September 29, 2009

Dear Friends,

I have great empathy for anyone who is new to the Bay School. Despite my eagerness to know everything about everything, my first two summer months on the job reminded me that entry into a school community is complex.

During the summer as I settled into my office in the middle of the main hall, I had the chance to meet individually with every teacher, staff member, and trustee. Since the start of the school year in late August, I have also enjoyed many opportunities to understand more about Bay from curious and welcoming students who have dropped by to introduce themselves and say hello, and from the many parents whom I have met at the opening day ceremony, at Back to School Night, morning meetings, and walking the halls. All of these meetings, supplemented by lots of reading, have been immensely helpful. I am eager to listen and learn.

What has been reinforced time and again during this interval, though, is that the Bay School community is wonderfully open, positive, and inhabited by people of diverse perspectives who share a passionate devotion to our students and to the school's success. I invite everyone in the community to introduce themselves to me (often, it will require several introductions for me to put the name with the face).

In a few short years, as Bay has achieved great success in many areas of school life, its culture of reflection and commitment to improvement prevails. I have never encountered complacency here. Instead, there is a common theme of pride with a desire to improve that is imbedded across all constituencies.

I am proud and honored to be here, and I look forward to joining with you to sustain the inspiration and momentum of the past to make the school an even better place for our students as we move forward.

Sincerely,
Tim Johnson

The 2009 Summer Faculty Institute

Members of the Bay School faculty spent two weeks together this summer exploring a variety of topics, and preparing for the 2009-2010 school year. This in-depth collaborative work continues to be a hallmark of the Bay School faculty experience and a clear example of the deep commitment that our teachers have to our school. The work is intense, but also fun, and it is a major component of our efforts in the areas of professional development and rejuvenation.

• curriculum mapping
• emotional support for adolescents
• mindfulness training
• enhancing our advisory program

Welcome to Our New Faculty Members

One of the most enjoyable aspects of beginning a new academic year is welcoming and getting to know new members of the Bay School faculty. It is our pleasure this year to introduce Vanessa Alfaro who has joined the mathematics team, Raul Betancourt who teaches science, and Shannon Ma who has assumed a permanent position teaching Mandarin Chinese.

Studying Misconceptions in Science

Quick test: We all know that in the Northern Hemisphere weather is warmer in the summer than it is in the winter (well maybe not in San Francisco, but elsewhere I think this is generally true), but do we actually know why?

Graduate and undergraduate students, as well as a few faculty members, were asked this exact question at Harvard and MIT graduations (the movie made by the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is available at: http://www.learner.org/resources/series28.html). The universal answer was that it is warmer in the summer because the Earth must be closer to the sun. This explanation seems to make a lot of sense; unfortunately, the fact is that in the summer we are in actually further away from the sun by about 3 million kilometers (about 3%) compared to the winter. So why is it then that graduate students in physics from Harvard still hold this misconception to be true, and how do we as teachers help students in general to shed these types of misconceptions?

Tina Grotzer, from Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led a two-day workshop titled "The Understanding Consequences Project" at the Nueva School in Hillsborough this past February that I had the opportunity to attend. Fifty Bay Area educators participated who teach students from the ages of 6 through 18. "The project identifies default assumptions about the nature of causality that students bring to their learning. These assumptions limit or distort how students structure their scientific explanations. The project conducted a series of intervention studies, finding that helping students learn to broaden their understanding of the nature of causality significantly improves their ability to learn the science concepts." (http://pzweb.harvard.edu/PIs/TG.htm).

Basically, if students can explicitly identify and verbalize their type of reasoning process (the closer you are to the sun the hotter it is), then we as educators are better able to point them towards other causes they may have ignored; in this case, the tilt in the axis of the Earth's rotation which changes the angle of incidence of sun rays, and thus causes the seasons. Since February, our Bay School science team has intentionally begun to try to identify some of the misconceptions that our students exhibit, with the goal of being better able to help them rectify the false assumptions that they may make about their world, thus greatly expanding their opportunities to learn.

Nicolas Fiszman, Chemistry and Advanced Science Electives Teacher

Fall 2009 Class Orientation Activities

The 2009-2010 academic year began on August 27th and 28th with orientation programs for grades 9-12 that provided opportunities for students to come together as a class to consider their goals for the upcoming year, build new relationships and reconnect with old friends, as well as reach out to the surrounding San Francisco community through service project work. The activities ranged from an overnight retreat at the Marin Headlands Institute for the senior Class of 2010, leadership training for the junior Class of 2011, to local community service outings for the Classes of 2012 and 2013.

