21 HUMDEV, WELLNESS & MINDFULNESS 27 MIND, BODY, BRAIN
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2017-2018 ' 21 HumDev, Wellness & Mindfulness 27 Mind, Body, Brain We look at the history of MA’s HumDev and explore MA’s Athletic Director Kacie Schilling launches the connections with Wellness and Mindfulness class as part of new Wellness program
THE ARTS AT MA “When I’m in my arts class I feel at home. The Blackbox and the people who inhabit it are the most kind and close community at MA, and the intentionality of the group to create collaboratively is really w ' special. I’m grateful to have a place where I can come and be myself at school.” MARINA C. ‘19 2 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
“When I’m in my art class I feel empowered because it is the one class where my experience is wholly and genuinely what I make of it.” NORA R. ‘19 w ' “I love MA theater! The theater program has shown me that theater is what I want to do with my life. When I walk into the theater building, I feel like I’m home and in my element, and that I can do anything.” ELEANOR B. ‘20 “The MA arts community gives me an invaluable sense of community and a unique opportunity to express myself, and to create and share meaningful art.” LILA P. ‘20 3 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUSNEXUS NOW 2018
VOICES OF MA I often think about the many things I got from Marin Academy, including a love of nature, a passion for social HUMDEV, WELLNESS, AND MINDFULNESS justice, and an w Human Development has been an in- tegral part of the student experience appreciation for beauty in ' literature and at MA since 1995. the arts. Wishing the best to all View from a TA of you. Keep on “I think about Human pursuing your Development all of the time. I have been around such dreams! a diverse group of people since I left MA, and so many of them didn’t talk about the topics we talked about in MINDFULNESS IN NATURE OUTING HumDev. No one has had as good a social education as Co-led by Mark Stefanski and Julia we did, and it makes me so Chanin ’11, along with Sophie S. ‘19, PAM GREENBERG ‘86 grateful that I got to take and the Mindfulness in Nature Outing Alumna teach that class.” at Dillon Beach, which took place in the spring of 2018, was a relaxing —Julia Rosenberg ‘15 and rejuvenating time enjoyed by all participants. 4 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WHAT’S INSIDE 08 24 50 CULTIVATING MIND, VIEW FROM A TA WILDERNESS QUEST BODY, AND BRAIN A former Teaching Assistant A beloved MA tradition Travis reflects on Marin in the HumDev program gets a new name Academy’s approach to shares her experience educating the whole child 10 25 58 PROFILES: JOANI LACEY 28 INSPIRED TO LEAD w ' GO FORTH & AARON GILL MA’s Annual Report Congratulations to our MINDFULNESS CLUB MA profiles our School 2018 graduates! Counselor and Athletic A student-led time for Trainer students to step away and w w reset 14 HISTORIC YEAR 27 EDITOR, DESIGN & LAYOUT 2017-2018 Wildcat athletics year in review MIND, BODY, BRAIN MA’s Athletic Director Kacie 30 Hervé Ernest CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Derek Anderson CHARTING THE COURSE Julie Barnes Schilling launches class Mary Collie A peek into the lives as part of new Wellness Kier Holmes ‘89 of MA alumni Tory Mathieson ’10 21 program Nicole Stanton ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY Marin Academy Communications HUMDEV, WELLNESS, 31 Anwen Baumeister ’12 Marin Academy Parents AND MINDFULNESS Dominic Colacchio 36 Stephen Morse ’88 Tony Nguyen Mark Stefanski A look at the Human 43 Carina Uraiqat ’97 Nexus Magazine and Nexus Now Development program at are produced by the Office of MA Institutional Advancement at: Marin Academy 1600 Mission Avenue San Rafael CA 94901 5 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
COMING UP AT MA A B C w ' 24 A Bryant Terry, award-winning chef, author, educator, and activist, joins us for the OCTOBER | We are 15th Annual Conference on Democracy. excited to announce that the 15th Annual w w B Lauren Markham, writer, reporter, and the author of The Far Away Brothers, will Conference on also be a featured guest at the 15th Annual Conference on Democracy. Democracy will take place at Marin C Peer Resources presents Communications Evening. Academy this October 24th and 25th. D Marin Academy presents the fall theater production: Twelfth Night by William This year’s event features special guests Shakespeare. Bryant Terry, James Beard Award winning chef, author, educator, activist E Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Marin Academy. and chef-in-residence at San Francisco’s F Roots/World/Chamber Music Concert. Museum of the African Diaspora; G Fall Dance Assembly. Lauren Markham, writer, reporter, and the author of The Far Away Brothers, a chronicle of unaccompanied minor migrants from El Salvador to the United States, as well as four youth impact fellows from United Roots Oakland, and many more. In addition to our amazing guests, the conference will feature a breadth of creative sessions by students and other members of the MA community. Mark your calendars! 6 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
D E G F w ' 01 13 NOVEMBER | Marin Academy’s Theater Program presents their DECEMBER | If Fall Theater production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. you can, make sure Written at the dawn of the 17th century, Twelfth Night, or what not to miss our w w you will, is Shakespeare at the height of his comedic and romantic brilliance. With a plot riddled with disguises, mistaken identities, gender-bending performing artists come alive on the stage this winter. intrigue, and saturated in the intoxicating and irresistible force of love, Twelfth Night During MA’s Dance Assembly, students is Shakespeare’s brilliantly layered, kaleidoscopic opus on the madness of the human will dazzle audiences by performances heart. Set in a mod, mid-sixties, Warhol-esque world, throbbing with pop music and large and small. Dance classes will show exploding with the energy of a growing counter-culture, MA’s production of Twelfth off their original choreography and Night features an all-star cast and live music. Thursday through Saturday, November creativity. Thursday, December 13 at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Marin Academy Performing Arts Center. 11:10 a.m. 20 06 NOVEMBER DECEMBER | Come | The tradition and experience continues with a Marin Academy day to celebrate students displaying grandparents and special friends. their passion for being creative at the Join us for Grandparents and Special Roots/World/Chamber Music Concert Friends Day on the Marin Academy on December 6 and 7 at 6:30 p.m. campus on Tuesday, November 20 beginning at 7:15 a.m. 7 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
