that he met at St. John’s, whom he credits as being a second family to him.

Even though John is often around many sports players and national teams, like any sports enthusiast, he still gets star struck.

Growing up, he was a die-hard Lakers fan and Kobe Bryant was always his favorite player. He even remembers watching Lakers games on his portable handheld TV from the bathroom during a St. John’s dance!

Needless to say, he was nervous and excited to meet Kobe for the first time. “When the Lakers VP of Public Relations introduced me, I was so nervous that I addressed him as “Mr. Bryant,” John chuckles. To take things full circle, Kobe played the last road game of his career in Oklahoma City just over a year ago and upon Kobe’s arrival to the arena that evening John escorted him to meet Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant where they were to present him with a retirement gift on behalf of Oklahoma City Thunder.

As John excitedly recalls, “It was on this walk that Kobe reached over and rubbed my belly and said, “You sure have lost some weight since college!” John couldn’t believe he remembered him from the first time meeting him years ago.

And John’s advice for St. John’s students?

“Chase your dreams and don’t give up.

Dream big and work hard. I believe that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my hard work.”

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2016-2017 CARDINAL FUND DONORS! The St. John’s Cardinal Fund provides essential support for the School’s annual operations by helping to cover the margin of excellence, the difference between tuition revenues and the actual cost per student of a St. John’s education, a difference of approximately $2,200 last year.

Never underestimate the importance of your gift to St. John’s Episcopal School. With your help, our students leave ready to take on new challenges and opportunities, armed with the dedication to succeed in high school and beyond, the character to make good decisions, and the leadership to make their world and ours a better place.

Your gift is an investment in their future, and 7-Eleven, Inc.

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Wells Fargo Foundation/ Educational Matching Gift Program

Kathy Taylor

Wernemar Family

Teitelmans

The Whitley Family

Robert & Liz Terry

Michelle Whitney

The Thiessen Family

Jordan Williams

The Timmons Family

Norma Williams

Pete & Deborah Todd

Bryan Winn

The Tourtlotte Family

The Wong Family

Michele Townsend

David and Kerry Wood

Megan Trexler

The Yellen Family

The Trueman Family

The Yurkovich Family

Darlene & Greg Tucker

Zakhar Family

David and Jennifer Turner

Mr. and Mrs. Zandi

Davis and Barbara Turner

Yingjun Zhang and Zhaoxia Jin

Synchrony Financial

UBS/Paine Webber Bob & Kathy Urell

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INSPIRING INVESTMENT

BY JENNIFER MIRAMONTES

For these four families, the Haydts, Levines, Millers, and Peters, with community comes commitment. Stepping up to the proverbial plate has been natural for some and daunting for others, but what really stands out, is their determination to get involved anyway. Time spent in conversation with these families confirmed what we already knew to be true, St. John’s families really are the best.

“I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort, where we overlap.”

- Ani DiFranco

Ashley and Cary Levine, having survived their first year at St. John’s with Atlas (PreSchool), and Aurora (Cardinal Nest), are eagerly anticipating baby number three, while the company they founded, MoPro, continues its international growth. They were introduced to St. John’s through a fellow family and as Ashley notes, “Their authenticity alone convinced us, and when we actually came and saw the campus, we just knew. St. John’s is the perfect balance of structure and play all from a child-centered approach.

The entire ECC area is phenomenal - everything is intentional. It’s an environment we were excited to send our children into each day.”

Stephanie and Bill Peters are transplants from New York, and having lived in Manhattan and the Hamptons, were no strangers to independent schools. After struggling to find the best school to educate their children, they joined St. John’s, most recently enjoying the only school year that all four boys will attend the same school. Steven (‘17), will attend Santa Margarita Catholic High School next year, with Tyler (7th Grade), Brayden (4th Grade), and Colby (JK) continuing at St. John’s benefiting from, as Stephanie says, “…the excellence and innovation in the classroom” and the “protective environment for the kids.”

As they begin their fifth year at St. John’s, Monica and Dan Haydt marvel at their children’s growth and success after moving from an underwhelming local school. Upon touring St. John’s, the Haydts met an 8th grade student who shared his experience with such poise and confidence that Dan still recalls thinking, “I want my son to be like him!” While the Haydts company, Visual Lighting Technologies, has recently moved its manufacturing operations from south Orange County to Texas, the Haydts themselves are staying put, due, in large part, to the education that Axel (7th Grade) and Danica (4th Grade) are receiving.

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Yvette and Matt Miller are nine year veterans of St. John’s, having begun their journey in Kindergarten with their eldest son Jake (’17). Their two daughters, Ava (7th Grade) and Lila (4th Grade) soon followed. The Millers describe the small class size and personal attention as the determining factors for choosing St. John’s, followed quickly by character development and service learning opportunities. It’s clear that these characteristics hold real value for the Millers, as Yvette begins her term as Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) President on July 1st.

