Shamrock Spring 2012

Published for the Chandler School Community

SPRING 2012 VOLUME XXII NUMBER 1

shamrock

2 Self-Expression and Creativity at Chandler

12 Alumni Day 2012

16 Class Notes

18 Jessica Austin ’06

20 Matt Kohorst ’03

22 South Campus Campaign

23 Welcome & Farewell

24 From the Development Office

Table of ConTenTs

Chandler School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

missionThe mission of Chandler School is to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment. We strive to have our students gain a love of learning, a means of thinking independently and an ability to work collaboratively. A Chandler education seeks to develop good character, self-reliance and a commitment to community in students as a foundation for academic and personal success.

goalsTo uphold the Chandler tradition of academic excellence and intellectual discipline in a program that develops the mind, body and spirit. To promote respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, which are the core values of our school community.

To foster an educational environment that values and communicates respect for racial, religious, cultural and economic differences.

To serve the greater community, in recognition that as much is given to us, much is expected from us.

shamrockPUBLIShEd fOR thE ChaNdLER SChOOL COMMUNIt y

www.ChaNdLERSChOOL.ORGSPRING 2012

Message froM The head of sChool

T he highest quality education must offer experiences that prepare students for what comes next. As a K-8 school we plan for our students to discover themselves as people of character, learners,

artists and athletes before they enter high school. As I write this, our eighth grade class is finding out where they will be attending high school. Twenty-three members of the class of 2012 are lifers: They joined us in kindergarten and have shared the past nine years together at Chandler. They know each other like siblings. In several poignant conversations, our soon-to-be graduates have described their ambivalent feelings of being ready to move on knowing that their Chandler years are ending and new schools and new friendships beckon. (To prevent ‘senioritis’ they have been gently reminded that there is work to be done before the curtain falls on their Chandler careers and they should not check out beforehand. They still have several projects to keep them engaged.)

Unless they study for their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the same university, the nine years they spend at Chandler will be longest amount of time they spend in any educational institution. As they transition to become Chandler alumni, we take a keen interest in their progress through school and through life.

This edition of the Shamrock profiles several alumni and soon-to-be alumni who have taken the communication skills, dispositions and knowledge nurtured and learned at Chandler and applied them in a variety of creative endeavors. We like to think they are exceptionally typical. The love of learning, means of thinking independently and ability to work collaboratively that we express in Chandler’s mission are evident in their work.

Providing students with the means to express themselves clearly is a timeless goal of schools that probably started when young Greek scholars first read Homer. Teaching Chandler students to write and speak clearly is central to our traditional academic purpose as well as being a foundation for creativity. In this enlightened digital age, students who are creative and expressive and possess a facility with technology and social networking are, for want of a better term, highly marketable commodities.

As proud as we are of our product, there is nothing finished about a Chandler graduate. They remain works in progress with the wherewithal to advocate for themselves and make an impact on the world by applying the creative skills they learned here.

Most sincerely,

John Finch Head of School

This edition of the Shamrock profiles several alumni and soon-to-be alumni who have taken the communication skills, dispositions and knowledge nurtured and learned at Chandler and applied them in a variety of creative endeavors. We like to think they are exceptionally typical.

shamrock SPRING 2012 1

Kindergarten students sand down their shaped wood blocks

in Johnson Courtyard during art class.

Is this tooooooo small to be photo captions? Hahaha tell me about it. Otherwise be silent forever! Woo hahah!Mr. Chatham works with seventh-grade students on their pencil technique,

demonstrating different grips and amounts of pressure.

C handler Middle School students celebrate Pi Day on or near March 14 each year. (March 14 is 3-14, or 3.14: Pi). Students

and faculty wear Pi Day t shirts, there’s an abundance of pies available to sample during lunch and a math-themed assembly is held after lunch. During the assembly, students present math concepts in various forms: skits, songs, posters, videos and more. Among the offerings this year was a life-sized Barbie doll made to scale by seventh-grade students using cardboard, balloons and packing tape, demonstrating the doll’s proportional impossibility. The students even took a moment in the assembly to chide the unrealistic body image the doll suggests to young girls.

Pi, diameter, circumference and scale are all fairly standard concepts for a teenaged student. However, the ability to express these concepts in a variety of mediums–video production, writing and, in the case of the Barbie doll, the extensive use of packing tape–shows a more comprehensive mastery of the material and the inspiration to present mathematical concepts in a uniquely visual manner.

Self-expression and creativity have always been timeless traits, but they are becoming even more crucial skills in the 21st century. In his book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future, bestselling author Daniel Pink argues that a master’s degree in fine arts is the new MBA.

From kindergarten through eighth grade,

Mrs. Leese helps a seventh-grader refine her technique on the pottery wheel in the new "3D" art room located beneath the gym.

Eighth grade math teacher Pete Carlson leads the annual Pi Day assembly.

Fourth-graders write and perform their own short plays, based on famous fairy tales.First-grade students create, identify and recreate patterns using colored shapes.

Chandler meets the challenge of developing students who are capable and confident communicators. According to Assistant Head of School Dan Greenwood, this is very much by design. “Critical thinking, time management and technical know-how are all very important traits in Chandler graduates,” says Dr. Greenwood. “But without the ability to express complex ideas, draw connections between different subjects and convey emotions, those attributes have limited value. That’s why so much emphasis is placed on creativity throughout the school.”

Characteristic of Chandler, creativity and self-expression are developed in each student by way of a thoughtfully structured, linear foundation. Students build developmentally appropriate skills within well-defined parameters as they proceed through the school. Expressing creativity in a structured environment keeps students grounded and provides greater educational benefits, explains Greenwood. “Rules and structure are necessary for true, practical creativity–even if those rules are bent or broken in the process.”

T his synthesis of structure and creativity is most evident in the visual and performing arts. Visual arts teachers Jane Leese and Travis Chatham

present a sequential curriculum that exposes students to techniques and mediums with which they can explore and innovate. Once presented with a lesson and shown the relevant mechanics, students are given assignments in the form of problems that require solutions. Students apply the newly learned mechanics and create solutions. As students accumulate more mechanical abilities, they


Kindergarten students recite a poem before launching into song during the Holiday Concert.

A second-grade student presents her dinosaur diorama to the class.Seventh-graders present cooking shows in Spanish class, demonstrating

how to make an authentic dish entirely in Spanish. The presenters had to

f ield questions, too.

Rachel Foullon ’92

Rachel has been practicing visual art since she moved to New York City 16 years ago, creating sculpture primarily from wood and sewn and dyed canvas. In addition to her work in New York, Rachel regularly exhibits at ltd los angeles, a gallery on Sunset Boulevard, and has had work shown in the United Kingdom, Italy and in many eastern states in the U.S. Her first solo museum exhibition at the University Art Museum at Albany, New York will debut in September. The foundation for Rachel’s professional creative pursuits was developed at Chandler School. “It was at Chandler that I first acquired the incredible and addicting satisfaction of seeing an involved artistic production through, from start to finish—being part of an effort that feels larger than myself,” she says. “At Chandler I was allowed to develop my communication skills in my own way and at my own pace,” says Rachel. “That was important for me, since I remember myself to have been shyer than some of my peers. I was able to develop my artistic inclinations by taking art classes by way of the electives we were allowed to choose. In retrospect, I’m surprised that I had the guts at the time to participate in afterschool drama, but I remember feeling encouraged to perform, specifically by Vernon Hill.”

