SUMMER 2014
TheDiamond
Santa Barbara Middle School
Rites of passage 2014
Going with
Gratitude
Trips of Discovery . . .
Miraculous Mandala . . .
Songfest Success! . . . Plus: Alumni News!
Diamond
Notes
TheDiamond
Summer 2014
U
nfortunately
for SBMS, Ellen
O’Connell is moving
to New England this summer.
We are grateful for the love of writing and literature that she
instilled in her students, her introduction of the JS Writing
Program to Middle School, and most of all, the strong relationships she built with students and colleagues alike. We wish her
the best in her next adventure!
Contents
3 Diamond Notes
Goodbye, Colby and Ellen;
Hello, Tibetan Mandala
6
Rites of Passage 2014; Reports
from the Deans and others;
Academic Fair; learning in the
court and the zoo . . . and more!
16
Academics
Creative Arts & Sports
Songfest rocks again; Beauty
and the Beast soars; spring sports,
Teen Press, yoga, and more!
24
Outdoor Education
Mid-year, Marin, and mud:
amazing trip reports
Community
30 Alumni News
Reunion updates, athletes,
and babies!
Some SBMS staff members gathered for a team photo during the 2014 end-of-year trip.
E
very year in june, our middle school community gathers together in godric
Grove, perched above Santa Barbara, to honor our graduating 9th
graders in a very unique and intimate ceremony we call Rites of
Passage. We take our time to listen to teachers, mentors, coaches,
siblings, parents, grandparents, and family members celebrate each student with words of wisdom, adolescent anecdotes, and stories of triumph
and heroic achievements. Each presentation is like a three-minute Ted
Talk, illuminating the journey of our children into adulthood. But each
talk also reveals the myriad rays of light that our extended families and
collective community provide for each other.
As we celebrated the SBMS class of 2014,
I asked each student to ponder this year’s theme,
34 Development
2014 Auction Thanks!
“Power of Story—What Your Verse?” one last time.
Just three weeks earlier as we gathered around the
fire at the base of Mt. Shasta on our final 9th grade
expedition, each 9th grader was invited to share
ON THE COVER:
The 2014 Santa Barbara
Middle School class at Rites of Passage
Photo by Russ Lewin
something significant they had learned while at
From the
Head of School
SBMS. We’ve included some of what they said at
this roll call inside (beginning on page 6) because
it highlights the character of our graduates
and many of the authentic “student learning outcomes” such as selfknowledge, perseverance, integrity, empathy, and confidence that can be
difficult for most teenagers to master during these challenging years.
This summer edition of The Diamond honors these graduates and
highlights the collaborative verses of our community, the devotion of our
teachers, and the beauty and brilliance of all our students during this
year. I feel honored to have played a part in this epic story with you all,
Santa Barbara Middle School
1321 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-1809
www.sbms.org
(805) 682-2989
office@sbms.org
Editor: Jim Buckley
Designer: Patty Kelley
2
Ellen
Goes East
and I look forward to the exciting chapters ahead.
With love & gratitude,
Brian McWilliams
The Diamond Summer 2014
A Librarian’s
Legacy of Learning
A
library grounds and centers an institution. it
is a hub of activity—a foundation and a keystone
for reading and learning. During the course of Colby
Kline’s 22 years of service and dedication to the
written word, she created a flagship library from what was
originally a closet full of books, and throughout room changes
and campus relocation, she has been steadfast in protecting
this valuable educational asset.
At the beginning of every year, Jesse Wooten and I
announce the end-of-the-year party for top readers. This year’s
attendees were: Emily, Caroline, Addie, Emma W, Nick, Hunter,
Morgan, Kai, Jackson S, Layla, Chase, Julia, Amanda, Alex L,
Anya, Makena, and Bella. At an honoring presentation for
Colby on the last day of school, all those who had attended the
readers’ party were asked to stand for a round of applause and
to remain standing. Next asked to stand were those who had
taken Colby’s Fantasy Book Club Friday elective, anyone who
had checked out a book, anyone who had received help with
research, any teacher who had received help, and finally, any
student who had a teacher who was standing. By the end, the
entire school was standing. This is the scope of Colby’s influence, and for that she received a hearty standing ovation.
Her love of books and enthusiasm for story has encouraged
even the most reluctant reader. She has touched each and
every one of us with her generosity of spirit, her sense of humor, and her unwavering patience and determination to create
a productive learning environment. Colby has created a legacy
of inspiration. She may leave, but she will never be forgotten.
—Teresa Jamison
The Diamond Summer 2014
Two New Teachers!
Elyse Grossman has a Bachelor’s
degree in Literature, a Master’s
degree in Education with an emphasis in English, and more than
13 years of experience teaching
junior high to college level students. By the start of the school
year, she will be a certified yoga
instructor. She feels that one of
the most important aspects of an educational environment is a
trusting and compassionate rapport between teacher and student. Her hope is that students walk away from her classroom
with an appreciation for literature and the ability to think both
critically and analytically. Her interests include people, reading,
yoga, hiking, running, and anything outdoors.
Danielle Bean “After growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I
moved to San Diego to explore life on the oceanfront. Eventually, I landed in Santa Barbara to attend UCSB and received a
B.S. in Environmental Studies. During this time I worked as the
park naturalist for California State Beaches along the Gaviota
Coast. After college I worked on various sailboats, taking me
from humpback whale season on the Big Island of Hawaii to the
racing circuit in Newport, Rhode Island. Sailing remains one of
my passions and is often my means of world travel.
“In 2004 I returned to UCSB and earned a teaching credential and Master’s in Education. I spent the next eight years
teaching junior high science for the Santa Barbara School
District. After spending the past year on sabbatical, recharging
with world travels and adventure, I am excited to join the math
and science departments at SBMS.”
3
Diamond Notes
Making Magic?
No . . . A Mandala!
I
n February, Tibet came to Middle School. Lama Losang Samten
spent a week creating a Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala in
the SBMS hallway. Rubbing two long, skinny metal funnels
called chakpus together and vibrating the brightly colored sand
from them, his ongoing creation made a most unique sound and a
beautiful, intricate painting as well. Tibetan Buddhists were the first to
understand that each of us learns in our own way. The sand Mandala,
using sound, color, and geometry, imparts teachings and lessons more
than 2,500 years old, and is said to be passed down directly from the
Buddha himself.
Samten lived and studied over 20 years in the Namgyal
Monastery (the monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama) earning the
highest degree attainable at the monastery, equivalent to a doctoral
degree in the West. He also became a Master of Ritual Dance and Sand
Mandalas and was the Personal Attendant to His Holiness the XIV
Dalai Lama prior to moving to the United
States in 1988.
Along with creating the Mandala, Ven.
Samten visited with students and taught
them about his faith and its practices.
Clockwise from top left: Students and staff welcome
visitors from Tibet; students help Ven. Samten
deconstruct the Mandala; the gathering at the beach
to return the sand to the ocean; mixing SBMS ashes
with the sand of the Mandala.
“I learned about the Buddhist
principles of detachment,” said ninth grade
student Amanda Gersoff. “I also saw how
people gather around circles. It made me
think of our own circle, the bicycle wheel.
Tibetans gather around the Mandala just
as SMBS gathers around the wheel.”
At the end of the week, each SBMS
student and teacher participated in the deconstruction of the
Mandala. Each student and teacher took a pinch of sand and placed
it in a jar. The next morning a group gathered at East Beach. Samten
offered traditional Tibetan chanting and prayers as he sprinkled the
sand on the shore next to the crashing ocean waves.
Samten’s artist-in-residency was followed by a visit from the
Tibet Minister of Education, Ngodup Tsering. Tsering, along with two
revered lamas, toured the campus and met with a panel of students to
discuss the school’s philosophy of education and opportunities for the
two cultures to learn from each other.
Top left: The completed sand Mandala; below: Lama Losang
Samten shows Carmen Bordofsky how to add to the creation.
Inset: Brian McWilliams with former Head of School Kent Ferguson,
who was instrumental in arranging Ven. Samten’s visit.
4
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
5
Academics
Rites of Passage 2014
The Most Important Thing I Learned. . .
U
nder a blue santa barbara sky,
the 2014 ninth grade class of
Santa Barbara Middle School
embarked upon the next part
of their own incredible journeys.
