Ma r k e rthe

The Newsletter of Saint Mark’s School

in this issue:• Fond farewells

• Doings around school in 2011

• Alumni news

In my final few words to you today, I’d like to start by saying how impressive you have been as you’ve grown up at Saint Mark’s. Watching you this year, achieving, excelling, enjoying, coming together, being good to one another, being there for one another, I am truly impressed with you as a class, and proud to be part of your class of 2011.

On this day of your leaving childhood behind, I want to talk to you about a subject I’ve been thinking a great deal about over the past several weeks. It’s been on my mind constantly. It’s a simple subject, but powerful; it’s commonplace, but all-important. As a concept, it’s existed for generations and centuries, but we’re finding out exciting new things about it in the 21st century. It’s gratitude.

Gratitude: The ability to feel and express being thankful for something. Gratitude: A deeply appreciative attitude for kindnesses or benefits received. Gratitude: simply being grateful. Gratitude can be focused, targeted, laser-like, or it can be diffuse and open-ended and all-

encompassing. At its core, it’s the recognition that while we do a great deal for ourselves, we don’t always get where we are by virtue of what we alone do. . . others contribute to our good fortune.

Gratitude has had a formal place in many cultures and many religions, going back to when recorded history began. Cicero, in ancient Rome in 54 BCE, observed: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Every culture and religion has its form of giving thanks; the United States even enshrined a legal holiday promoting gratitude in 1941, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

While culture and religion have long recognized the importance of gratitude, science has only recently begun to look at its power. Two scientists who are addressing this are Dr. Robert Emmons, a psychologist at UC Davis, and Dr. Michael McCullough at Southern Methodist University.

They conducted a study in which several hundred people, placed randomly in three different groups, kept daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of events that occurred during the day. The second group recorded only their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a list of things for which they were grateful.

Words to the Graduates

S P R I N G – S U M M E R 2011

Continued on page 2

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The results were amazing. According to Emmons and McCullough, the group recording what they were grateful for reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism, and energy. The “gratitude group” experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly, and made more progress toward personal goals. Those who felt grateful were also more likely to feel loved. They found that gratitude could have something to do with a particular faith, but also found that ascribing to a particular faith wasn’t necessary; gratitude can work independently of faith. Other researchers have even found that people who regularly express gratitude live longer lives, on average.

In summary: Better outlook, better health, longer life—all connected to feeling and expressing gratitude.

Gratitude is interesting, in that sometimes things have to get really bad before you remember to feel grateful. Google has a very interesting application that allows you to see how many times a word appears in literature or publications during a particular year, going back many centuries. The three years that “gratitude” spiked in its usage in the 20th and early 21st centuries: 1918, 1945, and 2001. Clearly, folks were grateful the horrific events culminating in those years were over, but I also believe that events like those put us more closely in touch with the importance of being gratefully alive and aware.

I get a lot of practice expressing gratitude: As part of my job, I have to thank teachers for the good jobs that they do, thank parents for their support, thank students who have done a good job or helped one another. So I have a lot of practice. I have been feeling gratitude strongly during my last months as head of school here at Saint Mark’s. Gratitude to all who’ve made Saint Mark’s an excellent place, gratitude to a search committee and a board 24 years ago

who took a chance on a young teacher, gratitude to ending up in a job and a school that I love. It’s sometimes almost overwhelming.

My wish for you is that you frequently feel, and express, your gratitude. Some people, I think, are just naturally born to feel more grateful than others by temperament, but gratitude can also be cultivated. If you end each day, as you go to sleep, thinking of three things for which to be grateful, that will set you in the right direction. If you occasionally take time to write a note to someone to whom you’re grateful, and tell them why, that also cultivates gratitude.

Today is a milestone day for you, an important day in your lives. It’s a great day to feel and express gratitude. To your parents, who have given you life and sustenance and provided for a great education; to relatives and friends, who may have come today to celebrate you; to the faculty, who have cared for you and taught you all these years. Here we are, on a gorgeous day in peaceful Marin County, on the shore of the beautiful Pacific, insulated from challenges many other parts of the world are facing. How can we not feel grateful, down to our bones?

