April 9, 2007

Dear Friends,

What makes a great school great?

There are many reasonable and persuasive answers to this question, of course. But each year, at this particular time of year, I think I know the real answer.

It’s the faculty.

Kids come and go. Parents come and go. Even heads of school come and go. But the culture of the faculty stays, and it is that culture that shapes the day-to-day experience of every single student in the school. If a faculty defines itself by sincere respect and affection for young people, by clear and rigorous expectations, by a willingness to stretch and explore, and by a genuine love for the entwined processes of teaching and learning, chances are you are looking at a great school in the making.

You may ask why I mentioned "this particular time of year" at the beginning of this letter. This is hiring season in the world of independent schools, and the Bay School is once again in the marketplace for the most able teachers we can find. Since we first began seeking faculty in the spring of 2004, more than 2,400 people (that is not a typo) have applied to be teachers at this school. We approach the process of screening these applicants with tremendous focus and energy. Every segment of our campus community gets involved, including our students. I estimate that nearly 100 of our kids have interviewed and assessed candidates over the past three years. We listen to their reactions with great care.

There are compelling reasons, of course, why we invest so much time and effort in the building of this faculty. In a young and growing school, there are three administrative functions that I would define as "can't fail." Fundraising and admissions are two such functions. The third is hiring. In each of the past three springs, we have added between six and eight new teachers. Each of these individuals has helped to shape this school. This spring we will add another seven, the final cohort of the Bay School’s founding faculty. As I write, we have already filled four of those seven slots, and I am as thrilled with those four as I have been with those who have come before them.

By any measure or standard, our faculty is an extraordinary group. I have long since lost any objectivity I may once have had about them. Day after day, class after class, in our labs and studios, on the fields and in the gyms, they live those values that we believe in most deeply: personal integrity, thoughtfulness, perseverance, and good humor. They work harder, play harder, take more chances, and enjoy their kids and colleagues more than any faculty I have ever known.

So, in year three is Bay on the way to being a great school? I’ll leave that judgment to others. One thing I know for sure, however.

It's the faculty.

Best wishes to you and yours,

Dennis Hartzell

Note: During Malcolm Manson's well-earned sabbatical from March through early June 2007 his responsibilities rest with able and enthusiastic Acting Co-Heads of School Dennis Hartzell and Moneeka Settles.

Bay School Spring Snapshots

Spring Student Drama Production – The Cripple of Inishmaan

Applause, laughter, and intense emotions once again filled the air during the three-night run of The Cripple of Inishmaan performed by the Bay School Drama Troupe on March 8th, 9th, and 10th on campus. Written by contemporary playwright Martin McDonagh in the great tradition of Irish storytelling, the play is set on a desolate island known as Inishmaan off the western Coast of Ireland in 1934. The story revolves around a pitiable central character named Billy Claven (played artfully by Spencer Stamats), a crippled orphan who is determined to escape the ridicule and stifling boredom of his isolated community—as well as his two mad aunts, and his yearning for a girl named Helen (Annie Obermeyer) who wants no part of him. Upon hearing the news from local reporter and gossip monger, Johnny Pateen (Fred Concklin), that a Hollywood movie director is coming to the neighboring island of Inishmore to film Man of Aran, Billy plots his getaway in order to attempt his dream of auditioning for a part in the film. He deceives a local sailor named Babbybobby (Paul Rothman), and flees.

To everyone’s surprise, the orphaned outcast gets his chance. Several months later, disillusioned with life in America, he reappears, and uncovers the secret of his parents’ disappearance. "While hardly filled with the milk of human kindness, the citizens of Inishmaan are nevertheless sympathetic, and their interactions so hilarious that you tend to forget their underlying desperation." (A Curtain Up Review)

An Actor's Perspective

"Ireland mustn't be such a bad place if sharks want to be living in Ireland." I think that was the line that convinced me The Cripple of Inishmaan was just too good to pass up. I was assigned a scene from Cripple last summer during a drama program. I loved it, and bought the script to our director Katherine Riley to ask whether or not she thought the play would be suitable for performance at the Bay School. After she read the script I did not have to say another word. "Let's do it", she said.

Irish Playwright Martin McDonagh sucks his readers into the 1934 Irish coastal world that he has chosen to create, and it is hard not to be impressed with his writing. The more I read, the more I could envision the Island of Inishmaan coming alive in our Great Room. True, the play is filled with more profanity and political incorrectness than a usual high school play, but after the reader and audience weed through, they are left with a touching story, as well as vibrant and complex characters.

As our cast sat down for our first read through, Billy, Kate, Eileen, Bartley, Johnny Pateen, Mammy, Babbybobby, and Helen, all began to take form as living, breathing people. A good portion of our rehearsals were spent laughing as the Irish characters temporarily slipped into Australian or Southern accents (taking on the Irish brogue is no easy task), but by opening night, we nine students and director had morphed into a professional cast. Bay School Humanities teacher Lori Cohen recently said that when you are passionate about something, give it a 'pint of blood, sweat, and tears' whenever you do it: on the field, in the classroom, or on the written page. We each left a pint of BS&T on stage during every performance, and I am very proud to have been a part of that.