PUSHING BOUNDARIES CULTIVATING MIND, BODY, & BRAIN BY TRAVIS BROWNLEY, HEAD OF SCHOOL emotional wellness, have opportunities sharing what they’ve learned during to step outside and reset, and develop their time at MA and beyond, not the exercise and self-care strategies only for their benefit, but to enhance necessary to live longer and healthier the lives and experiences of those w ' lives. We all know, and a growing body around them: like Anwen Baumeister of research shows, that heightened ’12, who just opened a wellness café anxiety and stress lessen the ability to in Oakland and, among other things, learn, and developing active, mindful offers “pay-what-you-can” options in practices can be transformative in how order to keep healthy food accessible w w we learn and provide lifelong benefits. We are renewing this commitment as to the community; Stephen Morse ’88, who is the COO of Mindful Life, A we implement a more robust wellness Mindful Work, which offers leadership t Marin Academy, we find curriculum this fall. coaching and mindfulness tools to it essential to provide organizations, teams, and individuals students with all of the tools In the following pages, you’ll learn worldwide; and Carina Uraiqat ’97, an they’ll need to be successful about the impact of our Human attorney who now works to help other as they chart their course in the world. Development program and why it’s legal professionals integrate principles As a co-educational high school the cornerstone of our new wellness of mindfulness into their own work. committed to scholarship and personal program; meet a couple of staff development, we believe that the high members who are integral in providing I am excited this fall as we roll out our school years are a critically important students with key emotional and new wellness program and engender time when students are discovering physical support; learn about our new and continued commitment by who they are, what they value, what new Mind, Body, Brain class where our students to make the new Wellness they enjoy, and where they are headed. students understand how to develop Center a part of their natural, daily We want our students to develop the practices to overcome anxiety, stress routines. I hope you enjoy reading all of skills and knowledge that will serve and worry leading to happier lives; and, the stories in this edition of NEXUS as them well now and in the future. see how we take our own practices much as we’ve enjoyed bringing them of mindfulness into the community to to you. Marin Academy has long been share the benefits we’ve learned with committed to providing the others through our Mindfulness Club. Warm Regards, educational environment, the resources, and the space for students You’ll also read about MA alumni to build their capacity for social and who are going out into the world and 8 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
NEWS BRIEFS BRIZENDINE F or the eleventh year in a row, the endowment for the Brizendine Scholars Program brought a fascinating array of experts to the MA campus to enhance student learning. This year’s program, which was shared by the Human w ' Development and Performing Arts departments, brought 17 professionals to campus. Sanjai Moses and Cheyenne Robertson brought Brianna Booth, Stanford w w University’s Director of Positive Sexuality, Design & Development, to MA twice this spring—once as the keynote speaker for the first-ever Conference of Bay Area Independent School Health Educators, and once to speak to the senior class as part of their transition to college. At Annie Elias, Chris Detrick, Nicole both appearances, Brianna was Klaymoon, Randee Paufve, David accompanied by a panel of Stanford Sinaiko, and Karsten Windt put students who candidly shared their together a festival of visiting artists for on May 17, allowing the ensemble stories about sexuality, gender, and their performing arts classes in March, to present music that wouldn’t have the necessity of establishing healthy April and May. The line-up included a been possible otherwise. Best of all, interpersonal boundaries on today’s Yale University comedy improv troop music students saw Matthew Szemela college campuses. The Health and master dance classes in capoeira, perform on his six-string electric violin Educators’ Summit also featured hip hop, modernism, Afro-Cuban, and and challenge the perceived divide a lunchtime breakout session with yoga. Many music students had the between classical music and jazz, blues, marijuana educator Ralph Cantor, Ever chance to learn about and play the and pop music. Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch, and gamelan, while the Chamber Gladiators Shafia Zaloom, who once was on the program benefitted from the chance to For 2018-19, the Brizendine Scholars MA faculty and now works as a human learn from six coaches who specialized Program will rotate to the Science and development teacher at the Urban in different instruments. Some of these Visual Arts departments. School. musicians also played in the concert 9 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
NEWS BRIEFS GO FORTH! A left hook of feedback from Mary Collie during English class may change up your plan. But, what makes MA so special is the faculty’s willingness to pick you back up and help adjust your plan. w ' w w MILES KELLY ‘18 10 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