Do me a favor: catch someone’s eye in the audience, someone to whom you are grateful, right now, and nod and say thank you. See, it’s not too hard and it feels really good.

I’ll finish with my gratitude to you. Thank you for making it through Saint Mark’s with such achievement, such joy, and such class, and thank you for making me an honorary member of the Class of 2011. Go with grace, be good to each other, learn a lot, and fill your lives with gratitude.

Damon KerbyHeadmasterJune 17, 2011

Words to the Graduates cont.

THE HANDSHAKEMr. Kerby’s morning handshake has been a defining feature of nearly every school day here at Saint Mark’s for 24 years. It is one of the most frequently cited fond memories of students, alumni, and families. Thank you, Mr. Kerby, for making every one of our students feel recognized and special! We are truly grateful.

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Words from the GraduatesWell, “graduates” as broadly defined... Damon Kerby has touched many lives in his 24 years at Saint Mark’s. On May 21, 2011, we held a grand party in his honor, and many people wrote in to share their memories and sentiments about him. We share a few excerpts here.

My favorite story about Damon is about all the happiness and excitement he brought to the children each year by delivering a frozen package from the North Pole. Damon would rush into the classroom with excitement in his voice, holding the envelope so all could feel the coldness to prove that it had really come from the North Pole. The class then proceeded to open and read each letter from Santa’s elves, which were responses to letters each class member had written to Santa.

I must add how Damon always made each child feel so important by greeting them each morning by name. One will never forget his love and devotion in making Saint Mark’s so loved and successful. He is one in a million. —Roses (kindergarten teacher from 1980 to 2006) and Bill Howell

Two years ago...my husband and I knew we had to find a school that would rekindle our son’s intellectual curiosity and feed his other interests. A friend steered me to check out Saint Mark’s and I was able to attend the last orientation meeting for parents…within ten minutes I knew that Saint Mark’s was the place my son needed to be. Along with intellectual curiosity and rigor, I saw that day the delightfully goofy sense of humor and compassion for others that Saint Mark’s instills in its students and how that is embodied in you, your words, and your actions every day.

Thank you for instilling all the values and qualities that make Saint Mark’s such a special place for students, teachers and parents. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with all of us. —Elizabeth, Devan, and Powell (second grade) Nielsen

Our Heart & Soul tribute event, held at the San Geronimo Golf Course, was filled with kind words, excellent food, and dancing to music by Pride & Joy. Guests were also treated to mu-sic by the Overcommitments (featuring some Saint Mark’s parents) as well as by several Saint Mark’s alumni. We extend our gratitude to more than 345 parents, alumni, alumni par-ents, faculty/staff, and friends of the school who contributed nearly $550,000 in gifts and pledges to the Damon Kerby Fund for Financial Aid, a new, restricted endowment fund to hon-or his 24 years at Saint Mark’s School.

Our family often speaks of how blessed we are to be a part of such an inclusive and dynamic commu-nity. So many people, past and present, have helped make Saint Mark’s the place it is today. Of all those wonderful individuals, it has been your vision, expertise, strong character, and benevolent nature that stand out as having been most significant in bringing us where we are now.

Damon, our love for you and our trust in you has been a constant in our lives for nearly 22 years. You have shared in celebrating our successes and joined us in mourning our losses. Each one of us feels that we are better individuals for having known you. —George, Theresa, Lizzy ’98, and Maggie ’02 Eisenberg

Damon has created the essence of the school for 24 years. Kids care about other kids, parents about other parents, because Damon has cared so deeply about the Saint Mark’s community. He has touched the lives of every student who has walked through the breezeway, and Saint Mark’s graduates go confidently into the world because of what Damon has instilled in them. We will miss his ready smile and the twinkle in his eye. We will miss his laughter and warmth. We will miss his intelligence and kindness. —Robbie, Phil, Katherine (third grade), and Max (kindergarten) Gutierrez

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The Next ChapterOnce upon a time, Saint Mark’s School had a librarian who had been there since the very first day. Poet, author, illustrator, and

librarian extraordinaire Ia Forrester retires this June, having made an indelible mark on our students, families, and school.

