Ten juniors were honored with College Book Awards, which are defined by the personal and academic qualities connected to the participating colleges. Seniors were also recognized with more than 20 awards, which included five State Scholar-Athlete Awards, 11 Departmental Honors and nine senior plaques that include their names etched on perpetual plaques in the Upper School.

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Tony Jordan, Upper School principal, opened with a warm welcome to all the students, parents and faculty in attendance thanking the Class of 2012 for their leadership, hard work, relentless pursuit of excellence and care for their school community, as well as the exceptional faculty for leading our students.

Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut also acknowledged that, “More than a simple calculation of grade point average, these awards are the end result of a process of thoughtful evaluation and reflection that acknowledges at the very highest level what we stand for as a school.” He also encouraged everyone to think about awards that aren’t ever officially given out at ceremonies and urged these awards be given to friends, teachers, colleagues and parents who are so deserving of public recognition for their honorable acts.

Awards were given to both juniors and seniors who showed high academic distinction, outstanding leadership, high character, extracurricular involvement and exceptional athletic ability. Ceremony highlights included the national anthem performed by junior Melisa Osborne, the Invocation and Benediction by The Reverend James Livingston, a warm acknowledgement to 90 Admission Ambassadors by Director of Admission and Financial Aid Phoebe Larson, a grateful recognition to the Associated Student Body by Director of Community Life Lora Allison, an Honor Committee recognition by Assistant Principal Ryan Dahlem and a recognition of the Peer Counselors by School Counselor Janice Avalone.

Please congratulate our students; the complete list of winners is below.

Junior College Book Awards

The Harvard Book Prize – Recipient: Emily Venable. This book is awarded to a student who best combines scholastic ability, high character and extracurricular involvement.

The Middlebury Book – Recipient: Ellie Schwartz. This book is awarded to an exceptional student who has shown remarkable commitment in environmental studies.

The University of Pennsylvania Book – Recipient: Robert Deng. This book is awarded to a junior who ranks top of the class and best exemplifies the qualities and characteristics of Benjamin Franklin—a scholar, innovator and server of the community.

The Princeton Book – Recipient: Brandon Price. This book is awarded to a junior who exhibits intellectual promise, academic excellence and outstanding personal character.

The Randolph College Book – Recipient: Katherine Wechsler. This book is awarded to a junior accomplished in classics and who is interested in pursuing classics while in college.

The Rennsalear Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal – Recipient: David Freed. This is awarded to a junior who excels in advanced math and science and exhibits a well-rounded involvement in the community.

The Smith College Book – Recipient: Madisen Clanton. This book is awarded to a junior girl who ranks in the top of the class and exemplifies academic achievement, leadership qualities and concern for others.

The Williams College Book – Recipient: N. Harrison White. This book is awarded to a junior who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.

The Yale Book – Recipient: Victoria Lee. This book is awarded to a junior who has demonstrated outstanding personal character and intellectual promise.

Dominic Ondryas Memorial Award – Recipient: Justin Ren. Awarded to the junior who has exercised leadership during their years at St. Margaret’s and who has shown a willingness to improve the community and world by leading others through personal example.

Special Athletic Award

The State Scholar-Athlete Awards – Recipients: Natalie Barbaresi, Katherine Donahue, Matthew Duenes, Jacob Garrett and Michael Kushner. Awarded to seniors who maintained a 3.70 unweighted cumulative GPA and excelled in athletics, earning all C.I.F. distinction. Awards for Athletes of the Year were also awarded to Billy Gaudreau and Jennifer Tedori.

Senior Awards – Departmental Honors

A Departmental Book was awarded to the seniors who achieved excellence in each academic discipline listed below, selected by the members of each department.

English – Natalie Barbaresi

Chinese – Heather Hughes

French – Jessica Bissontz

Japanese – Matthew Miyamoto

Latin – Abigail Nemeth

Spanish – Mary Ahearn

History – George Clemmons

Mathematics – Ted Ko

Science – Barrett Travis

Performing Arts – Maxwell Monahan

Visual Arts – Esmeralda Chaidez

The Founder’s Award – Recipient: Ted Ko. Awarded to the senior who maintained the highest grade point average in the class and is selected this year’s Valedictorian.

Salutatorian Award – Recipient: Barrett Travis. Awarded to the senior who maintained the second-highest grade point average in the class.

The Bishop’s Award – Recipient: Christopher Bauer. Awarded to the senior who has set an example of overall achievement, combining an excellent academic record with exemplary service to the school.

The Board of Trustees’ Award – Recipient: Ramon Arriaga. Awarded to the senior who has attended St. Margaret’s for at least two years, has grown the most both as a person and as a student and has taken advantage of many opportunities for involvement.

St. Margaret’s Award – Recipient: Saba Saghafi. Awarded to the senior whose academic work was distinguished by the love of scholarship and who, by example, contributed most to the academic morale of the school.

PTF Service Award – Recipient: Meaghan Hurr. Awarded to the senior whose leadership embodies the spirit of selflessness through commitment and involvement.

Faculty Achievement Award – Recipient: Fabiola Hernandez. Awarded to the senior who has maintained high academic standards through an exceptional combination of achievement, resilience and perseverance.

Faculty Plate – Recipient: George Clemmons. Awarded to the senior who has made the most of their St. Margaret’s experience and clearly manifests the Latin inscription on the award plate, suo marte or “by one’s own prowess.”

Principal’s Cup – Recipient: Ekaterini (Katie) Kontoulis. Awarded to the senior who has grown to exemplify the ideals of Honor, Diligence and Decency. This senior questioned the application and meaning of these ideals in his involvement at St. Margaret’s, as a student and leader, and has made this school a better place by living life courageously, consistently and compassionately.

Congratulations to all Upper School Award winners!

Sponsored by the Orange County Math Council, Math Field Day is a math competition for students in Grades 4, 5 and 6. The day long competition is an opportunity for Orange County elementary schools to join together in promoting excellence in mathematics, team work, achieving goals and exhibiting school spirit. A school can have only one team, with four team members, per participating grade level.

Click here for photo gallery.

Middle School Math teacher Stephanie Windes guided the grade 4, 5 and 6 teams.

Grade 4 representatives: Annabel Facey, Lara Hairpetain, Angela Park and Hana Stauss

Grade 5 representatives: Drew Vollero, Jack Wohlgemuth, Taylor Wong and Natalie Yee

Grade 6 representatives: Aaron Garfinkle, Sarah Ko, Parker Ryan and Andy Shin

Prior to the event, the three teams met with Mrs. Windes for a weekly study session in the Library at lunch. There they had mini Rubik’s© contests, played mental math games, studied and discussed the various topics of the competition and implemented performance strategies.

On the day of the event, students competed in the following categories/contests:

(1) Number Sense

(2) Measurement and Geometry

(3) Algebra and Functions

(4) Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability

(5) Mathematical Reasoning

St. Margaret’s competed against 23 other schools from throughout Orange County and received Olympic-style medals in the following categories:

Grade 4

4th place in Measurement & Geometry

4th place in Algebra & Function

Grade 5

1st place in Number Sense

1st place in Data Analysis

1st place in Mathematical Reasoning

2nd place in Algebra & Function

Grade 6

4th place in Math Reasoning

“St. Margaret’s performance at this year’s Math Field Day competition was impressive. I couldn’t be more proud of these kids; they studied hard in preparation for this event as evidenced by the results,” said Mrs. Windes. “I am already looking forward to next year’s competition. Congratulations to all the participants! I would also like to express a special thank you to all of the parent volunteers who helped make this such a positive experience for everyone.”

Austin was one of only two high school students to win this coveted award and received a $12,500 scholarship from the corporation. Austin was selected from more than 1,550 finalists representing 68 different geographic regions and nearly 445 affiliated fairs.

Click here for additional information on the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award.

Austin designed and prototyped a method of transmitting power over distances without the use of wires or other infrastructure between sites. His approach aims to both eliminate the huge losses of power (up to 50 percent) and dramatically reduce the use of mining and manufacturing resources currently involved in power transmission.

