January 31, 2005

Dear Friends,

A constant burr under the saddle, some of our students tell us, is the repetitive insistence they hear from Chaplain Teah and me that they be "awake", "attentive", "mindful" and that the meditative practice with which we begin the day will make that an easier task. I sympathize; even empathize. What we are doing is not in the main stream of Western religious practice, let alone school ritual. But I do not apologize, for what we are about is at the core of the strengths and skills needed by our twenty-first century leaders. Let me tell you why I believe this.

The twentieth century provided a miracle of intellectual growth and scientific/technological advance. The computer at which I write, the car I drive, the way I heat my house, the scope of my ability to travel, all were almost inconceivable in 1905. Inconceivable also were wars of extra-ordinary bloodshed, genocide from Armenia to Germany to Cambodia to Rwanda, the rise and fall of fascism and communism, sharp divisions between rich and poor, even in prosperous nations. And in all the tumult and achievement, very little attention was given to the soul, whose chemical reaction with the mind is the source of wisdom.

At The Bay School, we are bringing the soul's development intentionally, if at times tediously, to everyone's attention, and doing our part in helping it to grow. We hope our students will be conscious as they weave their souls, thread by thread.

Thread one: awareness. How did I learn I had a pancreas? A teacher told me. How did I learn about the huge influence of Plato and Aristotle on human thought? A teacher told me. How did I learn that I had a soul? A teacher told me. Later experiences, ministering to one dying of pancreatic cancer, tracing systems of justice from ancient times to today, living my life as a child of God and as a priest, have confirmed and deepened what I was told. But I had to be told first.

Thread two: practice. Some people are natural athletes, or musicians, or painters. They appear on the scene ready made, as it were. Most of us, however, derive most of our skills from training and practice-some of it laborious. The adult soul can also be trained, although the process is not easy or automatic. As a school, we can provide part of that training.

Thread three: transference. Beyond a certain inner comfort, there is no value to the trained soul unless there is transference to the rest of life. When I say to myself, "What was I thinking?" after a bad decision, I am really saying that I wasn't thinking at all. Our regular references at school to our precepts, our mindfulness in class and on the athletic field, our emphasis on awareness in human relationships all start the process of enlisting the soul to work with the mind or body or emotions to promote wise decisions and actions.

I have no illusion that the school is the only teacher in this, or indeed in any domain. Our parents, and especially grandparents, our rabbis and pastors, our peers can all speak to the soul. For good and ill, we observe much about human behavior from the news, even from such unreal travesties as reality shows. Novels, movies, course work, lyrics of songs, all add to the mix. What the school can do is to insist on periods of thoughtful silence-helping students to find the "silent, safe, still place"-and to provide a community of all ages at much the same stage on the great journey.

As in so much here, our aspirations boggle the mind. The magnificence of the gift to our students and therefore to society, if we are successful, boggles the mind also.

With all best wishes,

Yours very sincerely,
Father Malcolm

The Asian Tsunami — A Forceful Lesson in Physics

Freshman physics students in teacher Tom Henning's classes began their study of the physical principles behind waves, currents, and motion dynamics in early December before the holiday break. As is customary, the examination of waves included study and discussion of the geology and physics involved in tsunamis, giant ocean waves. On December 26^th tsunamis became so much more than an academic exercise to Bay School students as they learned about the unimaginable scale of the tsunami tragedy in South Asia that killed more than one hundred and fifty thousand people.

During the first week back at school following break, Mr. Henning used Physics class time to focus on the tsunami disaster by considering it on several different levels: the scientific, humanistic, and emotional. Students visited a New York Times interactive site that displayed before/after photos, diagrams of the fault lines involved in the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that caused the enormous wave, and the class studied animated wave simulations showing wave radiation northward and westward across the Indian Ocean. As important, students then viewed and discussed narrative pieces from The Washington Post online in which a journalist described his first-hand experience of the tsunami while swimming off the east coast of Sri Lanka and his observations having witnessed the enormous death toll and physical destruction in that area.

An event such as this clearly re-emphasizes the importance and relevance of scientific literacy in today's world. Because our students had an understanding of tsunamis, including their causes and behavior, they had a context within which to digest the horrible tragedy - including its human and economic impacts. In fact, Mr. Henning reports that many of his students commented that they were able to explain the phenomenon of tsunamis to their families and friends as the tragedy unfolded - just what The Bay School's program hopes to accomplish!

Physics class tsunami resource links:
• NY Times: "Asia's Deadly Waves"
• Washington Post: "It Seemed Like a Scene From the Bible"
• Washingtop Post: "In an Instant, the Land Merged With the Sea"

Empowering Students to Make Healthy Choices

In support of The Bay School precept valuing a clear mind and healthy strong body, the school community spent the week of January 24^th - 28^th focused on empowering our students to make healthy, responsible choices concerning the use of alcohol, drugs, and other harmful substances. We believe this to be a community-wide effort involving students, faculty and staff, as well as parents, all coming together to consider the positive values and choices that impact us both as individuals and as a school community.

In their humanities classes during the week students attended four presentations given by Steve Dansinger, a professional educator in the field of substance abuse, who works for FCD Educational Services, a leading non-profit organization that consults with independent schools nationally. In daily workshops students were given clear and accurate information about the risks and realities of substance abuse, and then had the opportunity to ask wide-ranging questions while participating in small group discussions. Steve was also available throughout the week to meet with students in private sessions. Faculty and staff met with Steve for a separate session on Thursday, and a parents' meeting was held on Wednesday, January 26th at which a large group of parents discussed substance abuse prevention and teen intervention issues.