HEADMASTER’S CUP On behalf of the faculty, Travis Brownley awarded Anthony Madrigal the Headmaster’s Cup, an award established by Board of Trustees President James Thacher to honor the values of MA inspired by the school’s first headmaster, Bill McCluskey. Anthony Madrigal showed the MA community that while there are challenges in the world, optimism has to rule the day. While there can be much to challenge one’s optimism in the world, Anthony led unapologetically with his heart. Reliable, responsible, and engaged, there was no task too small and no deed too scary for him to give it his best. w ' w w ZUMBRUN AWARD In memory of Danielle Plumb Zumbrun ‘79 and in recognition of her keen appreciation of nature and her sense of responsibility as a caretaker of the earth, the Zumbrun Award recognizes outstanding student leadership in the Outings Program. A staple of the outings department for the entirety of his four years at MA, Harry Barker-Fost shared his strong spirit and love for the outdoors with the entire school. He was a committed and consistent presence in all things outings, and did much to further the goals of inclusivity and accessibility. 11 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
NEWS BRIEFS And They’re Off... American University | Amherst College | Bard College | Barnard College (2) | Bates College | Boston College (3) | Boston University (3) | Bowdoin College (2) | Brown University | Bucknell University | California Institute for the Arts | Carleton College | Case Western Reserve University | Chapman University | Claremont McKenna College | Colby College | College of Marin | Colorado College | Colorado State University | Cornell University | Dartmouth College | Denison University (2) | Duke University (3) | Emory University (2) | Grinnell College | Hamilton College | Indiana University, Bloomington | Kenyon College | Lehigh University | London College of Fashion | Macalester College (2) | Northeastern University (3) | Pitzer College (2) | Reed College | Rice University | San Francisco State University | Scripps College (3) | Southern Methodist University | Stanford University (2) | Syracuse University (2) | The George Washington University (3) | The University of Texas, Austin | Tufts University (4) | US Naval Academy | University of California, Berkeley (5) | University of California, Irvine | University of California, Los Angeles (2) | University of California, San Diego | University of California, Santa Barbara | University of Colorado, Boulder (3) | University of Maryland, College Park | University of Michigan | University of Oregon (3) | University of Pennsylvania (2) | University of Puget Sound | University of Richmond | University of Southern California (4) | University of Vermont (2) | University of Virginia | University of Washington (2) | University of Wisconsin, Madison (3) | Villanova University | Wake Forest University | Wellesley College | Wesleyan University | Williams College | Worchester Polytechnic Institute w ' w w 12 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
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w HISTORIC YEAR ' w w 2017-2018 MA Athletics Wildcat Year in Review C ongratulations to all of our MA student-athletes and on the life lessons learned through sport, we love to highlight coaches on a terrific 2017-18 year in athletics! We are the standout achievements attained by our various programs. excited to celebrate the accomplishments in the next Thanks to our entire MA community for your continued support few pages as we eagerly prepare for the upcoming of MA Athletics. It means so much to our student-athletes and 2018-19 school year. While MA Athletics will always strive to coaches, and we would not be as successful as we are without be an extension of the classroom and a program that focuses the tremendous support we receive! 14 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
w NCS Team Academic Awards ' w w FALL 2017 Girls Cross Country – 3rd place (tie) Girls Water Polo – 3rd place SPRING 2018 Boys Lacrosse – 2nd place Girls Lacrosse – 1st place 15 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
NEWS BRIEFS Team Athletics Awards BCL-WEST/BAY AREA CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Boys Cross Country: 4th place Boys Cross Country – Rob Hudson – 46th place Girls Cross Country: 3rd place Girls Cross Country – Maddie Rodriguez – 53rd place Girls Tennis: 3rd place Girls Volleyball - #5 seed in Division 3 CIF NorCal Girls Volleyball: 3rd place Championships – 1st Round Boys Water Polo (NBL): NBL Champions (Undefeated) Boys Water Polo - #5 seed in Division 2 CIF NorCal Girls Water Polo (NBL): 2nd place Championship – 1st Round Boys Basketball: 5th place Boys Soccer – # 5 seed in Inaugural Division 1 NorCal CIF Girls Basketball: 4th place Championship Tournament – 1st Round Girls Soccer: BCL-West Champions Baseball: 5th place Boys Golf: 3rd place Boys Lacrosse: BAC League Champions (Undefeated) Girls Lacrosse: BAC League Champions (Undefeated) Boys Tennis: 2nd place Boys Track: 8th place Girls Track: 3rd place Boys Swimming: BCL-W Champions (Undefeated) Girls Swimming: 2nd place w ' NORTH COAST SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS Boys Cross Country: NCS Division 5 - 7th place Girls Cross Country: NCS Division 5 - 6th place Girls Team Tennis: NCS Division 2 Quarterfinals w w Girls Volleyball: NCS Division 5 Runner Up Boys Water Polo: NCS Division 2 Champions Girls Water Polo: NCS Division 2 1st Round Boys Varsity Soccer: NCS Division 4 Champions Girls Varsity Soccer: NCS Division 4 Quarterfinals Girls Basketball: NCS Division 5 Quarterfinals Boys Golf: NCS Division 2 – Individual Qualifier Boys Lacrosse: NCS Division 2 Champions Girls Lacrosse: NCS Division 2 Quarterfinals Boys Swimming: NCS Division 1 24th place Girls Swimming: NCS Division 1 28th place Boys Tennis: Division 2 Team 1st Round; Division 2 Singles Quarterfinals; Division 2 Doubles 1st Round Girls Track & Field: Class A 6th place 16 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
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NEWS BRIEFS SENIOR RISING As tradition would have it, our 2019 senior class takes over The Circle on Opening Day, marking the official beginning to their senior year. The Class of 2019 w is so unbelievably excited for this ' w w year, and to share it with the juniors, sophomores, and freshman. We’re just stoked to be here! CLARA D. ‘19 Senior Class President 18 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
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HUM DEV A look at the history and impact of Human Development, Wellness, and Mindfulness programs at MA, told in five parts: WELL HumDev, Wellness and Mindfulness View from a TA Profiles: Joani Lacey and Aaron Gill w ' NESS& Mind, Body, Brain Mindfulness Club w w by Mary Collie MIND FULNESS 20 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create.