Rites of Passage is always bittersweet. Students we have come to know
and love have to leave our everyday
lives. But at the same time, this is the
planned and inevitable goal of Middle
School: to send students out into the
world thrilled to learn, ready to meet
challenges, and prepared to share.
As always at ROP, each student
chose a special person from their
life to speak for them in front of an
assembly of family and friends. The
graduates are pictured here with
those special people.
In addition this year, to carry
on the year’s theme of “What’s your
verse?” we asked each student to
leave behind something—a phrase or
a few words that would illustrate what
was the most important thing they
had learned in their time at SBMS. As
you’ll see, they vary in theme and content as much as this amazing group
of young people varies. But they all
share one thing: the spirit of SBMS.
. . . is that family doesn’t have to be blood.
—Hunter Bacon (with Stephanie Bacon)
. . . is to live in the moment
and enjoy each second.
—Lucas Battelle (with Joe Scarbrough)
. . . is that everyone has something that
makes them unique. SBMS has helped
me find out who I am and to embrace
what makes me different.
—Jennie Coleman (with Joey Coleman)
. . . is that I hope to be remembered as the
guy who can bring a smile when things
get rough.
—Kaleb Curtis (with Erik Edwards)
6
. . . is how to find myself and know where
I want to go in my future.
—Tyler Dorfman (with Pam Boswell)
. . . is to have a positive outlook on everything and enjoy every minute of my life.
—Savanna Eggers (with Marco Andrade)
. . . is how to be brave
and how to be myself.
—Lylah Ehrnstein (with Julie Ehrnstein)
. . . is don’t give up.
—Emma Burdette (with Lindsay Charlton)
. . . is to live a life filled with gratitude
and to seek adventure whenever possible.
—Amanda Gersoff (with Richard Wilke)
. . . is try my hardest. With all the things
I have conquered at SBMS, I know that
anything I put my mind to, I can do.
—Deryn Gersoff (with Jenna Newburn)
. . . is how to find myself and know where
I want to go in my future.
—Chase Halperin (with Jocelyn Halperin)
. . . when I leave SBMS is that I hope to
be remembered as a creative person.
—Reed Donaldson (with Robin Donaldson)
. . . is that I hope that I will be remembered for making it a better place.
—Makena Hubbard (with Kelly Rosenheim)
. . . is to take the time to get to know
everybody because everyone is unique in
their own way.
—Ginny Hunter (with Ellen Hunter)
. . . is that I hope to be remembered by my
filmmaking abilities. I hope that everyone
has experienced laughter and felt joy.
—Isaac Kershner (with Adam Webster)
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
7
Academics
. . . is to be patient and go with the flow.
—Zane Kincaid (with Russ Lewin)
. . . is that I want to be remembered as
someone that everyone can depend on.
—Alex Lewis (with Mort Morrison)
. . . at Middle School
to take care of others.
—Kanaan Lopez (with Erik Lopez)
. . . was to take my time and enjoy the
journey because it is more important than
the destination.
—Daniel Solomon (with Steve Solomon)
. . . when I leave SBMS I hope that “Tebbe
Time” will live on—there must always be
comedy at the fires.
—Andrew Tebbe (with Eric Lehman)
. . . is to surround yourself with good
people and push yourself physically and
academically.
—Sydni Trigueiro (with Victor Dominocielo)
. . . is that I hope to be remembered for
humor and intelligence.
—Aeddon McKaba (with Jim Brady)
. . . is to be accepting of myself,
tolerant of others, and have a more
positive view on life.
—Jared McMullen (with Jake Lindelof)
. . . was honesty and integrity.
—Ryan McMullen (with Robert Mokros)
. . . was to keep developing a passion for
learning and the motivation to succeed.
—Emma Wagner (with Ellen O’Connell)
. . . is how to truly enjoy life and see the
best in all people.
—Sarina Wasserman
(Speakers: Eli and Ohad Jehassi)
. . . is patience.
—Tor Weiland (with Joe Weiland)
. . . was to always be an optimistic and
loyal friend and always seize the day.
—Zac Pfeifer (with Jesse Wooten)
8
. . . is that I hope to be remembered as
someone who made everyone feel special.
—Dia Rabin (with John Seigel Boettner)
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
9
Academics
Reports from the Grades
9th grade
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into
trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away
from you like the leaves of Autumn.” —John Muir
A
t the final meeting of the year in the kiva, our 9th grade
students rose, one by one, in front of the entire
school and read the quotes that they had selected
for their prayer flags, which will hang in the Kiva. Their
words were emboldened and deepened by years of effort
and learning. Their words came alive and took shape as a
testament to their accomplishments, both inner and outer.
One of the quotes a student chose was from Albert
Einstein: “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t
understand it yourself.” Recently, the students participated in the Great Scientists Project as a part of the physics class. Each student selected a great scientist from the
fields of physics and astronomy and put together a report
on their subjects’ great discoveries. In order to do the project, the students needed to use everything that they have
learned thus far in their academic careers—the ability to
do research, to write, to think conceptually, and in terms
of great principles, to compose a presentation, to speak
clearly and confidently, and perhaps most importantly—to
take joy in the process. I found the reports to be informative and inspiring. It was a triumph in learning.
I am very proud of the class—not just because of how
far they have come, but because of who they have become. Beautiful things happened this year, and we are all
the better because of it.
—Russ Lewin, Dean of 9th Grade
10
8th grade
6th and 7th grades
T
he fire, encircled by students, teachers, and parents is
where much of the learning at SBMS happens. Each
night on the End-of-the-Year journey, there is a time
slot called “8th Grade Open Mic.” In this time, 8th graders are encouraged to share a poem, perform their Shakespearean recitation, write a sketch, do stand-up comedy,
sing a song, do anything really, to make a contribution by
stepping over the line of voyeurism and participating. In
Oregon, 8th graders rose to the occasion, sharing original
poems and performing recitations. To quote a parent on
the trip, “The inherent lesson is that it’s not only possible
to create something from nothing, but it’s also our responsibility to create it. Knowing that WE are responsible
for creating our own experience is not only the key to
personal fulfillment, it’s also the first step in making a
difference in the world.” As I think back on the past year, hundreds of examples come to mind about how each 8th grader participated in their own learning: whether by supporting a friend
up a mountain, or through mathematical and scientific
problem-solving and critical-thinking; by performing or
applauding a song at Songfest; planning a dinner from
a Spanish-speaking culture; discussing English literature;
serving as a Bike Monkey; performing in the Mock Trial; or
playing on a sports team, and the list goes on. Every day,
8th grade students, teachers, and parents participated in
the opportunities of SBMS, and as a result, 2013-2014 was
an engaging, productive, and meaningful year. Thank you
for making a difference in my world.
—Jesse Wooten, Dean of the 8th Grade
The Diamond Summer 2014
I
n 7th grade science, students designed, constructed, and tested
their catapults or trebuchets, while learning about simple machines, the concept of work, and how energy is
conserved in a system. They also attempted to construct
from scratch a laser module, by harvesting laser diodes,
building a driver circuit (soldering included), and assembling optics. This was a new project in science, in which
students learned what a laser actually is, how they are
made, the different types, and how lasers can be applied
to solve a problem like near-Earth asteroid ablation.
Sixth-grade science students studied chemical reactions and learned basic chemical principles, including understanding the Periodic Table. Students tested levels of
dissolved oxygen in water using an autosampler machine
to determine the water quality for the various locations
around Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito and Carpinteria.
Students also learned about open-source technology by
creating and testing graphite sensors and various other
sensors with computer hardware and software, and dabbled in creating a device using an open-source platform
called LittleBits, which are unique and small electrical
components that connect to each other magnetically and
provide a prototyping platform for designing and creating new devices.
—Jesse Kasehagen
The Diamond Summer 2014
Sixth-grade Humanities class created a wide range of
projects based on classroom lessons.
After reading the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio about
a boy born with a facial deformity who attends school for
the first time, students wrote five-paragraph essays, created “six-word memoirs” as rules to live by, drew portraits
of the main character with pastels, and created presentations about either a physical or mental disability that they
researched. All of these projects were on display at our
“Wonder Museum” during Academic Fair.
Along with the Wonder Museum, students created
scientific journals after learning about early humans.