Annie Obermeyer, played the role of Helen McCormick
Class of 2008

The Bay School Parent Association – Building Community at Bay

At the March Parents Education Resource Group (PERG) meeting at the Bay School, six articulate and thoughtful students volunteered to be part of a student panel that candidly answered a broad spectrum of questions submitted by the many parents who attended. There were discussions about respect, honesty in relationships, invading privacy, safe computer usage, establishing rules and balance, sex, and drugs. This was our second annual PERG Teen Panel–a fantastic opportunity for parents to hear and learn directly from our students who openly shared their perspectives and wisdom. As a parent, I walked away from the evening thinking, "These kids are amazing!" and in addition, with a few strategies to improve my own parenting skills.

Attending monthly PERG meetings is one of many ways that are available for parents to become involved in the Bay School community. PERG was founded two years ago by parent Molly Baron (Matt, Class of 2008), who in her professional life is an educational consultant. So far this year PERG has presented a number of enlightening talks about Adolescent and Parent Development, The Spiritual and Ethical Development of Adolescents, Brain Development and Its Impact on Learning, and Communicating with Teenagers. Meetings are held monthly throughout the school year on an alternating basis in the evenings and mornings.

Bay parents are also involved with PEN, the Parents' Education Network–a San Francisco Bay Area network organized to work collaboratively in offering programs and other resources to support families with children who have different learning styles. Suzannah Barbour (Bar Smith, Class of 2009), is our parent coordinator for the PEN group, and the group maintains a list serve to distribute information about speaker events and resources throughout the Bay Area. Additionally, The Bay PA is a member of the Parents' Coalition of Bay Area High Schools. This organization represents many independent as well as public schools and schedules speaker events throughout the school year. The upcoming meeting scheduled on April 23rd will take place at Bay, featuring well known educational consultant Jane McClure from 7:30-9:30 pm.

As co-chair of the Bay School Parent Association (Bay PA) this year along with Jan Vennari (Cara, Class of 2008), our goal has been to expand and shape the PA through activities that support the school's programs and to provide ways for parents to participate and come to know each other better. The mission of the Parent Association at Bay is to strengthen the school's sense of community and inclusion by welcoming all parents, and to provide support for our students, faculty, and administration. As Father Malcolm says, "Effective schools are those in which parents really know one another."

There have been many social events throughout the year–early morning "neighborhood" coffees, and casual dinners coordinated by Joyce Kleiner (Jake, 2009); wine and cheese "work" parties in the penthouse; grade-level pot lucks; and social events and activities held for students, coordinated by Sarah Hoffman (Zach, 2008). At our annual all-school Holiday Potluck held in December, chaired by Deborah Concklin (Fred, 2008) and Sue Schwartz (Andrew, 2009), we sampled cuisine from the many different cultures and traditions represented among Bay families: Polish peasant pies, Greek baklava, Jewish challah bread, Swedish almond cookies, Mexican enchiladas, Middle Eastern b'steeya and Asian pot stickers.

This year the Bay PA has also become more involved in everyday school life through hosting teacher appreciation events, thanks to Debbie Ward (Isaac Schwarz, 2010); coordinating library volunteers, Leigh Stackpole (Travis Hall, 2010); dance, theater and sports activities; and hosted and answered questions at admission open houses, coffees and packet parties, coordinated by Lisa Geisse (Sarah, 2009) and Mica Saldivar (Kelsey Ross, 2008). Parents Dee Lawrence (Blake, 2009), Susan Hemberger (Michael, 2009), Anna Dibble (Danny, 2010) and Yana Rathman (Daniel, 2008) keep the Bay spirit alive by selling spirit wear apparel at school events and online. To keep tabs on all the events and opportunities to get involved, the Bay PA has created a monthly e-newsletter, Parent Net.

Another important way that we build community at TBS is through our fundraising activities. Planning for this year's Bay Splash fundraising event and auction has been a monumental effort of time and energy by many parents under the leadership of Marjorie Fulbright (Alex, 2008), Victoria Yamamoto (Craig, 2009), and Denise Yeilding (Katie, 2010). We're looking forward to a fun salsa dancing lesson and pre-party on Wednesday, April 17th and the evening gala event on May 5th on campus.

Engaging parents and encouraging volunteers is effortless when we're all motivated by the same vision. As parents of teens, our lives are full. Many of us work, and we all live hectic lives. Becoming involved in the Bay PA has enabled me to meet new families, share in the sheer fun of high school events; but most importantly, learn something new every day about how to be a better parent to my daughters.

Jann Dickerson (Emily Bailinson, 2009)
Bay PA Co-Chair

Action on Court – The 2007 Student/Faculty Hoops Showdown

As the fans settled into the wooden bleachers on the back-side of Letterman Gym on Friday afternoon March 23rd, the competitive atmosphere in the building was raging, as the student Breakers prepared to take on their faculty counterparts in the third annual Bay School hoops showdown. The referee blew a loud shriek from his whistle, and threw the ball into the air, beginning the all-important contest.