Visual artist

hIGh SChOOL: westridge SchoolCOLLEGE: New york UniversityGRadUatE SChOOL: Columbia University

become more apt to originate solutions both in and out of art class. A 2002 study by the Arts Education Partnership in Washington, D.C. showed that students who study art are able to apply the observational skills learned in art class to enhance their observations in science class.

“Art is a mode of expression. It’s all about making choices and problem solving,” says Leese. She and Chatham emphasize confidence in each student’s creativity. “The aim,” Leese says, “is not to have the students producing adult-level art; it’s for them to have self-assurance in their creative instincts. I want them to learn the different elements of art and to appreciate the value of expression and telling a story.”

The embodiment of these creative instincts is on display during portrait assignments done early in in the year

at each grade level. The portraits develop and evolve through the grade levels as students master motor skills, learn different techniques and approaches and, just as importantly, as their own self-images evolve.

By Middle School, students are deconstructing design and exploring the choices artists make. Eighth grade is the sculpture year. “For many of our students, eighth grade art is the last visual art course they’ll take. I want them to be able to go to a museum and identify the materials and approaches of works of art. I want them to understand that art is about more than making something look real. It’s about ideas and concepts–shaking it up,” says Leese.

Performing arts teachers Will Salmon and Sue Sharp, too, are more concerned with fostering the students’ creative appetites than developing virtuosic performers. They go about this in a similar way–by providing a clear structure. “Students need to be given a framework in which to create, where the problem-solving element is highlighted and the quality of the finished product

www.ChaNdleRSChool.oRG4

A first-grade student during the Martin Luther King, Jr. assembly.

Seventh-graders present cooking shows in Spanish class, demonstrating

how to make an authentic dish entirely in Spanish. The presenters had to

f ield questions, too.

Mezzo-soprano

hIGh SChOOL: Eagle Rock high SchoolCOLLEGE: University of RedlandsGRadUatE SChOOL: Binghamton University

erika Person ‘88

In her impressive musical career, Erika has performed with opera companies across the country. She has been regularly featured with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players and has played Carnegie Hall. Erika caught the performing bug early and recalls formative creative experiences at Chandler School. “I loved singing in the chorus with Sandra Ermey,” Erika remembers. “The variety show our class put on in eighth grade is a standout memory, too. We had pretty much total autonomy over the writing of the show. We did a lot of comedy sketches. One of my favorites involved the guys on the football team dressing up in tutus and dancing a number from Swan Lake.” The process of preparing a show is as rewarding a process for Erika as is the performance itself. She and her husband are developing a moveable concert program that combines opera and musical theater with banter and stories. While Chandler played a major role in developing Erika’s talent and ambition for musical theater, her foreign language classes were also beneficial. “French has always been my favorite and best language,” says Erika. “My studies with teachers Dennis Robbins and Jeanne Rahme came in very handy: I placed into third-year French as a freshman in college, and I still sing in French whenever I can.”

is de-emphasized,” says Sharp. “Music is a form of communication that can bring people and cultures together. Kids need to learn that aspect early, without feeling undue pressure about the quality of their performances.”

Exploring the mechanics of music allows students to apply its transcendent qualities elsewhere. “Musical knowledge gives students the framework to be expressive and to create something new, musically or otherwise,” says Sharp.

Leese and Sharp agree that establishing a clear context should always be the first step in creativity. “You can’t create in a vacuum,” says Sharp. “Putting kids in a room and telling them to be creative without structure would be like trying to write without first learning the alphabet.”

Sharp cites her lessons on the forms of classical compositions as a prime example. To address all

learning styles, students are first taught the form of a sonata or a rondo traditionally. They then listen to samples, act out the form and discuss. Fully immersed in the nuances of the form, students then create in the same form. The result of this deconstruction is a more universal understanding of structure. Sharp says she takes particular pleasure when students discover the structure they employ to write papers is mirrored in many prominent musical

pieces. This gives the students a more complete understanding of how to clearly arrange facts and thoughts.

W hile concentrated in the arts, the fostering of creativity is woven throughout the entire Chandler experience. In Lower

School, a great deal of attention is paid to laying the foundation for more sophisticated creativity. First grade teacher Christine Barry spends the first half of the year developing in her students a sound work ethic and an understanding that her classroom is a creative space. “Everything I do is patterned on helping the children


The annual Poetry Night features students reciting their poems while their artwork adorns the room.

hayden Betts ’08Co-Editor-in-Chief, the Paw Print

hIGh SChOOL: Polytechnic SchoolCOLLEGE: entering harvard University in fall 2012

A senior at Poly, Hayden spearheads multiple community service efforts, co-edits the Paw Print newspaper and is enrolling at Harvard University in the fall. Despite being a thoroughly impressive young man, he remains persistently modest. “The ability to reliably articulate my ideas is the only skill of mine I think of as notable,” he says. “I was a photographer for the paper, then a life editor, then an opinion editor, and now co-editor-in-chief,” says Hayden. “If I couldn’t communicate—if I couldn’t write—I wouldn’t have done any of that. Communication is just about all you are judged by at the Paw Print.” In addition to journalism, Hayden uses his communicative skills to advocate for various causes. One example is a free tutoring program for motivated high school students from Blair, Pasadena, Muir and Crown City high schools in Pasadena Unified School District, hosted by a Pasadena nonprofit called Day One. Hayden, along with his teachers and classmates, tutors all levels of students two evenings a week. “I gave a tearjerker kind of speech about the program at a

morning meeting, and there were 35 people who wanted to sign up to tutor immediately,” says Hayden. “I did my best to harness that momentum and have had the pleasure of running the program for the past year and a half.” Another example is a collaboration with fellow Poly senior and Chandler alumnus Daniel Leon ’08. Both are working on building a tractor from Open Source Ecology’s plans. The tractor will be donated to the South Central Farmers Cooperative for use on their 120-acre farm in Shafter, CA. Hayden and Daniel gave a talk about the tractor project in front of the school, and within four hours had raised nearly $2000 in cash and pledges. “That shows how powerful words are. At the time of that presentation, Daniel and I hadn’t done anything concrete. We just had an idea and a Powerpoint.” Hayden credits Chandler for putting him on the path for a superlative high school career. “Chandler is entirely responsible for kicking me in the pants to begin the process of developing every academic skill I have,” he says. “My education there was hard, but I can confidently say that I went in with a little kid brain and came out with a wonderful understanding of so many things about the world. Chandler was a decisive moment for me, whereas at Poly I have only set forth into pathways that Chandler opened up.”

succeed. I lay a groundwork for everything I teach so students can master it quickly,” says Barry. “That kind of confidence is paramount. It transfers to their ability to be imaginative and communicative.”

Students are given a chance every week in Barry’s class to stand up and tell two jokes. “Most of the time,” Barry says honestly, “the jokes aren’t funny. But as the year progresses, the children get better material and smooth out their deliveries.” Students become increasingly comfortable standing up and speaking in front of the room and learn that a well-timed joke can be an effective icebreaker.

Exposure to public speaking is a primary way in which a student can become an assured, expressive communicator, and it’s a major element of Chandler’s program. Chandler students become poised, clear and confident presenters through the consistent expectation of public speaking from kindergarten through eighth grade.

“Students are taught to make direct eye contact with their audience, whether in school or in their daily lives,” says fifth grade teacher Bev Jacobson. “It builds character. The children take pride in how they stand, how they look, how they speak and in their overall

A seventh-grade student writes in English class.