They wrote poetry based on styles read and studied in
class. Students made maps of the ancient civilizations of
Mesopotamia, and even made handwoven baskets based
on ancient techniques. It was a great mix of activities with
a great group of young and eager learners!
—Jenna Newburn
11
Academics
Academic Fair: Readin’, Writin’,
Robots, and Rock ’n’ Roll!
F
ebruary’s academic fair once again provided back-to-back
nights of amazing accomplishments presented by
SBMS students.
Tuesday evening showcased work from our Upper
School. In the ninth-grade Conceptual Physics class, student
engineering teams demonstrated their mathematically programmed and engineered robots, one of which was a pianoplaying robot that uses an Arduino micro controller and
electrical transistors on a breadboard to play music on a
keyboard.
The eighth grade performed “Murder a la Carte,” a mock
trial to determine the cause of death of notorious food critic
“Simon Fogg,” who is found dead on his yacht after enjoying
a sumptuous meal, possibly laced with poisonous mushrooms. The chief suspect, “Chef Kat Koo Kola,” was charged
with first-degree murder, but found not guilty by the jury
audience!
Visitors also witnessed a drum-playing robot that simultaneously uses several synchronized robots to play drums
and a xylophone and a self-balancing robot, which uses a
gyro sensor to balance itself on just two wheels, engineered
like the Segway scooter.
A team of students from the eighth-grade Human Biology class demonstrated CPR and first aid scenarios. Visitors
who wandered through the Algebra classes saw student-designed business plans, which require graphing and solving
linear equations and inequalities to maximize profits and
revenues, resulting in optimal business efficiency.
Theatrical performances included student-modified,
humorous Spanish-speaking fairy tales and William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”
On Wednesday evening, the Lower School showcased
student academic work for sixth and seventh grades. Visitors toured the “Authors Alive Wax Museum” where wellknown authors (student performers) such as Dr. Seuss, Rick
Riordan and Robert Frost came to life and shared their personal histories.
The Santa Barbara Middle School’s Teen Press, a team of
journalists, offered red carpet highlights of interviews they
captured at the recent Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Martin Scorsese and
Robert Redford were just a few that were shown.
Math portfolios were also on display, and Academic
12
Author, author! Seventh
graders brought authors to
life, including Shane Wechsler
(above) and Avalon Gagnon.
(top two) Eighth grade history students presented
the always-entertaining Mock Trial. (above) Ninth
grade students built and operated amazing robots
but also took time to present folk and fairy tales in
Spanish (right).
Fair visitors were able to interact with seventh-grade STEM
science projects that deal with circuits and lasers. Visitors
also took a student-guided tour through the sixth-grade
“Wonder Museum” to see handmade woven baskets modeled after ancient civilizations, peruse prehistory scientific
journals and literary works, and enjoy several art pieces and
PowerPoint presentations.
In social studies, cultural multimedia stories were told
through student blogs and a media tribute to Nelson ManThe Diamond Summer 2014
dela. Visitors enjoyed a pop culture fashion
show presented in an innovative style—all the
narration along the SBMS catwalk was done in
Spanish by the seventh-grade class.
Both evenings were filled with relevant
and interactive academic projects designed to
entertain, teach and celebrate the creative and
clever mind of the middle school student.
The Diamond Summer 2014
13
Academics
Before the Mock—
the Real!
B
efore the eighth-grade students began work on their
annual Mock Trial, they got an inside look at the
real thing at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
Students visited the building, toured the courtrooms,
and heard the inside scoop from Jeff Chambliss, the father of SBMS alum John Chambliss. Jeff is the public defender, and he explained his important role in the process, while also detailing the other important people and
jobs that go into creating the justice system.
After the courthouse visit, teacher Marlene Beckerman reported that “students participated in a classroom
14
Teen Press
Meets the 1960s
I
n may, sbms teen press added another high-profile interview
to its history—a sit-down with author and activist
Prof. Angela Davis. Special thanks to Beth Marchant
(Caetano’s mom and professor of Gender Studies at
UCLA) and her colleagues for helping to arrange the visit.
The Teen Press team included mentor Kara Petersen and
students Lili DeVoto, Dia Rabin, and Sarina Wasserman.
Here are some short excerpts; the entire interview is on
the SBMS Teen Press YouTube channel.
mock trial. Every student was assigned a role, and students participated as witnesses, attorneys, judge, court
clerk, bailiff, and members of the jury. Each year, the objective is to achieve a realistic portrayal of the courtroom
process, as students apply their knowledge about rules
of evidence and courtroom procedure. This process also
encourages students to hone their critical thinking skills,
develop strategic thinking, and practice extemporaneous
argument.”
The real-life visit to the courthouse sets the stage for
the Mock Trial at Academic Fair. Thanks to Jeff Chambliss
for once again donating his time and expertise!
The Diamond Summer 2014
DIA: It was just Mother’s Day. If you could have spent
Sunday taking your mom someplace special where just
the two of you could talk, what would you have talked to
her about?
ANGELA: I think I would have talked to her about all
of the ways that I am like her that I refused to recognize
for so long . . . (laughter) . . . because I always thought I
was rebelling against, which I was. And actually that was a
good thing. But it took me a very long time to realize that
in my work as an activist, I am following in her footsteps.
SARINA: Our school’s theme this year is “The power
of story. What’s your verse?” You have a very powerful
story. What do you hope your verse is?
ANGELA: I always say when people ask me what I
hope my legacy will be is that I’m not so concerned about
an individual legacy, because all the work I’ve done has
been always together with others. And so I would like that
collective legacy to be an awareness of the fact that no
matter how great the problems are . . . no matter how insurmountable the odds might appear . . . that if we come
together and if we cement the bonds among us and build
strong communities of struggle, we can always win . . .
That would be my legacy . . . my collective legacy.
The Diamond Summer 2014
SBMS Gets Fox-y
O
n a hot, may afternoon, two special students stayed
after school for a trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Not to see the gallant giraffes or the cuddly sea
otters, or even the giant boa constrictor, but to
speak on behalf of one of the animals the zoo helps protect, the Channel Island fox. The fox is an endemic species to the Channel Islands, meaning it lives on the Channel Islands and the Channel Islands alone. These students
were part of a group of four 9th graders who researched
the island fox in the fall as a part of the 9th grade Channel Islands Seminar. Amanda Gersoff and Lylah Ehrnstein
stepped up to speak at the “Conversations about Conservation” event at the Santa Barbara Zoo. They were lured
by a promise of air conditioning in the new Discovery Pavilion, and it definitely delivered. On a May evening, when
the mercury was reaching towards the 100 degree mark,
the girls showed composure and poise in front of an audience of more than 50 adults from the zoo and the greater
conservation community.
The Channel Islands Seminar is a high point of the
9th-grade program at SBMS. Students spend the first
month of the school year in their World History/NOVUS
class to study the ecosystem, environment, and history of
the Channel Islands—Santa Barbara’s backyard. Students
are divided into groups of four to research various topics
including plastics production and distribution, ecology,
Chumash culture, kelp forests, fisheries, and the island
fox. Students gather research from the Internet, print
sources, and from guest speakers to develop a presentation, followed by a written report on their topic.
These written reports as well as visual presentations
from all groups are going to be made into an e-reader in
the future for students in the Santa Barbara community
who are not able to experience the islands firsthand. We
hope that this e-reader will convey the importance of this
delicate ecosystem that lies just off of our coast and will
inspire other students and community members to educate themselves and take action to conserve the plants,
animals, and fish that live off our coast. —Jenna Newburn
15
Creative Arts & Sports
Super Spring Songfest
(clockwise from left): Ruby and Angel Singh team up for a
“twinning” duet; Nicole Figueroa shows off her pipes; the fans were
ready to rock; Sarina Wasserman, Emma Millar, and Bella Venable
formed a super trio; and veteran guitar man Matt Rollins showed
off his chops!
T
his year’s young musicians brought talent and courage
in spades and created a three-hour celebration
that more than 200 people enjoyed in the beautiful sun. Although gale-force winds threatened
to blow music stands and the our stage backdrop over
the mountains, the music and energy prevailed. Students
performed everything from contemporary songs such as
Animal and Cough Syrup to classics like Big Yellow Taxi
and Superstition in a mix of genres that ranged from pop
to jazz to rock. And indeed, many student bands, including Marco’s Rock Jam Class, really rocked the stage and
represented the thriving music scene happening in SB!