When my husband and I were looking at Saint Mark’s for our daughter Lilly, we were shown the library.

“Forget Lilly, I want to go here!” I thought.

What a warm, welcoming place! I was too old to be a student, so I did the next best thing;

I became a library volunteer.

I soon discovered that much of that atmosphere was due to Ia. During the nine years that I spent with her, I watched her read to the younger students,

introducing them to the joys and wonders of books, patiently help the older students with reports and research,

and cheerfully recommend interesting and appropriate reading material to all.

She became a good friend and I look back fondly on our conversations,

which ranged from politics to health matters to new books to children to cats.

To my great joy, Lilly became a reader and I credit Ia for encouraging and fostering her love of books.

I wish her love, health, and happiness on her retirement.—Ellen Grinnell, mother of Lilly ’08

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” —William Arthur Ward

I have seen many Saint Mark’s alumni come back to visit the library. They enter slowly and stand awkwardly just inside the front door, glancing about furtively.

I can see the pleasant memories flickering across their faces as the happy experiences they all shared in the library come flooding back.

They always smile when they turn around and see the comfortable couches, the fireplace, and the rocking chair—but it’s empty.

It is then they realize that it is Mrs. Forrester they are looking for. There is always a moment of silence before they ask shyly, “Is Mrs. Forrester still here?”

Mrs. Forrester’s library is a magical place, and returning to visit it after some time away

seems to connect former students to an important place in their souls. Even though it might look different, it’s still the same

magical place they remember from kindergarten.

When they see her, there is a palpable sense of relief and gratitude that she is still there, reading to eager students who are spread out on the big chairs, the couches, and the rug.

They are instantly transported back to kindergarten or first grade, when most things they would ever need to know in life were learned

in this space with Mrs. Forrester.

I take great comfort in knowing that Ia has been personally responsible for imbuing the values and character traits of the Seven Pillars in well over 1,000 students,

who are now individually changing minds, and collectively making the world a better place. Thank you, Mrs. Forrester!

—Hewitt Jackson, library assistant since 2002When I heard that Mrs. Forrester would be retiring

after a decades-long run as Saint Mark’s beloved librarian, my first reaction was sadness

on behalf of the Saint Mark’s community.

Mrs. Forrester, after all, has been librarian since the school’s inception, throughout the years inspiring hundreds and hundreds of students to share

her love of books.

I can speak from personal experience— my favorite recollection of kindergarten was when Mrs. Howell would lead us

over to the library to hear Mrs. Forrester tell us a story.

Her ability to command the rapt attention of a large group of small, fidgety children

with her quiet, gentle manner was astounding.

After story time everyone would head off to choose their book to take home with them that week,

and I remember constantly trying to pick harder and harder books to impress Mrs. Forrester with my reading ability.

As the years went by, I started to volunteer a little at the library, and even when I wasn’t working it was still my lunchtime hangout

when I wasn’t in Lunch Op.

Mrs. Forrester was one of the few adults that I could talk to and share my love of reading with, and I have no doubt that I am merely one of many students

whom she left her mark on this way.

Mrs. Forrester, you will be missed.—Lilly Grinnell ’08

My image of the Saint Mark’s library is Ia in her rocking chair, in front of the fireplace, reading in her “library voice” to a group of rapt children,

some on the couches and chairs, and others with pillows and stuffed animals.

That cozy image is one of my many cherished memories of Ia. I’d like to share just one other.

As a thank-you for volunteering in the library years ago, I received a personalized bookmark. It has a delightful photo of lion cubs (cleverly working in the school logo),

says “reading pride,” and includes the date and my name (I know Ia double- or triple-checks the spelling of names).