The tip-off was corralled by Dennis Hartzell in the faculty’s backcourt, giving the teachers the first possession of the game; however, they were stymied by a well-executed defensive play by the students. The teachers matched their pupils’ prowess on defense, forcing a turnover on an errant bounce-pass, and, on the other end of the court, an excellent pass to Stephanie Hamilton in the key resulted in a two-pointer off the glass, giving the faculty a 2-0 advantage on the first basket of the game.

The offenses remained quiet for almost the entirety of the eight-minute first quarter, perhaps due to high-quality defensive play on both sides, but with 90 seconds to go, junior Mikhail Alexander launched a majestic trey from well beyond the arch. The long jumper went through the hoop in impressive "all net" fashion, drawing a wild ovation from the crowd, and adding three to the students' total. The first period ended with just eleven total points on the board, as the Breakers led their teachers 7-to-4.

Midway through the second quarter, both the faculty and the students found their shots. A three pointer from Robert Martinez and a jumper from Peter Olrich were the offensive highlights for the faculty, while the students were led by a pair of lay-ups from Kaneja Muganda. The Breakers stepped it up in the final two minutes of the first half, running away from the teachers with a nine-point to zero run in that short stretch. The halftime score showed the students leading by eleven, at 24-to-13.

The Breakers started the third quarter every bit as well as they finished the second, adding to their lead, which stood at 31-to-18 halfway through the period. The faculty finally woke up in the latter half of the third, taking advantage of two turnovers to narrow the gap to nine. Three-quarters of the way through, the scoreboard read Students 36, Faculty 27.

In the final period of the game, the students and faculty regained the defensive prowess they flashed in the first quarter, limiting each other’s scoring. Turnovers and missed opportunities were the prevalent theme in the first half of the quarter, and while the excitement that comes with the final moments of any great sports game was building, the students owned a ten point, 42 to 32 lead with just four minutes to play, and the teachers’ chances of coming back were slim. Trying to stage a miraculous comeback, the faculty put its best lineup on the floor, and, behind by a barrage of beautiful, long-range three-pointers from Robert Martinez, the teachers bridged the gap, and trailed by just two (44 to 42) when a timeout was called with 57 seconds to play.

The students were unable to convert on their offensive possession immediately following the timeout, giving the faculty the ball with under 40 seconds remaining. A pair of nifty bounce-passes, and a terrific assist by Dennis Hartzell, gave the teachers a chance to tie the game, and they did, on a critical lay-up by Darrick Broudy with 24 seconds left to play. The crowd went wild following the lay-up, as the hotly contested game was now tied with less than half a minute to go—the potential excitement of overtime was looming.

The students brought the ball back up the court and after a missed shot, the faculty regained possession, with Dennis Hartzell streaking the floor before drawing a foul by Kaneja with just 0.5 seconds on the clock. The foul put Dennis Hartzell on the free throw line with a chance to complete the comeback. His first foul shot however, hit the back of the rim, rolled down the left side, and dropped to the floor. The game was still knotted at 44 apiece, and Coach Hartzell had just one more opportunity to break the tie. His second free throw attempt--much to the chagrin of the students--went cleanly through the hoop, giving the faculty a one-point lead with just half a second to play. The students still had slim hopes of winning the game on a half-court shot by Kaneja, but his attempt went well over the backboard, securing the narrow victory for the faculty.

FINAL SCORE: Faculty 45 Students 44

MVP for the Faculty: Darrick Broudy – 4 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

MVP for the Breakers: Mikhail Alexander – 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Written by a Student Sports Bureau Reporter.

Bay Splash--Join in the Fun on May 5th

Mark your calendars and plan to join Bay School parents, trustees, faculty members and friends of the school at Bay Splash! -- an evening of great food and libation, dancing, live entertainment, and live auction on Saturday, May 5th from 6-11pm on campus.

The purpose of Bay Splash is to raise funds for the Bay School Opportunity Fund which provides tuition assistance to qualified and motivated students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, making it possible for them to receive a college preparatory education at the Bay School.

The event also includes an on-line auction from April 20th through May 4th--featuring a great variety of exciting items such as vacation packages, fine wines, foods, tickets to entertainment and sporting events, restaurant and spa gift certificates, and much, much more. Spread the news far and wide and encourage friends and family to join in on-line bidding at www.bayschoolsf.org beginning on April 20th.

We are still soliciting donations of auction items and greatly appreciate each and every one! There are endless possibilities, and we invite you to use your imagination as well as connections to assemble many wonderful items. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Visit http://www.readysetauction.com/auctions/bayschoolsf/ to purchase tickets and donate auction items.

For more information please contact: Cary Hueser, Development Associate at: chueser@bayschoolsf.org, or call: 415.561.5800.

April 2007 Events Calendar