In this Issue:
FEATURE Navigating a Pandemic FEATURE World Building a Community of Belonging
Buzz at Burke’s: Events and Happenings on Campus
SPRING 2021 Burke’s mission is to educate, encourage, and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life. BURKE’S MAGAZINE
ON THE COVER The global Covid-19 pandemic turned the world upside down last year, impacting the lives of millions. In the midst of shifting health and safety guidelines, rising case counts, and political upheaval, Burke’s worked to keep educating, encouraging, and empowering our students. A year-long journey has allowed us to bring back nearly all students to in-person learning.
Table of CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE
Opening Shots...... 2 Snapshots from Burke’s
Greetings from the Head of School...... 10 A Message from Michele Williams
Buzz at Burke’s...... 12 Events and Happenings on Campus
Traditions...... 20 Family Festival Burke’s Magazine is produced by Features...... 22 Burke’s Advancement Office Navigating a Pandemic World Building a Community of Belonging
Pansy Day...... 32 SELENA SHADLE DIANA SCHNEIDER Director of Advancement Director of Communications Commencement...... 33 [email protected] [email protected] Greetings from the Alumnae Association....35 JEWEL DEVORA DIANA KAW A Message from Lisa Harada ’03 Communications Assistant Associate Director of Advancement [email protected] [email protected] Alumnae Q&A...... 37 Mary Ann Jones ’75e, Sabrina Kivitz MONICA HERNANDEZ Braham ’87, and Kathleen Robbins ’09 Advancement and Database Associate [email protected] Designed by Alumnae Events ...... 40 Bacio Design & Marketing Virtual Games, Holiday Celebrations, ALI JONES-BEY Cocktails, and more! Communications Assistant [email protected] Distinctions...... 44 Blair Rosenblatt Shane ’85
Alumnae Updates...... 46 Class Notes and In Memoriam
From the Archives...... 52 Burke’s Voices from the 1918 Flu Pandemic
Tracing Burke’s Roots...... 54 The Kendrick Family
SPRING 2021 01 OPENING SHOTS International Women’s Day 2020 02 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
ust before the pandemic forced students off campus for remote learning, Burke’s celebrated its 13th annual International Women’s Day Celebration on March 6, 2020. The guest of honor was Kim Chambers, the only woman in J the world to swim the 30 miles from the Farallon Islands to the mainland, through the most heavily populated shark-inhabited stretch of water in the world. She also had the chance to visit several classrooms, fielding questions such as “Have you ever seen a shark up close?” (Answer: she has not.)
SPRING 2021 03 04 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Book Share & Pajama Families Event hat could be better than curling up with a good book in your pajamas? Doing it at school! Just a few days before our campus closure, the entire school had the chance to gather for a Burke’s Families Pajama Day. It’s a memory made all W the more sweet since a few days later the campus closed and we entered a world of social distancing.
SPRING 2021 05 Campus Reopening ur Head of School was smiling behind her mask! A return to campus finally came to fruition on October 5, 2020, as kindergarten and first-grade students came back to Burke’s. Reopening went in stages, with hybrid learning models O available for the youngest cohorts of students first.
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SPRING 2021 07 08 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Celebrating Lunar New Year
urke’s celebrated Lunar New Year with a lively Lower School Assembly and a reimagined 2021 third-grade Lion Dance. The event is a longtime Burke’s tradition, but health and safety Brestrictions required a different approach this year, and Distance and Hybrid Learners alike joined in the virtual dances and a socially distanced parade.
SPRING 2021 09 Greetings from the Head of School A MESSAGE FROM MICHELE WILLIAMS
Unprecedented. More than one hundred years ago, our school community held tight to “Burke Spirit” in the face of the many challenges, word that has appeared countless times in the disappointments and fears of their world. This year I have been news, school communications, and conversations inspired and found strength in all we have done to keep with friends and family. I am sure we are all ready Burke’s Burke’s. to retire that word for the next hundred years! Maximizing health and safety, maximizing learning, and OfA course, while we haven’t experienced a pandemic of this maximizing community — these are the three things that have breadth and impact in modern times, this moment in Burke’s driven all my decision-making. And, although much has changed history does in fact have precedent. Over one hundred years regarding teaching and learning, our commitment to the whole ago, our school navigated the emergence of a novel influenza child has been — and continues to be — our North Star. virus. Students were sent to the country or went into quarantine and people took to wearing masks. Businesses were shuttered, I am proud to share glimpses of our past year in this issue as well hospitals were strained, and the world was held in the dark grip as the story of building our hybrid- and distance- learning programs. of the pandemic — as well as World War I. This issue also includes a feature on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work and our continued investment in a critical, Our Burke’s world was turned upside down once before and the top-down focus on ensuring a culture of belonging and creating historian in me decided to see what our Burke’s alumnae had classrooms that are reflective of the community around us. to say about it. I was rewarded with a 1918-19 yearbook editorial that could easily have been written about this past school year Thank you for supporting Burke’s as we navigated this challenging (without all the Zooming): year. Alumnae from around the world have reached out to check on our students and see how their alma mater was weathering the Altogether, the last year has been one of many trials. It was pandemic storm. Despite this year of distance and sorrow, you filled with excitement and distraction, and then, to aggravate it found ways to connect whether it was a virtual reunion or alumnae all, we were quarantined. Our school work was broken into and event, making a gift to the Annual Fund, or supporting families disarranged, and to work, already hard, was added the further impacted by the pandemic. burden of “catching up.” We are so grateful to remain part of your lives and thank you for But consider what Miss Burke and the teachers have done for us your support as we continue our work to educate, encourage and during these months of hard work. They have helped us to make empower our students. up lost work; they have thought and planned and begged and demanded that we make good — and we have made good….This Warmly, personal interest taken in each girl by the teachers is something that has always characterized Miss Burke’s. It is the result and interpretation of that wonderful spirit of mutual affection that is best known under the name of the “Burke Spirit.” MICHELE WILLIAMS Head of School
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SPRING 2021 11 Keep up with all the happenings at Burke’s in real time on our social media accounts!
facebook.com/katherine.delmar.burke.school
twitter.com/burkesschool
instagram.com/burkesschool
youtube.com/user/burkeschool
Sixth-grade students created full-blown medieval villages MEDIEVAL MUSEUM using building materials such as wood and clay, complete One more special event before last year’s campus closure! with castle, church, and cottages. Visitors could tour the The classroom space in our beautiful Campus Center displays and hear more from class “docents” to learn became home to a special one-off exhibition in March 2020: about medicinal herbs and spices, buildings, and day-to- The Medieval Museum. day life in a medieval village.
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AN EXTRAORDINARY 2020 ALL SCHOOL OPENING ASSEMBLY The All School Opening Assembly means that school is in full swing at Burke’s.
After the flurry of device pickups and supply distributions in the first days prior to school, we launched into distance learning and haven’t stopped for a minute! The school year kicked off officially on September 9 with the traditional All School Opening Assembly, where students, parents, faculty, and staff virtually celebrated the school’s 100+ year history and gratitude for being part of this special place.
The Zoom room was filled with Burke’s students’ silent cheers for each other, our teachers’ smiles as they raised and honored the Class of 2021 to kick off a year destined their arms to form a virtual tunnel for the Class of 2021, and for top billing in the Burke’s history books! This was the the wonderful ways a Bundt pan and pot lid were used to year when we put our growth mindset and resilience to ring in the new year! the test as we worked together to educate, encourage and empower our students. The morning was dark, smoky, and orange...but none of that mattered as we welcomed our newest community members
LOWER SCHOOL TREE HOUSE VIRTUAL LUNCHTIME One of the strange things about this pandemic world is that while we have been unable to be close to those who are local — it has opened up a world where Zooming across the globe becomes possible during lunch! Tree House, the Burke’s aftercare program, has been working all year to design virtual activities during lunch and after school. This very special lunchtime event featured Samira Wayu Asibakaashi, who spoke to the students about her work with Indigenous people. She zoomed in from Acre, Amazonas, Brazil where she works with the Ashaninka indigenous people as part of the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute of Benki Piyanko. Samira is of Northern African indigenous origin, specifically, the Imazhigen tribe.
SPRING 2021 13 A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY & SERVICE LEARNING Burke’s Community Connections is a parent- and school- supported committee dedicated to inspiring students and families to adopt a tradition of community engagement.
In a normal year, each grade participates in activities such as: ● • Food pantry work days for each grade at the Richmond Neighborhood Center ● • Education and reflection relating to community engagement ● • Grocery delivery to homebound seniors and individuals with mobility issues ● • Gardening at the Richmond Neighborhood Center ● • Food drives and other seasonal drives ● • Purposeful projects for the Richmond Neighborhood Center sixth-grade project involved writing letters to elected officials to and crafts for homebound seniors advocate for change regarding social justice issues such as food ● • Performances for neighborhood seniors insecurity and homelessness. As has been the case in prior years, all grades are participating in drives to contribute items that are Health and safety restrictions have limited student involvement being packaged into emergency kits by the RNC and distributed at the Richmond Neighborhood Center this year, but students to seniors. are still finding ways to serve their neighbors and strengthen our community! This year more than ever, Burke’s community commitment to service has remained a priority with the goal to encourage This year, fourth graders had a special guest visit from a Richmond students to think beyond themselves and Burke’s campus; Neighborhood Center (RNC) staff member to learn about the food give them a developmentally appropriate understanding of pantry during Covid, and they created Zoom guides for seniors to community responsibility; and enable them to see themselves help them stay connected during these challenging times. Second as agents of positive change in the world. graders had a visit from the team at the RNC to learn about the “re-imagined” food pantry and created letters and pictures that were distributed to the RNC food pantry participants. The
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BURKE’S PARENT EDUCATION As part of a two-part series on “Parenting with Compassion,” the community was invited to hear first from James R. Doty, M.D., a WENT VIRTUAL! clinical professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford At Burke’s, all members of the community are treated as lifelong University School of Medicine and founder and director of the learners — parents and guardians included! This year, the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Burke’s Parent Education committee, in partnership with the Stanford University. In April, we were joined by Susan M. Pollak, Head of School and administration, took its program online and MTS, Ed.D., a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School, brought local and national thought leaders to our virtual campus Cambridge Health Alliance and a co-founder of the Center for throughout the school year. Mindfulness and Compassion at Harvard Medical School.
In September, author Rachel Simmons discussed “Pandemic Parenting: The Road Back” just a few weeks before we welcomed back our youngest learners in October.
Angelique Downes, Lower School Math Specialist, and Jessica Goldstein, Upper School Math Specialist, teamed up to present “Encouraging Mathematical Thinking,” highlighting tips and strategies for supporting Upper and Lower School student math education.
November offered an interview-style discussion titled, “Are You Raising an Anti-Racist?,” featuring facilitator Charmaine Pattinson, founder of leading child-development resource Plinkit, and panelist Misasha Suzuki Graham, co-founder and co-host of the award-winning podcast Dear White Women. In January, Michele Williams led a discussion for her selected Book Club reading, This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons to Wake Up, Take Action, And Do the Work by Tiffany M. Jewel.