According to Austin’s mom, Shannon Russell, “Austin discovered a way to convert any energy source to light and back to energy with up to 97 percent quantum efficiency. Nikola Tesla first proposed this idea more than 100 years ago, and ever since, scientists and engineers have been attempting to make it happen. Although wireless power transmission techniques have been developed and even commercialized, they often have efficiencies on the order of a fraction of a percent at a distance of up to a few meters. Austin has developed a system that will deliver power wirelessly with up to 97 percent quantum efficiency. In addition, his method has the ability to transmit up to 10,000 kilometers (from space). His technology can locate and charge an electronic device such as a cell phone while it’s in your pocket, and it does not produce electromagnetic interference (EMI). He has a patent (pending) represented by Knobbe Martens LLP.”

In addition to the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award, Austin was awarded first place in two special categories at the 2012 Intel International Science Fair including, $3,000 from the Air Force Research Lab on behalf of the United States Air Force, and $5,000 from Ansaldo STS, a leader in the global mass transit industry.

“Next, I plan on working with a research laboratory on new medical laser technologies (early Cancer detection – epithelial cells); beginning professional trials on my method of brainwave induction therapy . . . and, of course seeing the new Innovation Lab come to life at St. Margaret’s,” said Austin.

From May 13 – 19, Emeritus at San Juan Capistrano planned many events to honor the residents that the center cares for and invited the San Juan Capistrano community to celebrate with them.

“Journey with Emeritus at San Juan Capistrano” included current and former residents, along with their families, volunteers and community members, as well as the Honorable Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor.

Click here for photo gallery.

The St. Margaret’s concert band students who participated in the event included:

Ginna Byun

Luis Ceballos

Jordan Chun

Cedric Cole

Dalan Cragun

Marc Haddad

Ruth Harding

Collin Haugen

David Larsen

Jonathan Martin

Jack McCaffrey

William Miyamoto

Brian Murphy

Chris Murphy

Andrew Nallathambi

Ryan O’Hare

Connor Parks

Collin Price

Kendall Robison

Karina Sanchez

Laurel Smith

Brandon Snyder

Ryan Steuber

Jake Tompkins

Stewart Toubia

David Weaver

Every day all over the world, children all over the world are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. And their lives may be quite different. But inside they are just like you.

During their Library time on Monday May 21, Lore Fredette’s Preschool class experienced this first hand when her class connected via Skype with students from the Pueri Regnum Preschool in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Both classes exchanged classic children’s songs and dances in both English and Portuguese. The children also discussed each other’s country flags and the Portuguese students were able to point out the colors of the flags in English. St. Margaret’s students mastered a few Portuguese words as well. “This was such a great experience for all the children,” said Library Director Darla Magana.

To prepare for their visit with their Brazilian e-pals Mrs. Fredette’s students practiced songs that emphasized movement and vocabulary. The students also located Brazil on a map and were told a little about their Brazilian culture before the visit.

This opportunity was made possible through Library Technician Rosemary DeSa’s initiative to reach out to the teachers of Pueri Regnum Preschool where her grandson goes to school. A recent article in Parent Child magazine says that one-on-one contact with new people and places is probably the most immediate, effective way to teach little children about other cultures. Specifically, whenever possible, we should introduce our children to people from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Fortunately, these days we don’t have to travel thousands of miles across the world to expose our little ones to other cultures. All they have to do is log-in.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here for photo gallery.

The venue change allowed the Lower School students to enjoy the expanses and uniqueness of the Upper School football field and stadium. Students entered wide-eyed onto the Tartan Field through the football team’s Tartan Tunnel and were greeted by Lower School Principal Tashon McKeithan. House League captains then took the runners through a stretch and warm up routine. There were three separate heats as Kindergarten ran first followed by grades 1-2 and then by grades 3-5. The grade 5 students were also given a final lap to honor their final participation in the Tartan Trot as they depart to Middle School next year.

Immediately following the Tartan Trot the students were treated to a Popsicle on the Lower School playground and then given a medal to commemorate the event. The Trot was a victory for the students and Parent Teacher Fellowship alike as it was a fun and helped to raise funds.

Throughout the year, grade 3 students have been learning what it is that makes up a California community. From learning and understanding the different geographic regions of the state, the different ethnic groups that inhabited the land, what it takes to build a community, the balance that every community must have between its community needs, business involvement, and need to preserve historical buildings, landmarks and natural preserves. Also, we have discussed the importance of public virtue and the role of the citizens within the community. During these discussions we have been able to touch on how to participate in the classroom, at school, within the community and in civic life.

On Friday, May 18, we had the honor of having California State Senator Mimi Walters speak with us on the importance of communities, community government and how they work together. Senator Walters touched on the triumphs and setbacks she experienced throughout her political career and how these setbacks never stopped her from striving for her goals. She was able to talk to the students on how bills are formed, passed by a majority and vetoed. She talked about her day-to-day schedule and dealings and was able to help reiterate how government and communities had to work together to create a thriving community. The students then had a question and answer portion in which they were able to find out how Senator Walters started her political career: first, as a junior and senior at Dana Hills High School in the student government; and years later becoming involved in her community, volunteering at the school’s holiday festival. She felt that it was her calling to make a difference in her community though political representation. Senator Walters commented on how being able to talk to students and members of her community was one of the highlights of her job. She touched on the fact that three of her children are also involved in school politics and it is important to be a positive force within your community. Senator Walters also went into detail about being the mayor of Laguna Niguel and the issues she dealt with on a city level.

Click here for photo gallery.

Students lastly asked her about her plans for the future when her first term ends as state senator. Senator Walters hopes to run for a second term and later on possibly representing her community in politics on a national level. Lastly, with her birthday falling four days before her visit, the entire third grade ended her visit with an enthusiastic rendition of “Happy Birthday.” She left, but not before she told the students that she looked forward to their visit to Sacramento next year.

Senator Walters has been a servant to her community for quite some time having served as mayor and councilwoman for the City of Laguna Niguel from 1996-2004. She then represented the 73rd District in the California State Assembly from 2004-2008. Moving from the State Assembly, in 2008 she ran and won the State Senate seat for the 33rd District, which includes cities in Northern, Central and Southern Orange County.

“It was a pleasure to spend time with these longtime stewards of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. We feel honored that they remain engaged in the life and wellbeing of St. Margaret’s and would take time out of their busy lives to come back and offer their insights and perspectives,” said Headmaster Hurlbut. “Honoring and remembering our history and the intent of those who came before us is vital to staying true to who we are and for the future growth of the school.”

The past board president in attendance, listed with years of service:

Mr. Al Nagy, 1989- 1990

Mr. Larry Nelson, 1990- 1992

Mr. Joe Busch, 1994 – 1996

Mr. Bob Arrigoni, 1996 – 1997

Dr. Karl Gittelman, 1997 -1999

Mr. John McGraw, 1999 – 2001

Mrs. Barb Massrey, 2003-2004

Mr. Jeff Stoddard, 2004-2007

Fifty-eight theatre productions performed by 32 high schools were eligible for this year’s awards. The Orange County Cappies Critic’s teams select “Critic’s Choices” in all eligible categories. Those Critics’ Choices go on the ballot for voting, which was completed on Tuesday night. The top five become nominees. The winners will be revealed on June 3 at a black-tie event known as the Cappies Gala.

It is worth noting that in our Cappies area, St. Margaret’s competes against large public and private schools, including a number of specialized performing arts high schools.

The Cappies is a national program, sponsored locally by The Orange County Register. It recognizes achievement in high school arts and drama programs.

Please congratulate our students!