She told me that bookmarks for the older students had pictures of older lions. Every year, Ia makes by hand a laminated bookmark, personalized with their name

and the date, for every single student completing the Headmaster’s Reading Program.

It would be so much easier to make one bookmark for all students; nobody would mind. But it would not be the same.

That’s the thoughtfulness and care, and time and effort that Ia puts into everything she does, and one of the many, many things that makes the library such a special place.

Ia, may you and Alan, and Chad, Bonnie, and Davey live happily ever after!—Joan Boodrookas, library volunteer and parent of Alex ’02 and Diane ’06

Ilustrations by Ia Forrester, from her book of poem

s, Words to Keep Against the Night, published in 1983.

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Every year, history teacher Mike Fargo wonders the same thing: Will there be enough local World War II survivors around to do the oral history project? And every year, a few more come to light, students get more creative about finding interview subjects, and the project goes on. It has come to be a cherished experience for everyone involved.

Mr. Fargo has been conducting this project since he began teaching at Saint Mark’s in 1997, having brought the idea over from Terra Linda High School, where he had done his student teaching. He covers the war for about a month prior to the in-terviews and makes sure that the students have the knowledge to ask informed questions. Mr. Fargo connects some students with interview subjects; some find their own, often through family connections. The students’ preparation shows, and the conversations are usually quite lively.

The range of participants is broad and has included Ho-locaust survivors, Japanese Americans, and infantrymen and pilots from all theaters of the war. It is remarkable how many

of them note that being asked about their experience feels a bit odd. Student Isabel Tracy reports that her subject, Hamilton Noble, said jokingly, “I’ve not thought about the war for some-thing like 30 years…until little girls come around poking their noses in and asking questions.” Otto Salmi interviewed Hiroshi Arisumi, who had fought in Europe in the 442nd battalion, a force made up solely of Japanese Americans. “He was happy to be telling people about World War II because most [youth] don’t know about it.… He thanked me at the end,” says Mr. Salmi, “because he was really kind of proud of what he did.”

“I’m determined that students learn about WWII,” says Mr. Fargo. “I think our country, our world has probably been in-fluenced more by WWII than any other event in recent history. And in the case of the United States, it really was our finest hour in many respects.”

Before the students submit their papers, Mr. Fargo devotes a class period to letting the students informally discuss their experiences. The project always illuminates a different gener-ation’s perspective and sometimes brings profound insight, as in the case of a student a few years ago who interviewed her grandfather, an Auschwitz survivor. Never a warm or embrac-ing man, he became truly human to her as he described his im-prisonment. “I finally understand my grandfather,” she said.

Without exception, all the eighth graders say that they want this project to continue for as long as possible. It never fails to leave a deep impression.

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Living HistoryThe eighth grade’s WWII oral history project has been going strong for 14 years.

Cheep Cheep!Saint Mark’s Lower School students entered the world of animal husbandry this year, with four chicks.

The arrival of the four tiny, fluffy chicks into the Lower School was greatly anticipated by the students, and their new charges did not disappoint. As they do, these chicks grew quickly, and six weeks later, they moved into their beautiful house in the garden.

The whole school was invited to vote for names; some stu-dents formed alliances to ensure their favorite names would get the necessary votes. After the votes had been tallied (there were at least 200!), the names were announced at assembly: Bella, Dominique, Pepper, and Coco.

Until they were old enough to move into the coop, the chicks resided in a box that shuttled between Ms. Becker’s and Mrs. Conway’s first grade classrooms. The students report that they did not find having the chicks too distracting and got used to the sound of cheep cheep in the classroom.

The children have also become familiar with the individual birds’ characteristics—Dominique, for example, is the one who’s always trying to escape. She’s made three attempts so far, reports Ms. Becker. In helping to raise the chicks, the students also got to apply some of our Pillars of Character, of course, namely caring and responsibility.