When Ben was a freshman at Harvard, he had a natural inclination to join the Crimson based in part on the passion for research and writing that had begun at Chandler. Enhancing this inclination was the fact that Chandler alumnus Max Child ’02 was then the president of the Crimson. Since joining, Ben has worked on both the business and writing sides of the Crimson, and is now the president, making two of the last four Crimson presidents Chandler alumni. While he is certainly qualified to continue his journalistic pursuits after he graduates, Ben is keeping his post-college plans open. “I’m still working it out. In another time, I may have gone into journalism, but I’m thinking about something in the business world,” he says. Ben applied his creative streak to a business venture while a fifth-grader at Chandler. He recalls his time in Robert Greco’s class. “He had Greco dollars—prizes that were given out for answering questions correctly, completing certain tasks well and other things,” says Ben. “Toward the beginning of the year, I set out to be the Greco dollar magnate, and I set up a business plan by which to make it happen. “In class you were given a few mid-class bathroom visits per week for free, and after that you had to start paying in Greco dollars if you wanted to leave in the middle of class,” explains Ben, acknowledging the silliness of this endeavor. “Needless to say, there were people who had to use the bathroom and didn’t have the money. I provided that medium. I would say the majority of money I made that year came, more or less, from extorting classmates who needed Greco Dollars.” Godfather-like diversions aside, Ben fondly recalls his time at Chandler. “Some of the best teachers I’ve ever had were at Chandler, and it helped shape me into the person I am today,” he says, adding advice for current students. “It’s tough to do while you’re a student, and I still haven’t fully realized it yet, but the Chandler experience is an extraordinary one, so appreciate the opportunities that you have.”

Ben Samuels ‘05President, 139th guard of the harvard Crimson

hIGh SChOOL: Polytechnic SchoolCOLLEGE: harvard University

presentation, at any occasion upon which they are called to deliver a speech of any kind.” At school, these occasions range from telling a joke in Ms. Barry’s room to addressing the entire school during a Friday morning all-school assembly. “Public speaking helps students face their fears. The sense of achievement of a successful speech eventually overrides the case of nerves suffered beforehand,” says Jacobson.

Writing is another highly emphasized mode of expression and creativity. The development of writing skills starts in kindergarten. Teachers ask cause-and-effect questions to which the students reply orally while the teacher writes on the board. Each grade thereafter builds upon the idea of students formulating a statement and providing proof to support it.

By their last semester of eighth grade, students are writing five paragraph essays that constructively prove a thesis. Creative writing and journal assignments are incorporated to encourage a more expressive voice. As students develop their voices and style, their writing begins to stand out as it becomes more advanced and highly individual.

Another element of Chandler’s K-8 program that fosters creativity is the nine-year study of Spanish. The skills students develop in Spanish are concomitant with English and serve to enhance their faculties with language.

“A kindergartner learns to convey and receive messages in another language by experimenting and making mistakes,” says sixth grade Spanish teacher and Foreign Language Department Chair Amy Cote. “They are less fearful of making mistakes in this new language because they do it on a daily basis in their own native tongue. They start to develop a variety of strategies such as

nonverbal and mnemonic techniques to help them communicate more effectively.

“Or, take the subjunctive,” says Cote. “The whole concept of doubt and/or emotional need is something most native English speakers don’t think about, because the subjunctive is disappearing. ‘I want you to do something,’ or ‘I hope she wins.’ When they learn Spanish, the subjunctive becomes a factor, and makes students aware of another subtlety of language. It enables them to better express themselves.”

Sixth-graders exchanged Dia de los Muertos trading

cards with their kindergarten buddies.


Fifth-graders get creative with their book reports.

After interning at the Wall Street Journal’s Los Angeles bureau following college, Nick was hired as an entry-level news assistant in New York. He started by penning a weekly roundup column and since that time has gone on to cover two of the most notable national stories of the past few years. In 2008, Nick was given the opportunity to travel with the Obama campaign for several months as part of the paper’s Presidential election coverage. Then, after the election, Nick joined the Journal ’s real estate bureau where, in addition to covering broader housing market issues, he writes about mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “I’ve always been interested in writing,” says Nick, who as a student at Georgetown edited the college newspaper and interned at the Los Angeles Times’ Washington bureau. “That’s something many teachers at Chandler helped to cultivate. I remember having to research and write reports on various historical figures and events for Chandler teachers Steve Morrison and Phyllis Everett.” Nick is also effusive about working on the Chandler yearbook in Middle School. “I had the chance to edit the yearbook in eighth grade with many other classmates, and I remember we put a lot of work into laying out the pages over the course of the year.” By year’s end, Nick saw the finished product as the culmination of the many small decisions and collaborations over the year. “Most of what I produce these days gets discarded as soon as it’s written—that’s the nature of news. But we’re still trying to form impressions, tell stories and shape the way our readers view the world. The yearbook, though it went to a much smaller audience, did the same thing: told stories, built a narrative and perhaps left a final impression on the way people remember their grade school days.”

Nick Timiraos ’98Reporter, Wall Street Journal

hIGh SChOOL: Loyola high SchoolCOLLEGE: Georgetown University

A s students reach Middle School, their increased facilities are matched with additional opportunities for creativity and

self-expression. The one-to-one laptop program affords students a variety of new occasions to apply the skills they’ve acquired.

Laptops are not the end game of the creative groundwork laid in the Lower School, but rather are an organic extension of that work, says Director of Academic Technology Anneke Emerson. “Students flex their creative muscles with video, music and art presentations made on their laptops,” says Emerson.

“Their 21st century creations are infused with the timeless elements of story telling, structure and data analysis they’ve developed since Lower School. The laptops don’t nullify the skills students have developed; they simply provide another platform for those skills.”

Seventh-grade students in Ashley Laird’s English class explore both traditional and contemporary methods of self-expression through a variety of assignments. Students craft essays in the vein of “This I Believe,” a well-known National Public Radio series. Students then set their stories to images and music in a “This I Believe” video, which is shown in class.

Laird’s poetry unit explores self-identity through language. Students write 16 poems on topics ranging from current events to childhood memories. They read famous poems in class and then write a poem mimicking the theme and style of the poems they discussed in class. “Many of the students use poetry as a way to remember those who are no longer with us, to honor those special people in their lives and capture memories of their childhood,” says Laird.

“I created this unit with the intention of giving the students a voice that is heard through imagery and metaphors. The students have a raw voice that is not yet tainted; I see some of the most original lines in these poems,” says Laird. At the end of the unit, students revise their poems from her suggestions, make a book of the poems and host a poetry night.

In subjects that may appear less conducive to creativity on the surface, Chandler teachers take pride in original presentations and unique assignments. In

A character from the game "Angry Birds,"

as graphed by DeeDee Logan '11 and

Justina Lin '11.


Public speaking is a major element of Chandler's curriculum.

A first-grade student writes in Christine Barry’s classroom.

John has been a major player in the space where media, technology and culture meet. He has founded or co-founded online, conference, magazine and other media businesses. Before founding Federated Media Publishing, he was the Bloomberg chair in Business Journalism for the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. He was Chairman and CEO of Standard Media International, publisher of The Industry Standard and TheStandard.com. Prior to that, he was a co-founding editor of Wired magazine and Wired Ventures. John’s first book, The Search, chronicled the history of Google and became an international bestseller, published in 25 languages. He is currently writing his second book, What We Hath Wrought. Federated Media Publishing exposes unique online voices to a broader audience. John’s website says the company came about when he saw a new form of media emerging “that needed a new economic and technological platform,” before cheekily adding that Federated Media has “raised $60 million and is profitable and just killing it.”