In addition to all the talented students who performed,
this year’s show, produced and directed by Marco Andrade
16
and Ted Rhodes, owes its success to all the staff, parents,
and volunteers who worked so hard behind the scenes to
make Songfest 2014 another great Middle School success.
A great big thanks to all who helped Ted with the
stage set-up and wrap: Tracey Willfong-Singh, Glen Phillips, Ross Godlis, Teresa Kistner, Kate Lanier, Yann Ricard,
Sara Bazan, Channing Hammond, Casmali Lopez, Geoff
Wallace, Stu Feinstein, Kathy Foltz, Richard Wilke, and,
of course, Tom Ridenour (the other “TR”) as well as Liz
Ricard who fearlessly took on the bake sale, merchandise,
and food service aspects of the event.
We thank David Teton-Landis, Andrew Tebbe, and
Isaac Kershner for producing this year’s Songfest DVD.
Once again, Songfest could not have succeeded withThe Diamond Summer 2014
out the services of professional soundman Desmond
Warren of DSR Audio, his assistant Mikey Donahue, and
our mixer John “Rosie” Hernandez. We would also like to
acknowledge the fabulous food by Freedom4Youth and
the set by Richard Wilke and Kent Hodgetts.
As always, we salute the musical back-up talents of
the unwavering Grateful Dads, who, under the direction
of Marco, accompanied the student performers: Michael
Adcock (bass), Ted Rhodes (harp, percussion), Dan Diamond (keyboards), Rick Mellor (keyboards, backing vocals), and Marco Andrade (drums, guitar and bass), plus
Daniel Lower (guitar) and Zach Wallace (synth).
A special thanks to Tami Sherman and the SBMS Parent Association, Leslie Lund and the City of Santa Barbara
The Diamond Summer 2014
Parks & Recreation Dept, and our very own Lilli Doner and
the SBMS office.
And finally, this year also marked an increased effort
to work with other local youth music programs in our
community. SBMS has championed a grassroots effort
to form a coalition of music programs in SB to promote
a spirit of collaboration and unity, and Songfest has become an flagship showcase for such efforts. We’d like to
thank Barbara Mosely of SB Youth Music Academy and
Craig Thatcher of SB Drum Lab/Boom Chaka for being a
part of our show!
Thank you, one and all, for another great Songfest!
NOTE: You can still order copies of the Songfest 2014
DVD from David Teton-Landis at David@sbms.org.
17
Creative Arts & Sports
Beauty and the Beast
The Cast
Angel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prince/Beast. . . . . . . . . . .
Hakim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gilida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Soccorro. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Panzar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Asmin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dannie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nasma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lazlo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assistant “Everything”. .
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Co-directors. . . . . . . . . . .
Emma Beth Permé
Eli Baur
Lamont Stiff
Katie Buckley
Bella Venable
Max Freudenburg
Adrienne Howard
Claira Sanborn
Layla Stoutenborough
Andrew Tebbe
Nicole Figueroa
Emma Millar
Jamie Oriskovich
Eric & Maureen Lehman
T
alking heads met fairy tales and walt disney at the
SBMS production of “Beauty and the Beast” in
May. After long weeks and hard work, the cast and
crew put on two weekends’ worth of outstanding
performances.
Talking Heads? Audience members sang happily
along with familiar songs from the 1980s art-rock band.
Fairy tales? Well, Beauty and the Beast has been part
of fairy-tale tradition for years; however, the production
added some of its own fourth-wall-breaking fun with wild
sound effects and an onstage appearance by the sound
man!
Walt Disney? Well, Walt would have enjoyed the
shows, but SBMS’s auteurs were Eric and Maureen
Lehman, who once again taught their cast stagecraft,
spirit, and singing, blending the old and the new into a
uniquely SBMS production.
18
(above) Nicole Figueroa performed as Beauty; Eli Baur was outstanding as Beast. (opposite) Max Freudenberg played Beauty’s
father, while Andrew Tebbe won laughs as Beauty’s vain older
brother. (bottom) The cast puts on their best dramatic faces.
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
19
Basketball, Football, Beach Volleyball
S
bms celebrates the life of the mind and the body. the trips
help with the latter part of that sentiment, but that
is not all the physical activity that young people
need. For those non-trip weeks, we provide an ongoing series of team sports.
Victor leads the flag football team. It’s not an easy
feat juggling such a large squad, but he does it with his
typical charm (and a little gung-ho spirit!). The flag football team carries forward the SBMS spirit, boys and girls
playing together. In fact, several of the girls were among
this year’s top athletes!
Boys’ basketball is played in the spring. The team
boasted had a roster with a wide array of sizes but a consistent degree of heart. They wore SBMS colors proudly.
The other spring sport was led by John S-B, who shepherded his beach volleyball charges every Friday. Veteran
SBMS sports watchers will enjoy some of the 2014 team
names: Care, Joy, Hope, and Serendipity. Game on!
The spring hoopsters put on a great show. (far left)
Ryan Godges shows off his dribbling while Jackson
Stormo (above) owns the low post. The team
gathered at a Town Meeting to receive honors from
the entire school.
Coach Victor led a fine co-ed
squad of flag football players
into action against tough opponents. A deep team, with
everyone playing a part, led
them to numerous victories!
Oh, sure, it was a beach volleyball “class,” but it’s hard to keep hot
and happy kids from frolicking in the surf. Thanks to John, Teresa,
and Pam and others for letting kids be kids!
20
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
21
Thanks to our friends at Providence Hall for the action pix!
Creative Arts & Sports
Creative Arts & Sports
Exciting Electives
The Teen Press crew enjoyed
the moutain scenery outside
and the many movies inside
at the Telluride Film Festival.
(Left to right) David TetonLandis, Addie Furrer, Charlotte Wall, Anya O’Connor,
Nicole Figueroa, John Seigel
Boettner, Jensen Steady, Ben
Speirs, and Sue Carmody.
T
Drawing at the Zoo
he theme of mountain telluride film festival 2014—
“Now what?”—captured the hearts and the conviction of our 8th grade SBMS Teen Press team
that traveled to Colorado in May to cover the
people, the filmmakers, and their important stories. In
the words of David Holbrooke, the festival’s director,
“There’s a lot of work to do.”
The team of six decided to reverse the interview process, and as a thank you to festival director David Holbrooke, they shared with him their own personal version
of “Now What….” Here are few of their responses:
Addie Furrer: After watching the film Vessel, a film
about women on waves who travel in international waters off the coast of countries where an abortion may
otherwise be illegal, I learned about the abortion realities
here in the U.S. and will share this knowledge whenever
possible.
Anya O’Connor: I was totally inspired by the impact
of music on the Alzheimer patients which was highlighted in the film Alive Inside. I plan to visit Alzheimer’s
homes here in Santa Barbara and bring my guitar and
sing to make memories for the people who live there.
Jensen Steady: The E-Team shows the realistic side
of war and I think a lot of films try and glorify war. This
film really captured war in a real way, and I think it is
important that more people see and understand this.
Holbrooke then charged the team to “find what you
care about and work your as@# off to get it. There is no
time to rest.”
22
The yoga elective circles up in
the Lotus Theater for a special
soul connecting Savasana.
Kara Petersen, who studied
yoga for over twenty years,
including advanced trainings at
the Santa Barbara Yoga Center
and in Ubud, Bali, offers yoga
to SBMS students throughout
the year as an elective. The
class is a mixture of styles
that accommodates beginning and advanced students
and includes hatha, vinyasa,
pranayama, meditation and
laughter.
SBMS parent and professional
artist Ginny Speirs guided a
group of young wildlife artists
in a new Zoo Art class elective.
The class learned the art of
drawing live animals, plus used
those skills to create sets of
cards to sell at the SB Zoo and
SBMS. Students drew various
animals, including elephants,
porcupines, gorillas, giraffes,
and flamingos. Ginny then
worked with the students
how to create sketches that
they then turned into final
drawings. Students worked in
charcoals and pencils to create
the drawings, which turned
into sets of note cards.
Album Cover Art
As part of SBMS Diamond Time, a group of artistic (and
musically-inclined) students gathered under the direction
of Suzanne Prince to create what will become a permanent
part of the SBMS home!