Freshman Class Orientation

On Thursday, August 27th, seventy-four nervous 9th graders gathered together for the first time as the Bay School of San Francisco's Class of 2013. The two-day orientation program was structured around the final line of the Bay School mission "to build a diverse community of trust, resourcefulness, affection and good humor", and a challenge presented to the entire Class of 2013, "to strive as individuals and as a class to make our community better today than it was yesterday."

Excitement and enthusiasm soon took over as the kids embarked on their first task as new high school students—to get to know their school and get to know each other. For the next hour and a half, students tore through the campus on a high speed scavenger hunt, finding their lockers, learning little-known trivia about their teachers, their classmates and the building. Who was born India? Who once ate a whole pound of Red Vines? What year was the campus built? The freshmen then spent the rest of the day in their advisory groups, getting to know each other better through writing a little personal poetry called "Where I am From" poems. These poems provide a special opportunity for students to begin to share who they are with their advisory groups, laying the foundation as they begin to build a "diverse community of trust" within the class of 2013.

The students arrived at school on Friday dressed ready to take part in a range of service projects around the Presidio. Following an informative presentation about the Presidio and its history as a military base and National Park, the kids split up into five different groups to assist in various habitat restoration and reforestation projects around the park. The freshmen spent the morning under the hot sun spreading mulch at the Montgomery Street Barracks, cutting back brush at Thompson Hollow, and removing invasive species along Mac Arthur Avenue.

By the time orientation came to a close on Friday afternoon, much of the anxiety and nervousness among the freshmen had melted away. It was a true pleasure watching our new students become more and more comfortable with each other over the course of the two day orientation. It is going to be a great ride!

Matt Hannibal, Freshman Dean and Associate Director of College Counseling

Sophomore Orientation

Two central themes of Bay's sophomore year program are risk-taking and community engagement. On August 28th, the Class of 2012 got off to a great start in thinking about these themes. The students began their day here at Bay, with a welcome from head of school Tim Johnson, their advisors, and class dean Andy Shaw. After spending some time reconnecting with their advisory groups, they dispersed across the city. By foot, by car, or by public transit, the advisory groups made their way to nine different neighborhoods across San Francisco: the Marina, the Richmond District, the Inner Sunset, the Outer Sunset, the Mission, Bernal Heights, Knob Hill, Glen Park, and Hayes Valley.

The sophomores spent the morning exploring each neighborhood as they undertook a photographic scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt called for a variety of challenging activities including interviewing merchants and residents, interacting with a police officer, and constructing a human pyramid. As midday approached, the students in each neighborhood made their way to a nearby community garden. There, despite record-setting heat, the sophomores spent a few hours with each garden's coordinator, tending the plots and helping with some labor-intensive tasks. Along the way, the students learned about sustainable urban farming and its benefits to a neighborhood and city. The neighborhood gardeners, many of whom were hosting the Bay students for the second or third time, reported that the day was a tremendous success, as did the students, despite returning home bearing a fair amount of dirt and sweat.

Andy Shaw, Sophomore Class Dean and Mathematics Teacher

Junior Class Orientation

The Class of 2011 gathered together for the first time this year on Friday, August 28th. At this, the midpoint of their four year careers at Bay, juniors had opportunities during the day to reconnect with each other, to reflect on their experiences to date, and then consider what they would like to achieve during their remaining two years. Beginning with a "Find Someone Who" exercise and continuing with team-building activities indoors and out, the students and their faculty advisors had quite a few laughs as they worked together to solve problems (like building a house of cards together without talking out loud) and strategize for the year ahead.

Time was spent during the afternoon in advisory groups, where students worked together to think of ways they would like their class to be known around campus and how they can grow into stronger leaders and build a spirit of class unity. Though these conversations were just an opening step toward the junior year curriculum for advisory and leadership opportunities, they were fruitful and rich.

Finally, students regrouped in advisories to plan for a very special opportunity they are pioneering–their partnership with 9th grade advisory groups. This is a new aspect of the advisory program. We look forward to learning from their experience and having them help to shape the Bay School experience for the younger students. The day closed with each 9th-11th grade pair spending about 30 minutes together getting to know each other, sharing in the excitement of new beginnings.