Also in January, community members were invited to “The Self- Driven Child” with William Stixrud, Ph.D., and Ned Johnson to discuss how fostering children’s autonomy can help solve two challenges endemic to kids today: facing anxiety and developing intrinsic motivation.
SPRING 2021 15 of single-gender education for girls pursuing STEM. “Watching my own daughters navigate through school, there were certainly times — specifically in math and science classes — when I felt I needed to reassure them that the confidence and enjoyment they found in these subjects was something to be honored, celebrated, and pursued with passion.”
Growing up in Michigan in the ’70s in a predominantly white neighborhood, Fran’s childhood experiences led her to become an advocate and a voice for students who FACULTY PROFILE: feel introverted, invisible, or left out. Fran’s philosophy is based on determining what works best for each student, Fran Yang and she can often be found encouraging students to focus Makery Facilitator and Technology less on completing tasks “the right way” and instead thinking creatively to engage with and solve problems. Integration Specialist A large part of her role is supporting the H.E.A.R.T. class (standing for Health, Emotional Awareness, Responsibility, and Time Management), which is team- What brings you pride, pleasure, and purpose? A tough taught to the fifth- and sixth-grade classes by the Upper question to answer, but a common question posed by School Counselor, the Learning Specialist, the Makery Fran Yang to her students on a daily basis. In the midst Facilitator, and the Library and Digital Media Specialist. of a pandemic, Fran realized that marrying curriculum Fran leads the H.E.A.R.T. conversations that surround development with technology brought her all of the above, digital citizenship, navigating social media, and being an and after working in public schools for more than 25 upstander on digital platforms. years, she joined the Burke’s community as the Makery Facilitator and Technology Integration Specialist. When Fran is not on campus, teaching over Zoom, or completing her certification in Makery Spaces, she enjoys Prior to working at Burke’s, Fran was a math and science dancing, hiking, going on adventures, spending time with curriculum coach, and she is a firm believer in the impact her family, and scrapbooking.
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE CHANGE? Fifth graders launched into their first novel of the school year — Amal Unbound — with an emphasis on exploring what it takes to create change.
The book is dedicated to Malala Yousafzai and features a strong female protagonist in modern Pakistan. The students were asked two essential questions at the start of the novel: What do you think it takes to create change? and What is the change you want in the world?
Working in a 10-minute window for a “quick write,” the students were given the opportunity to share their writing with the class. Kiana P.’s hand shot up to share her reflections on “What is the change you want to be in the world?”
Let human rights be equal rights Let honesty and trust lead us Let love and beauty prosper Let us stand in the face of fear
We can have faith that you will do just as well as me We can have faith that you will be there, waiting for us to come home
We can come together to fight injustice We can breathe the same air, and live on the same planet We can hope for the same outcomes We can live in peace
In Humanities Teacher Kelly Hoy’s mind, there is nothing better than hearing these kinds of inspiring words from her students: “One way I have been energized in these challenging times is to encourage our students to write, write, write...and keep telling their stories. I think a silver lining of the pandemic is that we are forced to really listen to each other and hear different voices and perspectives.”
SPRING 2021 17 VISITING WITH RUBY BRIDGES Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, who was the first African- American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis, met virtually with the Class of 2020 at the end of last year. Eighth graders had the chance to ask her questions about her life and work, and she imparted some wisdom of her own as the pandemic settled in for the graduating students: “The best way to handle hard situations is to try to take it and do something positive with it.” We were fortunate to have Ruby Bridges return to talk to the Class of 2021 in this year’s “E Block.” The E-Block is partially funded by The Class of 2020 Legacy Impact Fund, created by some of the families of the Class of 2020, to honor the entire class and their commitment to activism and social justice.
BURKE’S MATH TEAM LAUNCHES! The Burke’s Math Team was launched this year to create a welcoming space for Upper School students to be curious, collaborative, and sharpen their math skills. Designed as a cross- grade program, students come to the virtual club at the same time, allowing Upper School Math Specialist Jessica Goldstein to think outside the normal curriculum and find activities to meet each student at their level.
Students in fifth through eighth grades drop in on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or both to play math games, write and solve puzzles, and discuss problem-solving strategies. One week the students explored probability topics using the game Among Us.
Team members had the opportunity this spring to compete in two competitions: Girls’ Adventures in Math and/or MathCounts. Twenty-seven Upper School students participated in the April Girls’ Adventures in Math competition, and for the first time, one of our Burke’s students is headed to the state-level MathCounts Competition!
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University. She has taught sixth, seventh, and tenth grades, and prior to joining Burke’s, she was a math teacher and middle school advisor at Presidio Hill School.
Reflecting on her new role, Goldstein said, “I am really excited about my role since it allows me to be with students during the day, but also support the entire Upper School by thinking of fun math activities to incorporate into classroom lesson plans.”
Goldstein launched the Burke’s Math Team to create FACULTY PROFILE: a welcoming space for Upper School students to be curious, collaborative, and sharpen their math skills. Jessica Goldstein Team members also had the opportunity in spring 2021 to Upper School Math Specialist compete in two competitions: Girls’ Adventures in Math and/or MathCounts. According to Goldstein, “One really interesting thing about the Math Team is the cross-grade In 2020, Jessica Goldstein joined Burke’s math faculty as collaboration. I can have fifth graders, sixth graders, and the Upper School Math Specialist, a role created to offer eighth graders come to the club at the same time, and students more opportunities to further math skills and it’s an exciting challenge to think outside the normal extend comprehension of concepts as well as to provide curriculum and find activities to meet each student at their extra support and practice. level. I also think it’s really useful for the younger kids to see the kind of problems the older kids are working on.”
Originally from Minneapolis, Minn., Goldstein attended Reed College and worked for the Minnesota Historical Still an avid cyclist, Jessica also used to be a rock climber Society and a bike shop before getting her teaching — and perhaps will be again post-pandemic! She is also credential. She knew her goal was to be in charge of her a big reader of both fiction and nonfiction, and her new own classroom and went on to earn a 6-12 mathematics hobby since shelter-in-place has been writing crossword license and master’s in education from Johns Hopkins puzzles to submit for publications big and small.
SPRING 2021 19 traditions
03.
06.
A HISTORIC VIRTUAL Burke’s Festival
he Family Festival is always a banner event, but festival-goers could order delicious food throughout the weekend this year was different — mainly, because for the while supporting the establishments and their employees. A first time ever, the Family Festival was online! The generous group of boutiques invited shoppers in over the weekend first Burke’s Family Festival was held in 1931, and and donated a portion of their proceeds to Burke’s. this year Burke’s continued this proud tradition of celebrating our students and their families. Saturday included a tie-dye session hosted by Upper School Science T Teacher Susan Deemer, an Upper School digital escape room, Moving the Family Festival from in-person to online, while also and plenty of cooking, baking, and cookie decorating. The day was keeping the same elements of fun and excitement for attendees, capped off with Burke’s BINGO and cocktails (or mocktails) for was a huge undertaking, and we are beyond thankful to all our the alumnae community hosted by former Upper School Director volunteers, faculty, and staff members that worked tirelessly to Rebekah Wolman. make Family Festival a roaring success. Among the other special Saturday events were Burke’s Bakers In a pre-pandemic year, almost 2,000 people come to campus to parties for the Lower and Upper Schools, led by a James Beard enjoy a day of playing, eating, and shopping. This year’s Festival Foundation chef who is also a Food Network Chopped Champion. kicked off on Friday with a magic show, cocktail party, and virtual Kindergarten parent volunteer and organizer Patricia Picache stated, dance party, and continued through the weekend. Burke’s also “Burke’s Festival is a special expression of community, and I hope partnered with local Burke’s family-affiliated restaurants so that the students see how much they are appreciated and loved during 20 BURKE’S MAGAZINE this challenging life chapter. Finding a way to keep Zoom interesting and fun for both the girls and parents is a challenge, but being able to connect with friends while also putting new faces to names is always fun.”
Historically, the P.A. Inclusivity & Community Building Committee (ICBC) has hosted a quiet room as a calming space during Festival, to ensure that the event was inclusive of all children and families attending, and to provide relief from the excitement of the event for those that desired it. This year, the ICBC decided to host the first-ever Cultural Corner featuring “Indian Home Cooking” as a virtual replacement in order to highlight inclusivity, which is an integral aspect of every Burke’s event. This year’s Cultural Corner was hosted by a brand-new Burke’s dad, Sugam Jain, who volunteered to be both chef and guide for the Indian Home Cooking class. The chosen menu included palak paneer (saag paneer), bhuna chawal (cumin rice), and mango lassi, and was enjoyed by more than 50 Burke’s families in their home kitchens.
“I’m excited that this is our first Festival,” Jain said. “I really enjoyed sharing my family’s culture with the Burke’s community. I hope all the families enjoyed this new experience and it helped to expand their culinary and cultural horizons.” LOWER SCHOOL
Eighth graders got to start their Sunday with a special alumnae-hosted PICNIC #SundaySweat, curated specially for the Class of 2021, and the entire Upper School was gifted with a professional hip-hop dance class in the afternoon. Sunday’s festivities also included Roblox, online parlor games like Burke’s BINGO and Family Feud, arts and crafts, and cookie decorating. Distanced or not — you
Festival parent volunteer Katja Björner Gutierrez said, “The challenge was can’t stop Burke’s from to reimagine, and not let the general tiredness of the pandemic rule. It takes brainpower and creativity and people coming together. When I saw the being Burke’s. Festival offerings roll out, I thought, this is Burke’s! I love how we translated Burke’s Festival into a weekend of sharing that brought us all together.” Hundreds of Burke’s families, along with faculty and staff, came together over Zoom for the annual Lower School Picnic! It was a wonderful lunch break filled with laughter, dancing, and smiles. As Lower School Music Teacher Lisa Mandelstein said, we had many, persevering, and flexible snake dancers!
In a normal year, fourth-grade students who are interested in helping Head of School Michele Williams lead the Snake Dance put their names into a hat for a random drawing. Since we couldn’t dance together this year, the selected fourth grader kicked off the event with a special welcome, followed by third graders who helped educate families on how to compost, reuse, and recycle their picnic fixings!
Lower School P.E. Teachers Jonathan Portero-Brown and David Hay lead the families in warm-ups, and then came the dancing! We enjoyed our traditional Snake Dance (and all those fierce snake faces, caught on Zoom), along with “Bashana Haba’ah” to celebrate the Jewish New Year. In honoring our distance protocols, we ended with the classic line dance “The Electric Slide.” We may have just started a new Burke’s tradition!
SPRING 2021 21 A PANDEMIC YEAR at Burke’s
Here is a snapshot of the past year into February as we worked to educate, encourage, and empower our students from a distance and on campus. MARCH
MARCH 19-20 MARCH 6 Lower and Upper School Burke’s hosts International Women’s conferences are quickly Day 2020 with the inspiring and shifted to virtual meetings esteemed athlete and conservationist — the first of many online Kim Chambers. It is the last all-school meetings, classes, and event on campus before the closure. gatherings to come.
