| "Work In Progress"
I know, I know—the correct phrase is "work in process." As you can see from the attached photos, taken earlier today, we're still getting the campus ready for the arrival of students next Wednesday: shampooing the carpet in the library, re-roofing the main school building for the solar installation, and a thousand other acts of thoughtful preparation for the year ahead.
But as a school community, we "work in progress." We can embrace the fresh start of this year and commit to developing various talents and appetites in our students and the human potential each of us brings to this enterprise.
We look forward to a year of terrific growth.
- Jim Leonard, Head of School
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EE FORD SUMMER TEACHERS' COLLOQUIUM
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| The EE Ford Summer Teachers' Colloquium just completed its sixth year and had the best program ever. There were 63 total participants, a 50% increase over last year. We had folks in from New England to Louisiana to California.
Participants studied everything from artificial intelligence to mindfulness, from lost civilizations to fly-fishing philosophy. They left feeling both appreciated and inspired. Seven courses were held, including:
Confluencia with Sheena Chakeres
Creating Space, Creating Place with Liz Friary
Field School of the Ancient Southwest with Mark Bixby
Here's Looking at Euclid with Joey Reich
Gödel, Escher, Bach with Drew Nucci
The River Why with Sam Ritter
What's Your Story with Rob Wilder
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| Prep community, you rocked the annual fund! Our annual fund goal for the 2017-2018 school year was to raise $620,000—$60,000 more than the year before. Thanks to our parents, alumni, grandparents, alumni parents, faculty & staff, and friends, who all rallied together this year, we surpassed our goal and raised $642,000! The annual fund is critical for taking the Prep community from good to great as we bridge the gap between what tuition covers and the cost of running an exceptional non-profit school—thank YOU all for rising to the challenge for our students!
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| Thank you Parents' Association for a great 2017-2018 school year! Every parent is automatically a member of our Parents' Association; our community of parents is a critical piece of our cohesive environment. To our PA Grade Level Reps who connected families within classes; to our committee chairs who produced the Rummage Sale, our Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon, and so many other fantastic events; and to our Treasurer Mitch Koolpe, Secretary Kay Allison, and Co-Chairs Hunter Redman and Cameron Anderson, who ensured the PA ran smoothly, we are grateful for your tremendous time and talent!
The extraordinary efforts of the Parents’ Association also enabled us to raise $42,000 last year! Of that amount, $32,000 was donated to tuition assistance and $10,000 went to Breakthrough Santa Fe. Thank you, PA!
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| The Santa Fe Prep Athletic Boosters helped us upgrade our weight room this summer by stepping up with almost $7,000 in new weight room equipment. This new face-lift was welcomed by more than 40 Prep students, who utilized the facility/equipment over the summer with Strength and Conditioning Coaches Mark Bixby and Tove Shere. Thank you, SFP Boosters!
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Students from the Upper School, Middle School, and even one rising 7th grader have been gathering at the Violet Crown on Monday evenings over the summer for Chess Club. The club kicked off with a lesson from Coach Joey Reich or Asher Nathan ‘23. Students then paired up for a pickup game each week. It has been a fun way for students to connect over the summer and to sharpen their skills for the upcoming chess season!
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New art and photography teacher Matt Mullins had a busy summer preparing for five art shows—a dream come true! Matt was also accepted into two new galleries that plan to represent him long term. This resulted in many hours in the painting studio and in the mountains taking research/source photos. He's currently putting the finishing touches on a Santa Fe solo show, which will open on Friday, September 28 at Form & Concept.
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| Science teacher Jim Heidenberger hiked almost 300 miles on the Continental Divide Trail this summer, despite wildfires, forest closures, water shortages, and a sprained ankle! The first 70+ miles were shared with his sons, Ian '10 and Mason '13.
Jim shares, "My goal on this trek was to experience something dreamt of since my childhood: to live unencumbered in the wilderness 'free' from all distractions, as did the young protagonist in my favorite book from long ago 'My Side of the Mountain' by Jean Craighead George. I didn't need to catch fish or hunt to survive; but, I did do the former. It was grounding and worthy of its own memoir. The biggest takeaway, in addition to being disconnected from the instantaneous news cycle of the day, was seeing, feeling, walking, and climbing the geography of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado; and being immersed, sometimes literally, in the stories that 'My Side of the Mountain' so demonstrably told. I look forward to sharing and integrating these experiences into my science classroom!"
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| On July 18, math teacher Aiyana Pendleton set off on a 35-hour flight to Tanzania, geared up to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (the African continent’s highest mountain at 19,341 feet), go on safaris, and explore the archipelago region of Zanzibar. Upon meeting up with former history teacher Coco Rae and connecting with two guides, a cook, ten porters, and a third climber in the town of Moshi, the 18-day adventure began! Click here to read more about Aiyana's Tanzania experience.
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| Mon, Aug 20:
New Family Orientation, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Wed, Aug 22:
School Begins,
8:15am
Tues, Aug 28:
7th Grade
Parent Meeting,
Founders' Room, 5:30pm
Wed, Aug 29:
9th Grade
Parent Meeting,
Founders' Room, 5:30pm
Thurs, Aug 30:
12th Grade
Parent Meeting,
Founders' Room, 5:30pm
Mon, Sept 3:
Labor Day,
No School
Wed, Sept 5 - Fri, Sept 7:
Senior College Workshops,
US Camping Trips,
MS Orientation Trips
Mon, Sept 10:
Rosh Hashanah,
No School
Tues, Sept 11:
10th/11th Grade
Parent Meeting,
Founders' Room, 5:30pm
Wed, Sept 12:
8th Grade
Parent Meeting, Founders' Room, 5:30pm
Thurs, Sept 13:
MS TAP Begins
Thurs, Sept 20:
US TAP Begins
Sat, Sept 22:
Parent Open House, 8:30am - 1:00pm
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| Wondering what's for lunch this month?
Click here: Lunch Menu
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| New families, please join us Monday, August 20 from 4:00 - 5:30pm to jump-start the transition into Santa Fe Prep. Parents will hear from Head of School Jim Leonard, and students will gather with advisors or deans to get those last-minute questions answered, receive academic schedules and planners, find lockers, and make sure they know how to find their classrooms.
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| Preseason sports have begun! Parents, click here to access this year's athletics and season information. Please reach out with questions to Assistant Athletic Director Dave Caldwell.
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| Shoki Bundy '19, Jade Maas '19, and Zeke Stein '21 convened with Yearbook Advisor Alex Peña at Pepperdine University in late July for a yearbook training conference, where students attended workshops, classes, and lectures on photography, design software, and elements of great design.
As part of the "camp," the group planned out the 2018-2019 yearbook, which was submitted for critique and judging. They won Bronze out of 36 schools from around the country, most of which have unlimited budgets, large yearbook staffs, and have won national awards. Congratulations to the yearbook team! We look forward to the fruits of your creative labor!
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| Ambrose Ferber '94 will be performing in King Lear, produced by The International Shakespeare Center next month. Show opens Friday, September 14 at Adobe Rose Theatre.
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| Griffin friends and families, have you found us on Facebook and Instagram yet? Follow us to keep up with the day-to-day campus-wide events, learning experiences, and overall fun!
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