The students painstakingly recreated classic rock
album covers that will become wall tiles in the ground-floor
music room, providing permanent inspiration for a generation of SBMS rockers!
“We used a wall projection of the album to trace the
image onto the tile,” said student artist Katie Buckley.
“Then we painted onto the sketch we made. I liked doing
the shading in black and white on the London Calling album
I picked. It will be fun to come back years from now and see
our art on the wall!”
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
23
Outdoor Education
Mid-Year Trips:
Time to Travel!
F
rom catalina island to mount whitney, sbms students
journeyed across land and ocean in and around
Into the ice cave! After extensive
pre-trip training, the brave mountaineers
headed to Mt. Whitney to conquer
the mountain and their fears! Evening
campfires warmed toes and created
lasting memories.
California. Brian, Jesse W., Christine, and Erik
led students on kayaks down the Gaviota coast
while Teresa and Tom led a team of hikers through
the hills of Gaviota. Jim, Kara, Emma Gonzalez and
her pack of mules backpacked through our own backcountry. Erin crossed the Trans-Catalina trail and Victor and his mountainers scaled Mt. Whitney. The 6th
Hardy kayakers paused on land before resuming their watery trek
down the Gaviota Coast. Students and teachers walked, hiked,
paddled, and swam, learning and having fun along the way.
grade made its annual trek to Malibu with Pam, Caro-
An island right off the coast?
But not Santa Cruz?
This group of backpacking
campers headed instead to
Catalina to track the buffalo,
find new trails to break,
and explore the island they
can’t see from school!
line and Adam. John SB, Wren and others “BOB-ed”
their way through Ojai with the 7th grade.
Every SBMS student knows
what Ojai BOBs is! This group
loaded up their BOBs (that’s a
bike trailer, for you newbies)
and headed into the hills of
Ojai and environs to test their
cycling, camping, and sharing
skills.
Thanks to the mules provided
by the Gonzalez family,
intrepid backpackers
didn’t have to haul their
own food! But they did carry
everything else, finding
adventure at every camp site
as they explored the Santa
Barbara backcountry.
24
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
25
Outdoor Education
Marin County and San Francisco
Celebrations and Bridges
I
n june, sixth and seventh grade students and staff participated in our annual migration north to Marin County
and San Francisco. For ten days we celebrated and
built bridges between rural and urban communities, between local and international service, between
challenging physical cycling during the days and then,
in the evenings, sitting around the fire with friends at
our Olema camp. We laughed, danced, told stories, and
spoke in gratitude.
Our bike rides took us through the rolling hills of
Marin to Tamales Bay, on a farm-to-table journey up Mt.
Tamalpais on a glorious day from fog to sunshine, along
Bolinas Ridge on a day with no sunshine (42 degrees
at the top in dripping fog), and then across the Golden
Gate Bridge to our camp in the Presidio for some urban
cycling and cultural experiences.
In San Francisco, a group of students visited the global headquarters of Kiva.org as part of the micro-lending
projects they had been working on in their Social Studies classes. Others attended the Maya Angelou memorial
26
service at Glide Cathedral and helped make more than
600 meals for the underserved population. We visited
the California Academy of Sciences, arriving for the Planetarium show (Dark Universe) via a great urban cycling
route from the Presidio to Golden Gate Park.
And, as is our custom, students hit the streets of San
Francisco on the final day for the annual Treasure Hunt,
finding cultural treasures in the shops of Chinatown, the
sidewalks of Market Street and the Avenues, book stores
and music shops, and of course, in the restaurants and
food vendors everywhere.
Bridges were built between students and the people
they met along the way. Bridges were also built among
the students themselves through shared physical challenge and through celebratory gratitude around the fire
for friends, family and home.
It is a powerful adventure, one that they bring home
in memories and a deepened understanding of self and
community. More than a bike trip, it’s a true Rite of the
Wheel. Let’s celebrate the journey!
—Jim Brady
The Diamond Summer 2014
Opposite: Golden Gate Bridge designer Joseph
Strauss joined the sixth and seventh grade
for a group photo by his creation! Above,
clockwise: Ice cream was a good choice on
“Choice Day;” Alum Sarah and teacher Teresa
made sure everyone rode safely; the view
from Mount Tam was more than worth the
ride up; the campfires were filled with music,
spirit, and life!
The Diamond Summer 2014
27
Outdoor Education
Once More
Into the Bog
A new SBMS legend is born:
“The Bog” on Windigo Pass
(left), an obstacle found and
surmounted by the intrepid
crew. Crater Lake chilled and
thrilled (above), while campfires provided warmth and a
place to connect, grow, and
learn (top right). As for the adventurers: Snow? Snow what!
I
just wanted to share a quick recap of the oregon trip with
you. It really was a magical journey. The kids constantly amazed and inspired me.
Monday, May 26: The 9th grade drove to China Camp,
a beautiful walk-in camp, where we had our first fire of
the trip. It was a long car ride
but full of fun conversations,
singing and even silence as the
students were unplugged from
any electronics.
Tuesday, May 27: The 9th
grade drove into San Francisco
and had a fantastic day! We explored the California Academy
of Science, the Japanese Garden
and the DeYoung Art Museum,
28
we went for a boat tour of the bay under the Golden Gate
Bridge and around Alcatraz. Then we hiked up and down
the steep city streets to Chinatown for delicious Chinese
dinner.
Wednesday, May 28: The 9th grade drove to Lake
Siskiyou near Mt. Shasta and the
8th grade boarded the train for
Oregon.
Thursday, May 29: 8th and 9th
back together again at La Pine
State Park, just south of Bend,
Oregon.
Friday, May 30: Our first ride! A
beautiful 18-mile warm up ride
along the Deschutes River to Gull
The Diamond Summer 2014
Point campground. Bald eagles, a beautiful view of Mt.
Bachelor and a dip in the lake—a great day!
Saturday, May 31: Our second ride kicked things up a bit
with a 30-mile bike ride to Crescent Lake.
Sunday, June 1: Today we were able to do a ride we haven’t
done in ten years! Windigo Pass! We crossed a mountain
pass, played in the snow, and navigated through a lake
and “icebergs” to get to Diamond Lake! What a day!
Monday, June 2: An all-girls snout group led the way on
a 28-mile ride down the west side of the Cascades into
the Umpqua Forest. Sunny and warm, it was the perfect
day for a dip in Crater Creek and an end-of-ride ice cream
cone!
Tuesday, June 3: A well-deserved layover day at Farewell
The Diamond Summer 2014
Bend campground. We spent the morning at beautiful
Crater Lake and then back to camp for an afternoon of
art, music, games and rest. And then, the Talent Show!
Wednesday, June 4: The challenge day—a 50-plus-mile
ride to Willow Lake! The kids were incredible!
Thursday, June 5: A lovely final ride through trees and
meadows to Howard Prairie Lake for our final fire. It was
magical.
Friday, June 6: Ashland, Oregon. We saw “Comedy of Errors,” had dinner out on the town and then made our way
to Klamath Falls to catch the train home.
Saturday, June 7: All arrived safely home! Thank you for
an amazing journey!
—SBMS Trip Leader Erin Finnegan
29
Community
Alumni
News
Send your news and notes to your Class Reps. If your
class doesn’t have one yet, send news to kara@sbms.org
(and consider becoming a Class Rep!).
1990
Class Rep: Anita Samaha
anita.samaha@gmail.com
1981
Class Rep: David Griffith
dgriff365724@hotmail.com
1982
Class Rep: Sophie Calvin
sophiecalvin@gmail.com
1983
Class Rep: Monty Schmitt
montyschmitt@gmail.com.
Derin Stockton: I opened my
own cycling performance and
personal training studio in Santa
Barbara, called Santa Barbara
Cycling. I have been looking for
a way to accommodate my expanding cycling performance
business, and my new place in
the Santa Barbara Dance Arts
Studio gives me the space to
have an entire area dedicated to
cycling fit and performance testing. I have a dedicated workout
area for foundation and personal
training. I have many new things
to offer, including group classes,
so I’d love it if you could stop by!