MARCH 12 MARCH 25 2020 Effective Thursday, March Burke’s aligns with Public 12 at 7 p.m., all classes, and Health Officers around extracurricular activities on the Bay Area to extend the Burke’s campus are canceled. period of school closure through May 1, 2020.
These are far from normal times and as we push through this period we need to allow ourselves to embrace a new normal for the time being. 22 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
n March 12, 2020, Burke’s sent out an announcement canceling all academic, extracurricular activities, athletic games/practices, and performances. This was the moment when Burke’s, like schools around the world, began a journey requiring a re-evaluation of nearly every O aspect of our educational practices. That journey has continued for over a year — and with cases falling and vaccines becoming available — there is a growing light at the end of this tunnel. It is incredible to look back and see how far we have come during this challenging and historic time.
MARCH APRIL
APRIL 1 APRIL 13-17 Burke’s holds its first virtual Community Tree House Spring Break Camp is offered online with Meeting. The school has since held 11 new themes daily and drop-in morning and afternoon meetings and counting with discussions synchronous offerings. Online resources, craft, and about campus reopening, ongoing activity ideas were shared throughout the week. diversity, equity and inclusion work, social-emotional learning, and mental health, as well as updates from the Burke’s Medical Advisory Group. APRIL 15 Taking direction from state and local officials, Burke’s extends the campus closure through the last day of school on APRIL 3 APRIL 10 June 10. Burke’s Community Emergency Support Fund Faculty members engage launches thanks to the early generosity of in their first Professional members of our Board of Trustees. The Fund is Development Day during a established to support the Burke’s community pandemic — ready to forge on an ongoing basis and is immediately used ahead to keep their students CLOSED to alleviate the unexpected economic burden well, provide new challenges, resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. and increase connection.
BY the NUMBERS
ZOOM TIME One Year SPRING 2021 23 BY the NUMBERS
OPERATIONS One Year
MAY
MAY 2 Students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and grandparents come together for an incredible virtual Burke’s Benefit and Raise the Paddle that exceeds its goal of $300,000.
MAY 29 Protests unfold across the nation
2020 in response to George Floyd’s MAY 8 death, and staff and faculty hold a “I’ll be there for you.” The campus remains closed, but moment of silent outrage to name as Burke’s finishes the eighth week of teaching and what is happening and find a path learning from a distance, we celebrate our committed forward to process the moment faculty and supportive Parents’ Association, and give and be ready to support students. thanks for the partnership of our families.
BY the NUMBERS
LUNCH TIME & CLEANING TIME 24 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
They are reimagining science experiments, redesigning collaborative work, preparing at-home supply kits to make hands-on projects and lessons a reality, and exploring new apps and teaching strategies that will help close the gap between distance and in-person learning.
JUNE JULY
JUNE 5 JULY 28 The Board of Trustees commits to a simple but ambitious San Francisco is on the goal: we want Burke’s to develop graduates who will state watch list, and leave our campus feeling that it is their personal Burke’s announces it will responsibility not only to refrain from racist behavior, but design hybrid and distance also to actively work to dismantle systemic racism and learning models for the inequity in all aspects of our culture. 2020-21 school year.
JUNE 11 Burke’s celebrates the resilient Class of 2020 with a virtual ceremony and a drive- through “graduation- JUNE 10 in-a-box” event to distribute diplomas A joyous Pansy Day and Stepping Up and well wishes. Ceremony are celebrated with Blair Rosenblatt Shane ’85, Distinguished Alumna Award Recipient, via Zoom.
SPRING 2021 25 I have been so proud of how our students adapted to learning from a distance, and it has been a joy to see their resilience and energy as we tackled hybrid learning!
AUGUST-NOVEMBER
SUMMER 2020 Burke’s teachers SEPTEMBER 25 spend the summer A landmark moment! participating SFDPH comes by for a in professional site visit, taking a critical development on step towards on-campus teaching in distance hybrid learning. and hybrid settings.
SEPTEMBER 9 NOVEMBER 18 OCTOBER 5 A dark, smoky, and orange The first School Families
2020 Burke’s welcomes back its
morning dawns for the event of the year allows 2021 virtual Opening Assembly. youngest learners to campus our fourth-grade students We welcome our newest — beginning a process to to meet their new little community members and bring all Hybrid learners back (Burke’s) kindergarten honor the Class of 2021 to to campus by early November. sisters via Zoom for the kick off a year destined for very first time! the Burke’s history books.
BY the NUMBERS MAKERY TIME One Year 26 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
The Class of 2020 are becoming adults in an unforgettable time and I truly believe they will be changemakers, leaders, and much-needed voices for a better world.
JANUARY FEBRUARY
JANUARY 29 Burke’s Festival parent, faculty, and staff volunteers reimagine this historic community event with a special weekend of virtual activities. 2021
FEBRUARY 12 Burke’s celebrates the Lunar New Year with a reimagined Lion Dance Parade held both online and on-campus!
sent home with 10 bicycle chains worth of chain links to make 300 total fidget tools SPRING 2021 27 Building a Community of BELONGING BURKE’S IS A SCHOOL COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND ANTI-RACIST TEACHING.
s a community, we struggled in this last long commitment to become familiar with the issues, the year to make sense of the painful and far Board has prioritized DEI issues on our agendas, and it too common hate crimes against Black was the sole topic of our annual retreat. The work is never people, Asian-Americans, Indigenous done, but you can’t participate in a conversation if you people, Latinx, and other marginalized aren’t willing to do the work itself,” says Board President groups. “Burke’s has a responsibility to Adrian Dollard. Achange attitudes and behavior as we take a values-based Quise Rodriguez Edwards, Director of Inclusivity and approach to educating, encouraging and empowering our Community Building, emphasizes that “at its core, DEI students to be future leaders in our society,” says Head of work is about lifting up people’s lives and experiences. As School Michele Williams. The work has been ongoing for an institution, Burke’s is committed to strategically and several years with DEI activities and conversations woven systematically making DEI a priority. throughout all parts of the Burke’s community, touching students, faculty and staff, parents, administration team, “The changes we are working towards can sometimes Board, and alumnae. feel too slow since we are eager to see change. However, it is important to acknowledge that DEI work is grappling Last June, the members of the Burke’s Board of Trustees with cultural shifts that need to be internalized by large committed to a simple but ambitious goal: for Burke’s and diverse populations. We know changes won’t happen to develop graduates who will leave the campus feeling overnight; to the contrary, this must be an ongoing that it is their personal responsibility not only to refrain and continuous effort,” she says. “The work to build a from racist behavior but also to actively work to dismantle genuinely anti-racist institution and community is long- systemic racism and inequity in all aspects of our society. term and ongoing. From the future-facing admissions “The Board’s DEI work continued to be mission-critical this outreach to the growing commitment to connecting with year, and we have been working to apply the appropriate more alumnae and hearing their stories, the Burke’s circle DEI lens at all levels in the Board’s decision making. Every expands every day.” trustee now rotates through the DEI committee for a year-
About five years ago, the fourth grade added an identity unit to the social studies curriculum to raise other voices and perspectives in our study of California history. We want our students to see themselves in what we view and read in class. My training “at Burke’s has allowed me to create space for each student’s voice, and we hope it lifts them up so they can determine the kind of changemaker they want to be.
— TAMMI ABAD, Fourth Grade Teacher 28 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
SPRING 2021 29 STUDENTS ALUMS
AFFINITY & ALLIANCE GROUPS (15 & COUNTING) ALUMNAE DEI COMMITTEE Provide an opportunity for students who identify with A subcommittee of the alumnae board dedicated similar characteristics, backgrounds, lived experiences, to reflecting on the experiences of former Burke’s and shared commitments to gather in a safe space where students and creating inclusive spaces for current they can build common connection. Affinity Groups begin and future alumnae. in third grade. ALUMNAE EVENTS SERVICE LEARNING Alumnae events dedicated to DEI have included our Burke’s K-8 service-learning curriculum is rooted in a Alumnae of Color Affinity Space and the LGBTQIA+ social justice framework. Partnerships include: Richmond Affinity Space. Neighborhood Center, The Presidio Trust, and Hamilton Families.
YOUTH VOICE Burke’s student organization works to develop student ADMINISTRATION leaders who take a leadership role in Upper School events and develop a sense of civic-mindedness and public service. OFFICE OF INCLUSIVITY & COMMUNITY BUILDING This office includes a Director of Inclusivity and Community Building on the Senior Administrative PARENTS & FAMILIES Team as well as an Associate Director.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & OVERSIGHT PARENT EDUCATION The Director of Curriculum Innovation and the We are dedicated to featuring speakers on topics such as Director of Inclusivity and Community Building anti-racism, gender inclusion, learning and the brain, and intentionally share an office to collaborate and social-emotional well-being. innovate on K-8 curriculum and interdisciplinary projects. PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES Burke’s offers many positions within our Parents’ Association ADMINISTRATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and has dedicated committees that focus on diversity, equity, Burke’s administrators are required to participate and inclusion, and events that build community. in anti-racist and gender inclusivity training with DEI consultants and organizations to bolster our COMMUNITY DIALOGUES understanding and inclusion of multiple perspectives The purpose of the Community Dialogue is to invite in the curriculum as well as increasing representation all members into changing the dialogue around social and inclusion amongst students, faculty and staff. justice. Each year there is a topic — this year, it is “Racism in America: Building Perspective.” Last year, it was “Brave Conversations,” and “Building Allyship” the year before.
PARENT AFFINITY GROUPS These groups have emerged so parents can have a similar experience to the student affinity groups and build community with each other. Highlighted Parent Affinity Groups include Parents of Students with Learning Differences, Latinx Families, and the White Accountability Group. 30 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
FACULTY & STAFF
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEI and social justice work Burke’s commitment to staff and faculty development is grounded in equity and excellence. Recent conferences needs to be the bedrock of our and training include: People of Color Conference, “ Courageous Conversations training, Pollyanna curriculum in order to educate, Conference, and Gender Inclusion with Rosetta Lee. encourage, and empower our students to be agents of change CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT in their communities now and Burke’s teachers work with our Director of Inclusivity and Community Building and our Director of Curriculum throughout their lives. Innovation, as well as collaborate with each other, to create grade-appropriate thematic and innovative - EMILY BANKS, Third Grade Teacher interdisciplinary lessons designed to be taught with cultural humility.