HUMDEV, WELLNESS AND MINDFULNESS BY MARY COLLIE K now thyself. It’s an ancient It is this basic desire to help Greek maxim that has adolescents understand themselves influenced societies and and their relationships that MA’s peoples for centuries. It Human Development course is based w ' gets to the most basic need of human on. And it is in the spirit of self- This is the one existence: understand yourself and your place in the world and you will discovery and self-reflection that the course has evolved and changed over place academically be better equipped to interact and the last 20+ years and become the w w contribute to the needs of those cornerstone of the school’s wellness in the school day around you. With self-knowledge comes strength and resilience and program. Currently serving ninth and tenth graders, the course is focused that students get wellness. on planting seeds and sowing ideas of to leave everything else and just be themselves. CHEYENNE ROBERTSON Director of Community Action and Human Development Teacher (2014-2018) 21 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA self-knowledge while complementing the imbedded community values for social and emotional wellness for young people. At the helm of the Human Development program for the last 16 years, Sanjai Moses has seen the course and curriculum evolve as student need has changed. But at the core of the program is a deep institutional commitment to helping students be their best selves and understanding how they thrive in their relationships and how they interact with others, both in the community and out. “The program was started in 1995 by Shafia Zaloom, currently a health educator at the Urban School. When I arrived, the course was just for freshmen, had no curriculum and no scope and sequence,” said Sanjai. “I inherited the program from Diana w ' Cunningham [former MA science teacher] who had taken it over from someone else, and in those years the passing down of information stalled.” The product of the course w w valued on par with any other subject in the school day that students get being reinvented every year was still taught. to leave everything else and just be student focused, but the robustness themselves. This is where it’s low and cohesiveness of the curriculum left In 2005, the Human Development stakes. There are no grades and we something to be desired. And that’s course was modified yet again. The try our best to create a space without when Sanjai went to work re-building new course would expand its reach to judgement. Students just get to show the program from the ground up. tenth grade and add another teacher. up with who they are and where they This new iteration afforded students are in their life,” said Cheyenne. As a seasoned health educator before a space in their first two years of high “Students come in with a huge range she came to MA, Sanjai had worked school to specifically address their of experiences and perspectives, and with plenty of community agencies social and emotional development and all of that is ok and it’s ok to explore as a way to teach adolescents about laid the groundwork for what Sanjai with classmates and themselves. That’s their own experiences and how those says is her dream: a four year human so different from their other classes. experiences influence relationships. development curriculum supported by Yes we have goals for every lesson, She tapped many of those same a larger department and more contact but we’re not assessing them and agencies to engage with and learn time with students. sometimes class goes in a different from, and she relied on her previous work with young people to build the direction. That means the students But before that dream happens, program students experience today. were engaged and took it somewhere Sanjai and Cheyenne, fellow human Best of all, she found that the MA way else. That’s what’s exciting.” development teacher, recognize all of addressing the whole child meant the exciting work they’re doing with Along with a host of information shared that Human Development was an students. in class on topics ranging from identity integral part of the student experience to gender to ethics to communication, here and her work in the classroom was “This is the one place academically the most valuable component of the 22 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA Dustin Decker ‘17, and other members of MA Cross Country, engage in stretching exercises after a run during the Fall 2016 season. Injury-prevention is a big part of what coaches at MA emphasize, and being diligent with warm-up and cool- down routines is a big part of keeping athletes’ bodies healthy and injury-free. w ' w w course is the skills students learn in deep commitment to helping students at the core of teaching students how terms of capacity building for social become more aware and more to navigate an ever-changing world. and emotional wellness. knowledgeable of themselves and Through the cultivation of not only others that the Human Development forming one’s personal values but also “We want students to ask: Am I curriculum has flourished. As the articulating those values to others teaching you how I want to be treated primary place for students to build when it matters most, the Human through my actions and non-verbal their tools of self-reflection and self- Development course has equipped communication? And do I have an awareness, the seeds of self-discovery MA’s students with the tools necessary awareness of that? Do students notice are sowed and encouraged to blossom. to advocate for themselves and their patterns that they’re creating for peer groups and make a meaningful themselves around their social and As MA implements a more robust impact on communities both large and emotional needs?” said Sanjai. It is wellness curriculum this fall, the Human small.. through this line of questions and a Development course will always be 23 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. 2018 201823 NEXUSNEXUS
WELLNESS AT MA VIEW FROM “I think about Human Development all of the time,” said MA Alum Julia Development classroom as a defining experience of her time at MA. And Rosenberg ‘15. “I have been around the lessons that she learned about the A TA such a diverse group of people since I left MA, and so many of them didn’t world and herself, have stayed with her long beyond her time at MA. talk about the topics we talked about in Hum Dev. No one has had as good “Being a TA was such a confidence a social education as we did, and it boost. I was able to step into a makes me so grateful that I got to take teaching role because Sanjai gave me and teach that class.” so much responsibility,” said Julia. “The class taught me how to speak up, speak An integral part of the Human authentically, how to articulate certain Development curriculum is peer- challenging topics, and how to balance to-peer education. Not only does this professional but comfortable peer-to-peer education make many of relationship with peers. There was a lot The class taught the lessons more impactful, but it also of learning and re-learning topics, and brings levity to some intense moments I’m still teaching some of those same me how to speak as students share their experiences with