John Battelle ’79founder and Chair, federated Media Publishingauthor of The Search and the forthcoming What We Hath Wrought

hIGh SChOOL: Polytechnic SchoolCOLLEGE: University of California, Berkeley

John credits Chandler School’s emphasis on language and values as beneficial to his success. “Chandler encouraged out-of-the-box thinking, emphasized reading and writing, and imbued a sense of fair play and honesty,” says John. “Those core values have really helped me in my career.” In particular, the reading and writing aspects of John’s time at Chandler have been fundamental and critical skills in his life’s work. “I’d never be able to lead without good communications skills–meaning I couldn’t have started companies, or certainly become a writer,” says John. “Writing is how I understand problems. It’s how I figure things out. If I don’t write, I don’t learn.”

Pete Carlson’s eighth grade math class, students couple their creative spirits to math equations and graph art. Sixth grade science teacher J.J. Newman last year started a science fair, allowing her students to present an Earth science experiment they execute. Students create posters and learn how to visually present an experiment

with photographs, drawings and an overall sensitivity to crafting an effective display.

Creativity is brought into play in physical education as well, from third graders turning the field into a driving range

with wiffle balls and plastic golf clubs to the skateboard, unicycle and circus units. By making P.E. classes about more than running the fastest or throwing the hardest, Athletic Director Bill Anderson allows different students to excel in different ways. “We try to be creative and challenge the kids to find the things they can do,” says Anderson. “We have yet to have a kid who can do everything. Some kids get caught up at juggling, some at the rope climb, some elsewhere. It keeps the playing field level.”

T he prevalence of creativity is in part due to the particular age group of Chandler students. “At this age, they are still willing to be involved

and stand up and engage with the material in a fun way,” says eighth grade history teacher Kate Pomeroy. Pomeroy incorporates games and physicality into her lessons to engage the multiple modalities of learning in her students. “They’re at an age where they’re starting to think abstractly and merge high-level thinking with the desire to be active class participants,” she says. “They’re not yet afraid to be foolish and get excited about being creative.”

For performing arts teacher Sharp, the age of Chandler students makes producing the plays and musicals much


Eighth-grader Coreen Grant carries an impressive reserve of creative energy. “Ever since I can remember I’ve been writing openings to stories that, for the most part, I never finish because I come up with another idea I like better and move on,” she says. “I still have old notebooks filled with babblings, which I laugh at now.” She has moved well beyond her notebooks and is presently writing a novel, which she hopes will be at least 150 pages. “Coreen is a brilliant writer,” opines English teacher Donna Dretzka. “She has a fertile imagination that leaps from page to page. Her prose soars. Her writing demonstrates precocious talent and an innate sense of the possibilities of language. She is the rare student who seems to be divinely inspired to write. I have a very good

Coreen Grant ’12hIGh SChOOL: Entering Polytechnic School in fall 2012

feeling about her future as a writer and artist.” When Coreen isn’t writing, she’s drawing. “In art, drawing is what I practice and enjoy the most. That’s probably because painting is so much messier,” she says. As Coreen became more sophisticated in writing and drawing, she began to integrate the two by drawing scenes from her stories or creating a story from a drawing. “Chandler has really boosted my confidence,” says Coreen. “If I have any questions, the teachers are always attentive and open-minded. They offer time after school or between classes to help anyone who asks for it, and that has definitely enhanced my abilities. The community has let me be myself without worrying what others might think. I can try new things, including sports as well as creative pursuits, without holding back.” “Coreen is a student who considers her options and then moves on them. She is very thoughtful and deliberate in her work,” says visual art teacher Jane Leese. “Her craftsmanship is impeccable. I admire students like Coreen.”

For Bruce Caulk, the presence of mind to pursue to a long and established career in a field he loves comes from his time at Chandler. “Maybe it came from all of the on-field success we had, or Mr. Chandler’s choice of teachers, but I never considered going to school as work or had that ‘TGIF’ weekly relief,” says Bruce. “For eight years I enjoyed my education, and I think that’s partially why I’m in a career I love. My profession is my passion, and I think those days at Chandler set the standard for my life choices to come.”

Bruce Caulk ’74 CHS ’78Emmy winning writer/director; President of Intelliscape films

hIGh SChOOL: Chandler high School, flintridge Prepartory SchoolCOLLEGE: USC, Royal academy of the arts

For the past ten years, Bruce has helmed Intelliscape Films, a motion media communications company that specializes in combining entertainment with education to produce motion pictures for corporate use. As a writer, director and producer, Bruce has been involved with NCAA football broadcasts, situation comedies, documentaries and most recently the theatrical feature “Minkow,” starring James Caan and Ving Rhames among others.

easier, particularly in the Middle School. “They are perfect just the way they are being 13. They don’t have to compare themselves to high schoolers,” she says. “Without a high school looming over us, we don’t have to reach on material. We can perform plays that are designed for this age group.”

Giving students the tools and confidence to think creatively and express themselves effectively is a high priority. Ultimately,

the prevalence of these traits in Chandler students and graduates is owed to Chandler’s K-8 focus and an expert faculty. Pomeroy sums it up, saying, “Later in their schooling, students become more defined by their natural abilities and are less willing to explore an area that isn’t an innate strength,” says Pomeroy. “We have the right students at the right age in the right program.”


Jon is in a unique position as an alumnus: As he accumulates more and more professional experience and expertise, he brings that expertise back to the Chandler School campus through the electives he teaches. “I began teaching at Chandler during my summers in high school. I loved interacting with the kids we taught, showing them they can have fun and learn at the same time,” says Jon. When the Chandler Film Festival was launched in 2008, Jon was asked to be a judge based on his expertise. “Many of the films I watched had great ideas and amazing potential, but many of them were lacking in what I knew to be fundamental aspects of filmmaking,” says Jon. “It was like reading a clever story, but the writer didn’t understand the basics of spelling and grammar.” He mentioned this observation and before long, Jon had drafted the curriculum for a creative elective class aimed to teach some filmmaking basics. “It wasn’t far removed from teaching freshmen at USC how to work at our TV station or teaching aspiring filmmakers in LA some of the tricks of the trade on set. I’ve always found that through teaching others you refine your own skills and learn new things from your students,” he says. “While the skills I acquired at Chandler are important,

Jon Kondrath ’97director/Producer; Owner of ReKon Productions

hIGh SChOOL: flintridge Prepartory SchoolCOLLEGE: USC

my time at Chandler reached much farther than just learning facts. It instilled in me the passion to learn, the desire to inquire, and the ability to research and problem solve. Doing this, you do learn abilities and skills, but it is the development of how to learn and structure oneself and one’s time that can be carried across any career,” says Jon. Jon caught the bug in seventh grade at Chandler, playing the munchkin coroner in The Wizard of Oz. “While there were performances prior to that in assignments and class shows, that was the first time I felt it click,” he says. Jon continued studying dramatic arts at Prep. “My sophomore year, the opportunity to produce and direct the student-produced play fell in my lap,” Jon recalls. “This introduced me to the world behind the scenes, and I realized something: why should I create and bring to life just one character, when I could create and bring to life an entire world and story?” That revelation led Jon to USC and his career now. At the end of 2008, Jon started ReKon Productions and has been building it piece by piece since. “Just recently a Chandler classmate of mine contacted me saying she was proud of me, and she was glad to see I was doing well in a career I was so passionate about. I know I haven’t made it, but I know I am on the right path,” says Jon. “Plus, I never expect to fully make it. Where’s the fun in that? I never want to think I know everything there is to know, because then you are left without ambition. I plan to continually and always learn, grow, and inspire, using the fundamentals that grew from the seeds planted throughout my nine years at Chandler.”