2012 Orange County Cappies Nominees and Commendees

LIGHTING

Madeleine Bidmead, The Servant of Two Masters

ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY

The Italians, The Servant of Two Masters

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Natalie Barbaresi, as Italian #3/Waiter, The Servant of Two Masters

FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Remi Kassarjian, as Italian #2/Waiter, The Servant of Two Masters

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Morgan Higgins, as the Usherette, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

FEMALE DANCER

Isabella Carracino, as the Tango Lead, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

COMIC ACTOR IN A PLAY

Conor Burke, as Pantalone, The Servant of Two Masters

COMIC ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Saba Saghafi, as Freddy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Katherine Schneider, as Clarice, The Servant of Two Masters

LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

Saba Saghafi, as Truffaldino, The Servant of Two Masters

SONG

“All About Ruprecht,” Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

PLAY

The Servant of Two Masters

MUSICAL

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

FRESHMAN CRITIC

Liam McGregor

SENIOR CRITIC

Najet Fazai

CRITICS’ TEAM

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Commendees

Melanie Arnold

Aurahm Bayat

George Clemmons

Katie Kontoulis

Last month 36 chemistry honors students traveled to Irvine to visit the Allergan, Inc. corporate headquarters. The visit was made possible by sophomore Kelly Burk’s father Dr. Robert Burk, who is a senior researcher at Allergan. Dr. Burk arranged for the students to meet and speak to a patent attorney and the director of human resources to help the students see the broad educational needs for the people that work in the research and development science organization. The students were also given tours of the research laboratories, ultra clean room facilities and demonstrations of 3D computational chemistry analysis.

Allergan’s world-class research and development program embodies efforts to bring the best of medicine to life. Scientists and researchers work closely with medical specialists to transform novel compounds into new therapeutics that help improve quality of life.

Below are two student perspectives of the Allergan visit.

By Kelly Burk, Grade 10

I really enjoyed the field trip to Allergan. Though both of my parents have worked at Allergan since before I was born, this field trip exposed me to areas of the company that I had never seen, or frankly, even knew existed. Our tour started with an introduction to the discovery through marketing of medicinal drugs. This was portrayed to us through a combination of brief speeches, a video and a PowerPoint. We learned about the lengthy and costly process of what it takes to discover a drug and then the phases it goes through until it can be commercially marketed. However, the more interesting pieces of the tour began once we left the conference room and began touring the actual site of Allergan.

We were able to see how three-dimensional technology is used to predict the results of applying certain chemicals to proteins or other elements of the body. Then we moved to another part of the grounds where we got to see the packaging of sample drugs and the extremely cautious and strenuous process of producing and packaging sterile products in compound management. It is necessary to pump in sterile air, disinfect every single thing that passes through the plant, and be extremely precise with calculations and ensure that there are no errors with anything. We then visited pharmaceutical science operations where we saw how drugs are tested using fascinating robotics. There were robots which were capable of transferring 96 different, individual drops of chemicals using only sound waves. The changes are not even visible to the naked eye! We also got to see where drugs are frozen and stored until they become needed, and also a machine which transferred sample of chemicals between trays.

Overall, this field trip was highly educational and I truly enjoyed it. This field trip exposed me to things that I have never seen and exposed me to another side of a company that I have spent my whole life around.

By Chase Williams, Grade 11

My trip to Allergan with the rest of the chemistry honors students was awesome. It was very cool to see the innards of a financially successful company, even though chemistry might not be what I want to pursue.

What I admired most about the company and what it does is the extreme precision with which it handles everything, including student tour admission. From start to end the process of handling 30-plus students was handled very well and safely, despite them not having ever handled a tour group this size.

Allergan was also very precise in its method of sterilization. The rooms that were HEPA filtered to only contain 1-10 microbes per square inch is nothing short of amazing. And, the idea that employees and chemists could only enter the room in a gown that had not touched the ground at first seemed preposterous, but made absolute sense once you realized the gravity of what these people create.

I was also very impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the employees. You could tell that once you stepped onto the Allergan campus that everyone was very committed to the company and what it stands for. They were also very nice and courteous and welcoming. The chemists are very dedicated to the process of sterilization, as they all follow several of the minute procedures necessary to create clean products.

In terms of the products themselves, there was quite a lot that amazed me. First off was the huge amount of work that goes into a single chemical product. The amount of legal work, years of development, money, and work is staggering. The products themselves were also something to marvel at. Allergan is very committed to eye care, and so they have an added challenge that most companies do not: they need to not only create effective products, but also deliver them extremely delicately. Whether it be through a small piece of plastic, or precisely measured and sealed drops, the drugs get to the customer safely and effectively.

Overall, the experience was very pleasing. While I do not plan on being a chemist in my future, it was very eye opening to see the campus for many reasons. I got to witness the precision and professionalism of a huge billion dollar company. I was also inspired by the commitment to the products and their cleanliness; it really got me motivated to become that professional in my own endeavors.

Diversity is a broad term that encompasses many facets of our culture in both obvious and subtle ways. Connecting with our immediate and surrounding communities and telling the stories of individuals in them is a powerful way of recognizing that we are not all the same, we all experience life differently and have different stories to tell. If we can acknowledge our “otherness” we can begin to develop empathy and honor the diverse nature of humanity.

With a basic understanding of diversity and its eight cultural identifiers (or The Big Eight), Photography 1 students selected a cultural identifier they felt they could connect with. Students subsequently found a subject either in their immediate or local community who could communicate “their story” through the lens of either 1: Race, 2: ethnicity, 3: age, 4: ability, 5: sexual orientation, 6: religion, 7: socio-economic status or 8: gender. Their subject became a portrait; it is now a part of the Artists as Changemakers 2012 show, which represents and honors the diversity of people living within our local communities. This artwork was also featured in the Artists as Changemakers Show at University of California, Irvine from Saturday, April 28 – Tuesday, May 8.

~ Karen Poffenberger, Upper School Visual Arts Teacher

Below is a student perspective of the Artists as Changemakers 2012 project.

Are We There Yet?

By Savanna Riley, Grade 11

When faced with diversity, whether it be racial, religious or sexual orientation, humanity can sometimes deem this “otherness” as a less than ideal factor. It is this difference within all of us that sets us apart from the masses. Yet, why do we feel obligated to ignore or disrespect someone’s cultural identifier because we happen to disagree or sometimes not even have an opinion?

With these ideas in mind, Photography 1 set out to send a message; a message honoring diversity in our local community by telling the stories of individuals. The first steps were to promote tolerance and respect in hopes of advancing to the leading goal of empathy and acceptance.

We began by choosing a cultural identifier from The Big Eight (race, ethnicity, ability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, gender and religion). We then decided on who we would choose as the focus for the project. Our subjects ranged from close family members to people we had never met before. It can sometimes be overwhelmingly uncomfortable to discuss a person’s true being if you have just met them however, this project has taught us to reach beyond our confined comfort zones.

Over spring break we met with our subjects to interview and photograph. For some of us our vision for the photo was clear and the writing had just somehow easily emerged from the chicken scratch we had jotted down in the meeting. For others it was a grueling process of trying to find one shot that communicated their story.

A collection of black and white images were on display in the Tartan Center the week of April 23, and as I have reflected on many of these amazing works I see the beginnings of a collective voice, a different type of voice that can sometimes speak louder than words. These images hold just as much weight as the people in them do. It is humbling to think that there is a world out there beyond our immediate community that needs our help in speaking out about their struggles, and as people we have the duty to educate and foster a safe, accepting environment here and outside in the world.

The purpose of this assignment was to tell a story. It was to portray the essence of a particular human through a specific lens to the rest of the community. These stories speak for more than just our subjects. They serve as spokesmen for the diverse nature of humanity itself.

Click here to see a photo gallery of each individual photographed, the UCI and St. Margaret’s Artists as Changemaker Show.

Below are excerpts from the stories of each individual photographed.

Lenore Levinson

It is a warm Monday evening. Looking up at the familiar face, I see a nurturing woman who has in such a short time, taught me so much. My eyes droop back down to the blank page that very soon will be filled with knowledge and irreplaceable stories, through the eyes of a woman I very much admire. Her name is Lenore Levinson; she has been my SAT tutor for about a year now. Like every other one of our meetings before, we sit at the wooden dining table as we try and make sense of the world, but unlike those previous meetings, this one has a different note to it and I know that together we are about to embark on a journey that takes us through her eyes and into the world of Judaism.