lessons to others today.” others. up, speak Started in Sanjai’s early years as the Having the opportunity to lead discussions about such topics as mental authentically, how Human Development teacher, the Teaching Assistant program has grown health, gender roles, and consent allowed Julia to deeply connect not to articulate into a coveted leadership position on only with her peers but also the ideas w ' campus. It requires rigorous training, being discussed in the classroom. certain challenging regular meetings, and giving up a free block. But regardless of the “I got to teach and we got to talk topics, and how to commitment and demand, students love being TAs and have found their about issues in an acceptable and open-minded way. That’s so not the w w balance this experience in that role to be some of the most transformative of their MA norm elsewhere. Rarely do people talk about such important issues in such an professional but career. experiential way and in ways that are relevant to our age group and kids and comfortable As a TA for three semesters, Julia saw her participation in the Human people like us.” relationship with peers. JULIA ROSENBERG ‘15 Alumna * 24 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA PROFILE: Joani Lacey students as they navigate life’s most essential question: Who am I? And it is School Counselor from this question and her long tenure as a Marriage and Family Therapist There’s been a steady stream of (the last 17 of which have been at MA), media coverage telling the world that adolescence is hard, and it’s that Joani looks to guide students to There’s actual discover their best selves. getting more complicated with each generation. There’s social media to research that “High school is about trying things contend with, ever-present connectivity to navigate, and the growing concern on. The [students’] job is really to supports the work become as self-aware as they possibly that today’s teens are overloaded and over-worked on a daily basis. Add to can and figure out what’s working and we do here at MA. what’s not working and how they can that overload a host of both internal and external pressures, and Joani acknowledge the grey areas in life,” If you calm your said Joani. Lacey, MA’s school counselor, is an integral part of the school’s evolving As a long-time member of the MA mind, you will health and wellness curriculum that strives to educate students about how community, Joani has built a solid reputation as a health professional who reduce cortisol they function in the world and in the relationships they maintain. honors confidentiality, creates a space for students to speak honestly about [the stress From her downstairs office in Founders what’s going on, and offers students tools to navigate the challenges of hormone]. Giving Hall, a space that looks more like relationships and social and emotional students skills and w ' an inviting studio apartment than issues that are a natural part of life. a counselor’s office, Joani supports strategies to deal with whatever is w w coming up in the moment has helped students take their work to the next level. JOANI LACEY School Counselor * 25 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA “I always try to [get students] to look at situations through the lens of their relationships with friends and family and understand who they are,” said Joani. Additionally, she uses her work with Dr. Dan Siegel to explain to teens how their brains work in relation to their emotional well-being. “There’s actual research that supports the work we do here at MA. If you calm your mind, you will reduce cortisol [the stress hormone]. Giving students skills and strategies to deal with whatever is coming up in the moment has helped students take their work to the next level.” Joani has been a major supporter and advocate for students since she started working here. Be it in her work with Peer Resources, Women in Support and Empowerment (WISE), or a member of the Dean’s group, she has been w ' a consultant and resource for nearly every member of the community. And it is from her work with students and colleagues that she has helped foster It is in his capacity of athletic trainer active and healthy lifestyle that includes the compassionate and sensitive w w that Aaron has a unique perspective on movement preparation and education and supportive community students the entire athletic community and the regardless of athletic experience. As experience every day. role that physical health and wellness students become more well versed in can have on the student body. the needs of their own bodies and how physical activity positively manifests “Whatever students are doing—skiing, in their overall emotional well-being, PROFILE: Aaron Gill ‘94 or dancing, or organized sport—there students will be more prepared seems to be a lot of doing. We’re to flourish in all areas of their MA Athletic Trainer pushing the boundaries of how much experiences. We’ve all seen him on the sidelines. we can do physically. But if we’re He’s there waiting, watching, not preparing students to move and “We want to get all students feeling anticipating how he can help when an move well, to use our new Wellness comfortable in the Wellness Center and athlete is in need. He never steps into Center and the resources down here, in moving regularly. We want students the limelight or the main action or any our students won’t be prepared to to use this space to get stronger across athletic contest, but he’s always there to compete and thrive,” said Aaron. “The a host of spectrums, so that whenever make sure the game or the big moment bigger picture is getting all of our they want to move and whatever they go well. For the last ten years, Aaron students down [in the Wellness Center] want to do, they will be more prepared Gill ‘94 has been a consistent supporter and helping them get stronger and and able to succeed,” said Aaron. of the MA athletics program. He has prepared to be lifelong movers.” watched countless practices and With the new Mindy, Body, Brain games; taped ankles and knees and curriculum starting this fall, students wrists; and been there to help athletes will have the opportunity to address recover from injury and return to play different avenues for maintaining an healthier and stronger than before. * 26 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA MIND, BODY, BRAIN “Mind is the king of the senses; breath and really think about stress, both is the king of the mind.” This comes when competing in athletics and in from a 15th Century Sanskrit manual on academics.” Hatha Yoga and yet it couldn’t be more relevant today. Walk into any bookstore One of the biggest benefits of the new wellness program is showing There are so many or peruse the Amazon top ten lists, and you will find scores of books directing students that athletics are co-curricular and getting all students into the new cognitive benefits us to use our mind to overcome anxiety, stress and worry. Layer on what we all Wellness Center. to exercise, know as fact, that physical movement and mobility contributes to longer and “There are so many cognitive benefits especially at a w ' to exercise, especially at a school as happier and healthier lives, and you’ve got yourself the