Caltech was recently named the world’s top university in the New Times Higher Education’s global ranking. Allison is responsible for developing the content and editorial plan for Caltech’s website and social media. She is also part of a team currently working to redesign Caltech’s website and overall online presence. After graduating from Northwestern with bachelor degrees in music and art, Allison moved to New York City where she was a member of the editorial staff at publisher W.W. Norton and Company. After five years, she returned to Southern California and joined the staff at Caltech. “My position at Caltech has given me the opportunity to apply many of the skills I learned in book publishing to online content. I’ve also had the chance to learn about the field of online communications and,

allison Benter ’92Online editor, marketing and communications, California Institute of technology

hIGh SChOOL: westridge SchoolCOLLEGE: Northwestern University

of course, about the incredible research being done at Caltech,” says Allison. For someone who reads and writes for a living, Allison’s literary career got off to a slow start. She credits her first grade teacher at Chandler School, Susan Litwin, with spotting her reading difficulties and sending her to Tim Mauldin in Chandler’s Learning Center, where Allison’s perceptual problem was discovered. Allison worked with a perceptual therapist for the next couple of years, and eventually the problem was corrected. “I will forever be grateful that this issue was identified and addressed at Chandler when I was so young” says Allison. “I easily could have slipped through the cracks and fallen terribly behind in school, but after a few years, I managed to catch up academically. Then, for the first time, I actually began to love reading! Thank you, Mrs. Litwin and the Learning Center!”


Khalilah El-Amin ’91

Trevor Anthony ’82 talks with kindergarten students in the class of 2020

Alumni Council liasons Sophie Masenga and Shawnt Bazikian toured alumni around the campus Matt Wright ’74 CHS ’78, Head of School John Finch and Laura Brown ’74

Robert Jorgensen ’10 and his father Michael chat with faculty

alumni day MarCh 29, 2012

Chandler School launched its inaugural Alumni Visiting Day on March 29 and welcomed back about 15 alumni ranging from the class of 1974 to the class of 2011 to reconnect with their peers and teachers and see firsthand the many physical changes on campus. The morning events kicked off with coffee and refreshments in Johnson Courtyard, where alumni met with Head of School John Finch, Assistant Head of School Dan Greenwood and Lower School Director Jan Gotha. Alumni then scattered across campus to visit classes in session of their choosing. At the end of the morning, the alumni visitors gathered for lunch with teachers in the new Middle School courtyard. As a capstone, tours of the new Middle School were provided after lunch by eighth grade Alumni Council liaisons Sophia Masenga and Shawnt Bazikian.

Alumni Visiting Day

Matt Gangi ’98 performs

Matt Kelsey, Brecken Armstrong-Kelsey ’91 and Geoff Arrobio ’83

Past parents Jim and Laura LaBarge ’04 and Betsy and Steve Conovitz ’04

Matt Wright ’74 CHS ’78, Chris Waldheim ’81 and Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87

Lauren Craig Albrecht ’85, past parents Jay and Linda Matthews ’87 and ’91 and Peter Stavropoulos ’82

Bonnie Glassco ’86, Doug Rausenberger, Christine Barry

and Terry Orth

Michelle and Michael Ortiz ’92

Steven Rea ’84, Maureen Madsen Short ’84

and James Collins ’84

As Alumni Visiting Day wound down, the celebration of Chandler alumni continued into the night. Both alumni and past parents returned to Chandler’s South Campus for a new twist on the annual Wine Tasting. The Gangi Band, led by Chandler alumnus Matt Gangi ’98, provided live entertainment for guests, and video performances by Chandler alumni played continuously nearby. While the audience enjoyed the musical performances, they filled their glasses with carefully-selected South American boutique wine and feasted on fabulous Latin food provided by LA’s renowned Border Grill. Special thanks to Bonnie Glassco ’86, Doug Rausenberger and Border Grill for their contributions to the evening!

Alumni CouncilThe Chandler School Alumni Council provides

leadership and defines strategies and direction for the Chandler School Alumni Association (CSAA)

through Chandler’s traditions, mission, and goals. Specifically, Council members help plan social events for the CSAA, serve as resources for the school and

its students as speakers and mentors, and assist in fundraising efforts, especially in annual giving directed to financial aid for current students. It is

the goal of the Council that through these practices, a strong and positive relationship will be fostered

within the CSAA as well as throughout the extensive Chandler community.

If you are interested in becoming a Council member, please contact Celia Heath, alumni

relations and special events coordinator at [email protected]

Alumni & Past Parent Wine Tasting and Alumni Performance Night


Young Alumni Holiday MixerA small gathering of Chandler alumni from the classes of 1995 to 2004 reunited on December 21, 2011 for a private party at Villa SORRISO in Old Town, Pasadena. The young alumni mingled with Head of School John Finch and members of the Alumni Council over a fantastic spread of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

sophie Masenga and shawnt bazikian are serving as eighth grade liaisons to the Chandler school alumni association (Csaa) and alumni Council. Masenga is a Chandler lifer and Bazikian came to Chandler in seventh grade. Both students exhibit strong leadership and interpersonal skills and are ideal choices to represent the Class of 2012 as honorary members of the CSAA until they become actual alumni this June. The student liasons are part of the Almost Alumni Program, an informative series of activities and events planned by the Alumni Office for eighth-grade students to make their transition from students to alumni easier, and to keep young alumni more engaged at Chandler School.

100 Day Celebration for Chandler’s Class of 2012The 100 Days Almost Alumni event was held on March 6 to celebrate the milestone 100 days until the Class of 2012 graduates from Chandler. The short afternoon celebration kicked off with Celia Heath, alumni relations & special events coordinator, providing a brief informational

session about alumni programming as well as guidelines for the upcoming eighth grade Time Capsule Launch. Eighth grade liaisons to the Council, Sophie Masenga and Shawnt Bazikian, presented a video montage and “top ten” list of what they will miss most about Chandler once they graduate.

Following the presentations, the Class of 2012 celebrated their remaining 100 days with shamrock-themed cupcakes and lemonade.

Alumni Council Sponsored Eighth-Grade Exam BreakfastA new Chandler alumni tradition began when the first Almost Alumni event of the year took place on December 14, 2011. The Alumni Council sponsored a nutritious pre-final breakfast for the Class of 2012 in the Johnson Library and Media Center on the South Campus. Council members passed around bagels and cereal, poured orange juice and wished the eighth-graders well on their upcoming science final.

College ConnectionThe second annual College Connection party for parents of Chandler alumni in college took place on February 28 in The Ahmanson Foundation Performing Arts Center. Over wine and dessert, the enthusiastic group of past parents helped the alumni office stuff more than 50 care packages to send to alumni in college. In honor of Chandler’s Pi Day celebration, each package included a special shamrock-shaped apple pie pop so alumni could celebrate Pi Day in Chandler style! Chandler alumni in college who did not receive care packages should report their campus mailing address to [email protected] in order to be included in next year’s mailing.