AFFINITY GROUP LEADERS Burke’s faculty and staff serve as facilitators for our student affinity groups. BURKE’S CURRICULUM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE FROM AN ALREADY EQUITY- AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES INCLUSION-RICH FOCUS. Burke’s teachers are guided by Teaching Tolerance EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE — specifically, the Anti-Bias Framework — and have introduced the Pollyanna Racial Literacy Curriculum All Board members participated in Dr. Eddie Moore’s as an additional resource. This year, in particular, the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge and distance and hybrid learning models were designed with completed a reading for the Racial Justice Task Force. consideration for equity and access with every decision. ● BOARD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE UPPER SCHOOL “E” BLOCK CLASS explores The Board is required to participate in professional issues of equity, empowerment, entitlement, race and development around inclusivity and annually attends the racial injustice, class, and privilege. Pollyanna Conference, Anti-Racism by Design, Diversity in ● Governance, and The Class Conference. YOUTH VOICE, Burke’s student government body, has added a new position of equity and inclusion officers on EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE & RACIAL the leadership team. JUSTICE TASK FORCE ● The E&I committee, in collaboration with the Racial AFFINITY, ALLIANCE, AND INTEREST GROUPS in third Justice Task Force, is committed to supporting and through eighth grades are formally incorporated into strengthening community engagement and weaving racial the school day and emphasize the value of connecting, literacy and anti-racist work into the fabric at Burke’s for supporting, and learning from each other. all community members.
SPRING 2021 31 PANSY DAY 2020 Wednesday, June 10 marked our Pansy Day to celebrate the outgoing eighth graders. The pandemic kept us at a distance, but the spirit of our traditions was strong as hundreds of community members joined online to celebrate the Class of 2020.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2020 PANSY DAY AWARD WINNERS
May Hickey Award Head’s Award “As we gather on Zoom, let’s take a moment to bring to Caroline Batchelder Kathryn Flemming life in our minds’ eye the Pansy Day ceremony as it takes Page Sparks place in the courtyard. Parents and guests are seated, and Patricia Franklin Swanson the Upper School processes in from four directions to the Writing Award Head’s Cup sounds of Vivaldi. Annabella Chanel Annabel Bourgon Carter Flemming The ceremony is filled with movement and music. We rise Sarah Babcock Award to recite the school pledge and sing the school song. The Ever Bogosian & Faith Park Outstanding Athlete Award eighth graders wind among their Little Sisters, draping Performing Arts Carter Flemming green and yellow ribbons around their necks to further Lucy Samuels & Nora Visser Kathryn Flemming welcome them – many of the eighth graders wearing the Visual Arts Page Sparks very ribbons their eighth-grade Big Sisters draped around their necks four years ago. Julie Song Award Samantha Domm Class of 2020, know that your presence lingers in the Kaia Hayes courtyard just like those beautiful pansy impressions. The courtyard and tree and all of Burke’s await your return!”
32 — Rebekah Wolman, Former Director of Upper School BURKE’S MAGAZINE BURKE’S MAGAZINE COMMENCEMENT We bade a fond farewell to the 44 members of the Class of 2020 on Thursday, June 11 through 2020 a virtual graduation ceremony, special gifts, and many good wishes. We wish them the best of luck in high school and beyond!
CLASS OF 2020 Congratulations as well to the members of Burke’s HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS Class of 2016, who wrapped up four years of high school. The Bay School of San Francisco A list of some of their college destinations is below. Berkshire School The Branson School CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE San Francisco State University Brentwood School DESTINATIONS Santa Barbara Community College Cate School Santa Clara University American University Convent High School Stanford University Amherst College Drew School Syracuse University Barnard College Groton School The University of Western Australia Bucknell University International High School Trinity College (CT) California Institute of Technology Lick-Wilmerding High School University of California, Berkeley California Polytechnic State University, Marin Academy University of California, Davis San Luis Obispo Menlo School University of California, Riverside Carnegie Mellon The Nueva School University of California, Santa Barbara Claremont McKenna College St. Ignatius College Preparatory University of Colorado, Boulder Columbia University San Francisco University High School University of Iowa Dartmouth College The Urban School University of Miami Denison University University of Oregon Georgetown University University of Richmond Harvard College University of St. Andrews Macalester College University of the Pacific Miami City Ballet School University of Virginia New York University University of Washington Northeastern University Washington University Pomona College (St. Louis) SPRING 2021 33 MAKE a gift to Burke’s. MAKE a difference for current and future students. MAKE sure that the legacy of your Burke’s experience lives on.
At Burke’s, we teach our students to learn by making. They make their own inventions. They make works of art. They make connections between what they’re studying and real life.
With a donation to Burke’s Annual Fund, you can make magic happen.
Support your alma mater, fellow alumnae, beloved faculty and staff, and generations of Burke’s girls. Donate to the Annual Fund now at burkes.org/give. Every gift, of any size, makes an impact. MAKE yours today. 34 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Alumnae Updates
t is hard to believe that we have lived more than one year in a pandemic world. Wearing masks, staying home, social distancing — we have all had to drastically change the way we live our day-to-day lives. As I stepped into my role as your new Alumnae Board president last July, I was forced to consider what a pandemic might mean for our alumnae community. Personally, I had first gotten involved with the Board after attending a number of fun and fulfilling alumnae events, and even after we had hosted a fantastic I virtual Alumnae Mentorship Network panel, I wasn’t sure what alumnae engagement looked like in a long-term Covid-19 world.
One year later, I am so proud of what the Alumnae Board has accomplished and the ways that we have continued to come together, despite having to stay apart. Just as Burke’s teachers, students, and families are making hybrid and distance learning work, we have transitioned events and traditions to Zoom, and the creativity and commitment of your Board members has allowed us to stay connected in a time of isolation. With alumnae-specific events like our Holiday Celebration and through our participation in reimagined community events like our beloved Family Festival, a silver lining has been the way virtual events strengthen ties with alumnae outside of the Bay Area — technology has been a welcome equalizer in that sense! Whether or not you have had the chance to attend a virtual event, I hope you enjoy seeing the flexibility and resourcefulness of Burke’s alumnae in the pages to come… and that you are saving the date for our first virtual Alumnae Reunion Weekend on June 5 and 6! We look forward to celebrating four sets of milestone reunion classes: graduation years ending in ’0, ’1, ’5, and ’6.
The challenges of the past year have also led to new developments for our Alumnae Board. One of the changes I am most proud of is the creation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, led by Vice President Jewel Devora ’09. With Jewel’s leadership, we have held two Affinity Spaces for Alumnae of Color to gather in community, hold space in hard times, and share changes we hope to see with administration and each other. We look forward to continuing this work, starting with our first LGBTQIA+ Affinity Space in a few weeks (as of this writing), and we hope that each of you will engage in our ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work in meaningful ways.
When I reflect on how much we have accomplished in a global pandemic, I am even more excited about what’s to come in during our “next normal.” If you want to get involved, learn about joining the Alumnae Board, or have a suggestion, don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I hope to see you in the coming months, whether that is online, from six feet away, or hopefully with a hug or handshake soon enough.
Take care,
LISA HARADA ’03 President of the Alumnae Board
SPRING 2021 35 Burke’s Alumnae Board THE BURKE’S ALUMNAE BOARD REPRESENTS MORE THAN 2,000 MEMBERS OF THE BURKE’S ALUMNAE POPULATION.
The purpose of the Alumnae Board is to strengthen and maintain the ties between Katherine Delmar Burke School and its alumnae. It is also to encourage interest in the school and promote its welfare. The Board convenes four times per year and is available to share updates with and hear perspectives from the alumnae community year-round.
The Alumnae Board’s 15-20 person membership is open to any alumna who is interested in serving Burke’s and who is able to participate for at least one two-year term (July 1 through June 30). Would you be interested in joining? We are always looking for new members, and we want the Alumnae Board to be as reflective of the wider alumnae population as possible!
Please contact Board President Lisa Harada ’03, VP of Governance Rachel Adam Rogers ’97, or Burke’s Associate Director of Advancement Diana Kaw to learn more about joining the Alumnae Board for our 2021-2022 year!
2020-21 BURKE’S ALUMNAE BOARD Lisa Harada ’03 Rachel Adam Rogers ’97 President Vice President, Governance
Natalie Jamison Tiret ’98 Sinclaire O’Grady ’09 Vice President, Development Secretary
Katherine Abbey Prill ’03 Julia Baron ’01 Vice President, Mentorship Laurie Hanna Carrade ’92 Allison Broude Friedberg ’00 Jewel Devora ’09 Max Boyer Glynn ’94 Vice President, Diversity, Diana Ziola Jansson ’95 Equity, and Inclusion Callie Ranahan ’06 Rachel Rubenstein ’02 Darby Gaynor Glickman ’98 Tiffanie Tse ’99 Vice President, Events Katy Congdon Williams ’96 Danielle Broude Yokell ’96
Class Representatives CLASS REPRESENTATIVES ARE ADDITIONAL ALUMNAE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ALUMNAE AND BURKE’S, AS WELL AS AMONGST ALUMNAE.
Ideally each graduating class has at least one Class Agent who helps promote alumnae and school programs, encourages support of Burke’s Annual Fund from their class, and collects alumnae contact information and life updates for our annual Class Notes.
Don’t know who your Class Representative is? Interested in volunteering? We can always use your help! Contact Diana Kaw at [email protected] today! 36 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
world. My work has taken me to remote areas of Africa and, with along my husband, I’ve traveled and worked around the world.
I finished my doctorate and moved with my family to South Florida where I ran a sexual violence awareness campaign for Palm Beach County and was appointed by then-Governor “Burke’s was a really of Florida Jeb Bush to serve as his Vice-Chair great experience for on the Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence. In 2004, I returned to San me and made me Francisco to care for my mother after she was feel special.” diagnosed with breast cancer and worked at Westside Community Services where I eventually became CEO. I have served in this Mary Ann Jones ’75e role for the past 11 years. Mary Ann Jones ’75e is the CEO at Westside Community Services here I don’t know if I would have done all of this if I in San Francisco and has her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She has had not gone to Burke’s. championed the care, mental and physical health, and well-being of those living in low-income and underrepresented communities. What three words or phrases come to mind when you hear “Katherine Delmar Burke Prior to working at Westside, Jones worked as a researcher, clinician, School”? and administrator in health care management and advocacy. Jones has worked around the world in the area of trauma, and her Dream Big, Go Lancs!, Best Years of My Life experience includes work with the African Union in Darfur, Sudan; Partners of the Americas and EDUCARE in Georgetown, Guyana, What would you tell incoming kindergarten to address childhood labor/trafficking and bring violence prevention families about the journey ahead? strategies to youth; and developing services for families impacted by sexual violence for the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Her work in Cherish this experience and enjoy the journey. grassroots program development, sexual violence, and mental health-care literacy extends around the world and includes Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Cuba, and the Caribbean. What is your favorite memory from Burke’s?