foundation for MA’s academically rigorous as ours. We all know that students perform better school as academ- new wellness course: Mind, Body, Brain. Designed around the three pillars when they take a step outside of the classroom and connect with their ically rigorous as w w ours. We all know of health—physical, mental and bodies,” said Kacie. “Additionally, neuroscience/brain—the course we’ve been in our new space for a year focuses on the importance of creating healthy, lifelong habits that lead to now, and people have seen the space and it’s less intimidating. And we want that students more productive lives. The course will be offered to ninth graders during all students to know how to properly use the equipment so all members perform better second semester. of the community feel empowered to engage in the space.” when they take As one of the main architects of the new wellness program, MA’s Athletic Students will learn in both a classroom a step outside of setting and in the Wellness Center, and Director Kacie Schilling is eager to launch this class and is excited to every single participant will get certified the classroom and in CPR and First Aid. Also, all students complement the work already being done in Human Development. must pass a swim test to be considered connect with their water safe. “We want to show students the best bodies. practices and habits for extended and “We are surrounded by water here lifelong health, and teach students in the Bay Area and we want to get how to educate themselves on how to every student in our pool to make sure keep their body healthy and engaged they’re water safe. This is exciting on in movement,” said Kacie. “We’re so many different levels as we often asking broad questions like, what does assume our students can swim and it mean to be healthy? We want to many cannot.” KACIE SCHILLING move beyond nutrition and exercise Athletic Director 27 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA MINDFULNESS CLUB I t’s a hectic Tuesday and my week panic attacks. I was just breaking down a TFP summer workshop in the hills is packed with lunch meetings for often and having a really hard time,” of Southern California offered her various things: English 2 curriculum said Sophie. “When I sought help from transformative tools she had to share discussion, advising updates, Joani, she asked why I wasn’t using with her peers and manifest in her reviewing student essays, and more. my mindfulness work on myself. I was own life. So it was after her freshman Quite honestly, the last thing I want sharing it with my friends, but I had to year at MA that she realized she to do is give up my only free lunch of use it to my advantage. My mom was wanted to start a mindfulness club, a the week. But I do it, and I head up telling me the same thing, so I knew it place where she could share her tools to Thacher for the weekly student- would help me with my struggles.” with a broader audience. Enter Mark led Mindfulness Club meeting. There Stefanski, and the mindfulness club had are maybe ten of us in the room Tools For Peace (TFP) is a program an advisor and mentor. when Sophie S. ‘19 begins the group focused on inspiring people of all ages mindfulness practice. We are asked to to develop kindness and compassion A veteran MA science teacher and w ' close our eyes, relax into our seats, and in everyday life. For Sophie, attending credentialed youth mindfulness step away from all of the chaos outside the room. As Sophie’s voice guides my breath and w w slows my thoughts, I drift away from my classes and meetings that have filled my day, and I just sit in the space with the quiet. I may have even drifted off to sleep for a few precious moments. I don’t know how long the guided meditation lasted, nor do I really care, because when Sophie brings us all back, and we all open our eyes, there is a space not present before. There is a calm and an exhale that reveals what’s just happened: we’ve reset ourselves, stepped away, given ourselves some time to flourish. For Sophie, leader of the Mindfulness Club, allowing herself some time to step away and reset her thinking is an essential part of surviving school and the pressures she puts on herself. “Freshman year I had a lot of anxiety. I was incredibly overwhelmed. I had unhealthy sleep habits. I was having 28 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
WELLNESS AT MA instructor, Mark came to mindfulness As students learn to care for themselves as a way to reduce stress in his own and for others with more intention and life. From his mindfulness practice he compassion, the hecticness of daily learned to manage his own emotional life can be put in perspective and the life with greater calm and intention, and stressors most often associated with learned to pause and collect himself anxiety can be managed with greater The first thing to in moments of high stress. Overall, his ease. Best of all, the benefits of a practice has allowed him to become a regular mindfulness practice can be felt go when we’re better husband and teacher and human quickly and in only a few minutes a day. being. “The first thing to go when we’re stressed and “The more I studied [mindfulness] the more I thought, this could be shared stressed and busy is self-care because it feels so extra when you have so much busy is self-care with teenagers. Research is coming in that shows that a mindfulness practice going on and grabbing your attention. But I was reminded that if you don’t because it feels helps teens and young people pay attention better, manage their emotion- have ten minutes, you’re too busy. Nobody should be so busy that they so extra when al lives better, and reduce overall stress and anxiety,” said Mark. “The newest don’t have ten minutes,” said Sophie. “I always have ten minutes. I may not you have so much component that is emerging is what I would call heartfulness, the capacity always use it in the way I’d like to, but I always have five or ten minutes to give going on and for compassion, including self-compas- sion and a willingness to help others in to myself. I’m worth it.” grabbing your need.” attention. But I w was reminded that if you don’t ' w w have ten minutes, you’re too busy. Nobody should be so busy that they don’t have ten minutes. SOPHIE S. ‘19 Student, leader of the Mindfulness Club Members of Mindfulness and Meditation Club taking their skills to the community. This past year they worked with both Coleman Elementary School and Sun Valley Elementary to share their practice with 4th and 5th graders. 29 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