We encourage all Bay School parents to access FCD Educational Services online resources at www.fcd.org. The site contains valuable information such as links to national research sites, newsletters, and handouts regarding different substances, and parenting tips. As a client school of FCD, Bay School parents may contact the FCD office for more information and support as needed. At school, please contact Moneeka Settles, Dean of Students with any questions or concerns about student-life issues.

Making Bay School Athletic History — The First Chapter

It seems hard to believe - as of the first week in February we're already halfway through our inaugural year - AND. both the girls' and boys' basketball teams have launched themselves into The Bay School history books with "first ever" victories - a string of them!

The girls' team began their season by earning their first win ever in a nail biter victory over Jewish Community High School on November 30th. Girl's coach, Larry Minnich, described the feeling of winning the first Bay School game in any sport as "almost as gratifying as winning a state championship." Coach Minnich won the Girls division 5 California State Championship two years ago with Convent of The Sacred Heart.

The boys' team improved day by day and ended their season by winning 6 of their last 7 games against competitive teams from area high schools such as Urban, Athenian, Stuart Hall, International Studies Academy (ISA), University H.S. and Lick Wilmerding. Both the boys' and girls' teams have continued to demonstrate steadfast commitment by holding "DAWN PATROL" practices at 6:00AM.

"When a group of kids commits to doing their best and to never, ever giving up," says boys' basketball coach, Dennis Hartzell, "special things can start to happen. I've watched this group of boys endure some very tough times in the first few weeks of the season. Even so, they have simply refused to quit on each other, and the results have been thrilling to see. I am not talking just about winning some very tough games; I am talking about their growth as young men and as teammates committed to common goals."

All of us here at The Bay School, fellow students, faculty, staff, and parents alike, are extremely proud of the progress that these two teams have made. These first girls' and boys' teams have set a high standard for all future BAY teams, and should feel very proud of their accomplishments.

Basketball is by no means the only thing happening before and after school. The physical activities program is also in full swing. Hip-Hop dance class, taught by accomplished instructor Paula Plessas, has eight extremely energetic girls and boys working at perfecting all the latest moves. They are currently rehearsing for an all-school demonstration scheduled for early February. Upstairs, in Mr. Broudy's room, you will find eight students, (and one anonymous staff member), led by instructor Tony Sanchez working hard at mastering the 35 different Yoga challenge postures. Down Lincoln Blvd. at the Main Post YMCA eighteen of our students are working out - participating in the weight training/fitness program. Four days each week the students are led through a challenging fitness regimen developed by personal trainers at the YMCA. And finally, if you ever happen to be at The Letterman YMCA at 6:45A.M., you might see our students engaged in a total immersion swim program.

The current physical activities Session II will end on Monday January 31^st and Session III will begin on Monday February 7^th. We are excited to announce that sailing will be offered in conjunction with The St. Francis Yacht Club located along the Marina. Thank you to all of our students, enthusiastic parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators who make the great success of our athletic program possible.

Steve Glass
Athletic Director

Martin Luther King Day March

On Monday, January 17^th, the national holiday honoring the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., 7 Bay School students spent their day celebrating Dr. King's memory and accomplishments as part of a commemorative march held in San Francisco. Accompanied by faculty member Tom Henning, students Matt Baron, Kaneja Muganda, Kelsey Ross, Sarah Baron, Roxi Porras, and Jay Arellano began their walk at the CalTrans terminal, joining tens of thousands of other marchers continuing up Market Street to the Civic Center where a large rally was held.

Yale A Cappella Group "Mixed Company" Performs at The Bay School

The first all-school assembly of 2005 began on a high note with the performance of the Yale University A Cappella group "Mixed Company" on Thursday, January 6th. Their name really says it all. A varied group of musicians and friends whose taste in music is as diverse as their personalities, the A Cappella group performed a repertoire ranging from Broadway show tunes, Motown classics and jazz pieces, to contemporary rock. Students and faculty alike were enlivened and inspired by the vocal performance.

For more information about "Mixed Company" visit: www.yale.edu/mixedco/index

Student Bake Sale Benefits Tsunami Victims

Upon returning to school following holiday break in the first week of January, a group of Bay School students in Athletic Director Steve Glass' advisory group began brainstorming about fundraising ideas to support survivors of the tsunami disaster in South Asia. Within the week a school-wide bake sale had been organized and took place. Students contributed a delectable selection of homemade cookies, cakes, and other goodies and, as a result, $200 was raised and donated to the U.N.I.C.E.F. Tsunami Relief Fund - specifically targeted towards aid to children, so many of whom were orphaned as a result of the tragedy.

Tours of Building 35, The Bay School's Permanent Campus

We are pleased to announce that beginning on Thursday, February 10th weekly tours will be conducted of Building 35 Keyes Avenue, our future campus - located at the Main Post area in the Presidio of San Francisco. The extensive renovation project is more than halfway complete and it is now possible to visualize the magnificent setting of our permanent home, scheduled to open in August 2005 in time for the beginning of the 2005-06 academic year.

Tours will be offered on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. and will last one hour. Reservations are required. Please join us!

For reservations, call Erin Lapping at: 415/561-5800, ext. 101, or email: elapping@bayschoolsf.org

February Events Calendar