The annual May Day celebration. How do you think Burke’s influenced or Program which led me to HIV/AIDS research helped your journey to your current career? at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. What is something you learned at Burke’s that I returned to San Francisco to work at the SF you still carry with you today? Burke’s set me on a trajectory for success, Department of Public Health AIDS Office in which allowed me to have the kind of life 1987 at the height of the AIDS epidemic. You can do anything with self-discipline and that I have now. When I came to Burke’s, my hard work. mom was a single parent with three girls. After leaving the SFDPH, I had the opportunity We lived on Hayes and Buchanan, and the to work as a research assistant at the Bay How would you encourage Burke’s students neighborhood was somewhat rough back Area Perinatal AIDS Clinic at UCSF on the and fellow alumnae to give back to Burke’s? then. Burke’s was a really great experience for first AZT study with pregnant women. This me and made me feel special. At that time, was so exciting because I would go into my Connect with the Alumnae Office and volunteer. being one of the only Black students in the old neighborhoods and offer HIV testing Lower School was extremely important for me. to pregnant women with substance abuse What Burke’s experiences do you attribute to Everyone — teachers, students, staff — was disorders. This was the first time that these your personal or professional success? really nice to me, and I learned and heard, women were given access to AZT and devoted constantly, “You can do anything!” physicians with experience in HIV/AIDS The personal relationships that I had with research and women’s health. But more Georgia Malan and David Fleishhacker provided Being at Burke’s, it felt like I was part of a importantly, this was the first time that these me with the encouragement and confidence to family. It was a really positive experience, being women were able to have children and babies pursue my dreams. Through these relationships around girls and women at Burke’s. Because that were born HIV-free. I learned that I had a responsibility to do my best of my experience at Burke’s, I chose to attend no matter what the circumstance. Mills College majoring in chemistry with a year After three years of intensive HIV/AIDS in an exchange program at Spelman College. research and advocacy, I moved to India to If you had it to do all over again, your time After graduating from college, I moved to work with women living with HIV/AIDS. My at Burke’s and since, what might you do Washington, D.C. to complete a Society experiences in grassroots development were differently? for Neuroscience Fellowship at Howard directly related to my education at Burke’s University, and later attended Georgetown because I realized how important it is to give I would be a better student and take better University Experimental Medical Studies back and uplift women wherever I am in the advantage of all the opportunities that I had at Burke’s. SPRING 2021 37 “.... I learned how I wanted to engage with other women — as a confidante and an ally.”
What is something you learned at Burke’s that you carry with you today?
I think I learned how I wanted to engage with other women — as a confidante and an ally, not a competitor, or, as my Sabrina Kivitz Braham ’87 daughters might say, “a hater.” It’s been a passion of mine to be supportive of other Sabrina Kivitz Braham ’87 had a winding journey to becoming women and raise my children to seek a pediatrician. After a high school internship for former relationships that build and don’t tear California Senator Barbara Boxer, Braham briefly entertained down. I think my desire for my children a career in law. After graduating from Georgetown, where she to develop empathy and be supportive of studied English literature, she worked in finance with a focus others was born from my time at Burke’s. on pharmaceutical stocks. She started to notice that every time she went to a medical conference she was more interested in the patients and the medicine than the economics. Realizing Who is a Burke’s teacher who left a lasting that her passion had always been about helping people, she impact on you? went back to school for a post-baccalaureate at Mills College in Oakland. From there, she finally decided to take the leap and I remember my English teacher Mr. Bell go to medical school. very fondly. I was an English major in college, probably largely because of the As an older student, she juggled medical school with the birth of her first child, taking an extra impact of his English classes. We had such research year in pediatric dermatology before starting residency at Stanford with a 9-month- rich discussions about language and the old in her arms. She had her second child during her second year of residency and then joined many ways it can be used in the expression Menlo Clinic Pediatrics in Menlo Park. In addition to her busy clinical practice, Braham teaches of ideas. He may not remember me as Stanford medical students and residents and serves on several philanthropic boards in her fondly though. I was a handful. community. She is a believer that a wandering journey can sometimes take you farther than a straight shot. What advice would you give to a young person? How has Covid changed your life as a What is your favorite memory from Burke’s? medical professional? I talk to my teen patients about this a lot, Hmmm. I don’t have a terrific memory because the Bay Area can be an intense Pre-Covid I had an amazing work-life in general, which I attribute to the huge place and teenagers feel very defined by balance; I loved what I did and I did it three mental real estate taken up during medical where they are accepted into college. Many and a half days a week — perfect. I could school, but my fondness for Burke’s is kids think that where they attend college be a functional human, an involved mom, rooted in the years being “raised” in will determine the path of their life. That and an active participant in my community. a single-gender school environment. couldn’t be further from the truth. Life is But when Covid arrived, everything Growing academic and social emotional such a fascinating journey that we have changed. I found myself working around skills in the absence of the opposite to be open to. You need to know yourself the clock to make sure my patients and sex during adolescence allows one to well, lead with your strengths, grow from staff were safe, and relying on creativity and develop a better sense of self the world. I weaknesses, and pursue things that matter courage to act when there was no clearly spoke up (or not) in class because I was to you. If you do those things together, established path. It’s been challenging to interested, not because I wanted to get a you will find something that you can’t help figure out how to protect and serve our boy’s attention. I’m known to be a pretty but work hard at and that no one could do most vulnerable patients while also keeping outspoken person in general, particularly as well as you. That is true success in my our staff and ourselves safe. Ultimately, when the stakes are high. I think that trait opinion. I didn’t find my way to medicine we’ve done an excellent job, I think, comes from being in an all-girl school overnight, but I couldn’t keep myself from despite being the only community pediatric environment where I had the opportunity doing this work because I care so much. practice open in our area during the early to develop my own voice. months of the pandemic. 38 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
“I knew the basic strengths I had to offer were an ability to think critically, a little bit of curiosity, and a willingness to learn.”
What is a strong memory you have from Burke’s?
Burke’s was a special time when I was surrounded by female friends. Being out in the world post-Burke’s, I can say there Kathleen Robbins ’09 is really something to be said for having a community of supportive women around At first look, you might not know that Kathleen Robbins ’09 you. That was a time when I was just spends her days supporting and providing information to surrounded by true, caring, supportive F-16 fighter pilots. Yes, you read that correctly: Kathleen is an friends, and where I felt completely myself. Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force.
After applying to ROTC out of high school, Robbins chose to What three words or phrases come to mind attend the University of California, Los Angeles. She focused on when you hear Katherine Delmar Burke political science and the Russian language and decided to join School (Burke’s)? the Air Force after graduation. In college, Robbins saw many people around her heading to Washington, D.C. or moving Green and Gold, which encompasses all of towards think tanks. But she wanted to explore big ideas and the sports that were such a huge part of my employ an understanding of geopolitics and international Burke’s experience. relations to help others make informed decisions about our world today and our future. “Educate,” because Burke’s delivers a fantastic education and it is an amazing place. Where do you live? And what do you do? clearly and articulately share my knowledge and assessments of the world. There is Finally, I fundamentally tie Burke’s to San I have lived in Germany since December 2019 something so special about a Burke’s Francisco, my home. The fact that it’s right and work at Spangdahlem Air Base, which education. The emphasis on presenting on the water and there’s fog all the time and has been around since the 1950s. My job on our ideas verbally and in writing began at a it’s freezing but beautiful. this base is to provide intelligence support young age and carried through each year. My for F-16 fighters. time at Burke’s made me a better thinker, writer, and speaker. If you were to do it all over again, what might you do differently? How did you get into this work? Who was a teacher you remember fondly? I don’t think I would do anything differently. I didn’t completely know what I was getting I think in adulthood you are presented with into, but I knew the basic strengths I had to I really look back on third grade with Ms. many moments where you think “I should’ve offer were an ability to think critically, a little Auberson and Mr. Davidson, and also Ms. done this” or “I should have gone on to this.” bit of curiosity, and a willingness to learn. I Mosheim in second grade. She always took But as Burke’s students, we were guided, leveraged the amazing education I received the time to read my poetry scribbles and she helped, and encouraged at every turn. at Burke’s and chose this career as a military would have us meditate (center ourselves) officer. after recess to help us calm down. Mr. Davidson was a shining example of a teacher What excites you about Burke’s today? who was unapologetically supportive. Ms. How did Burke’s prepare you for your career Bryant taught me to focus on the game, play I’ve been super excited to hear that we are choice? hard, and be aggressive. I wouldn’t have been expanding the idea of what it means to have an athlete in high school without her support. girls’ education. As we should be; we are Burke’s made me confident in my own We spent so many hours shooting layups talking about the education of the whole child. mind and in my ability to examine the outside in the fog! world around me. It also taught me how to
SPRING 2021 39 A pandemic couldn’t stop the Class of 1960 from enjoying their 60th reunion!
possibility of gathering more than 100 alumnae together seemed very uncertain, and after consultation with event professionals and Burke’s staff, the Alumnae Board opted to cancel the reunion, with plans to celebrate milestone reunions for graduating years ending in ’0, ’1, ’5, and ’6 come June 2021.
We are grateful to our alumnae community for their understanding in our decision and proud to have done this small thing to help keep all communities and individuals safe! And we delighted in the resilience of a few of our alumnae classes, who took to their screens Alumnae Reunions for virtual reunions. Just a few weeks into the pandemic, the Class of 1988 set up an impromptu call — finding In April 2020, a few weeks into the pandemic, the Executive connection and comfort on their computers. Committee of the Alumnae Board called an emergency meeting to discuss the upcoming Alumnae Reunion Four members of the Class of 1950 celebrated their Weekend, the hallmark annual event for Burke’s alumnae 70th high school reunion together via Zoom, some community. Scheduled to highlight milestone reunions using the technology for the very first time! The Class for the graduating classes ending in ’0 and ’5 in June, the of 1960 hosted an incredible 60th high-school reunion 40 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
on a Saturday night in June, with 13 participants calling in from the shores of Hawaii, the East Coast, across California, all the way to New Zealand, and just about SAVE the DATE! everywhere in between. They had such a great time that they vowed to do it again the next month, and regularly Burke’s Virtual to follow. Alumnae Reunion The Class of 1995 enjoyed a special 25th reunion, with one participant dialing in close to midnight in her local Weekend: time zone! “Gathering” from far distances and with many classmates parenting young children, a virtual June 5 & 6, 2021 reunion ended up being much better attended than an in-person event might have been… even without a pandemic! This year, we will be making up for lost time! While we look forward to being able to gather in person Burke’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend returns on once it is safe enough to do so, Burke’s is thrilled to June 5 & 6, celebrating our alumnae from milestone host our first virtual Alumnae Reunion Weekend on June graduation years ending in ’5, ’6, ’0, and ’1. 5 and 6, and we hope to see you all there! With four sets of milestone reunions to celebrate, it will not be an For everyone’s safety and comfort, this year’s reunion will be entirely virtual. occasion to miss! Email Associate Director of Advancement Diana Kaw at [email protected] for more information!
While the pandemic has created more distance for people, for our alumnae the pandemic has actually brought people together from all over the world. Thanks to the power and flexibility of Zoom! Affinity Spaces We started the year by holding a series of spaces specifically designed to build, foster, and create community among Burke’s alumnae who identify as people of color. Our first affinity space, in August, was led and facilitated by former Burke’s science teacher Dr. Tone Rawlings, who guided our alumnae in a workshop around decolonizing the heart and mind.