Over the years, our families have given generously to St. John’s, sharing their time, talent, and treasure to make this house of education a home for their children. As long-standing donors, the Haydts and Millers have leveraged their professional expertise to provide much desired services to the School.

Do you appreciate the signage on the carpool driveway, the letters and donor plaque on the Johnson STEAM Center, or the updated campus map located at the entrance of the School? You can thank the Millers. How about those “reserved” parking placards and the upcoming event signs for the ECC? Yep, that’s them too. CA Signs will also be assisting with the design and installation of signage for the new Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field. On top of these in-kind donations, the Millers extensively donate their time to campus activities. It certainly isn’t unusual to see Yvette toiling away on decorations for an event as Matt muscles in the stakes for E-Z UPs or loads a truck-full of Cardinella signs into the venue. And why, you may ask? As Yvette told us, “It was really important for our family that we feel connected to our kids’ school. The kids spend so much of their lives at school, that for me, knowing the families of the other children was key to helping us feel closer to the school community.”

As the owners of Visual Lighting Technologies, a full-fledged LED lighting manufacturer and fiber optics specialist, the Haydts have modernized the lighting on the St. John’s campus, installing LED lighting in Sillers Hall and the administrative offices of Hunsaker Hall, while also installing new outdoor lighting fixtures for the campus entryway.

A passion for theatre arts means that Monica and Dan often volunteer for St. John’s theatre productions and campus events. Due to their manufacturing capabilities, lighting knowledge and

professional connections, the Haydts have supplied the stage star curtain, full theatre lighting systems and auxiliary sound for the plays. Dan was instrumental in sourcing of the new lights and controls for the Gym; and despite being a “lighting guy”, Dan, in partnership with ECC parent Justin Griffith, helped design the new sound system for the Gym, knowing that, “The most important thing to a parent during a performance is to hear the one line that their child says in the play.”

Some families give with unbridled enthusiasm, knowing, as Stephanie Peters does, that, “Volunteers are the driving force behind all of the extras at the school.” During the spring of 2016, with only a year under her belt, Stephanie agreed to take on the largest fundraising event of 2017, Cardinella, St. John’s Annual Benefit. By every measure an incredible success, Cardinella grossed more than $355,000 for the student focused initiatives at St. John’s. Because of Stephanie’s dogged determination, and the generosity of our many donors, St. John’s will open the 2017-2018 school year with a new production studio and a new par course adjacent to the Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field. In a show of true fellowship, Stephanie and Bill opened up their home in December for the “ugly Christmas sweater” themed annual Wine Wall party. More than 150 St. John’s parents came together to celebrate the holidays, sharing conversation and making connections, expanding an already robust and devoted community.

What’s next for the Peters? Starting July 1st, Stephanie begins her three-year term as a School Committee member, helping lead the charge for the long-term strategic vision for St. John’s.

Committed to the success of Cardinella, Stephanie Peters reached out to another new St. John’s family, the Levines, for their expertise in digital storytelling. Ashley and Cary’s company, MoPro, designs

A.I. powered business websites and social media tools. As part of this work, the company produces impactful and dynamic video for clients. This year, the Levines, delivered three different videos for Cardinella; the teaser video, explaining the intent and purpose of the event; the “Shh” video, an unconventional means of quieting an audience; and the Parent Gift video, highlighting the importance and relevance of a production studio for the students at St. John’s. What was the Levines’ motivation for getting involved?

As described by Ashley, “Seeing the impact our involvement can have...At St. John’s everything is transparent - you see the tangible effects of your donations whether they be time, money, or other resources - and that’s really a cool thing.”

While the differences in these families are abundant, the overlap is clear; they have chosen to make St. John’s Episcopal School their priority. The opportunities to become involved at St. John’s are considerable, as noted

by Yvette, “I believe our School offers something for everyone, whether you want to get involved a lot or just a little.”

Stephanie echoes this statement saying, “Put your hand up, there is always an opportunity to get involved, be willing to help out when asked and dive right in, you won’t regret the impact you make and the friendships you form. The more everyone gives collectively, the stronger the School.” For Monica Haydt it was simple, “Find the talents God has given you and give back. Get involved with what your child is into.” And perhaps the Levines said it best. “Just do it. There are so many ways to help and even the busiest families - with both parents working - can find ways that work within their lifestyles. That’s the great thing - if you’re willing to give the time or money or whatever, St. John’s will find a way to make it meaningful and impactful.”

THE KONRAD A. REULAND MEMORIAL FIELD

BY JENNIFER MIRAMONTES Scheduled to open in September 2017, St. John’s Episcopal School is excited to announce its new Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field, a state-of-theart turf athletics field which will further support the athletics program and physical education curriculum enjoyed by our students.