1988
Class Rep: Shannon Kenny
slvenable@cox.net
1989
Samuel Liebhaber, a member
of the Middlebury faculty since
30
Class Rep: Allegra Bartlett
allegrabartlett@gmail.com
1991
Class Reps: Gunisha Pasrich
gunisha@gmail.com and
Sharon (Gerber) Dellimagine
2007, has been offered tenure at
Middlebury College in Vermont.
He offers courses in Arabic, the
modern Arabic novel, and a literary approach to Arabia. His acumen for teaching literature has
enriched the program’s offerings
so students grow to appreciate
the literary and cultural heritage
of the Middle East, as well as the
primary language of the region.
A summa cum laude graduate of
Dartmouth where he majored in
Latin and Greek, Liebhaber holds
an M.A. in comparative Semitics
and a Ph.D. in Arabic literature,
both from the University of California, Berkeley. He has received
fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Humanities,
Fulbright Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. Congratulations
to Sam from everyone at SBMS!
1997
sharondellimagine@gmail.com
1992
At the finish line of the Amgen
Tour of California’s stop in Santa Barbara, Erika Lindemann
received a Velo Wings Award.
Presented by the Santa Barbara
Bicycle Coalition, the award honors Erika for her many years of
work in creating a community of
cycling in our town. Erika is on
the S.B. Bicycle Coalition board
and has also served with the S.B.
Mountain Trail Volunteers and
helped create CycleMAYnia.
1996
Class Rep: Kara Petersen,
kara@sbms.org
1999
Chaitanya Mehra was named to
the prestigious Forbes Magazine
30 Under 30 list in the Finance
category. Chaitanya is a portfolio
manager with Och-Ziff Capital
Management, focusing on energy at Dan Och’s $39 billion firm,
one of the largest hedge funds in
the world.
2000
Class Rep: Breehan
Yohe-Mellor
breehanyohe@yahoo.com
2003
Class Rep: Blaire Suding
bvsuding@gmail.com
Seeds for the Future
Leyla Cabugos ’98, writes about how her a “green thumb” she developed
as a youngster and at SBMS has grown into a whole life!
W
hen I was four, my parents and I spent a year volunteering on
organic farms in Australia and New Zealand. “Down Under,” I
learned about Seed Savers Network, who became lifelong mentors
of mine. After high school, I did an internship with them, and another
one with their colleagues at the Green Foundation in South India after
graduating from Humboldt State with a BS in botany.
I spent eight years in Honolulu, where I got a Master’s in Botany. I
was director of a school garden program for the Hawaii Association of
Independent Schools. I returned to California to pursue a career in the
organic and heirloom seed industry as seed curator for the Sustainable
Seed Company in Covelo.
I maintain and catalogue the 3000-plus samples in our seed bank,
managing contracts with small farmers who grow for us, and preparing
all of the seed grown on our farm. Our work is focused on ensuring continued access to crop diversity for farmers and gardeners, and we bring
old varieties of grain and vegetables back into circulation from sources
like the National Germplasm Bank. After running the school garden
program and seeing how novel this concept is at some schools still, I’m
grateful to always have had a garden elective at SBMS, as well as support for the notion that, through community connections, opportunities will present themselves to pursue whatever dream I might have.
2010
Class Rep: Tristan Bloomer
tbloomer14@yahoo.com
Here are some of the colleges
Class of 2011 Reunion
Every May we invite our alumni to return to SBMS for their
first reunion to celebrate their high school graduation.
This year we gathered in the library to escape the heat and
celebrate the class of 2011. Around a circle, we recounted
our favorite memories and shared ice cream sundaes. The
high school reunion is quickly becoming one of our favorite alumni traditions and we look forward to celebrating
the class of 2012 next year!
An Action
Wedding!
On April 27, 2014, Elizabeth Schwyzer ’94
and Steve Smith ran up Gibraltar Road,
and got married in the rocks near La Cumbre Peak. One week later, they celebrated
their marriage with a big party at Godric
Grove, where Elizabeth went through
Rites of Passage 20 years ago! Elizabeth
was also a teacher at SBMS. This July,
Elizabeth and Steve will be relocating to
the Bay Area, where Steve will join the
psychology faculty of Palo Alto University, and Elizabeth will continue to write,
teach, and coach writers. They’re planning
to be back in town for frequent visits.
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
and universities to which SBMS
’11 students were accepted for
this fall:
Bard College
California Polytechnic State
University San Luis Obispo
California State University Chico
California State University
Long Beach
Colby -Sawyer College
Connecticut College
Hendrix College
Kenyon College
Lewis and Clark College
Scripps College
University of California
San Diego
University of Oregon
University of Puget Sound
Wesleyan
Whitman College
Willamette University
31
Community
Alumni Athletes Shine!
Alex Valente At the 2014 CIF Championships in May, Alex set a new CIF
record in the 100-meter butterfly (46.69 seconds). Earlier this year, Alex
broke a national age-group record in the 100-yard butterfly (46.99 seconds), breaking a mark that had stood since 2001. Alex swims for Dos
Pueblos High and will
head into his senior
year this fall as one of
the dominant swimmers in Southern California and a rising star
as the 2016 Olympics
loom in the future.
Katie Roberts: 1957 – 2014
Jackson Powell Heading into his
junior year at Santa Barbara High
School, Jackson is one of the top
tennis players in the county. He
was the Channel League rookie
of the year as a freshman and
was first-team all-league as a
sophomore. On the numberone doubles team, he made the
quarterfinals of the prestigious
Ojai tournament, and is currently
ranked in the top 50 by the USTA.
Jackson will be playing and training in Spain this summer, so the
other Channel League teams will
have to watch out!
W
Thanks to John Dvorak/Presidio Sports (left) and Rich Powell (right)
e are very saddened to share the news that sbms parent
the first time as part of our annual Citizens for the Carpin-
extraordinaire, Katie Roberts passed away June 18.
teria Bluffs Earth Day.”
Along with her husband Matt, SBMS shares
Katie published the SBMS Scoop and volunteered in
this loss with Katie and Matt’s two children Aaron (2009)
the SBMS library for many years. Here is Colby’s memory
and Claire Ann (2013). In the words of Katie’s friend and for-
of Katie: “Katie was the smartest, strongest, funniest, most
mer SBMS parent and Board Member, Ted Rhodes, “Katie
versatile person I have ever met. She could (and would) do
will be greatly missed by all of us whom
anything! She volunteered in the library
she befriended with her sharp wit, intel-
(including running it for two weeks so
ligence, thoughtfulness, and engaging
I could be with my daughter while my
smile. Yes, she will be missed by all of us
granddaughter was born). On Tuesdays,
with whom she shared books, music, and
she would carpool with several kids to
recipes; regaled with stories; volunteered;
SBMS—come to the library and put things
and worked alongside to make this a bet-
in order, write and correct the Scoop, work
ter world, whether it was trying to intro-
in the Deli, and then go walk five miles to
duce progressive ideas and inspiration to
We celebrated the SBMS class of 1993’s 20th reunion this past year. To honor the class that graduated two decades ago, we invited them to
join in a host of SBMS activities to relive their glory days and experience SBMS in the present day...the more things change the more they
stay the same. The reunion began with a special Winter Solstice sunrise swim and continued through lunch and a Friday Town Meeting to
honor and introduce the alumni to the current student body. Alumni, teachers, current students, friends, and families of SBMS mingled
on the trail as they made their way up Romero to watch the sunset on the shortest day of the year. The reunion culminated with a special
showing of the 1993 Rite of the Wheel trip movie.
Nora Brickman After 12 years in the professional dance world,
Celeste Hoffpauir I am a theater arts and ethnic studies teacher
Nora is semi-retired and her knees are thrilled. She teaches pilates
to private clients in Los Angeles where she lives with her husband
Bob and her awesome two-year-old daughter, Sadie.
and academic dean at a charter high school in Hayward, Calif.
Much of my work is inspired by SBMS, Eric Lehman, and Santa
Barbara Summer Stock. I live with my husband and two cats in
Oakland, CA.
Traford Burke Full time Special Ed Teacher at SBHS, engaged to a
beautiful woman named Natalia Rossi, has really neat blue shoes
with suede tops and rubber bottoms.
Sophie (Cohan) Friedman I am happily living here in Santa Bar-
bara. I teach art to about five hundred elementary school students!
I am enjoying life with my husband and two fluffly cats…and I’m
having my first baby this spring!