~Carly Page

Maria Ramirez

This lady is Maria Ramirez and she is my grandparents’ housekeeper. Maria was born in 1954 in Guatemala and is proud to be Guatemalan. When Maria was 7 years old, all of the children in her neighborhood and in town would go to a lady’s house to read books from her large library. Maria, as a child, could not afford to pay for a book to read, which only cost one penny, so she asked the lady who owned the house and the library of books if she could clean her house and in return read a book. This is how she found her love for housekeeping, cooking, and gardening.

~Caroline Smith

Father Boules Baky

It’s 6 a.m. The sun has barely started to rise. Fr. Boules Baky, a Coptic Orthodox priest living in Sothern California, wakes up at this time to perform his daily prayers of the first hour. Coptic Orthodox Christians or “Copts” are people of the Christian faith who originate from Egypt. Coptic Orthodoxy takes pride in its strong fundamental beliefs and rich Pharaonic history, claiming they were the direct descendants of the pharaoh.

~Christian Rafla

Jacob Rodney Buck

“Keep Moving Forward,” a beloved quote by Walt Disney, is the absolute favorite quote of my good friend, Jacob Rodney Buck. He’s a very typical American teenage boy in the eyes of most, an average 15-year-old guy. All Jacob wants is a “normal” future. Early on, however, Jacob realized that many people do not believe he is entitled to equal rights nor fulfilling his dreams because he is gay.

~Lauren Golledge

Sophia

The Greek word ‘Sophia’ means wisdom; no wonder this little girl is full of it. You look at her and you see a young, innocent little girl. What one may not know is that beyond this little girl’s honest and naïve gaze, she is a mature thinker with adult-like thoughts.

~Emma Morris

Steven Jeckovich

Humans have a tendency to take everyday things for granted. We go about our lives doing what we’ve done from a young age. We walk where we need to go, drive to meetings and appointments, and play our favorites sports. What would it mean to you if you couldn’t do any of these? How would you be affected if you couldn’t drive yourself to work or walk across the street to get a coffee or even get chores done? Would you realize the frustration of not having these simple abilities? It’s astonishing that we all take something for granted until it’s taken away from us.

~Max Palladini

Tara

I wish I was skinnier. I wish I was taller. I wish I was more “OC” pretty. Even people like Tara who is a normal girl in high school struggle with the thoughts they have about their physical appearance. She admits that even though she feels amazing when she’s all dressed up, a lot of times its for other people (guys especially). In our society today it’s hard not to. It’s nice to feel like you are catching someone’s eye because it validates you and makes you think “Hey I can be pretty.” She wishes it wasn’t true but she admits that she dresses up to look good for people around her. She admits that she does it today in her life. We want to work on ourselves until we are enough for a guy, until he picks us out of everyone else because when he does it’s the best feeling in the world.

~Megan Sweeney

Aida Quiroz

We all have unique experiences that help shape our lives. Some can be good but some can be bad. But through the tough and good times we find what is important to us and what is right. Aida Quiroz also known as “Tony” is no different. Her passage to the United States was tough but, not as tough as having to leave her four young children in her mother’s care while she came to look for work in America. Currently she resides in Santa Ana, California with a steady job that allows her to live her life with all the necessities that she may need but also to help her family back home. Tony went through many years of hard work and is very satisfied with how her life has turned around however, if she were to change anything she says she would have put a greater emphasis on her education so that she could avoid all the embarrassment of people claiming she is not educated.

~Shivani Tarsadia

Click here to view a photo gallery of the vocal concert held April 30 in the Chapel.

The following evening, the Lower School Pipers Choir and spring concert revolved around the theme of diversity. From the opening welcome by Lower School Assistant Principal Tashon McKeithan through the choice of songs in the program, the message conveyed how singing unifies all cultures. This concert featured Lower School Pipers, Ms. Burnett’s grades 6 and 7 World Music Choir, and Mrs. Miles’ grades 4 and 5 choirs.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the May 1 Lower School Pipers and Spring Concert in the Chapel.

The band concert, directed by All-School Band Instructor Chris Carbajal, featured varied bands and jazz combos, including a massed band alma mater.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the band concert held May 2 in the Chapel.

Taking the lead in Chapel on Thursday evening, May 3, All-School Orchestra Director Gene Wie led his orchestra students in grades 4–12 on their stringed and other instrumentals, showing the “stepping stone” progress in the instrumental program from the beginning to the most advanced groups.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the Orchestra Concert.

In addition to the concert season, the St. Margaret’s community also enjoyed the All-School Spring Dance Recital on Friday, May 4. This year’s recital, featuring 160 dancers in Preschool through grade 12, was called Road Trip 2012. The pieces were choreographed to travel-related songs such as Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” and U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

Click here for a photo gallery of the dance recital held in the Campaigne Center.

With the opening of the Performing Arts Center, these concerts mark the end of an era—the last grades 4 through 12 concerts and all-school dance recitals held in Chapel and the Campaigne Center. These arts events and many others will be presented in the facilities in the future.

Upper School Principal Tony Jordan expressed appreciation for “an enjoyable, heartwarming and impressive week of both student talent and faculty leadership. The chorus, band, orchestra and dance performances only reinforce the quality of our faculty and the talent of our remarkable students. Combined with our equally talented visual arts folks, it is clear to see why the commitment to this important part of our program, the arts, is so evident and strong.”

Now an annual Preschool tradition, Family Fun Night brought current Preschool families and newly admitted Preschool families together for a wonderful night of pasta and puppets last Friday night. The evening began with a casual mingle time for parents to chat and the children to run on the Gateway Field chasing beach balls. A yummy pasta dinner catered by Tannins Restaurant warmed everyone up before they walked to the Fountain Courtyard for the show.

Click here for photo gallery.

The professional puppet troupe, Puppets and Players, performed “Puff the Magic Dragon” from a handcrafted European-style puppet theatre on wheels to the delight of children and parents. Thank you to the PTF for funding this wonderful entertainment from the Orange County Performing Arts Arts Teach Program and to the parent volunteers and teachers who helped make the event such a big success.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…it must BE a duck!

We have ducklings in the Preschool! We have incubated and hatched chickens before in the Preschool—in fact, two of our egg-laying hens in the coop are babies that were born here; but, this is the first time we’ve hatched ducklings. Dedicated ‘duck mother’ Penny Tacquard made three trips to the Preschool Monday night to transfer the ducklings who hatched in the incubator into the container with the warming lights. The children (and parents) are delighted to welcome the fuzzy friends. Seven of the 12 eggs hatched. These little balls of yellow fluff will soon grow into tall white Peking Ducks. Anyone interested in adoption? Call us in the Preschool.

Click here to read the OCVarsity.com article.

Three St. Margaret’s students: Kevin Cox, Derek Lindquist and Jake McFarland, were named nominees in the Broadcom Masters division, meaning they are now eligible for the national contest, in which 300 semifinalists and, eventually, 30 finalists will be selected. Kevin and Jake also won first place in the fair’s junior division, and Derek took home second place. In the same division, Kendall Robison and Katie Weaver took home third place.

Click here to read the complete OC Register article.

Rocky Parker, Upper School History Teacher

By Tessa Hurr, Grade 10

On Wednesday, April 4, when the sunrise was just peaking through the alleys of the old brick buildings of San Juan Capistrano 45 students, all taking Advanced Placement human geography at St. Margaret’s waited attentively for the 7:00 a.m. train to Los Angeles. Some staggered around, struggling to keep their bleary eyes open as they clutched cups of coffee, and others chatted away, embracing the bite of the morning’s fresh mist. The students experienced first-hand what commuters from Oceanside to Santa Monica and everywhere in-between experience everyday just to get to work.

As I boarded the train, I was met by the sight of many people, mostly males, who were all sleeping, reading a book, or busy scrolling through their phones. I sat across from a thin, blond woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties who was huddled under a pink blanket printed with the images of a princess. I found out that she is a legal secretary who works in Tustin and her day start at 5:50 a.m. when she gets up to drive from Fallbrook to Oceanside which is where the train starts. She usually commutes for a total of four hours every day, and has been doing this for two years. She said that the main reasons for commuting are that it is more relaxing to commute because she can sleep on the train, it saves her money from not having to buy gas and the place where she works will pay for the cost of her train transportation.