CLASS NOTES CHARTING THE COURSE CLASS NOTES 76 Ellen Haller writes, “After 30 years on the full-time faculty in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, I retired as of 6/30/18. It was wonderful to celebrate retirement by completing the AIDS/LifeCycle for my sixth time; this 545 mile, 7 day w ' fundraising bike ride from SF to LA raised over $16 million this year! My medical career started just as the AIDS epidemic began, and I’m thrilled that I can do at least a little bit to help combat it even all these decades later.” | Peter Tempel shares that he’s “Retired and loving life. w w Lots of music, some travel, a little romance, old and new friends. Blessed to be in my ancestral home. My advice for life is to choose wise ancestors! Due to meditation and surrounding myself with kind people, I’m finding joy and losing weight. To MA Community members who are engaged in important work for those less fortunate, I’m eager to participate. Like my wise ancestors, I choose egalitarian efforts that make us grateful again!” | Chris Conrad is “Still removing honey bees from walls, teaching bees, up here in Santa Rosa. Business is booming after Ellen, and her wife, Joanne, while on the AIDS/LifeCycle. 11 years getting my name known. Service all Bay Area. Going through the change from married life, to single life, again. This time though, much easier, but not easy. One son at USC completing masters of Architecture degree, and the other, a union mechanic fixing dozers at the dump in HMB. Fishing salmon out of Bodega off my boat occasionally. Couldn’t be more grateful for all of it!” Chris Conrad’s big wall hive—a whopper! 30 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Wellness in the Community Anwen Baumeister ’12 Anwen Baumeister ‘12 recently had now. “I would not be where I am today ships between different people and the opportunity to use her acquired without Peter Poutiatine and all of the between people and the earth.” Anwen knowledge, experience, and training Outings leaders. Trixie Sabundayo and has observed that people are hungry gained through her vast MA experienc- Nancy Hoffman also greatly expanded for healthy food rooted in cultural es and world travel and funnel it all into and challenged my world views and lineages, hungry for real connections the proud ownership of a wellness café influenced how I relate to social justice between themselves and other people, located in Oakland: The Well. and politics today. Randy Paufve and and hungry for a place where anyone Stephanie Ballas were instrumental in can walk through the door and feel at Anwen lives near her old MA hood on my creative process through dance home. “Part of my journey is being able a medicinal herb farm she started a few and other creative forms. Sanjai Moses, to turn a lineage of scarcity into one of years ago but her journey to where she Joani Lacey, and Charis Denison were abundance for myself, my family, and is today started at an early age. “I was all wonderful mentors in the realms my community.” born and raised in a Chinese American of community building and human household where community, wellness, Anwen’s favorite at The Well—and the w ' relations.” and healing foods were a central part of most popular? The karma bowl and Chinese culture. Growing up, my mom After graduating, Anwen went to karma drink, which are “pay-what-you- always cooked healthy food with Chi- American University in DC and majored can” options in order to keep healthy nese medicines boiling on the stovetop in International Studies and minored food accessible to the entire commu- and aspirin tossed in the trash. Com- in Dance. She took a semester off w w nity. munity, wellness, and healing foods are and backpacked through Argentina, also a central part of my family’s survival Chile, and Costa Rica, where she was You can find more info about The Well’s story. During the Chinese Cultural able to work on different farms and menu and offerings at www.thewell- Revolution (on my mom’s side) and the be a part of various communities. She cafe.com. Great Depression (on my dad’s side), also spent a semester abroad in New both sides of my family stayed alive by Zealand and worked for 5 months on growing their own food and taking care a farm. Through studying international of one another.” development, the phrase that most resonated with her was, “Think global, Anwen’s journey continued its widening act local.” Anwen says, “I saw a lot of path at MA where the Outings program harm done from folks going to other served as a major influence. “The Author Kier Holmes ’89 enjoyed developing countries thinking that they Outings program first introduced me to photography and various knew how to “fix” the issues and only permaculture, farming, and reciprocal outdoor adventures offered at ended up making them worse because relationship with nature. It was also Marin Academy. Kier went on to they didn’t truly know the context. I through this program where I learned graduate from UC Berkeley in wanted to return to where I’m from and how to be in a community of peers Social Science and first became dive deep into the community context and other living beings.” And it was an advertising copywriter and now and see how I could be most effective.” on her senior year Vision Quest where a landscape designer and garden Anwen first drew up plans to have her Today Anwen’s passion and goal is to educator. Currently she is also a own permaculture farm. Not surpris- turn her newly acquired health-oriented contributing writer for Gardenista, ingly, numerous MA teachers inspired café into “a space facilitating healing, Sunset and Marin Magazine. Anwen to do what she is accomplishing reconnection, and reciprocal relation- 31 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. 2016 201831 NEXUSNEXUS
CLASS NOTES A B A Amy and Sabra in La Paz Mexico, May 2018. Amy Karen Wise ’78 and Sabra Droham ‘78 B Jacqueline Bach-y-Rita ’79 C Stephen with wife Ritsuko and children Chiyori, Taiki and Kento. C Stephen Morse ’88 w ' 79 86 88 Mark Battat says, Pam Greenberg Stephen Morse “I was given a writes, “After shares that “the w w phenomenal opportunity to work spending years as a teacher, writer and Morse family has been busy with two the Southern California market for G2 translator, I went back to school and of their children Chiyori and Taiki at Insurance where I’ve been since we got a counseling degree. I now work MCDS, and Kento starting kindergarten opened the doors in 2012. I still get primarily with struggling teenagers, next year. This summer they spent 6 back to the Bay Area every 4 - 6 weeks but also with kids and adults. My son, weeks in Japan going to school and for client and office meetings and, of Gabriel, is now 10, and is a great light learning Japanese. Stephen has started course, to see my family. I’m having a in my life. From time to time we play his own Consulting company and is ball!” | Jacqueline Bach-y-Rita writes, soccer together, and I have coached a teacher in training for mindfulness “I enjoyed tasting raw cocoa beans in many of his teams throughout the based emotional intelligence program, Kauai this winter!” years. We also have a new puppy, Search Inside Yourself (SIYLI), while Willy, a mini golden doodle. We live in Ritsuko is studying with a Japanese Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I am ceramic master to learn a specific 81 Anne Chaitin shares, intermittently politically active, trying ancient pottery technique. | Anastacia “After landing a to do what I can to restore the country Maggioncalda writes “We had a lovely contract job last to sanity (and aware that I’m not doing Class of ‘88 get together in Sausalito August, I was offered enough). I often think about the many this past July. Fun to catch up with a permanent job with the company. I things I got from Marin Academy, those who were able to attend! (Even a am now an Accounting Manager and including a love of nature, a passion few from other classes!)” I continue to volunteer with the San for social justice, and an appreciation Francisco Ballet.” for beauty in literature and the arts. Wishing the best to all of you. Keep on pursuing your dreams!” 32 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