Anna Drake Anna is a professional psychotherapist living and
working in Santa Barbara with her wonderful family.
Angeles and worked as a storyboard artist. I later landed a gig as
a producer for Activision. The recession hit, and the project I was
working on was cancelled. Upon receiving a job offer in New York
City, I realized I absolutely did not want to work in the game industry. So I went off the grid and lived with one-percenters in a
trailer in the Mojave without running water or electricity. During
this time I learned the fine skills of truly conserving water, finding
meteorites, and hunting rattlesnakes. Next I moved to Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula, which is where I still live. Current activities include studying condensed matter physics at Michigan Technological University and not much else. Besides that, um . . . divorced
twice, have three cats, and am trained in Krav Maga.
cial swath of coastline such as the Carpinteria Bluffs. Katie
say—and I’m sure I’m only one of hundreds.”
will be missed by every former 3rd grader whom, thanks in
If the adage is true that “you live on in other’s hearts
large part to Katie’s energy, organizing skills, and leader-
by your words and actions,” Katie will live on forever in the
ship, had the opportunity to visit the Carpinteria Bluffs for
hearts of all of us at SBMS.
SBMS Babies!
Might these be the Bike Monkeys and
music-makers of the SBMS Class of 2028?
Serena Lehman We had our baby boy at home on
an adorable ten-month-old named Jack t. He’s
walking and chattering up a storm. I’m working
at O’Melveny & Myers, working on entertainment
litigation cases involving the rights to Superman
and James Bond.
April 15th. His name is Lorence Burkely Darnell
. Fun fact: I commuted by bike throughout my pregnancy until the day he was born.
Fulgham
Novy Schubach ‘94 and his fiancé Alexis Adler:
June Harper Schubach, 7.5
pounds, 20.5 inches, born at 10:58 pm on
5.12.14 at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
(the closest one to Gualala where she’ll
grow up on the ranch feeding chickens and
llamas and growing fresh vegetables!)
Class of 1994 mark your calendar! It’s your turn next. The 20th Reunion of the Class of 1994 is
Friday, December 19! If you are interested in planning your reunion email kara@sbms.org.
32
Cassie Seto Neyer ‘96 My husband Jon and I have
t
Ara Erickson Ara lives in Seattle, relishing the Northwest green
and nature. She lives on the same property as her parents, Ben and
Gilda, enjoying life with her husband, Eric, and son Leif. She misses
the sunshine of Santa Barbara and the sunsets over the ocean.
Vanessa Schlais After college I moved from San Francisco to Los
while she was fighting cancer. I will miss her more than I can
t
Class of 1993 Reunion
keep in shape, all with a smile and a joke,
a lackluster school district administration or saving a spe-
The Diamond Summer 2014
The Diamond Summer 2014
33
Community
Auction News and
Thank Yous
Santa Barbara Middle School
Thanks the following parents, families, trustees and businesses for their generous support and donations
to our auction. With your help, we raised over $250,000 to support our school’s unique program!
Ruddle-Kershner-Ostovany Families
aRLINGTON FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Martin Gore  Monte & Merryl Brown
montecito bank & Trust
chris & wendy blau  GREG & ELISABETH FOWLER
alan & elizabeth kasehagen  darren osti & jodi fishman-osti
aaron & jill transki
Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners
Adobe Software
A-Frame Surf Shop
Air Combat USA
alma rosa Winery
Debbie & Jim Arnesen
Arnoldi’s Cafe
Roger & Stefanie Bacon
Trent Baer &
Lynne Freeman
Billy & Chynna Baldwin
Arman Banan & Romina
Mashhoon-Banan
Sara Bazan
Matt & Marcy Bazanni
Beach House
Beachside Bar & Grill
Marlene & Jay Beckerman
Belle de Jour Salon
Jenna Berg
Mauricio & Christine Bergamin
Steve & Linda Besserman
Betsy Heafitz College
Consulting
Jack & Marguerite Bianchi
Bicycle Bob’s
Bikram Yoga
Chris & Wendy Blau
Blenders In the Grass
Mark & Lesley Bloomer
Blush Restaurant & Lounge
Benjamin & Naomi Bollag
Daniel & Yumi Bollag
Michael & Tracy Bollag
Thad Bordofsky & Lisa Bass
Pam Boswell
bouchon Santa Barbara
Jim & Robin Brady
Bragg Health Institute
Berkeley Breathed
Ernie & Pat Brooks
Merryl & Monte Brown
Peg Browning
Jim Buckley & Patty Kelley
Marcia Burtt
Cafe Del Sol
California Wine Festival
Dave & Kim Cantin
Jeffrey & Susan Carmody
Louis Caron
John Castillo
Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club
Linda Hail Ceramics
Cesarina Winery
Channel Islands Outfitters
Chaucer’s Bookstore
Anne Chen
China Pavilion
Marc Chytilo & Nancy Weiss
Ciao Bella
Julie Fiscalini, CMT
A HUGE thank you to our community for a fabulous
event and wildly successful “Gilligan’s Island” dinner and
auction! We are so grateful to the many sponsors, donors, parents, students, grandparents, teachers, trustees,
alumni, and volunteers who made this event a huge success. We raised more than $250,000—a record for SBMS!
Held at the charming Rockwood Woman’s Club and
chaired by SBMS parents Meghan White-Skinner and
Toyo Peluso, this year’s dinner and auction was a night to
remember! The entertaining student performance, palmtree-thatched bars, costumes, catering, and decor were
outstanding. If you missed this year’s event, you missed
one heck of a good time.
Many thanks to the tremendous work of so many volunteers who made this night possible! From our Decorations Team setting the mood, to students and parents who
created stunning student art projects, to all of the parents
who helped to solicit donations . . . we really couldn’t have
done it without your help.
A special thanks goes out to Auction Chairs Meghan
White-Skinner and Toyo Peluso, Decorations Gurus Ginny
Speirs, Richard Wilke, Tom Ridenour and Cliff Hubbard,
Silent Auction Queen Romina Banan, and SBMS staff David Teton-Landis and Laurie Lauer for all your hard work,
long hours and creative energy to make this night really
special.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our
Financial Assistance Program. Your generosity allows us to
share the SBMS experience and make a difference in the
lives of families for years to come.
—Christine Cowles Bergamin, Development Director
34
The Diamond Summer 2014
Coastal Concierge
Ken & Kristan Cohen
Cold Spring Tavern
Color Services Photo Lab
Cos Bar Montecito
Cottonwood Canyon
Vineyard & Winery
Country House Antiques
Jake & Joanne Cryan
Melissa Cunningham
Kristi Curtis
Dick & Susan Davidson
Bruce & Regina Davis
Dean Dawson & Meg Miller
Mike Day & Kelly Knight
Mimi deGruy
Caroline DeLoreto & Adam Taft
Dino’s Body Shop
Albert & Shannon DiPadova
Steve & Gabriela Dodson
Dog Days in Santa Barbara
Victor & Anita Dominocielo
Lillian Doner
Gary Dorfman
Dr. Trevor Denny, D.D.S.,
Dr. William Dorfman, D.D.S.
dressed
Drishti Yoga Essentials
Max Drucker &
Jennifer Smithwick
Erik Edwards
Billy & Lisa Eggers
Scott & Julie Ehrnstein
El Capitan Canyon
El Encanto Santa Barbara
Elaia Travel
Ensemble Theatre Company
Everbloom Nursery
Evolutions Medical Spa
Stuart Feinstein & Kathy Foltz
Fibula Jewelry
Bryan & Lisa Field-Elliot
Eric & Elise Fields
Erin Finnegan
Float Luxury Spa
Folksy Flower
Frank & Tiffany Foster
Four Seasons Biltmore
Greg & Elisabeth Fowler
Betty Freudenburg
Joe Gagnon
Gaspar Jewelers
Gelson’s Markets
Andrew Gersoff &
Julie Yamamoto
Dan Gira & Victoria Greene
Girls Rock SB!