A second affinity space was facilitated in October by our Director of Inclusivity and Community Building, Quise Rodriguez Edwards. We will continue to hold affinity spaces for alumnae as we expand our offerings and focus our attention on the well-being of our graduates with different identity characteristics.
We continued our efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice work in March with our first Affinity Space for Burke’s LGBTQIA+ Alumnae.
SPRING 2021 41 Alumnae Holiday Celebration
In lieu of the annual cookie decorating party that we host on campus in a normal school year, the Alumnae Board rallied together to create more than 200 cookie- decorating kits, with 92 kits being sent to 6 states — including Hawaii!
42 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
We went virtual with the third annual expanded Alumni Burke’s, Cathedral, Cocktail Party! Alumni from the four schools joined in a battle for trivia domination hosted by Grammy- Hamlin, and Town nominated musician, producer, composer, and all-around Alumni Trivia Night awesome guy Deke Sharon.
Alumnae Social and Bingo/ Happy Hour
In January, Burke’s alumnae had a special Family Event hosted by former Burke’s Director of Upper School Rebekah Wolman. Alumnae from ’95 all the way to graduates of the Class of ’20 joined in the the fun for Happy Hour and Burke’s BINGO.
At times, making events happen during Covid-19 felt daunting and challenging, but our Alumnae Board was dedicated to providing connection and safe spaces for our fellow alumnae.
3RD ANNUAL Alumnae Mentorship Network Panel
An inspiring evening with a terrific panel of alumnae speakers! Our returning moderator Kimberly Fullerton ’77e, Partner at Spencer Stuart was joined by panelists: Talia Seidman Rhodes ’03, Humanities Teacher and former Dean of Curriculum and Instruction at Uncommon Schools (bottom left); Rachel Rubenstein ’02, Executive Leadership and Communication Coach (top right); Blair Rosenblatt Shane ’85, Burke’s 2020 Distinguished Alumna Award Recipient, Change Agent, and Entrepreneurial Leader (top left); and Stina Skewes-Cox Trainor ’96, Head of Policy Visits at Facebook (bottom right).
SPRING 2021 43 2020 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD: BLAIR ROSENBLATT SHANE ’85 The Katherine Delmar Burke School Distinguished Alumna Award is given each year to an alumna who embodies the values at the heart of the school’s mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls. The recipient exemplifies a life of learning, service to community, individuality, and the ability to make a difference in the world. The awardees are nominated by the alumnae community and voted on by the Alumnae Board.
Blair Shane is Chief Operating Officer of TCG, where she Shane started her career at General Mills on brands including leads an incredible team dedicated to running the firm and Yoplait and Total Cereal, followed by time at start-ups Questium scaling portfolio companies. and Time Dance and seven years at Charles Schwab.
Prior to TCG, Shane served as CMO/partner at Sequoia Whatever job she is in, Shane creates possibilities and gets done Capital, CMO/Associate Dean at Stanford Graduate School what may be perceived as impossible. She lives in the Bay Area of Business, and CMO of the California Academy of Sciences. with her husband, Rick, and is the proud mom of Zoe and Luke.
The following is excerpted from the speech Blair Rosenblatt Shane ’85 gave at the virtual Pansy Day Ceremony on June 10, 2020.
hank you, Michele. I am honored to be here today. share a few practices to help pave your way, join me in an exercise.
I believe in celebrations. I’d like you to dream for a moment. Close your eyes. I’ll let you know when it’s time to open your eyes. Who do you dream of becoming? Especially in these uncertain times, cherishing This can change but for now, this instant, please paint a vivid picture accomplishment and joy is everything. So, before I in your mind of who you want to become. Tbegin, please join me in giving a huge shout-out to our graduating class. Grandparents, parents, friends and teachers, and eighth- What are you doing? Where are you? Who are you with? How are you graders — or, should I say, soon to be Burke’s graduates? spending your time? Think for a moment. Paint a detailed picture in your mind. My name is Blair Rosenblatt Shane and I am jazzed to speak to you today. Why? Because, you are the women who will develop vaccines, You just did my first bit of advice — “Set Intention.” Having a North and fight to end racism. You will be better parents, incredible artists, Star that grounds you and is malleable will guide you. Sometimes journalists, and friends. Each and every one of you will make a the hardest part is knowing where you are headed. The fun thing is 44 difference — especially if you set your mind to it. So again, before I you are the only one who can decide. You get to choose. BURKE’S MAGAZINE
I graduated in 1985. Can you believe that was 35 years ago? Well, both mundane and complex and should be used for big things and maybe you can since due to Covid-19, I am a lot more gray than I small. And I would be remiss not to ask you to not let today go by was three months ago! without questioning the systemic racism in our country. Please ask:
The year 1985 was also the year Nintendo was introduced, ● Why is our country divided? Michael Jordan was Rookie of the Year, Mikhail Gorbachev came ● How do my friends of color feel? What do they experience? to power in Russia, and Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, and Cyndi Lauper organized Live Aid to help stop the famine in Africa. ● What will I do to stop racism?
Thirty-five years is 2.5 times longer than you have lived. Thirty-five This is not just your parents’ job. This is not just your teacher’s years ago today, I sat on the Upper School steps, wearing this responsibility. This is not just our elected officials’ job. This is not middy, and my parents gave me this pin that I still wear today for the job of people of color. my most important meetings. And I was surrounded by friends on all sides — just like you are right now. This is your job. This is all of our jobs. Now is the time. Get involved. Look to the right of your screen. Look to the left. Go into gallery mode and take those faces in. So here’s where are we in terms of practices to park in the back of Many will become lifelong friends. The best of them will have your mind as you move forward: your back, help you stay out of trouble, encourage your passions, and love you for who you are. Focus on spending time with those 1. Set Intention people. That’s Practice #2 — ”Focus on Great Friends”. 2. Focus on Great Friends 3. It Just Takes One OK, are you sick of my reflections yet? Because I have one more. Who is your favorite teacher? Please think of one. I have been 4. Ask lucky enough to have several — Maggie Neale in graduate school, who taught me to negotiate with power; Professor Hagen, Practice #5 is somewhat obvious and follows “Ask” nicely. It is the history professor who gave me my first research job when I “Listen.” Ask to learn, and then take it in. Spend three times was a freshman in college; Rob Spivack at UHS, who helped me more on listening than talking. Make sure you are open and realize I was actually darn good at science. And, the teacher who not so certain about things. Seek out many different ideas and made the biggest difference in my life was at Burke’s. perspectives that aren’t your own. Make sure your friends don’t all look like you. Listening will make you smarter and it will bring After UHS, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford, I repeat, the teacher you joy. who had the single biggest impact on my life was my seventh- and eighth-grade history teacher and Head of the Upper School. Practice #6 is “Love.” Now, of course, you will have first kisses, Mrs. Clark still lives down the street from me on Lake, and this is crushes, and serious relationships. But the kind of love I mean here what she gave me all those years ago: is “loving and respecting yourself.” Find your passions: yours, not someone else’s. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Revel in the joy ● My love of history of playing guitar, solving hard math problems, feeding the hungry, playing soccer. Whatever it is, do it well and with all your might, and ● A desire to make sense of today by understanding the past revel in it. This is what life is about. And loving these things will fuel ● A desire to stand up for those less fortunate how you show up in the world and help others. So love deeply and start with you. She was the first teacher who believed in me without question. She made me feel like I was super smart, special, and could do It’s a little quirky, I know, but I love prime numbers so I am going to anything — when there were other people who did not think I end on a 7th Practice. This one is “Act.” All 44 of you, from Amani was quite so extraordinary. That first teacher, Mrs. Clark, helped to Zina, are on this earth for a reason. With intention, a great me find myself and charge forward despite the obstacles. team of a few good friends, your parents, grandparents, a single teacher, and others, you have the power to think critically, ask tough Nancy, or Mrs. Clark, sat me down and showed me each day questions, listen hard, know who you are, and then go forth and do that if I stayed true to myself and worked hard, I would realize great things. You have the power to ACT to create good in the world my dreams. It wasn’t any different than my Mom’s mantra — in your families, schools, and communities. of “Blair, you can do anything you set your mind to.” But she wasn’t my Mom and she saw me in my element every day. Mrs. Start today and I have no doubt that you will be speaking here in Clark, taught me to go for it and to silence the naysayers. Thank 35 years, having shaped your business, medicine, education, and you, Burke’s. Thank you, Mrs. Clark. Great people are those who politics. That journey begins with small acts today, tomorrow, and truly see and hear you. next week.
Thank them and don’t forget Practice #3: “It just takes one We are all Burke’s alumnae. You are my sisters. I am on your team, person.” Who is that person for you? Can you be that person and please reach out if I can ever help you in life. for someone else? Now, all great teachers, including yours at Burke’s, have taught you an essential skill: ask questions, and Let’s all get to it. even better, ask good questions. It is simple and necessary. It is
SPRING 2021 45 for the Academy of Art, which took a good amount of time, and she’s looking forward to getting some decent studio time!