As my first year as the Alumni Council and Association president comes to an end, I am proud of the progress that the Council has made in its continued efforts to engage the Chandler alumni community at large. I feel privileged to work with such a dedicated, competent and diverse group of Chandler alumni. The Board of Trustees, the Board’s sub-committee personnel and the Alumni Council–all volunteers–work collaboratively to ensure Chandler’s ongoing commitment to our mission statement while looking critically at the potential for improvement to our program. In our recently completed accreditation evaluation, this volunteer community was explicitly cited as one of Chandler’s greatest institutional strengths. This is one of the biggest reasons why Chandler has been as successful as it has for the past 61 years. The Alumni Council has worked diligently this year to thoughtfully define and re-establish the Distinguished Alumni Award, to be presented to a deserving alumnus each June during graduation. We encourage you to submit nominations for consideration. The nomination form is included in this publication and can also be found online at www.chandlerschool.org/alumni. I also am quite proud of the Alumni Council and Alumni Office for their further efforts to engage the upcoming alumni in the class of 2012. Developing strong alumni ties, especially in a K-8 school, requires a longitudinal effort to foster an environment whereby alumni participation is enthusiastically embraced as an opportunity and a privilege. The Alumni Council has made huge strides toward this goal

Message from President of the alumni garrett Calhoun ’85

through several successful events held for the eighth grade class, including the Council-sponsored finals breakfast in December, the 100 Days Almost Alumni event and the Time Capsule Launch. We have also initiated an eighth-grade Council Liaison program and are delighted to have two eighth-grade representatives present to Council members, Head of School John Finch and School Co-Founder Katie Chandler their impressions of their careers at Chandler, their experiences of being “almost alums” and their anticipations for the future. Chandler’s future benefit from these efforts is immeasurable. On behalf of the Alumni Council, I wish each of you a wonderful upcoming summer and thank you for the support you each give to Chandler School in your own unique ways. This unyielding support is as instrumental to Chandler’s successful future, as it has proved to be so essential to Chandler’s accomplished past.

Warm regards,

Garrett P. Calhoun ’85President, Alumni Council and Alumni Association

Chandler school distinguished alumni award 2012The Chandler School Alumni Association (CSAA) Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to a Chandler alumnus in recognition of outstanding achievement and unselfish dedication to his/her community. Those who are honored with this award have, through their life and work, embodied Chandler’s mission and Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.

The Chandler School Alumni Council invites nominations for this award. If you know of a Chandler alumnus or alumna whose life or work you would like to see honored with this award, please consider any of the following criteria:•Significantaccomplishmentincareerorfieldofinterest;•Excellenceinservicetothecommunityortosocietyingeneral;•Volunteerservicewhichhasinspiredothers;•EmbodimentofChandler’sSixPillarsofCharacterincludingTrustworthiness,Respect,

Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.

The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2012. Nominations will be considered confidentially by the Chandler School Alumni Council, and the award will be presented at eighth grade commencement in June.

Please submit the attached nomination card or contact Celia Heath, alumni relations and special events coordinator with nominations, questions and concerns: [email protected] | 626-795-9314 x111


Laura Brown ’74 has sold her most recent book, HOW TO WRITE ANYTHING: A Practical Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Have to Write–at Work, at School, and in Your Personal Life to W.W. Norton and will be published in 2013.

wayne Brandt ’77 is the managing director and the western regional head of the real estate capital markets group for Wells Fargo Bank. Additionally, Wayne was recently named to the Huntington Hospital Board of Directors. Wayne is also a former Chandler trustee and parent of two Chandler alumni, emily ’05 and robert ’11.

Lisa everett ’84 and her husband Daniel Chung welcomed their first child, Erik Jae Chum Everett Chung into the family. Both Daniel and Lisa are tenured professors of theoretical physics at the University of Wisconsin. Phyllis Everett, former history teacher at Chandler was thrilled to welcome her sixth grandson into the family!

andrew wang ’84 and Leslie Wang welcomed Andrew Jr. into their family on Jan. 20, 2012. Big sister Katie (age 3) was very excited to meet her brother and is learning to be a super helpful and nice big sister. Little Andrew made his first trip to Home Depot recently to buy skid pads for a stool.

Bonnie gLassco ’86 and her husband Doug Rausenberger are enjoying their two-year old son Cooper, who loves his train set, playing in the park and cooking with mom and dad in the kitchen!

Karyn KohL ’96 was recognized in Pasadena magazine for her philanthropic efforts in connection with Brighton Collectibles, a company that her parents founded when they were high school sweethearts. Karyn wants to use the popularity of Brighton Collectibles to bring public awareness to lending support for those who need help in the community.

amBer mcconneLL ’96 is making a name for herself in Hollywood these days. The successful young actress currently stars alongside Oscar nominated actor Don Cheadle in the Showtime hit series “House of Lies.” Amber has also made repeat appearances on the popular ABC teen drama, “Gr∑∑k.” You can also look for Amber in Roger Corman’s upcoming film “Camel Spiders.”

Lauren amLing ’99 graduated from the University of Southern California and is now engaged to Ramon Castillion, a Stanford graduate. The happy couple is looking forward to their August 2012 wedding.

christine sarafian ’99 is looking forward to her April wedding on a yacht in Marina Del Rey. cristy armel ’99 will be a bridesmaid in the upcoming wedding. Over the past two years Christine has been working in Pasadena as a financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management. Christine also enjoys being a member of the Chandler School Alumni Council.

shafeeq shamsid-deen Jr. ’00 works on future education policy for the state of New Mexico in the Strategic Initiatives Division of the Public Education Department. He decided to stay in the region after completing his Teach For America stint in the Navajo Nation to continue championing educational equity and ending the achievement gap that afflicts so many children. He hopes to finish his master’s in public administration this year and is working on consultant projects in his free time.

Class noteswww.ChaNdleRSChool.oRG16

max ortiz ’01 lives in San Francisco and works downtown for Hall Capital Partners in their Client Service department. Max graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2009 and earned All American honors in tennis while capturing two Division 3 National Championships during his career. Max loves living in the Bay Area and continues to stay in touch with many of his friends from Chandler. Max was a former member of the Chandler Alumni Council (Jan 2010-Dec 2011) while he was living and working in Los Angeles.

gioia Pedrini-taLeBi ’01 was married on September 9, 2011 to Tom Jacobson III. Gioia’s longtime best friend and Chandler graduate Laura Berman ’01 was there to share in the excitement as a bridesmaid. Gioia and Tom honeymooned in Italy. Gioia works as a counseling psychologist and Tom is the project manager for ReGreen, Inc. The newlyweds currently live in Long Beach, CA.

aLLison house ’03 graduated with High Honors and Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University in June of 2011. While at Wesleyan, Allison double majored in classics and music. Allison is now a student at Boston University earning a certificate in digital audio recording.

isamu mcgregor ’03 graduated from NYU in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in music with focus on jazz studies. Isamu now lives in Brooklyn and is developing quite the reputation as an accomplished jazz pianist in the New York City nightclub scene. If you don’t live in NYC and want to follow Isamu, visit his website: www.isamumcgregor.com.

Liz ortiz ’03 graduated from Trinity College with a major in art history. She was a member of the tennis team and active in her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. She spent her junior year abroad, living with a family in Barcelona, Spain. Currently, she lives in the East Village of New York City working as a client service representative for Christie’s Fine Art Auction House. She enjoys yoga and running.

Lauren zhou weinBerger ’03 graduated both magna cum ladue and Phi Beta Kappa in May of 2012 from Vanderbilt University with a double major in communication studies and Spanish. Since graduation, Lauren has been working in television production while also focusing on pageants. Lauren was also crowned Miss Chinatown LA 2012.

driss guessous ’08 signed with Ohio University and received a sports scholarship to join the Division 1 volleyball team.