Click here for photo gallery.

The landscape changed drastically but gradually from San Juan Capistrano to Los Angeles. The scenes would change from empty fields that probably once held crops, to factory-like buildings, which housed garbage disposal trucks, to buildings that had once been dull and gray in this zone of transition, but have now been transformed as the canvas of local graffiti and street art. We got off the train at Union Station and took another to Pershing Square, which placed us right in the Central Business District, or financial district, of Los Angeles. Gentrification or the renovation of buildings was prevalent as seen in the case of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, which was outfitted in red brick. It was built in the 1920s, housed the Oscars in the 1930s and was painstakingly renovated in the late 1990s and continues to be popular site in Los Angeles.

The types of shops in the CBD cater exactly to people who work there. Most shops that can be found in this area are coffee shops, bookstores, and shipping stores that all open late. It serves as a revitalization of the urban center and is investing in the infrastructure of the CBD.

The heart of the CBD, where land prices are much higher, has an avant-garde flair to it with buildings made primarily out of glass and large sculptures and works of art surrounding the area. Across the street from this hub, the Los Angeles Library can be found. It attracts tourists and even poorer local people who cannot be denied access and can use the location as a place to relax because of the facilities it provides and the free air-conditioning that it holds.

Two hundred and fifty feet below, the Central Market Place can be found. Many locals come to this market, which serves primarily Mexican and Chinese food, to buy quick cheap meals. The Central Market Place shows the ethnic and cultural diversity of the groups of people in the surrounding area, with the kinds of shops or businesses of ethnic foods and beverages, and spice stands. Many of the students enjoyed snacks and early lunches of beef tacos, pollo assado and boba, smiling contentedly at the clean plates in front of them, and exclaiming to all around them that it was the best they’d ever had. Some students found a chuckle in the world’s largest gumball machine, which added to the quirkiness of what the market held. Another display of the different ethnic groups was seen around the corner at the local drug store, which was dubbed its Spanish name Farmacia. This suggested that the area caters to a group of people who primarily speak Spanish.

Los Angeles is home to ethnic enclaves such as Little Tokyo, K Town and Chinatown. Many Chinese laborers first came to Los Angeles after the gold rush to work on the railroads, and in the process, their own ethnic enclave was formed. But, the Union Station was built on top of the original site of settlement, and the Chinese were forced to relocate. The Chinese came before the Japanese, and often people wonder why later on the Japanese population grew quicker than the Chinese population. In the 1880s, a Chinese Prohibitive Act was instated, which said that no more Chinese would be allowed onto the West Coast. At this time, Mexico was in stage one of their Demographic Transition Model, which means that they had high death and birth rates with a small population and the country was less developed. The Japanese then came in and took land, but when World War II came about, the land was taken from them. Since then, the land has slowly been given back and it has formed the ethnic enclave known as Little Tokyo.

Throughout the city, long busses could be found on the streets. The long busses were designed to fit more people, suggesting that many people use this as transportation. In Los Angeles, it is difficult to find cheap parking spaces where cars will be kept safe, as well. Many people instead take the DASH, the downtown area shuttle, or they ride bikes as an alternate means of transportation. The city has accommodated to bikers by adding in wider bike lanes that were specifically painted green to emphasize what the lanes are to be used for.

The field study to Los Angeles exemplified not just urban geography, but everything that the students have been learning in the classroom. It displayed the prominence of LA as an economic, cultural, political and social center of the world while being home to the eighth largest economy in the world. It is a major city in a country that is arguably the most influential of modern times. It has housed global events including the Olympics, and it attracts tourists by being an empire for the music industry, and the location of Universal Studios makes it an area where many films are shot. Getting to live so close to Los Angeles, a city that is so prominent in the world today really gives students the benefit of experiencing the effects of development and seeing how it translates over to a nearby hub that is close to heart, and close to home.

By Laura Borruso, Grade 10

This is what one can truly take away from this field study: learning cannot be about only reading your textbook and memorizing things. Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and experience or be a part of what you are learning.

From the Central Market, we went to see the Bradbury Building. Upon observing the surroundings, we stood outside of the Bradbury building and made a complete mental picture of the neighboring buildings. Across the street, a decrepit and deteriorating seemingly abandoned movie theater sat next to a 99 cent store. Yet, the minute that the class walked into the Bradbury Building, our jaws dropped. The architecture, especially in the staircase railings was so detailed. The grandeur of carvings, tiles, textures and more added to the 1890’s feel. Also, the glass roof shows how much today’s architecture has a streamlined modern feel versus the open and classical feel of the past.

On our way to lunch, we passed by the Los Angeles City Hall, originally built in 1928, which was being remodeled and retrofitted during our trip. It was explained to us that the renovation is not simply changing the face of the building, but also making sure that the building is secure from natural disasters. One of the expected things about this location in California is that there are many earthquakes. Part of the construction of the urban area must take into consideration that it is extremely important the buildings are strong enough to withstand an earthquake.

In addition to passing the City Hall, we passed a bench where a homeless man was sleeping and his shopping cart of personal belongs was in front of him. The belongings were tagged with a sign saying “Not for Sale.” Knowing that there are a higher percentage of homeless people in Los Angeles, the class observed that they slept on various park benches, inside door stoops and around major tourist areas. This occurrence is not something common to the St. Margaret’s campus or San Juan Capistrano in general. There are maybe a few homeless people at the Ortega off-ramp, but the voluminous cases in Los Angeles were disheartening. Out of all of them though, the man with this sign stands out the most, protecting his belongings against all other homeless people. Picture him sitting on this bench sleeping. Thinking back to the St. Margaret’s community, all students go to school, maybe go to practice for performing arts or sports, do their homework, eat lunch or snacks, congregating in social cliques. At the end of the day, our lives move on and we go home to warm dinners and Facebook. It is not very frequent that we stop during the day and think about those around us. This field study taught the class that it is completely beneficial to take a minute out of our days to think about the world and what is it turning into.

As we continued our eventful journey, we arrived at a Chinese-American museum located in Chinatown. The museum explained the different time periods of the Chinese migration to America. Then, right across the street was Olvera Street; a modern interpretation of the Hispanic cultures, food, and street vendors in the heart of Los Angeles. Near Olvera Street was Caesar Chavez Street commemorating Chavez and what he contributed to the Hispanic peoples. Seeing these places provided another example of Cultural immersion.

After eating lunch, we went to Union Station, got back onto the Amtrak, and rode south until we arrived back in San Juan Capistrano. Overall, this field study was beneficial to the holistic understanding of what urbanization is all about. Seeing the different zones, districts, traveling on the metro and the train all added together demonstrated how little parts contain importance in our learning process. Also, meeting and interacting with people that we do not normally come in contact with on a daily basis added to the fact that commuting could possibly be our future. Los Angeles is an ideal city to fully grasp the different concepts of central business districts, graffiti, transition zones, urban renewal and urban decay. It amazes my class that we have a city to explain everything a mere 50 minutes away by train!

Easter time in the Preschool means dying and hunting for eggs, but it also means a chance to hone math and language skills and develop fine and large muscle control—and it’s a lot of fun, too!

Every “Easter Egg artist” has a favorite technique. Leading up to Easter, the children (depending on their classroom) had a chance to decorate boiled eggs (and eggs that had been blown out so that they would be permanent) with Easter egg dye, markers, watercolor, tissue squares and stickers. The students in Ms. Tacquard’s class worked on their tissue eggs all week and displayed them on Manzanita branches in the classroom.

Click here for photo gallery.

You just can’t tell where that Easter Bunny (parent volunteers and Preschool staff) might hide eggs…some classes found eggs in the Preschool garden, others inside their classrooms, on the field or in bushes near the Preschool building. Some classes used rhyming riddles to find their eggs and some just their bright eyes.