Class of 1961 CLASS The Class of 1961 had a fun reunion in Carmel in October 2019 organized by Carmel residents SIS CAMPION CONNOLLY, SUZANNE C. MATTMILLER, PENNY TENNEY HERSHMAN, and LYNN HEATLEY KNOOP. CYNTHIA SUTCLIFFE POETT drove down for the event with Missy Barrett NOTES Reynolds, and they stayed with LYNNE Alumnae Updates From Burke’s BARRETT REYNOLDS. BEATRICE BOWLES invites other Burke’s girls to check out her free monthly newsletter, Class of 1938 more three-hour lunches with friends. On the bright side, plenty of time for writing. Bea’s Buzz, on her website at beatricebowles. VIRGINIA LOWREY BROWN ’38 celebrated I’m still in the poetry master class at com. It includes stories about nature, her 100th birthday last June! (1) College of Marin and also contribute work gardens, and other delights! in a private group of poets; both on Zoom. When not at the computer, I’m walking the Class of 1964 Class of 1949 hills of Marin and talking with friends on BARBARA FENGER CUMMINGS says that hour-long phone calls. I hope, as soon as KATHARINE ASHLEY ROBB hopes that all in she is really happy at Villa Marin in San we are all vaccinated, that we will be able the Class of 1964 are staying safe and well in Rafael. She’s enjoying reading, doing puzzles, to gather together for one of our always this unusual year of Covid! volunteering in the gift shop library, and enjoyable potluck lunches.” visiting with her dear family. JOAN BRANSTEN SUTTON: “I’m in my Class of 1965 80th year and looking back on a rich, full SUE MILLARD BARCH writes that she life. Although coronavirus has made things Class of 1950 wishes she had been her age now when difficult, I don’t condemn 2020 because my attending Burke’s: “I might have recognized MARY JONES KELLEY is self-isolating, and second grandson, Joseph Sutton, was born the priceless and deep well of benefits there. her daughter is teaching virtually. in March. My older grandson, Olby Sender, is Wishing you all safety and joy in true things.” WANDA HERRINGTON WALKER writes 8 years old and thriving. I continue to study that she is still doing well at 87, and she Latin and Ancient Greek. So, it hasn’t been a ALICE RUSSELL-SHAPIRO: “Not news ventured on a 30-day cruise from Capetown bad year — or a bad life either!” but continued affirmation for the excellent to Singapore just before the pandemic. education I received at Burke’s from sixth JEAN BETTMAN DANA: “This has been a to 12th grades. Señora Frances Arrieta, year to remember. Many in the class of ’58 incomparable Spanish teacher, Ms. Roche turned 80. I celebrated my birthday on Zoom Class of 1956 and Miss Hughes in English — among with family and close friends. I’m fortunate to others — so useful in my landscape SUSAN ROTHMAN SEELY shares the have many interests that were not prohibited architecture career.” exciting news that she just became a great- by the pandemic. Aside from the tragedy grandmother, to Eara Areyeh Gutman, of so much loss, I’ve enjoyed time to paint, and a grandmother again, to Hannah Arya swim, and meditate. I’ve appreciated having Class of 1966 Abrami-Cox! access to Zoom which has allowed me to stay close to family and take classes.” ANDREA SOLARI: “My husband, Jim Klaczak, and I have moved to Arizona. Our Class of 1958 daughter, Sylvia Bronson ’94, has also moved LYNN ARIAS BORNSTEIN: “As I’m sure is Class of 1960 out of San Francisco to Tahoe. Sylvia and her daughter Lucy are loving the skiing. Jim and I the case in the lives of all my classmates, ALLISON ANN BALAAM MILLER says that are loving the warm weather! (2) things have drastically changed in this she’s bought a document camera so she time of Covid. For me, no more happy days can teach lettering workshops online. She aiding in K-3 science at Saint Isabella. No recently put together a new calligraphy class 46 KAY DEE BEE MAGAZINE
Class of 1967 SUE SHOEMAKER ADAMS: “I finally retired last year after 23 years as a reporter and editor for several Bay Area newspapers, and then 25 years doing employee communication for Pacific Bell/SBC/AT&T. Still in San Francisco and can’t imagine leaving. I’ve been spending my time taking classes at USF’s Fromm Institute via Zoom; 02 taking masked, socially distanced walks with friends; and pondering the crazy state of our world. Here’s hoping for better days to come before too long!” 01 CATHLEEN COX: “This year, my husband Jonathan and I relocated to Redding, California to be near family. My older daughter and five of my seven granddaughters (aged 20 to one month) are here. I know I’m in the country now because it’s half a mile to pick up the mail and leave the trash. A very new kind of life for this San Francisco gal! On July 18, my daughter, BonnieClaire, and her husband, Lee, welcomed my newest granddaughter, 02 Georgiana July. This year, I retired from my private spiritual direction practice, but old ministers — like old soldiers — may fade but never quite disappear!! I’m always looking for ways to contribute, and new 04 03 projects are in the works. We are, together, facing so many challenges in our world, but I am most grateful for the many gifts and profession. She received the Architectural now freelancing and focusing on a project graces in my life.” Record 2018 Women in Architecture Activist that helps students understand literature. Award. She spends four months of each year “After the death of my husband in a car AMY BULLIS TREMPER: “Hardest thing I have in New Zealand, where she has a home on accident almost 15 years ago, I have recently done was to hang up my spurs and sell my the north island, and the rest of the year in found companionship with (!) the now-retired saddle. My husband Steve and I retired from Brooklyn, New York. state police commander who headed the ranching, and we now live along the Mexican investigation into his death. (The other driver border in an artist village called Tubac. I fell asleep at the wheel.) love swimming laps, hiking, and working Class of 1969 for thoroughbred racehorse nonprofits. My “Here is a picture of me removing the black NANCY EVERS KIRWAN: “Living on 25 grandson, Owen, was born on September 9, armband from a post of my house the day Joe acres in Sonoma during the pandemic has 2019, and currently the only thing that Covid Biden won the election. That band had been made the isolation tolerable. Growing and has seriously impacted are visits to be with on my house for four years.” (4) harvesting fruits and vegetables, walking and him and his parents! I would love to see my hiking in surrounding beauty, and helping Burke’s classmates, and I dearly hope each coordinate preparation for fire safety in the and every one of you are well.” (3) Class of 1971 community have all played a part. Another SEBELLE VON HAFFTEN POOLE writes to activity has been helping preserve the local let us know that her eldest sister, Katherine environment through activities supporting Class of 1968 Kitsy Van Hafften ’67, is still around, but sister local state and city parks, Sonoma Mountain, PEGGY DEAMER retired from Yale School Caroline Van Hafften ’69 has passed away. and sustaining urban growth boundaries.” of Architecture at the end of 2018 and now Neither she nor any of her sisters ever went works with the Architecture Lobby, an activist MARCIA MERRYMAN-MEANS: “Life is quiet to detention! Sebelle’s first grandson was just organization she founded that pushes for a here in Vermont. I keep busy working from born a year ago. more relevant and rewarding architectural my home office as an academic writer/editor,
SPRING 2021 47 wife, the voice actor, singer, actor, teacher for The Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, and podcaster Bradetta Vines. Their three and the regional board president for the 30-ish daughters are doing well in Washington southwest region of Canine Companions for CLASS and California, pursuing nursing, helping Independence. Washington State Schools assess risks, and acting on film and TV — with their partners Class of 1982 NOTES and pets. (5) ALEXANDRA BELLIS KROMELOW found Class of 1975e her eighth-grade middy while cleaning Class of 1978e In 2020, Penn State University Press and packing up her Burlingame home in released a new book by ELIZABETH BOONE, ROBIN HAUSER: “I am just finishing a new preparation for a move to Washington state. “The Spanish Element in Our Nationality”: documentary called $avvy, which investigates (A Burke’s classmate since kindergarten Spain and America at the World’s Fairs and the historical, cultural, and societal norms helped find her new house!) What a trip down Centennial Celebrations, 1876–1915. around women and money. $avvy questions memory lane to see all of the signatures from why women often take a backseat to her classmates! She reached out to a few managing their money and reveals why it’s to see if she was the only hoarder. “Burke’s Class of 1975 increasingly critical for women to take the has been home to many generations of my reins of their financial futures. It’s definitely a family, and it was really special to find this TAMMI(S) DOYLE is a Theatre Director, film I would like to screen at Burke’s!” memento,” she said. (6) Playwright and Professor of Theatre at Bellevue College and lives in Seattle where SHERYL ISHIZAKI writes that she is she celebrated her 25th anniversary with her currently the director of food and beverage Class of 1984 EMILY HOBIN JANOWSKY: “My oldest son, Nick, is in his first year at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. My youngest, Sam, is a sophomore at Redwood High School in Larkspur. Wishing many of my Burke’s classmates a happy 50th!” ANNE TOLPEGIN tells us that she splits her time between New York City and California as a professional actress. She recently got 07 a new pup, Sherlock, and got engaged to Blake Stadnik, who you might recognize from NBC’s This is Us. 05 Class of 1986 ALIX SPIVACK: “I continue to teach environmental science to ninth graders at Gateway High School in San Francisco. Unfortunately, my mother — Karen Burrill Spivack (1938-2020) — passed away this past December. I look forward to resuming 08 my sweep rowing competitive practice once Covid lifts, and to hikes on Mt. Tam with my Canaan dog Caleb in the interim.”
Class of 1988 BETINA SUESSMANN BAUMGARTEN organized a virtual reunion for her class via Zoom: “About 10 of us joined, and it was 06 09 a really fun happy hour of sorts, catching up and sharing our experiences during this crazy time.” 48 KAY DEE BEE MAGAZINE
KATIE HULTQUIST writes: “I helped OutRight Action International launch 10 a Covid Emergency Fund to provide emergency support to LGBTIQ people around the world who are suffering from hunger, economic insecurity, family violence, and human rights abuses due to the pandemic. We thought we might raise $100K — but a year later, we have 11 distributed approximately $1M to 125 grassroots organizations in 65 countries, and we are getting ready to do a second round of grantmaking this spring. This support is critical because LGBTIQ people are especially vulnerable during times of crisis yet often left behind by traditional relief efforts. When I think about the toll the last year has taken on all of us, including my own family (with three kids doing virtual school from home), I feel very fortunate to be a part of doing something to help people 13 in my community around the world.” (7) After deciding to have their wedding in 2019 rather than 2020 (a lucky decision that they will be forever grateful for), RENÉE SHARP was married to Liz Grubin at Arista Winery 0202 in Healdsburg, California on June 15, 2019. Among the 200 beloved guests were KATIE HULTQUIST and ELIZABETH FARIS! (8)
Class of 1996 KATY CONGDON WILLIAMS and her 12 husband, Michael, welcomed their first child, 14 Paige Parker Williams, on July 2, 2019. (9)
Class of 1997 KATHERINE ABBEY PRILL and her husband, is Vicki’s husband David’s family’s property RACHEL ADAM ROGERS’ second child, Nate, Derek, welcomed their first child, Charlie, on in Woodside, Calif.. Also in attendance were was born in May of 2020: “Our (almost) 4 September 29, 2020. (12) my grandmother Elisa “Bambi” Escamilla Schwartz ’56, Ana Clare and Stella’s mom year-old daughter, Wynn, adores him, and we ELISA GORES writes from Toronto: “My Mariana Schwartz ’77e and sister Eva ’13, and are so thrilled to now be a family of four!” (10) spouse, Stella Green Sanderson, and I were my second cousins Kara Fleishhacker ’12, married July 31, 2020. My family is FULL of Orrie Rindal ’18, and Kären Rindal ’21. Burke’s girls and there were a lot of alumnae (13) Class of 2002 even at our small pandemic wedding. It ALEXANDRA FARBER lets us know that she was really a family affair: my mom, Adriana Class of 2006 is a winemaker for her own brand as well as Schwartz Gores ’75e, planned it, and my Lange Twins Family Winery in Lodi, Calif. sister Genna ’10 was part of the wedding LISBY SKEWES-COX married her fiancé, party. My cousin Ana Clare Smith ’07 did Chris Symmes, in a small legal ceremony in the flowers, her sister Stella ’16 did my Hong Kong, and then was joined virtually by Class of 2003 makeup, and my great-aunt Vicki Escamilla her bridal party for a Zoom ceremony, which included three Burke’s girls: Stina Skewes-Cox TALIA SEIDMAN RHODES and her husband, Fleishhacker ’60 and her kids, including Edie Trainor ’96, Natalie Seward ’07, and Ana Clare Jeremy, welcomed their first child, Elyse, on Fleishhacker Rindal ’84, helped organize and Smith ’07! (14) February 11, 2021. (11) clean. We got married at Green Gables, which