Katherine Riley, Junior Class Coordinator, Drama Teacher

Senior Class Orientation

The members of the Class of 2010 and their advisors spent two days at the Marin Headlands Institute on retreat, enjoying each other's company amidst the spectacular surroundings and weather. The primary goals were to have the seniors bond as a class, prepare for their important leadership role in the student body during the 2009-2010 school year, and to have fun. The first day's activities included small group hikes, one-on-one conversations with each student, sharing student reflections in small groups about their experiences at Bay, leadership and listening training, lots of volleyball and an evening camp fire. The second day, the seniors spent the morning brainstorming and making headway in deciding upon their class value. The value symbolizes a central contribution that members of the senior class hope to make during their last year at the Bay School. This year's senior class value statement reads as follows:

"We, the Class of 2010, value our resources and our open community; we don't take privilege for granted." The Class of 2010 is currently planning activities and events to ensure the success of their yearlong goal.

Julie Taufaasau, Senior Class Dean, Dean of Students

Outing Club Leadership Training Trip

In the last few days prior to the opening of school, the Bay School Outing Club got its fall season off to a great start with a first-ever leadership training trip. Six students accompanied adult chaperones Katherine Riley and Andy Shaw to the Chain Lakes region of Yosemite National Park for three days of training and practice in wilderness leadership skills. The students, a group of juniors and seniors selected by virtue of their long-standing commitment to and experience with Bay's Outing Club, practiced the skills they will need in order to serve as student leaders during this year's Outing Club trips. Student Leaders work with adult chaperones to plan, organize, and execute trips, supporting other students while learning about responsibility, leadership, and teamwork.

During the course of the leadership training weekend, students Danilo Pascaretta, Noah Bergeron, Tesia Hirsch, Abby Nowell, Andrew Seaman, and Alex Kinsella spent time on a wide variety of skills. These included map and compass navigation, route planning and travel-time estimation, cooking and fire safety, group dynamics, team decision-making, hike pacing, nutrition and hydration concerns, campsite setup and organization, and mentorship of less-experienced students. Responding to a series of incident scenarios, some planned and some arising organically, the students took turns in the leader role. Around the campfire in the evenings, the group debriefed the day's activities and provided feedback on each student's work as a leader.

Amidst all this intensive training, the students were still able to engage in some classic outdoors pursuits: backpacking four to eight miles a day, hiking and camping above nine thousand feet, experiencing the thrill of frigid alpine lake water, and demonstrating their truly impressive ability to consume s'mores and macaroni and cheese.

Three Cheers to the Class of 2009 Graduates and Retiring Head of School Malcolm H. Manson

June 12th marked the graduation of the Bay School's second class, and the entire school community came together to celebrate. More than 600 underclassmen, trustees, members of the faculty and staff, parents and friends rose to their feet applauding as the Class of 2009 processed in at Herbst Exhibition Hall in the Presidio.

Following the opening reflection given by Chaplain Teah Strozer, senior Danny Rice spoke on behalf of his class, highlighting what he and his fellow graduates would most remember about their four years at the Bay School as members of the school's pioneering second class:

"The teacher-student relationships at Bay are always what I emphasize most about this school. At what other school can you get coffee with your drama teacher, build computers with your science teacher on a Sunday, spend a week in Death Valley with your math teacher, and see live comedy with your librarian?" After expressing gratitude "for the support of everyone in the Bay community–all those who have had confidence in us, inspired us, and made learning a joyous process," Danny closed by saying:" As members of the Class of 2009 prepare to take their next steps, I think we'll find that we are already strides ahead of our peers. We've already been taught to take initiative and think for ourselves. And, along the way, it really has been fun."

Andy Shaw, mathematics teacher and Outing Club advisor, was asked to speak on behalf of the faculty to the graduating class . Andy used the story and personal example of Moses to illustrate his message reminding seniors that they are called upon to use their many gifts and accomplishments to address the world's current and future problems; striving to better the condition of other human beings, repair the condition of our planet, to close the extreme gap between the world's wealthy and impoverished, and to battle violence caused by religious and ethnic extremism and intolerance.

"I've heard it hypothesized that if Moses hadn't grown up as royalty, he would never have gained the skills, the knowledge, and the confidence to lead the Hebrews out of slavery." Andy said. "And this, members of the Class of 2009, is where your intelligence, your creativity, and your work ethic come into play. You have the tools to clean up these messes. And I have seen that you have an understanding that every plate is your plate. The world needs you, for we are a planet that for too long has pridefully insisted that if we didn't make the mess, we should not have to clean it up. Those days must end."

