End of year surveys are an important way for us to gather meaningful feedback, and this year we will use a web-based parent satisfaction survey very similar to last year’s but significantly shorter. To drill down into last year’s results and feedback throughout the school year, we have narrowed the survey to areas of greatest parent interest and concern. This survey allows us to develop a meaningful tool to assess our performance and set goals for the future.

Your support and feedback are critical as we work together to foster an environment that promotes our mission to educate the hearts and minds of your children for lives of learning, leadership and service. We are asking you to take 10-15 minutes to complete this anonymous survey by Thursday, May 24. You can access the survey by clicking on the following links:

Lower School Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Parent_Survey_Lower_School

Middle School Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Parent_Survey_MIddle_School

Upper School Survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Parent_Survey_Upper_School

If you have children in more than one division you are encouraged to complete a survey for each child. If you have more than one child in that particular division, please answer the question keeping in mind the child who has attended our school the longest period of time. Below are a couple of things to keep in mind as you progress through the survey:

1. Once you begin the survey you will need to complete it in one sitting.

2. As you move from page to page in the survey, please use the Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of each survey page. If you use the back button on your browser tool bar, it will cause you to exit from the survey and you will have to re-enter the online tool and begin again.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this very important survey. The results will be tabulated anonymously by my office and we will develop a process to share them with you.

Best wishes for a great end of the school year for you and your family.

Warm regards,

Marcus D. Hurlbut

By Stephen Harrington, Executive Director of Advancement

We are pleased to announce that we have raised $21 million toward our $23 million goal to complete the Building on the Promise capital campaign. We are grateful to the entire St. Margaret’s Episcopal School community for its outstanding generosity, commitment and dedication.

Your gifts enable us to help fulfill St. Margaret’s mission to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

“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

Beginning Robotics (1-3)

Claymation & Stop Motion with iPads (4-8)

Digital Game Design (6-8)

Jr. First LEGO League Exploration (1-3)

Lower School Robotics with LEGO Mindstorm NXT (4-5)

Movie Production (5-8)

Music Technology (6-8)

Robotics Exploration with LEGO Mindstorm NXT 2.9 (6-8)

The iPad – It’s All About You (6-8)

Workshops for Parents

As adults we attend parenting events, read books, and watch TV programs so we can be the best parents possible. But, there is often a void between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it.

We’ve designed a couple of workshops to fill that gap. With practical “how-tos” and powerful resources, we’ll provide the support you need to implement the ideas you’ve heard about.

Join us for Parenting the Saturated Student & Preparing Your Home for the iPad Invasion.

Click here to register.

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

Barbara Nelson has taught visual arts at St. Margaret’s for more than 25 years. For the past several years, Barbara has volunteered as the Upper School Annual Fund captain helping to secure support from faculty in her division, and this is what she has to say about what inspires her to not only teach here, but to support the school and the Annual Fund:

“As a captain, I spend a lot of time trying to explain why I feel so strongly about giving to the Annual Fund. For me, it is a blessing to work here, where I feel I am part of a community, and where excellence across all disciplines is an integral part of the school vision. This school is a place of learning and opportunity not just for our students, but also for the faculty.

“During my more than 25 years of teaching at St. Margaret’s, I have been given the opportunity to design numerous arts events, develop curriculum and teach classes that challenge not only my students but me. I have the good fortune to work with students who have a passion for learning and growing – and through the years, this has kept me full of energy and enthusiasm.

“St. Margaret’s also has been generous in providing opportunities for faculty development. The school has funded courses and workshops that have in turn enhanced my skills as a teacher and as an artist. I have been able to bring those skills back to the classroom and to my students – like new teaching ideas and approaches.

“I give back to St. Margaret’s because I know that my gift, regardless of its size, will inspire others to give as well. In a sense, my few “drops in the bucket” will join others to eventually fill the bucket – just think how many plants can be grown from that one full bucket!

“I give back to St. Margaret’s because this school has been my home. I spend more awake hours here than I do in my own house. The people and students are my family, and like all of us, I want our family to be the best that it can be.

“Anyone who has ever taught knows that teaching is more than a job. It is a calling. And part of my calling is to do my small part to ensure that St. Margaret’s continues to thrive.”

Thank you, Barbra Nelson, for your gifts of time, talent and treasure, and for your many years of service to the St. Margaret’s community. And, thank you to all who give to our school and contribute to our community. You make a difference!

Please consider joining Barbara and the many other faculty, staff, parents, alumni and friends who have already supported the Annual Fund this year. There is still time! www.smes.org/annualfund.

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.

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.”