89 Kier Holmes writes, “I am learning to wear many hats these days: I’m a landscape designer but now also a contributing writer for Marin Magazine, Sunset Magazine and Gardenista, besides being a garden educator at the Mill Valley Library, and a mom and wife. I remind myself that nature prefers diversity.” 90 Michelle Katz writes, “My best friend Anne Lamoreaux got married to my husband’s best friend, Scott Anderson, on July 14, 2018.” | Joanna Nelson says hello to all and shares that, “I work for myself in research and consulting at LandSea Science, and I’ve been having a full summer. I went to South Africa in June: w ' to Cape Town for an “Adaptation Futures” climate-adaptation conference, where I presented, and then on to Rhodes University in Grahamstown, where I have an w w honorary research appointment and a wonderful collaborator in a current project on protected lands in mountain headwaters that bolster freshwater supplies downstream. I had one full day of vacation to myself during the trip and I went on safari, which was extraordinary. I also honored the life of my sister, Kirstin Nelson ‘92 by hiking in a nature reserve with two South African friends; we hiked 21 km along the coast, honoring and blessing Kirstin’s 20-year death anniversary. Still in Santa Cruz with my family; our Michelle Katz’ daughter, Brooke, with Anne Lamoreaux at the wedding on July 14. children are 11 and 8 years old. I’m wishing Happy July birthdays to Katie Warfield ‘92 and Beau Leonhart, amazing retired math teacher!” | Joanna also shares that, “Kimberley Cooper Kissoyan ‘91 takes a road trip with her three sons almost every summer from Austin, TX and she came to visit us!” 33 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
CLASS NOTES A Kimberley Cooper Kissoyan with her sons Simon, Aris & Edwin, and Joana Nelson’s family, husband Yair, son Leor and daughter Aolani.” B Thessaly Lerner’s animated series, Astrid Strudelman. C Mesoamerican ruins in Mexico (April, 2018) Eric Wiesen ‘93. A C B w ' 92 93 Scott Porter has Adrian West writes, a class of first graders at Camellia been having a busy “Aiden (almost Waldorf School in Sacramento, CA. year, “starting my 5) became a big After eight profoundly rich years w w own Architectural and Landscape photography business brother to Owen on June 12th.” | Eric Wiesen says, “2018 together, I graduated my class on June 9th. Now my students, some of whom (SCP Digital), as well as being elected has been a strange and wondrous year started with me in first grade, are off President of the alumni association for the Wiesen family. Lots of travel to high school! The culmination of of the fraternity I joined at Cal Poly, (Mexico City, France in June with Jeff our journey included an amazing 8th San Luis Obispo - Delta Upsilon. I Wiesen ‘98 and David Wiesen ‘95, grade class trip which began with an have been living and working in Marin sort of), NYC with our kids Elliot (7) Amtrak train ride to Utah for rafting on County for the past 15 years, and I and Lyra (5), lots of wondering about the San Juan River and volunteering wouldn’t have it any other way!” | what’s happening to the world. Work on a Navajo reservation. The joy of Thessaly Lerner writes, “Hi friends! My continues to be great, as Bullpen the season continued as my husband, animated series, Astrid Strudelman, Capital raised our fourth venture capital Denis, and I set off on a month-long the Unicorn Whisperer, is now on fund. Look forward to being more summer tour of Italy and Switzerland Dreamworks TV’s Amazon Prime connected to MA in the year to come.” to celebrate the end of eight beautiful Channel. I created, wrote, produced, years with my class and our 7-year directed, cast and starred in it, and anniversary.” | Jason Rezaian writes, 94 continue to create/pitch animated Amber (Proaps) “2018 has already been a very full year. shows. I have a cameo in the movie Fitts shares “In In January I returned to work full time Sorry To Bother You and am creating/ summer of 2010, at The Washington Post. I have moved writing an audio preschool series about I completed my from news to opinions and am enjoying the Ukulady and Unicorndog, launching training as a Waldorf grades teacher the shift so much. I also started a side in 2019.” and began an eight-year journey with hustle as a contributor 34 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
at CNN. Yegi and I are adjusting to our caregiving. The growing-up-fast kid in ago called Epic and chase unusual lives in DC, we bought house in the question, Caliandra, is now fully 8 years stories around the world. At one point, city, she her first job in the U.S. (as the of age and dabbles with increasing I tracked down an art thief in Italy and Communication Director at the World competence in the circus, musical, and he taught Kali how to rob a palazzo in Affairs Council, DC) and I’m putting the theatrical arts.” Venice. She took notes.” finishing touches on my book about my time in Iran. It will be out in late January 96 97 2019. Ellie (Argilla) Annie Showalter Vargas says, “Hello O’Connor writes, classmates! I am “Annie Schowalter 95 Josh Knox finally emerging O’Connor and writes, “Western from the fog of raising young children Brendan O’Connor are happily Massachusetts is (emergING, not yet fully emergED). I’ve celebrating their 7th wedding still too far from recently transitioned out of the job I’ve anniversary this fall; gardening, hiking, campus to attend reunions, but we held for more than eight years to focus and surfing in their free time. Brendan have enjoyed seeing Dylan Sears and entirely on my private psychotherapy works as an independent architectural family during this stretch while they are practice while cultivating a new sheetmetal contractor in West Marin, near in CT. We also had the pleasure business I started this year: Bay Area and Annie is co-founder and chief client of seeing Cindi Stephan ‘94, Ben Center for Immigration Evaluations. officer of milk+honey where she helps Hartshorne and Willow Regnery ‘96 I look forward to this change of pace companies to create strategic adoption on a brief trip to California early this and the challenges and rewards it is plans for AI and machine learning summer. I continue to work as a park sure to bring!” | Joshua Davis shares, (www.milkandhoney.ai/).” ranger for The Trustees, the oldest land “I’ve been traveling a lot with my kids w ' trust in the US. My wife, Brita, continues lately. Kali is 11 and Kirin is 8 and it’s the excitement of juggling part-time fun to see the world through their teaching, consulting, and primary kid- eyes. I started a magazine a few years w w D 8th Grade Graduation - Amber Fitts with student Cece at Camellia Waldorf School, Sacramento, CA. E Joshua Davis reporting a story in Jerusalem with his daughter, Kali. F Annie Showalter O’Connor with husband, Brendan O’Connor. D E F 35 MARIN ACADEMY Think. Question. Create. NEXUS 2018
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