The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, gave the keynote address to the Class of 2009. Citing personal experience, Bishop Swing encouraged the graduates to embrace failures in their lives in order to learn and grow: "If you learn to deal with failure in yourself and others, you can abide in intimate relationships, you can develop a sense of humor, you can be kind to yourself. You learn to breathe again when you embrace failure as a part of life, not as the determining moment of life." He then turned to a discussion of continuing to use the pillars of a Bay School education as reference points throughout life:

"Recently the US President gave a speech in Cairo to the Muslim world and said, "Indeed faiths bring us together." That is a radical statement. A new day is being launched. And this is where you graduates come in. Beyond faith and within faith and beside faith is interfaith. It is not a religion; it is a bridge building culture and you have lived it for four years. Your technology, your ethics, your science are probably advanced. But I will tell you this, what you have experienced and learned about religions living together in creative difference is light years ahead of most civilized history."

Board of trustees' president, Steve Mattoon, brought the ceremony to a very emotional closing in recognizing and thanking founding head of school, Malcolm Manson, for his extraordinary vision, inspiration, and hard work over the past 15 years that made the successful launch of the Bay School possible. Malcolm was awarded an honorary Bay School diploma with the title of: PATREM FAMILIAS SUMMA CUM LAUDE, and he will forever be remembered with great affection and gratitude. The entire school community wishes him the very best in what will be an active and engaged retirement. Fr. Malcolm will return to Bay on a part-time basis in November, working as assistant chaplain in leading interfaith activities.

Fall Athletics at Bay

Fall athletics are off to a blazing start this year. We are in our third week of competition in the Bay Counties League–Central and Bay Counties League–West with eight teams in six different sports.

After winning their second league championship last year, our girls' varsity volleyball team is hitting and setting their way to the league playoffs with a 5-2 record so far this season. Our JV girls' team is right behind them with a big win last week. The boys' varsity soccer team kicked off to a great start and is looking to secure a spot in the league playoffs this year. The girls' tennis team just won their first match, and the girls are practicing hard with a core group of players returning from last year. Our girls' golf team just began practicing last week with six solid golfers. The cross-country team is well into their season with every runner returning from last year stepping up their race pace. Harley Grandin, a key senior runner, has placed first in the opening two varsity races of the season. The sailing team also just began practice last week, but with 17 sailors, they are sure to give other teams a run for their money at regattas this season!

View fall competition schedules for all sports and come out to cheer Bay to victory!

GO BREAKERS!!!

Congratulations to the following members of the Bay School community for their recent achievements and accolades:

The Bay School of San Francisco is proud to announce that eight members of the Bay School Class of 2010 have received recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. NMSC, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1955 with the purpose of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Meyer Jacobs has been named a national semi-finalist, one of approximately 16,000 semi-finalists throughout the US who will continue to compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded in spring 2010.

Seniors Allison Cleary, Micah Flock, Gabriel Golvin-Klein, Thea Rodgers, Loren Schaller, Nate Tellis, and Eliza White have been recognized as Commended Students, acknowledged for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2010 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top 5% of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the 2008 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Congratulations to you all!

Christopher Flanagan, Class of 2012, along with his team All Sport-Team Swift participated in the annual USA National Junior Cycling Championships during the summer in Bend, Oregon. The field of competition at the multi-day event is made up of the top junior cyclists in the nation who compete by age category. Christopher competed in this race and was the 4th place finisher, which earned him a place on the podium and he is now recognized as the 4th Place USA National Junior Champion for Road Cycling. As a result of his success and outstanding results at more than 30 races in 2009, he has been recognized as a USA National Talent in cycling and has been invited to participate in the annual USA Cycling National Junior Talent ID Camp at the Olympic Training Headquarters in Colorado Springs. Additionally, he is being considered for the 2010 USA Junior National Team. The Junior National Team will compete in Europe for the 2010 summer season and participate in the Junior World Championship in Offida, Italy next August. Bravo, Christopher!

Paul Laurey, Bay School science teacher, has recently received a fellowship from the Murdock-Thompson Center for Teachers, an institution that encourages innovation in the classroom. The fellowship will enable Paul to further his work in understanding the way children learn, the way they function throughout the day, and the way other teachers view certain cognitive processes. This fellowship was one of two awarded nationally. Congratulations to Paul!

October Events Calendar