Our gardening teacher, Rebecca Mullaney, selected the breeds, introduced the chicks to the students, and explained how to care for them. The beautiful henhouse was a gift from Howard and Marlene West, grandparents of first grader Olivia West-Lewis. Lisa Becker and Geneva Conway have taken great responsibility in caring for the birds, and the Strassman family did a lot of work in the garden to prepare the new home. They have been a wonderful addition to the community, and we look forward to seeing their eggs.

Banner from the Marin History Museum’s exhibition inspired by the eighth grade primary source history project.

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Al u m n i n e w sThe Next LevelIn January 2011, Saint Mark’s enthusiastically welcomed 11 visitors—six learners (students) and five teachers—from our South African partner, eSibonisweni Primary School.

This visit was, to say the least, a dream come true for many who have seen this partnership grow over the past 10 years. During those two weeks, Saint Mark’s students at every grade level were able to connect with their South African counterparts, teachers were able to work together, and we all experienced a bit of the culture of the area where eSibonisweni is located, in the northeastern corner, near the border with Mozambique.

In the past few years, our two schools have been able to chip away at some of the most pressing problems of infrastructure and nutrition at eSibonisweni. Some new buildings to ad-equately house classes, a water source, and regular support for the school’s AIDS orphans have allowed us to begin moving on to build shared projects and curriculum.

The partnership was always intended to be more than a phil-anthropic endeavor, more than a well-meaning but ultimately short-lived cultural exchange. Both sides have been willing to take the long view, fostering relationships between teachers and administrators that can inform educational practice and impart ben-efit to the students.

But in addition to all the “serious stuff,” there was a steady stream of fun while the South Africans were here, including a wonderful Passport Day, a trip to the snow with some of our teachers, and meaningful bond-ing time spent with host families. One of the teachers, Simangele, spent a lot of time in our first grade classrooms, and the first graders ea-gerly recounted how they learned new songs and stories. Were they sad to see her go? “Yeeees!”

Class of 1990Natalie Lozier Ramsland and her husband Austin welcomed baby Inga, their first child, into the world on April 16, 2011.

Class of 1997Vincent Kirkpatrick is a surgeon at the University of Texas, San Antonio.

Class of 2000Ashley Werner graduated from Boston College Law School in May.

Class of 2001Margaret Godsey is living in San Francisco, where she works for a start-up called Plum District (www.plumdistrict.com), a daily deal site similar to Groupon for mothers and families. She works at Plum District with Rachel Stein ’01.

Sean Moylan is attending culinary school in Oklahoma.

Class of 2002Chelsea Moylan graduated from Villanova in May and received the medal of excellence as the top student in her department. She has been accepted to the criminology graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Class of 2004Jenny Noonan attends UCLA. She works at the Daily Bruin developing online programs. This summer she will intern at Nordstrom in Seattle, one of only four applicants accepted for the program.

Class of 2006Stephanie Noonan is completing her freshman year at Northwestern.

Class of 2007Margaret Belshé helped formalize the role of peer counseling at Branson and will attend Barnard College this fall.

Katherine Gaumond has excelled in the sciences at Branson. She will attend Yale this fall.

Courtney Jacobson was awarded the Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her work with students at the Canal Alliance, which includes a $1,000 prize and trip to a symposium at Princeton. Courteney was active in the Canal Alliance partnership here at Saint Mark’s and has continued into her time at Marin Academy. She was also recognized for this work earlier this year with a Heart of Marin award. Courtney will attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, this fall.

Sandra Joyce will attend Georgetown this fall. While at Branson, she was active in the community service program and spend her junior year in Vietnam.

At Branson Carolyn LaHorgue was a member of the Dance Performance Ensemble and a leader of the school’s gay-straight alliance, EGALATE. She will attend NYU in the fall.

Kelly Martin spent part of her senior year at Branson at the Island School in the Bahamas. She will continue her interest in the marine sciences at the University of Miami this fall.

Greg Mroz will attend Northwestern this fall. This year he led the organization of relief efforts for those affected by a gas line explosion and fire in San Bruno, south of San Francisco.