John & Christie Glanville
Joseph & Arlette Godges
Larry & Jennifer Good
Martin Gore
The Diamond Summer 2014
Sue Graff
Craig & Fran Granet
Sid & Mimi Green
Halper Fine Art
Bill & Stacy Halperin
Channing & Shari
Hammond
Handlebar Coffee Roasters
Craig & Aira Harris
Larry & Rebecca Harteck
Hazard’s Cyclesport
Betsy Heafitz
Hearst San Simeon State
Historical Monument
Karen Schloss Heimberg
Brian & Laurence Hodges
Tom Hopkins & Sandy
Kaneoka
Cliff & Anne Hubbard
John & Ellen Hunter
John & Josephine Hunter
Mark & Luisa Hyatt
Impulse Communications
Whitney & Bob Ingersoll
IN-N-OUT Burger
Island Seed & Feed
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Teresa Jamison
Jedlicka’s Saddlery
Jiffy Lube
Joelle Olive Oil
Jordano’s
Kahuna Grill
Kanaloa Seafood
Alan & Elizabeth Kasehagen
Jesse & Lindsey Kasehagen
Jim & Jenny Kearns
Sean Kelly
Shannon Kenny
Glenn & Tana Kincaid
Colby & Thomas Kline
Mary Scaran L Ac
La Arcada Bistro
Lana Marme
Laurie & Carl Lauer
Beth Laurie
Mark & Claire Lawrence
Leaves of Grass
Eric & Maureen Lehman
Les Marchands Wine Bar
Marc Leventhal & Rebecca Miller
Russ & Gerry Lewin
Lewis & Clark Antiques
Stuart & Jennifer Lewis
The Liquor & Wine Grotto
Jake Lindelof
Vicki Lindelof
Los Olivos Wine Merchant
Louie’s California Bistro
Lovebird Boutique
Maggie Davis Reflexology
Marit Rae
Skye McGinnes
Bridget McIlrath-Johnson
Mark & Laurie McKinley
Greg & Doris McPhee
Brian & Kristin McWilliams
Matt & Aly Metcalfe
Metropolitan Theatres Corp
Barton & Carol Millar
David & Nan Mills
Niklas & Susan Moe
Montecito Bank & Trust
Montecito Barbers
Montecito Country Club
Montecito Family YMCA
Montecito Inn
Montecito Yoga
Moonstone Beach Bar
Mountain Air Sports
Natural Cafe
New Baja Grill
Jenna Newburn
Doug & Anne Newman
Ellen O’Connell
Occhiali Fine Eyewear
Old Spanish Days
Olio e Limone Ristorante &
Olio Pizzeria
Jami Gina Olsen
Dan & Katie Oriskovich
Darren, Alexa Osti &
Jodi Fishman-Osti
Our Daily Bread
Pacific Crepes
Pacifica Hotels
The Painted Cabernet
The Palace Grill
PCPA Theatrefest
Vincenzo & Toyo Peluso
Peregrine Galleries
Dean Perme & Amy Love
Brad & Melissa Petersen
Kara Petersen
Sheldon & Kathy Pfeifer
Glen & Laurel Phillips
Linda Phillips
Meni Phillips
Hank & Susan Pitcher
Pizza Mizza
Suzanne Prince
Jim & Marsha Prudden
Harry & Randi Rabin
Neal Rabin &
Nancy Grinstein
Ken Radtkey & Susan Van Atta
Michael & Carolyn
Randolph
Red Studio
Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro
Ted Rhodes & Joan Pascal
Tom Ridenour & Blair Looker
Rincon Cycles
Rincon Floral
Roe Anne White
Photography
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery
Marco Andrade &
Kelly Rosenheim
Jay & Talia Roston
Roy Restaurant & Cocktails
Clifford & Phyllis Ruddle
S.R. Hogue & Co.
Sage Strategies
Salt Water Divas
San Ysidro Ranch
Eric & Kendre Sanborn
Scott & Jennifer Sanderfer
Santa Barbara Airbus
Santa Barbara Family YMCA
Santa Barbara Frame Shop
SB Maritime Museum
SB Museum of Art
SB Museum of Natural History
& Ty Warner Sea Center
Santa Barbara Polo
& Racquet Club
Santa Barbara Rock Gym
SB Sailing Center
Santa Barbara Symphony
Santa Barbara Yoga Center
SB Zoological Gardens
Jennifer Scarbrough
Johan Scharin & Pamela Mays
SEA Landing
Geoff & Judith Seed
Phil & Suzanne Seed
Segway of Santa Barbara
John & Lynn SeigelBoettner
Galit Shani
Jeff & Karin Shelton
Mark & Tami Sherman
The Shop Cafe
Coach Juli Shulem
Silvergreens
Singh Family
Mitchell Sjerven & Amy Sachs
Skate One Corp
Skin Care Institute
Skin Essentials
Carol Lee Skinner
Rob Skinner &
Meghan White-Skinner
Skyeline Construction
Domi Smith
Soft Touch Leather
SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
Steve & Julie Solomon
Specialty Crane & Rigging
Garrett & Ginny Speirs
Joan Speirs
Spirit Earth
David & Sandy Starkey
Elizabeth Stegall
Sarah Stewart
Tim & Teresa Stiff
Michael Stinson
Doug & Fiona Stone
Owen & Alexia Stormo
Leslie Storr
Jeff & Cindy Stoutenborough
Wren Sumerel
Summerland Beach Cafe
Sundance Beach
Patricia & Eric Swenson
Greg & Daphne Tebbe
Tecolote Book Shop
The Lark
Tennis Shop of Montecito
Sally Terrell
David & Gail Teton-Landis
Theresa’s Natural Touch
Steven & Brooke Tiller
Fred & Sandy Toye
Aaron & Jill Transki
Rick & Linda Trigueiro
The Upham Hotel
VeloPro Cyclery
Via Vai Trattoria Pizzeria
Villa Elegante
Village Cheese & Wine Shop
James & Andrea Wagner
The Walking Company
Tony & Nancy Wall
Michael & Liat Wasserman
Waxing Poetic
Karl & Annelise Wechsler
Joe & Vibeke Weiland
Tim & Melinda Werner
West Beach Inn
Kevin Whelan & Kristin Kirby
Doug & Nancy Whetter
Whitcraft Winery
Richard & Marilyn Wilke
Tracey Willfong-Singh
Jack & Judee Wilson
David & Randee Winitzky
Woody’s Bodacious BBQ
Woolf Ericson Dental
Jesse & Lara Wooten
The Wright Center for
Orthodontics
Tim Young & Nicole Young
Jim Youngson & Carola
Nicholson
Zodo’s Bowling & Beyond
Santa Barbara Middle School
1321 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
805.682.2989
www.sbms.org
35
Santa Barbara Middle School
1321 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-1809
www.sbms.org
(805) 682-2989
To receive this newsletter electronically, update your address,
or remove your name from our mailing list, please call (805) 682-2989 or email office@sbms.org
Save the date
August
September
New Family Party
Sunday, August 24
Labor Day (No School)
Monday, September 1
SBMS Diamond Day:
Optional Information and Orientation Day
(recommended for new parents;
returning parents encouraged)
Thursday, August 28
9th Grade Orientation
Tuesday, September 2
First Day of School for All Students
Wednesday, September 3
Orientation Ride & Overnight Expedition
Thursday, September 4 - Friday, September 5
Pedal & Picnic for 6th & 7th Graders
Friday, September 12
Bella Venable
Philippe Ricard
6th & 7th Grade Back-to-School Night
Tuesday, September 16
School Photo Day
Tuesday, September 16
Ninth Grade Trip to Channel IslandsSat., Sept.
20 – Wed., Sept. 24
8th & 9th Grade Back-to-School Night
Tuesday, September 30
October
Fall Expedition, All Students
Monday, October 20 – Saturday, October 25
Homecoming
Saturday, October 25
Recuperation Day (No School)
Monday, October 27
November
Peace
By Casmali Lopez
Peace is an absence of fighting? Of War? Of Disagreement?
An absence of fighting, war and disagreement would be inhuman.
An absence of fighting, war and disagreement would destroy itself,
because, with the common idea of peace we would also lose opinion and identity.
Yet, as a race, we long unconditionally for peace.
36
ERB Testing: Normal Dismissal at 3:30 pm
Monday, November 17
ERB Testing: Early Dismissal at 2:00 pm
Tuesday, November 18
Conferences and Career Study Week
Wednesday, November 19 – Wednesday, November 26
Thanksgiving Holiday (No School)
Thursday, November 27 – Friday, November 28
The Diamond Summer 2014