Easter parties and treats can create a lot of excitement, so Early Childhood Development Center Motor Development Specialist Shelly Harmon planned seasonal exercise with bunny hop bags in the Preschool motor area. It takes a lot of concentration and coordination to hold onto a big bag while hopping forward at the same time…good thing our motor area is well padded!

Making an Easter card for a parent is a fun literacy activity that can be open ended…whether the children cut out the Easter greeting and glue it down on the card, copy it or work on the spelling themselves, the parents are delighted to see the emerging literacy skills and big smile that comes home with the card.

Children also worked on math games with an Easter theme…after sorting the holiday erasers, a student would line them up, count them and then write down how many he or she had. Children had the chance to write their own numbers or do the sorting and counting and have a teacher help with the writing. After the numbers were recorded, the children were able to take another handful and do it again, with the option of comparing more or less or adding everything up. Math activities in the Preschool are always open-ended enough to meet each child’s needs and interests.

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

By Tiffany Cheng, Grade 12

Our recent visit to the Prima Desecha Landfill was a great way to experience everything we learned in the classroom, live. Upon our arrival we were introduced to the greenhouse the facility just built to maximize on the eco-friendliness of the facility by creating a completely naturally generated electronic building. After learning about this greenhouse, we explored the rest of the landfill by van.

Click here for photo gallery.

The first stop was at the drop off and compaction site of the trash. We were able to see companies bring their unwanted goods to this site and watch compaction dozers roll over the trash to minimize the amount of space the trash utilizes. We learned that compaction tractors cost about $1 million, and last several years before its parts need to be rebuilt. After a day’s work of compacting trash, the workers must cover the trash every night to refrain from any gaseous fumes which are emitted into the air from the decomposing trash, and keep any animals from attacking the trash. There are three different ways which the trash can be covered: soil, mulch or tarp. The soil is one of the most secure ways of covering the trash and uses about six inches of soil; however, this takes up more land at the landfill. Mulch is the most common way of covering the trash because it does not use up as much land and is almost as efficient. Tarp is placed using a machine to roll over the trash and removed the next morning.

Here we learned that one of the biggest problems of the landfill is the lack of ability to control the birds that invade the area. There have been many attempts to control the birds by hiring mechanical falcon flyers which are used to fly away and scare the seagulls, but over time the cost of this does not outweigh the effects. There is currently nothing being done to control the bird problem because no attempt is efficient enough.

After seeing the site where the trash is dropped we saw the basin where all the excess water is brought to be filtered. Here, the water is brought to sit so that the silt separates from the water and drops to the bottom of the basin so that the water which flows into the ocean is that much cleaner. Here, our tour guide explained to us the difference between a municipal solid waste landfill and a hazardous waste landfill. While many may think there is a great difference between how the trash is treated the difference is minimal. The only difference is that hazardous waste landfills have two layers of liner and clay whereas the solid municipal waste landfills only have one layer.

On our way back we saw manmade riparian zones, which were created in an attempt to restore the plants of the landfill because so much of it was wiped away during the creation of the landfill. We also stopped to see several tanks which were used to collect any gases which leaked into the air from the trash.

Altogether, I found this visit to the landfill to be quite eye opening in understanding the truth behind where our trash goes. Being able to see an actual landfill helped me realize that the trash we create has a truly harmful impact on the environment. I had several pre-made assumptions about how landfills would look, but this visit helped me understand the truth of these landfills. I assumed that the landfills would be extremely gross, dirty and unpleasant smelling; however, I found all of these assumptions were wrong. Visiting the Prima Desecha Landfill was a great way to summarize the things we learned in the classroom about controlling our trash.

He worked with students in grades 8-12 on a collaborative relief project that involved drawing and sculpture. On his last day, Mr. Saterstrom painted several oil portraits, allowing students to observe an artist creating a work of art before their eyes. He offered feedback to grade 6 students on their one-point perspective landscape drawings and spoke about composition.

An experienced Advanced Placement studio art exam reader, Mr. Saterstrom also met with AP art students, one-on-one, and gave them constructive criticism on their artwork.

Below are student perspectives of Mr. Saterstrom’s visit:

By Alissa Ohanesian, Grade 11

I really appreciated this experience and learned a lot from the past week. It was one of the best weeks that we have had in class because I really understood what is necessary for a piece to grow and even develop. Mr. Noah was very informative and it showed me how even great artists like him go through the same sketching process and sometimes feel like they do not like their work, which I can relate to. I enjoyed being exposed to different forms of art rather than only clay. Working with and watching him paint and draw was very cool. How many people can say they have seen an artist work before? I learned about how and why the sketchbook is such an important tool and even if you don’t know where to start, always get a mark on the page.

In all, this was a very informative week and it was a very fun way to learn. I hope in the future we can continue to learn from other artists who have such passion to share their works with others. Thank you very much for arranging a great week!

By Logan Tomaselli, Grade 6

There are so many wonderful things that an artist can teach aspiring artists. It was fun to witness how he did his art, what he did it with, and why he does it. For example, he does his art with creativity, passion, shading, and blending with paints or pencils. He doesn’t make little things in his paintings very clear, but you can still tell what they are. This is what he means to do because he wants the viewer to finish the painting by making a blob of red and many other colors mix together to form a child wearing a red coat. Also, he does his art because it makes him feel good, and because he loves to do it. To watch an artist do art is fascinating because it makes you wonder, “Could I do that someday?” This experience, for me, was very interesting and inspiring. I saw the paintings that he did of Mr. Friedman and Mrs. Nelson, and it was almost creepy to look at because they looked so realistic. It made me think about being an artist when I grow up. Also, another benefit of having a visiting artist come to teach is that you get to know more people and see art from their perspective. For someone who loves art as much as I do, having Noah come and show us what he did was an experience that could change the way I see art, do art, and feel about it.

Jesse’s grandfather Robert Cozean was 22 when he entered World War II in 1943. He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and finally released in April 1945.

The book is currently available on Amazon.com and in Southern California bookstores.

Click here to read The Orange County Register article.

Tiffany has been singing for more than 10 years in venues including the Barklay Theater, Saddleback College and the Performing Arts Center. She has won numerous competitions including VOCE, The Classical Singer Competition, MTAC Competition and Saddleback Concerto Competition.

Click here for more information about the SOCSA Foundation’s Ninth Annual Opera Celebration.

Click here to read a OC Register article about Tiffany’s recent Stars of Tomorrow vocal competition award.

Last week the French 1 class visited the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena where we were privileged enough to tour the museum before it even opened. Some of the artist’s we saw included: Degas, Picasso, Memling, Guercino, Vincent Van Gogh and many others. I believe this fieldtrip allowed us to learn more about Europe as a whole and added a cultural aspect to our language class. Furthermore, I believe that this trip was a highlight of not only my year, but the rest of the classes’. I look forward to revisiting this captivating museum with my family.

Click here for photo gallery.

Below is a monologue from Priyanka Jhalani, grade 8, about the “The Ragpicker,” a monumental painting by Édouard Manet.

“Well, look at these clothes just laying here on the street; they are as good as new. All the waste makes me sick but keeps me living at the same time. A vicious cycle. Everybody poor just wants to be rich and in such a rush to start buying fancy things, that they forget you have to be poor to really be rich. They don’t understand what their situation has taught them, they are ignorant. Our conversations are richer than all the rich folk talking about their shiny new things. But what do I know? I’m just the old rag picker.”

Click here to read the full OCVarsity.com article.

As a rising grade 7 student in 2007, Garcia joined Breakthrough SJC, an academic program that supports underserved students as they work towards their goal of being first-generation college students. Garcia has been highly involved with the program since 2007, serving both as a volunteer and a teaching assistant.

Garcia will now advance to the next round of the competition, where she will seek the title of Orange County Youth of the Year. This award is accompanied by a $1,000 college scholarship from Tupperware Brands Corporation, the recognition program’s national sponsor.