Our guests: (back row) Zodwa Sithole, Khayalihle Ngubane, Nomusa Khanyile, Sanele Mhlongo, Nkosi John Khumalo, Simangele Ntshangase; (front row) Slindile Zwane, Ntando Mahlangu, Sbusiso Tembe, Samke Ngwenya, Thandeka Mpontshane

Who doesn’t love seeing snow for the first time?

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Tell us your life story! We love hearing from our alumni. Contact Christine Maguire at cmaguire@saintmarksschool.org or (415) 472-8000, ext. 1016. And be sure to join our alumni Facebook group.

Class of 2008 Caitlin Gowdy was awarded a Marin Music Chest scholarship in May.

Jose Godinez attends the Bay School and is enjoying advanced fiction composition.

Cole Stevens attends the Bay School, where he started a rock-climbing club and serves on the Student Life Council.

Scotty Jacobs is involved with the Model UN Club at Branson.

Gena Topper will be studying stem-cell research and microbiology at summer camp at Stanford and plans to look at colleges with stem-cell research facilities.

Class of 2009 Eva Geisse attends the Bay School, where she is a member of the Eco-Club.

Alex Jacobson attends the Bay School and continues to create projects for the Maker Fair.

Hayaka Komatsu and Max Norman were awarded Marin Music Chest scholarships.

Alex Knoll is enjoying computer programming at the Bay School.

Katy Lee attends Sonoma Academy and was selected for the All-Empire girls’ cross country team. She was also named First Team All-Empire, one of seven women selected from all the schools in the area, small and large.

Danny Noonan will be a junior at Marin Catholic next year and competes in basketball, football, and varsity track.

Jackson Poole attends the Bay School, where he recently did a project on the politics and history of the British railway system.

College MatriculationClass of 2007

April Aaronson Gonzaga UniversityGabe Beaudoin Wesleyan UniversityMaggie Belshé Barnard CollegeBobby Bourhis Washington State UniversityNate Campagne Wesleyan UniversityA.J. Campbell The New School for Jazz and Contemporary MusicNick Cherbero Boise State UniversityWill Cooney University of MichiganDavin Dam Pitzer CollegeElizabeth Ezell University of ChicagoKatie Fitzpatrick Bates CollegeHaley Gaston NYUKatherine Gaumond Yale UniversityCaroline Gill Boston UniversityEvan Greenwald Sarah LawrenceJack Hensley UC BerkeleyEmmeline Hill Reed CollegeJ.B. Hoffman University of OregonCourtney Jacobson Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoSandra Joyce GeorgetownAviva Kamler American UniversityAlex Kinsella StanfordAlena Kleinbrodt Santa Clara UniversityCarolyn LaHorgue NYUGrace Lukach UC Santa CruzSarah Martell Amherst CollegeKelly Martin University of MiamiJenelle Mathews UC BerkeleyJackson Mauzé Gap year, Davidson College deferredKatie McLaughlin Northeastern UniversityGreg Mroz Northwestern UniversityBrian Murcia San Jose State UniversityMolly Owens Gap year to work with Global CitizenTaylor Peterson University of ArizonaMollie Rowe Willamette UniversityMaddy Scheer Colby CollegeBlair Scott Villanova UniversityKavan Sikand UC BerkeleyPhoebe Stanton UCLAJack Tierney Evergreen State CollegeLuke Todd NYUAlex Wilson Chapman University

High School Matriculation Class of 2011

Congratulations, graduates! We wish our students the best as they make their way to high school in the fall. Here are the schools they will be attending.

The Bay School (2)

Branson (9)

Cate (1)

Drew (2)

International (2)

Marin Academy (6)

Marin Catholic (9)

Marin School of the Arts (2)

The Menlo School (1)

Redwood (1)

San Domenico (1)

St. Ignatius (1)

Sonoma Academy (1)

Terra Linda (2)

University (4)

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

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Ma r k e rthe

Saint Mark’s School • 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 472-8000 • www.saintmarksschool.org

Happy summer, everyone!