Sandra Joan Winfield, past parent of christopher ’85 and Peter ’89, passed away in December 2011. Born in Clifton, New Jersey in 1943, Winfield graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. After she moved to California, she became a parishioner of St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Cañada. Winfield is survived by Christopher and Peter, her husband Thomas, her mother Johana J. Kuda, her brother Alan and her grandchildren Ethan and Liam.

david willis owen, past parent of John B. owen ’75 passed away in Pasadena in February 2012. A lifelong Pasadena resident, he was commissioned an ensign in the Navy after graduating from UCLA where he played football. For nearly 40 years Owen worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. He was an active volunteer, serving the Pasadena Southwest Little League and the Tournament of Roses. He also served as a Stephen’s Minister and Elder at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his brother John M. Owen, his daughter Carole Owen Markes and many grandchildren.

share Your news wiTh fellow Chandler aluMni!

Please send your class notes by mail, through the Chandler School Alumni Association Facebook page (facebook.com/chandleralumni) or by emailing

[email protected]. Additionally, the Chandler Alumni Office is seeking contact information of any Chandler alumni currently serving in the military. If you have any information, please share it with the Alumni Office; [email protected], 1005 Armada Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103.


Photos courtesy of John Harris, Biola Athletics


Jessica Austin ’06 is setting records as a sophomore soccer standout at Biola University and has a built-in cheering section back at Chandler–her mother is Lisa Curry Austin ’74 CHS ’78, a member of the Alumni Council, and her sister Kim ’13 is currently in seventh grade at Chandler. This season Jessica scored nine goals, the most goals by any Biola player since 2004, and added two assists, setting the pace with a team-best 20 points. She was named Player of the Week by the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) in October, and her impressive year earned her a spot on the All-GSAC team at the conclusion of the season. Jessica also was the leading scorer her junior and senior years at Maranatha, scoring an amazing 43 goals in those two years. Jessica says the transition to high school was not a challenging one. “Coming from Chandler to high school, I had a good foundation. I knew the rules to almost every sport and knew how to ride a skateboard and even a unicycle,” says Jessica. “Chandler definitely prepared me, simply by having P.E. every day.” However, the transition from high school to college proved more daunting. “That was a totally different transition–I didn’t walk on the field knowing I was the best,” she says. “Soccer became more serious. My first year was a bit of a struggle and almost made me change my mind about playing. But I stuck through it and had a great season this year.” Pushing through adversity comes in many different forms, and Jessica remembers slogging through the 20-minute jogs that were occasionally featured in Chandler P.E. “Anyone who knows me knows that jogging and I don’t get along too well,” she jokes. “What I mostly remember is dreading those 20 minutes in the gym, and coaches Bill Anderson and Robert Bethea cracking jokes as I watched the clock slowly count down.” For Jessica, the benefits of balancing academics and athletics are clear. “Being on a sports team, you learn to build relationships with your team, and that has a lot to do with character, which is something Chandler helped me build, from kindergarten to eighth grade,” she says. “Being a student-athlete can be difficult when you have a long game and then you have to come home and finish up a project. It requires some determination, but if you like the sport, stick with it and you won’t regret it!”

austin Kicks into high gear at biola Jessica austin ’06

HIGH SCHOOL: MaranathaCOLLEGE: Biola University


Photos courtesy of Jeff Jacobsen, Kansas Athletics


Matt Kohorst ’03 is a redshirt senior pitcher at the University of Kansas. As a junior at Kansas, Matt made 12 appearances out of the bullpen and went 3-0, collecting 13 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. He started the season with five straight scoreless appearances. He transferred from the University of San Diego after his freshman year and took a redshirt season his sophomore year. At LaSalle High School, Matt earned three varsity letters playing baseball. He was named the Santa Fe Most Valuable Pitcher as a junior and was first-team All-CIF his senior year. He was also the quarterback of the football team and played basketball, ultimately being named La Salle Athlete of the Year as a senior. He’s now a member of the Lancer Baseball Hall of Fame. “Chandler prepared me well for the challenges of being a student-athlete,” says Matt. “Learning from a young age that it’s important to do well in the classroom first, and then athletics, that has made being a student-athlete much easier for me.” Indeed, Matt’s accomplishments on the baseball diamond are complemented by his academic strength: He has made Kansas’ School of Business Dean’s List, made the College of Liberal Arts’ Honor Roll twice and made both the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll five times. For Matt, a major element in the progression of his athletic career has been refined time management. “It is a big difference being a student-athlete in high school to being a student-athlete in college–the time commitment in college is much more challenging,” he says. “It’s important to stay focused and on top of your academics. When the season starts, we are traveling almost every week. Balancing five classes with practice and games six days a week is not an easy task. Staying organized and not procrastinating is essential while being a student-athlete in college.” At Chandler, Matt fondly recalls the exposure to different sports and the bonds formed with the P.E. faculty, in addition to winning the football championship in eighth grade. “Some of my favorite memories playing sports were at Chandler. I loved playing all of the different sports,” he says. “One of my greatest memories is when I made a bet with Robert Bethea during bowling in P.E. I believe he didn’t think I could bowl a strike, and if I did he had to make me a milkshake. I did bowl a strike, and I got my milkshake!”

Kohorst’s numbersare low on the field, high in the Classroom

Matt Kohorst ’03HIGH SCHOOL: LaSalle High SchoolCOLLEGE: University of Kansas


PoinT CirCle($100,000 to $249,999)Lauren Craig Albrecht ’85, Michael Albrecht

and FamilyMr. and Mrs. Geoffrey C. Arrobio ’83William Bauman ’79The Chang FamilyMr. and Mrs. David ChaoClass of 2018 FamilyMr. and Mrs. Harry E. JohnstonFrank and Victoria Hu FamilyMark Kim and Jeehyun LeeBob Kohorst, Shelley Allen, Kevin Kohorst ’99

and Matthew Kohorst ’03David and Leon KuoThe LaBarge FamilyHelen and Philip LeongKen and Laura LiangGloria and Frank LinDebbie and Thomas MitchellAnna-Christine and Christopher Rising ’83Sharon and Nelson RisingThe Rivas FamilyMr. and Mrs. Daniel RothenbergMr. and Mrs. John L. RouseTed and Lori SamuelsKathy and Karl SwaidanMarianne and Matt Wright ’74 CHS ’78

Tower CirCle($50,000 to $99,999)Ashwin and Sushma AdarkarAnonymous (2)Monte and Meghan BaierJoseph BalthazarBob and Tamara Bowne FamilyDrs. Dale Daniel and Sharon YeeMichelle and Steven DelarosaKarle and Rick DickersonKay and Alex DurairajChris and Sarah DusseaultDouglas and Melanie FreyDr. Gabriel Gamboa and Yasmin GamboaWende and Jon HeadleyKarianne and Scott JohnsonTeiji and Stephanie Kawana FamilyThe Kuwada FamilyStanley Liu and Yuen FangLucia and Ben LoganDick and JoAnn LongwellDr. Michael Luu and Janel Kyung LuuJoyce Mitamura ’80Mr. and Mrs. William E. Myers Jr. ’75Tom and Ali O’Brien FamilyLisa and Carlos RicoDavid and Masami RobsonDavid and Vicky Rogers FamilyMark and Tomoko SchmidtJohn Sih and Susan KamKristin and Tim SmithKarin ’85 and Sean StellarDr. George Sun and Mrs. Zehra SunIan Tien and FamilySteve, Joyce, Brian and Amanda TsaiThe Tyson FamilyChris ’81 and Lena WaldheimDr. John Wan, Dr. Luning Chen,

Dylan Wan, Daisy WanDr. Thomas Wu and Dr. Helen LaiRaymond and Mary YenSaori and Fred Yue

south Campus CaMPaign

TOTAL $11,166,900 iN GiFTS AND PLEDGES

As of March 26, 2012

Chandler School is deeply grateful to its First Families for their leadership gifts to the Commitment to Excellence: Chandler South Campus Campaign. As of March 26, the Campaign has raised more than $11 million toward the $15 million price tag for the renovated Middle School facilities. The majority of those funds – 88% or $9,843,388 – was donated by the 75 First Families listed below. First Families is a designation of honor for the Campaign’s most generous donors. The term recognizes families who stepped forward early with gifts of $50,000 or more

to help Chandler School make its critical investment in Middle School facilities and gymnasium and to pay off the resulting debt from the year-long construction project. Their names are permanently inscribed on the South Campus donor

wall. Fundraising continues for the project, including a handful of naming opportunities starting at $150,000 for several areas of the campus. For more information, please contact Director of Development Laura Dicovitsky at [email protected] or 626-795-9990.