County winners will compete for the title of California Youth of the Year and a $10,000 scholarship from Tupperware Brands. In September, five regional winners will compete for the Boys and Girls Club of America’s National Youth of the Year award, which provides one student with a scholarship of up to $50,000 from The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation. The winner will be sent to Washington, D.C., where he or she will have the opportunity to meet with the president at the White House.

Garcia is currently a junior at San Juan Hills High School, where she maintains a GPA of 3.375.

After the meeting, the student’s returned to class and began crafting a plan of action to propose new San Clemente curb stencils, including a possible art contest. Additionally, the students are coming up with a robotic system to filter out oil in the ocean from oil spills.

Click here to read The Orange County Register article.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 2010-2011 school year has been a memorable year of achievement and progress for St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.

The most visible signs of this wonderful year are the 103 graduating seniors who donned their college sweatshirts today, the last official day of school, proudly displaying the diverse group of colleges and universities across the country they will attend this fall. The Class of 2011 joined together one last time with the entire St. Margaret’s student body for the all-school closing ceremony that concluded with a “topping out” ceremony of the Performing Arts Center marking the highest point on the new building and symbolizing the significant progress we have made on our campus master plan this year.

We are pleased to report that the Performing Arts Center construction is on time and on budget with a grand opening set for June 2012. The Building on the Promise capital campaign has also continued to raise considerable funds for the master campus plan. Currently, we have raised $19.4 million of the $28 million needed to complete the master plan—nearly $3 million since September 2010. We are very grateful for the generous support of those who have stepped forward to make leadership gifts to this effort.

While the temporary Middle School has worked very well for us this year, we remain focused on raising the additional funds within our school community and finalizing tenant relocations to allow us to begin construction of the permanent Middle School in the near future. We will be sure to keep you apprised of our progress.

In May, 435 parents responded to a parent satisfaction survey created by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Over the course of the summer we will review and analyze the data and report our findings in the fall. Initially we can report that 90 percent of our parents are overall “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the St. Margaret’s education for their children. We are very mindful that there is always room for improvement, but pleased that this initial outlook indicates a strong alignment of our school community with our mission.

Several strategic initiatives advanced this year as well. Led by our Academic Dean and Lower School Principal, Dr. Regina McDuffie, we addressed student and teacher assessment and feedback tools across all divisions of the school in an effort to measure student growth over time toward specific learning goals. Data gathered from this initiative has also been used to increase opportunities for faculty professional development, including credentialing and advanced degrees. The information gathered from these assessment tools provides data needed to implement best practices for the 21st century learner.

In addition, the Board of Trustees Finance Committee embarked on long-term financial sustainability analysis and planning for the school that will position St. Margaret’s for continued financial strength through the next two decades.

Our school’s success is a product of the shared understanding, dedication, vision and hard work of countless individuals—our students, faculty, parents and administration, led by our Headmaster of eight years, Mr. Marcus D. Hurlbut. We have tremendous confidence in him and I am pleased to announce that Marc has committed to the Board of Trustees his leadership of the school through the 2012-2013 school year.

We will also welcome new trustees to the board next year. St. Margaret’s parents Mrs. Flora Ko and Mr. Paul Westhead, Tartan Alumni Association President and parent Dr. Todd Newman and 2011-2012 Parent Teacher Fellowship President Mrs. Karen Carnahan, join the Board on July 1, 2011. Longtime Trustees Ms. Stacey Nicholas and Mr. Chris Anderson, 2010-2011 PTF President Mrs. Tricia Raymund and outgoing Tartan Alumni Association President Mrs. Ashlea Scott Meggers will leave the Board at the end of June. We offer our sincere gratitude for their exemplary leadership and dedicated service to the school.

Finally, we are slated for continued full enrollment of the school for the 2011-2012 school year and eagerly anticipate the completion of the Performing Arts Center this time next year. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our St. Margaret’s community and we look forward to coming together once again at the end of August for the 2011-2012 school year.

Have a wonderful summer.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Berchtold

President, Board of Trustees

The ceremony was a culmination of the school year, a send off for the Class of 2011, who, seated together wore the sweatshirts from the colleges they will attend in the fall, and a time to acknowledge the members of St. Margaret’s who celebrate significant anniversaries. Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut presented the people listed below with a gift and congratulated them on their years of service to the school.

The closing ceremony ended with the singing of the alma mater and the Tartan Marching Band leading the entire student body, faculty, staff and administration from Pasternack Field House to Gateway Field to celebrate the “topping out” of the Performing Arts Center construction. The enthusiastic crowd viewed the two final beams being placed on the new Performing Arts Center construction building, signaling the highest point that the building will reach. Throughout the week, students, faculty and staff took time to sign the two beams prior to them being placed at the top of the building.

During the All-School Closing Ceremony, Mr. Hurlbut said:

“By all measure, this has been an outstanding year at St. Margaret’s. So many of you have brought honor to the school through your talent, dedication and hard work in the classroom, in the science labs, on, behind and above the stage, in the art studio, in Chapel, on the fields, courts and tracks, in the pool, on the golf course, in the equestrian ring, and in dedicated service to a wide variety of groups and organizations on and off campus.

“We have all witnessed the beginning of another long-awaited and exciting chapter in the history of St. Margaret’s as the Performing Arts Center has risen out of the ground and begun to take shape.

“Those of you in the Middle School moved into a temporary new home and very quickly made it your own.

“When we return in the fall, the Performing Arts Center will look different than it does today but it will be far from finished. It is my every hope that next year at this time we will have opened this extraordinary new facility.”

• Demolition, grading and building permits have been issued by the City of San Juan Capistrano.
• Our general contractor, Del Amo Construction (DAC), has moved their full-time project management team into offices in Building I in the Ortega Business Center, adjacent to the construction site.
• St. Margaret’s administration and DAC have established best practice procedures for DAC employees as they interact on campus.
• The entire construction zone has been enclosed with fencing to secure and protect the project site.
• Demolition of Highland Hall and Building H has been completed.
• All materials are being properly handled and removed with highest safety and sustainability standards.
• Approximately 81 percent of demolition materials are being salvaged and reclaimed. Wood, studs, beams and other construction materials are reused as building materials. Concrete products are taken to be crushed and reused as road base.

December continues to be a heavy month for DAC to work out the preconstruction activities.

• Demolition and all material removal will be completed.
• Construction materials will be submitted to the City for approval.
• Grading, excavation and undeground utility work will begin.

To view the live webcam of the construction site click here.

This project is being overseen by St. Margaret’s Director of Finance and Operations David Bush and Project Director Dick Jonovich. We will continue to provide you with updates on construction activity periodically through the year.

For information about the Building on the Promise capital campaign, please contact Steve Harrington at 949-661-0108 ext. 318, or visit www.smes.org.

For your personal safety and for the ongoing smooth operations of construction, please adhere to the construction site safety procedures communicated to the community last week. To view that message, click here.

Since my message to the St. Margaret’s community in June, our school leadership has made meaningful progress on the campus construction plans regarding the Performing Arts Center and Middle School. As stated in my prior letter, the school’s recent focus has been on the initial pre-construction activity, the construction bidding process, tenant relocations and capital campaign fundraising. Detailed below is an update on the progress to date and an outline of our next steps going forward.

Progress Since June
Over the summer, the temporary Middle School was erected and fully operational by the start of the school year. The early feedback from the students, parents and faculty has been extremely positive, and the new facility, named “Crimson Corner” by the Middle School students, represents an upgrade over the older facilities they replaced.

Also, over the last few months, we completed a comprehensive construction bid process for the Performing Arts Center and Middle School. Seven well-qualified general contractors participated in the bidding process. Negotiations have not been finalized, but we are pleased with the preliminary results. Based on current bids, the anticipated cost for the Performing Arts Center and Middle School project is approximately $28 million—substantially less than what the cost would have been two to three years ago when construction costs were significantly higher.