A St. John’s alumnus from the class of 2001, and a former National Football League player, Konrad Reuland passed away unexpectedly December 12, 2016 of a brain aneurysm. Having chosen to become an organ donor earlier that year, Konrad’s organs were donated, turning one family’s tragedy into life-saving gifts for several others. For one family, this meant that their Baseball Hall of Fame husband and father, received the heart and kidney he so desperately needed.

Through a series of coincidences that the recipient’s wife has characterized as “God winks,” Rod Carew’s family learned that his new heart came from a man whom he had previously met. It turns out, Rod Carew’s children and Konrad were schoolmates at St. John’s. During their time as students, Konrad had the opportunity to meet the retired baseball player, a thrilling experience for the athletic 6th grader. Having uncovered this miraculous connection, the Reuland and Carew families have come together to promote organ donation.

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Following his graduation from St. John’s, Konrad went on to play competitive basketball at Mater Dei, and later played football at Mission Viejo High School. After high school, he played college football at both Notre Dame and Stanford, before joining the elite ranks of the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers, the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets, and ultimately the Baltimore Ravens.

Konrad’s legacy of kindness and selflessness will be memorialized in the naming of St. John’s new athletics field, honoring his generosity of spirit and inspiring our students. The dedication ceremony for the Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field will take place September 15, at the launch of our school year and football season.

Our students, both current and long since graduated, are a part of our family—the friendships formed here bond us together, building relationships and resulting in a robust, supportive community. On behalf of our St. John’s scholar athletes, we are deeply grateful for our donors and supporters and your commitment to this project.

Say Hello to our New Faculty and Staff!

Cheryl Boesch

Student Store Coordinator

Kelly Dietz

Physical Education Teacher

Katie Kelly Art Teacher

Susie Canchola

Early Childhood Division Assistant Teacher

Heather Doddridge

Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management

Hayley Mizar

Early Childhood Division Assistant Teacher

Katy Yarter

Elementary Division Instructional Aide The Cardinal 2017

Yingying Diamond Mandarin Teacher

Holly Galus

Middle Division Math and Intro to Programming Teacher

Bari Small

Learning Resource Specialist

Dimitri Garaud

Middle Division Drama Teacher

Darylee Tanner

Elementary Division Instructional Aide

Kerry Young

Elementary Division Science Teacher 6th Grade Robotics Teacher

*These are our latest hires as of print.

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THE CLASS OF 2017 HIGH SCHOOL MATRICULATION Carter Aase SMCHS

Nicholas Davidson SMCHS

Ethan Janis JSerra

Makenna Mendoza Crean Lutheran

Juliana Soliman SMCHS

Ryan Azary Crean Lutheran

Philip de Carion Sage Hill

Xiting (Jasmine) Jin SMCHS

Luke Meng SMCHS

Yule Sun SMCHS

Lauryn Biddle SMCHS

Jack Dennis SMCHS

Spencer Johnson SMCHS

Jake Miller SMCHS

Samantha Tan SMCHS

Robert Burch Sage Hill

Ryan Dickerson Sage Hill

Faris Khalek SMCHS

Katherine Miller SMCHS

Sawyer Thiessen SMCHS

Yichu (Nemo) Chen SMCHS

Molly Doyle SMCHS

Colton Lehman SMCHS

Mark Mohtar SMCHS

Jacquelyn Todd SMCHS

Ashley Chiate SMCHS

Connor Dunn JSerra

Carson LeSage JSerra

Arnav Pagidyala JSerra

Lucas Wallin JSerra

Sophia Christopher SMCHS

Ethan Ehrlich SMCHS

Mason Long SMCHS

Kaiulani Pellerin SMCHS

Zhihan (Steven) Wang SMCHS

Troy Coulston SMCHS

Hayden Escalante SMCHS

Madison Mangano SMCHS

Steven Peters SMCHS

Ryan Wong SMCHS

Zachary Crandall SMCHS

Domenico Ferrara Servite

Sydney McMahon SMCHS

Alexa Pilkerton SMCHS

Angela Yellen SMCHS

Alden Cressy SMCHS

Kelly Rose Guethlein OCSA

Taylor McNamee SMCHS

Mia Sanders SMCHS

Brock Yurkovich SMCHS

Christopher Cyr JSerra

Sierra Hawker SMCHS

Phillip Medina SMCHS

Zeyu (Court) Shan SMCHS

Liqing (Robin) Zhang SMCHS

William Davidson JSerra 32

Audra Hepworth SMCHS

SAVE THE DATE The Konrad A. Reuland Memorial Field Dedication

September 15, 2017 Join faculty, staff, and St. John’s families as we welcome the Reuland and Carew families to our campus for the dedication of our new athletic field.

The Cardinal 2017

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