Chandler CirCle($1,000,000 and above)S. Allan Johnson and

Marguerite L. Johnson

1950 CirCle($500,000 to $999,999)The Ahmanson FoundationR. Christian B. EvensenGregory D. and Jennifer W. JohnsonAnne and Jim RothenbergTrevessa and James Terrile

arMada CirCle($250,000 to $499,999)AnonymousWendy and Zhen Fa HanMary Grace and Peter KaufmanMr. and Mrs. Robert H. Neithart


welCoMe & farewell

Mrs. Anneke Emerson has been appointed Chandler’s next assistant head of school. Emerson is currently Chandler’s director of academic technology. She has worked at Chandler for the past eleven years. “I’m thrilled to build upon Chandler’s reputation as the premier K-8 school in the San Gabriel Valley,” says Emerson. “Between our beautiful new South Campus and our talented, innovative faulty, Chandler is more poised than ever to deliver on its mission: to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment.”

“Mrs. Emerson’s love for Chandler and her commitment to the well being and education of everyone at the school characterize her outlook,” says Head of School John Finch. “Her practical skills, proven ability to manage people, organize programs and innovate have prepared her to lead Chandler’s Middle School.”

Emerson earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her master’s degree in educational technology from Cal State Northridge. She started at Chandler in 2001 as a physical education teacher. Since that time she has taught seventh grade history, chaired the History Department, run the Skills Enrichment Program and played an integral role in the implementation of Chandler’s one-to-one laptop program as the director of academic technology. “Thanks to the substantial and varied opportunities for learning and growth I have had at Chandler, I am able to appreciate how various positions work together to create an effective learning environment,” says Emerson.

Since 2010, Emerson has been counseling Chandler eighth-grade students in the high school placement process. “She has developed close ties with secondary school admissions directors and will seamlessly take on the lead role in this endeavor,” says Finch. “This is the most important task of the assistant head of school, and she is well suited for it.”

“I have a sincere affection for Chandler School. This generous and supportive community has been my second home and is a place where I am deeply rooted and committed,” says Emerson.

Appointed as assistant head of school in 2005, Dr. Dan Greenwood will be leaving Chandler at the end of June 2012 to become the head of school at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar.

Like Chandler, Harbor Day is an independent K-8 school. Dan’s impact on Chandler has been measurable and significant. For example, Dan introduced the buddy program to Chandler, strengthening our community. With his background in educational technology, Dan helped the Middle School transition to a one-to-one laptop program. Dan’s use of statistical data in the secondary school placement process helped steer our eighth grade families toward more informed secondary school choices. “More important than skills sets, innovations or experience, Dan’s positive, caring disposition set the tone for our Middle School faculty and students” says Head of School John Finch. “While we are extremely proud of him, Dan and his wife Beth, who is our Lower School computer teacher, will be missed on campus.”


froM The develoPMenT offiCe

Who Was it for you?

All alumni can think back to someone at Chandler School who made a lasting impact through their attention and encouragement. This spring, the

Annual Fund unveiled a new opportunity for alumni to recognize those special faculty or staff members

with honor gifts.

The Honor Gift program enables alumni to designate their Annual Fund donations to honor special

individuals at Chandler. All honorees will be notified, and the gifts and special designations will be listed in the Annual Report. Although nine wonderful teachers

graced the cover of the first appeal, alumni can choose to honor any faculty or staff member.

Remember that all alumni gifts to the Annual Fund

help sustain financial aid through the Thomas

A. Chandler Alumni Scholarship Fund, unless

otherwise directed. What better way to say thank you to a mentor than to enable another generation of Chandler

students to have that same encouragement

and support.

Annual Fund Honor Gifts can be made online at

www.chandlerschool.org/annualfund, or with the enclosed remittance envelope. If using the envelope,

please include the name(s) of your Honor Gift designee(s) in the Alumni News section.

For further assistance, please contact Mary Hastings at

626-795-9314 x149 or [email protected].

annual report Correction

We sincerely regret the following error in the 2009-2010 Annual Report:

Laura Kaufman Loofbourrow ’88 was omitted from the list of alumni donors.

iT is noT Too laTe To donate to the 2011-2012

annual fund! Participation from the entire Chandler community is crucial to reach our $1 million goal. Please support the Annual Fund to the best of your ability and help us stay on pace to once again reach record-breaking numbers!

Make a secure gift online by visiting chandlerschool.org/annualfund or use the enclosed remittance envelope to show your support of Chandler School.

Remember that you can increase your gift and even reach a new Giving Level by utilizing a corporate matching gift. For more information or to see if your company will match your gift to Chandler, visit matchinggifts.com/chandlerschool.

giVing lEVEls

leadership circle: gifts of $25,000 and above

shamrock circle: gifts of $10,000 to $24,999

head of school circle: gifts of $5,000 to $9,999

founders circle: gifts of $1,950 to $4,999

friend: gifts up to $1,949

green and White circle: gifts of any size from alumni classes of 2002-2011


www.chandlerschool.org | 626-795-9310

1005 armada drive, Pasadena 91103

June 18throughaugust 3grades K-8

day camp & extended care

enrichment classes

Bonus workshops

iT’s CoMing baCK, so

save The daTe!

Chandler School Golf Tournament

May 17, 2013

TO MAKE SURE CHANDLER HAS YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS

NoN-PRoFIT oRG.U.S. PoSTaGe

PAIDPaSadeNa, Ca

PeRMIT No. 324

1005 Armada DrivePasadena, CA 91103www.chandlerschool.org

Address Service Requested

THE SHAMROCK IS PUBLISHED FOR PARENTS,

ALUMNI, PAST PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF CHANDLER SCHOOL.

EDITORIAL STAFFMartin Voss, communications coordinatorLaura Dicovitsky, director of development

Celia B. Heath, alumni relations & special events coordinatorJihyun Oh, graphic designer

CONTRIBUTORSMary Hastings, annual fund coordinator

Sandy Hume, assistant to the head of schoolMaureen Short, development administrative assistant

PHOTOGRAPHYMartin Voss

John McCarty

HOW TO CONTACT US626-795-9314

626-795-6508 (fax)www.chandlerschool.org

[email protected]@chandlerschool.org

International Printing & Typesetting, Inc. Printing

The Shamrock is printed on recycled paper (50% content with 15% post consumer) using soy inks and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

5 Email is the most efficient, effective and ecologically sound way for Chandler to stay connected with alumni, parents, past parents, grandparents and friends of Chandler School.

4 You will receive invitations to events both on campus and off.

3 You’ll never miss an opportunity to thank your favorite teacher with an Annual Fund Honor Gift.

2 If a long time Chandler teacher is retiring, we’ll be looking for your notes and memories to be included in the celebration.

1 We LIKE you and we miss you.

Shamrock Spring 2012

Documents

Transcript of Shamrock Spring 2012