Our campus master plan, which was unanimously approved in March by the San Juan Capistrano City Council after several years of work, specifies the precise location for each contemplated new building. The new Middle School is scheduled to be built in the area where two Ortega Business Center buildings now stand. When the school purchased these properties, we inherited certain long-term lease contracts. Therefore, it has been necessary to initiate relocation discussions with tenants because the buildings must first be vacated and demolished before construction of the Middle School can begin. At this time, we have successfully reached tenant relocation agreements with all tenants but one. The timing for the construction of the Middle School could, therefore, be delayed. We remain firmly committed, however, to the building of the new Middle School as soon as feasible.

In terms of fundraising, there has been considerable enthusiasm for the Building on the Promise capital campaign since the launch of the public campaign earlier this year. We have received more than $5 million in commitments since the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. This brings the total funds raised to nearly $17 million. Relative to the anticipated cost of the total project, approximately $11 million still needs to be raised.

Next Steps
Based on the progress to date, the Board of Trustees recently reaffirmed the decision to move forward with the next phase of our campus master plan. We plan to finalize the fixed-price construction contract by early November and break ground on the Performing Arts Center shortly thereafter on St. Margaret’s Day, November 16 (details to come on the groundbreaking ceremony). Given that there remain tenant relocation matters and funds to be raised, we will not start construction of the Performing Arts Center and Middle School simultaneously. However, once these issues are resolved, we will be in a position to construct the Middle School on a relatively short timetable.

We are extremely excited about the plans taking shape at St. Margaret’s. We are also grateful for the tremendous community support that is making these plans a reality. It is a great time to be a Tartan!

Sincerely,

Michael J. Berchtold
President, Board of Trustees

• New grade 7 and 8 classrooms are complete. Teachers will begin preparing their rooms tomorrow to be ready the first day of school and we expect a formal Certificate of Occupancy this week.
• The installation of Middle School lockers, picnic tables and landscaping is in progress.
• Utility infrastructure work on campus to install power lines, transformers, water lines, storm drains and communication cables, in preparation for construction of the Performing Arts Center, is complete.
• The new Wee Tartan Childcare Center is complete, and we expect licensing agency approval to occupy by the start of school.
• Redevelopment of the Middle School parking lot and the new access road is ongoing and will be completed by the start of school.

This is an update on the construction taking place that we told you about at the end of the school year. It’s half-way through summer and already so much has happened as you will see in this photo gallery [click here] or when you come to campus. Here’s an overview of what has been taking place:

• The portable classrooms behind Highland Hall have been demolished and removed.
• The Highland Hall parking lot has been excavated and graded to make way for the new access road to campus.
• We are in the process of installing new underground electrical wiring, transformers, communications cables, storm drains and water lines in the Ortega Business Center, on the Gateway Field and in the Highland Hall parking lot, to prepare for new buildings.
• On a portion of the Gateway Field, foundations have been poured for what will bethe new temporary home of 7th and 8th grades.
• The pre-fabricated modular classrooms have started to arrive and will soon beinstalled on their foundations.
• We’ve upgraded the fire alarm systems in the Wallace Hall building and arepreparing for the relocation of the Wee Tartan Center to this building.
• A new home for the ceramic firing kilns is under construction close to the Middle School art room.

As you can see, much work is being done. This master campus development project is being overseen by our Director of Finance and Operations David Bush. We will continue to provide you with updates on construction activity. New traffic flow and parking policies will be sent in August.

For information about the Building on the Promise capital campaign, please contact Steve Harrington at 949-661-0108 ext. 318, or steve.harrington@smes.org, or visit www.smes.org.

For your personal safety and for the ongoing smooth operations of our various construction projects, please respect the construction fencing, caution tape, cones and signage when you are on campus.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon,

Marcus D. Hurlbut

Three years ago, St. Margaret’s welcomed our family with open arms, and since then, we continue to be amazed and grateful with all of the opportunities St. Margaret’s offers our children. We both believe strongly in the mission of our school and feel the need to support the school both financially and with our time by volunteering. As a result, when asked, we were honored and thrilled to be the new co-chairs of the Building on the Promise capital campaign and to be taking over the reins from a very dedicated Stacey Nicholas, who will continue to be involved as a member of the Campaign Cabinet.

This year we have made great progress raising funds for this important project. With $5 million raised since September 2009, we now have over $16.4 million toward our $30 million goal. The Board of Trustees is confident that the momentum is on our side and now is the time to move forward with planning for construction. The goal is to move ahead with the building of the Middle School and Performing Arts Center simultaneously. This will enable the fastest construction completion timeline and allow us to leverage significant cost savings.

1. The actual cost of construction is 20-25 percent lower than levels in 2008 when we originally bid the project.

2. We will realize an approximate $1 million in savings by building both buildings at the same time.

One important factor is raising additional funds to support simultaneous construction. Many families have already extended their generous support, and we are eager to broaden the base of those who believe in this important endeavor and are willing to lend a hand. During the summer and fall, we will continue to work aggressively toward this goal by reaching out to the St. Margaret’s community asking for support.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a meeting to discuss the campaign, please feel free to contact us or Steve Harrington, Executive Director of Advancement, 661-0108 x312.

Let’s all join together and capture this moment of growth, finishing our campus and strengthening the educational opportunities for our children. It promises to be an exciting and fruitful experience for all of us.

With warmest regards to you and your family for a wonderful and restful summer,

Trace and Lauren Chalmers

The past week has brought some very exciting news to St. Margaret’s. Last Saturday evening at Club 30, our 30th Anniversary Gala and Spring Fundraiser, we announced significant progress toward our campus master plan and the Building on the Promise capital campaign.

Over the past eight years, we have worked diligently to refine our campus master facilities plan which includes a new Middle School and Performing Arts Center, and other important facilities and resources for our school. On Tuesday evening, the San Juan Capistrano City Council unanimously approved our master plan for campus development. This is a tremendous achievement that has been years in the making. While some formalities associated with City Ordinances remain, this approval allows us to move forward with our building plans.

In addition, we have been engaged in a multi-year, “quiet phase” fundraising campaign to acquire the funds to make this master plan a reality. To date, we have raised more than $16 million! Thanks to early support from generous lead donors combined with the funds raised at the Club 30 gala, we are well on our way to our goal of $30 million.

The campus master plan and capital campaign are critical to our mission and essential elements of our strategic plan. The Board of Trustees and school administration are 100 percent committed to this project.

On Saturday, we debuted the following film that illustrates our plans and provides a virtual look at the new buildings.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

We are thrilled to launch the Building on the Promise public capital campaign. We have now reached important milestones and we are confident that we have the momentum to raise a significant portion of the remaining funds by the end of the school year paving the way for ground breaking in early fall.

To learn more, please visit the Building on the Promise website or contact Executive Director of Advancement Steve Harrington, 949.661.0108, ext. 318, stephen.harrington@smes.org.

Thank you for your continued dedication and support as we work to advance St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for the future.

“We are elated. The unanimous support and praise from our City Council was more than we expected. These plans are very important to the future of our school and pave the way for us to begin construction as soon as complete funding is in place,” said St. Margaret’s Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut. “At the same time, we have worked very hard to ensure our plans are responsible within the larger community and that we are conscientious and contributing citizens to the City of San Juan Capistrano. The positive remarks about St. Margaret’s from the Council members mean a great deal to us.”

“We sincerely thank the Council members and the City staff for working with us throughout this process in good faith and with thoughtful consideration of our plans and for the best interest of the San Juan community,” said Mr. Hurlbut.

In order to proceed with the campus master plan which includes constructing a new Middle School and Performing Arts Center, the school needed to receive approval from various city planning commissions and ultimately from City Council. This process has spanned several years and included City required environmental and fiscal impact studies to ensure no adverse community impact from the plan. The school’s construction plans for new buildings fall within City planning guidelines, including a 35-feet height limit on all buildings, and greatly improves traffic flow around campus.

Saturday at the school’s 30th anniversary gala, St. Margaret’s publicly announced the launch of its Building on the Promise capital campaign to raise the $30 million needed to complete the campus master development plan. The school has raised $16 million toward the goal and plans to break ground on construction this fall.

To read The Orange County Register story about the City Council approval, click here: http://www.ocregister.com/news/school-237225-san-juan.html