SPRING 2021 49 Utah and works for Quip. Sister Caroline to go, but I am lucky enough to go to Hashagen graduated summa cum laude college in person so am making the best of and Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University it and having lots of fun!” in May 2019, and she also lives in Utah, but AVERY ARCURI: “I am currently taking a works for Qualtrics. gap year before heading off to college this fall! I have visited DC, Hawaii, and planning Class of 2016 on spending time in Costa Rica this April, and currently I am living at home working RANIA BORGANI is a first-year student at for a pediatric healthcare company called Barnard currently serving as an editor for a Cortica. My gap year was super last-minute, student publication. While living at home, but I have been loving it so far!” she does absurd amounts of reading, baking, : “I am currently on the walking my dog, and riding her Peloton. ISABEL SHEPPARD varsity volleyball team at Carnegie Mellon, MADISON KJELDGAARD graduated from St. and our first real game since Covid is this Ignatius last spring and moved to Lewisburg spring! I am also working with Global to attend Bucknell University, studying Business Brigades to help developing political science on a pre-law track! “I have countries’ small businesses, and plan to 15 been lucky enough to be on campus this year be taking a trip later this year to Panama and absolutely loving it.” to continue this endeavor.” CAROLINE KELLEY is currently studying OLIVE MAUNUPAU is currently on campus KATIE YEILDING has returned to Burke’s film studies at the University of St. Andrews at UC Davis in the heat of tennis season. as a classroom support and supervision in Scotland. This past semester she was in “Very busy with school and tennis and specialist, one of a group of new employees Scotland doing in-person school as well as excited to be back in SF for the summer!” to act as proctors and supervisors for the playing volleyball for the school’s team. HARRIET STEIN-SMITH is currently on various student cohorts during learning, at ASHLEY YANKULIN graduated from St. track to study early childhood psychology at recess, lunch, and arrival/dismissal. Ignatius College Prep in 2020 and is currently the University of Washington. enrolled at the University of Miami where she is on the pre-med track. She is attending Class of 2007 mostly in-person classes and is part of the Class of 2018 NATALIE SEWARD WALL married her scuba diving club and trying out for the SOPHIA WHEELER has transferred from college sweetheart, Roger Rhodes Wall Jr., Hurricanettes in a couple weeks. “Burke’s Lick-Wilmerding to Walnut Hill School of in Healdsburg, Calif., on January 2, 2021! taught me to always seek out opportunities the Arts outside of Boston to pursue her that allow for me to better myself and let my (15) studies in dance. voice be heard, therefore I am also considering a student government position,” she says. Class of 2008 ALEXANDRA LENZO is taking a gap year due JOHANNA BALLESTEROS MALAER to the Covid pandemic, and will be attending reports that she is living in Manhattan and Harvard this coming fall! She is currently working for The Aerospace Corporation. working as a research intern and Gen Z TIFFANY MILLER transitioned from Lazy advisor to a seed investor within the health, Bear to tech in July 2018! Just in December, eCommerce, and clean beauty space. she was promoted to the Senior Executive LILY DING is busy with remote learning Assistant to the Vice President of Artificial and happy to be spending time at home. Her Intelligence at Cruise, where the company part-time fun job at a bakery is like therapy is developing autonomous vehicles in San that takes her away from studying for a bit on Francisco! weekends. “I’m making the best of it during this odd time of the world. Would love to hear from the class of 2016. Hope everyone stays Class of 2011 safe and well! Xoxo.” ALEXANDRA HASHAGEN graduated ALEXA ELLWEIN: “This year is definitely not magna cum laude from Bucknell how I expected my freshman year in college University in May 2019, and she lives in
50 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
In Memoriam
Burke’s is proud of its strong legacy of graduating strong, confident women. We sadly report the loss of these membersof our alumnae family.
Lucy Harrison Campbell ’43 Leslie Clark Menetrey ’’50 Mary Franck ’50 Terry Luke Hamilton ’51
Edna-Gene “Eddie” Davis Jane Fortune Hickerson ’53 Carole Anixter Cohen ’55 Nancy Ellis Falk ’59 Morrell ’51
Penelope Lockridge Hartnell ’59 Jill Norman Faloon ’60 Elizabeth Newstat ’66 Linda Sloss Woodside ’66
* As of March 16, 2021
SPRING 2021 51 FROM THE ARCHIVES Burke’s Voices FROM THE 1918 FLU PANDEMIC Over one hundred years ago Burke’s alumnae shared their stories of pandemic life with classes disrupted, sports put on hold, and friends and family gone to the country or shut into quarantine. Their voices are even more powerful as look back from our pandemic year.
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With the ‘flu’ quarantine and much individual illness we have had a hard time to maintain the standard we had set of old, but with all the girls entertaining a sincere desire to bear their share most willingly we ought yet to graduate (as the group of girls that has been here longest) an honor to our Alma Mater, a pleasure and a satisfaction to Miss Burke. — FRANCES REVETT, CLASS OF 1919
SPRING 2021 53 Tracing Burke’s ROOTS THE KENDRICK FAMILY
Olivia Callander ’17 catching pansies on Pansy Day 2017, a long- id you know that Burke’s has a Grandparents’ Council? standing Burke’s tradition beloved by many alumnae, including her grandmother and aunt. In fact, we even have an active Council member who is a great-grandparent! (The rest are all great grandparents, of course.) of one of her best friends and Burke’s classmates, Elizabeth “Betty” Callander Tight ’44. Since graduating, Barbara served on But Barbara Kendrick Callander ’44 is not only a the Alumnae Board and remembers helping plan Family Festivals Dgreat-grandparent to two current students, Nina Louise Stephens while daughter Sara Callander Stephens ’69 attended Burke’s, ’27 and Cecilia “Cece” Stephens ’26. She’s also a proud Burke’s staying engaged with Burke’s traditions in a new way. alumna herself and a grandparent, mother, aunt, and sister to many other Burke’s graduates. Both Barbara and Sara remember Pansy Day with great fondness. Barbara remarked on what a special, almost sacred Like two of her older sisters, Geraldine “Gerry” Kendrick Morris day it was, and Sara reminisced, “I also loved watching the Lindsay ’36 and Kathryn Kendrick McNeil ’39, Barbara attended pansies fall over the graduating seniors on Pansy Day, as they Burke’s when it was a high school on Jackson Street. “I enjoyed walked two by two into the courtyard in Upper School.” Both the whole atmosphere of the school,” remembers Barbara. “It was women also talked about how much they enjoy the annual just a great experience for me. It meant a lot to me, and it led me Alumnae Reunion. While Sara joked that it can be hard to see into a wonderful life afterwards, due to my relationships there, and each other growing older, at Burke’s last in-person Alumnae for what it gave to me as a student.” This could be considered an Reunion in 2019, Barbara and three fellow ’44 classmates understatement; in 1949, Barbara married John Callander, brother celebrated their 75th high school reunion together, catching up over lunch as though no time had passed.
All those years ago, Barbara and her two sisters set the tone for being quite involved at Burke’s, as the family’s first generation of attendees. Kathryn, Gerry, and Barbara all served on the Works & Days yearbook staff and were active in school athletics. Although Kathryn settled down on the East Coast, after Gerry served in the Marines, she was also a parent to Burke’s girls Geraldine “Gerry” Morris ’64, Diana Morris Wild ’66, and Jane Leslie “JL” Morris Williams ’72. She even served on Burke’s Board of Trustees.
In addition to Sara ’69, who Diana, Gerry, and JL overlapped with at Burke’s for several years, a few other cousins paved the way at Burke’s for the Morris Kathryn Kendrick Geraldine “Gerry” sisters. Marie Luise “Mimi” Otto McNeil ’39 Kendrick Morris ’54, Elizabeth Anne “Betsy” Otto Lindsay ’36 Dohrmann ’56, and Susan Otto Comartin ’59 attended high school on Jackson Street. Betsy reflected on her time at Burke’s, sharing: “I received a wonderful and rewarding education at Katherine Delmar Burke School. I have fond
Barbara Kendrick Cece Stephens ’26 and Nina Stephens ’27 54 Callander ’44 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Diana Morris Wild ’66 gave [her] a strong foundation. There’s lots of girl empowerment at and Sophie Saviano Burke’s that carried through.” ’95, taken at Burke’s Centennial Celebration, Similarly, both Sara ’69 and Sara ’08 expressed their gratitude a memorable experience for much of the family. for their experiences at an all-girls school. Sara ’08 remarked, “there is huge value in single-sex education, especially for women growing up. Of course there is value in co-ed schools, but the idea of young girls learning and growing without the pressure of looks or popularity with boys was a huge value-add in my education and memories of those formative years, which were happy and filled with is one of the reasons I was able to do what I have in my lifetime.” new knowledge and rich experiences and left me with an insatiable She reflected that Burke’s was a “really authentic place to grow and curiosity to travel the world and study new cultures.” learn about yourself, really special and formative” and expressed her gratitude to experience such a place, “the most beautiful campus, Diana, as the resident family historian and genealogist (she updates with most open-hearted beautiful people” with her sister, Jayne. and shares a family information book called Kendrick Kith and Kin!), delights in remembering the deep friendships she and her mother As for Jayne, she reflects, “Burke’s taught me how to advocate for developed at Burke’s. She also has a profound appreciation for myself. The teachers were always willing to go the extra mile and if her own Burke’s experience and has long volunteered as a Class we needed help, they told us to ask for it. [It] was a place where you Representative. Diana commented, “The education I got at Burke’s could really be yourself, where you were supported, nurtured, and was a foundation of such excellence that it created a passion for really loved.” Burke’s is proud that that was true then, true in 1944, lifelong learning in me.” and is still true now!
And keeping it in the family, Diana’s daughter Sophie Saviano ’95 was not the only member of the Kendrick family tree in her eighth-grade graduating class! Second cousins Sophie and Claire Kendrick ’95 had the pleasure of attending middle school together in the same class at Burke’s — a rich and unique experience to share with a family member.
As the most recent Burke’s graduate, Barbara’s granddaughter Olivia Callander ’17 laughed when recounting how close she was to attending Burke’s with multiple family members. Olivia started kindergarten just a few months after her cousin Sara Callander ’08 graduated — a pattern that repeated when Olivia’s first cousin once removed, Cece, started at Burke’s a few months after her own graduation in 2017. Still, Olivia cherishes the Burke’s ties throughout her extended family: “It makes me feel more connected, both to Burke’s and my family. I get to know that they’ll have the same Sara Callander ’08, Sara amazing experiences I was lucky to have.” Callander Stephens ’69, Barbara Kendrick Callander For example, Olivia delights in hearing that Cece and Nina are now ’44, and Jayne Callander learning from Ms. McDonald and Ms. Mandelstein just like she did, Parker ’05, also taken and she remembers feeling lucky whenever teachers like Ms. Handler at Burke’s Centennial reminisced about teaching her cousins Sara ’08 and Jayne Callander Celebration (top) Parker ’05 years before. Grateful for her time at Burke’s and the chance to share it with so many family members, Olivia is also proud L to R: Claire Kendrick ’95, that she’s “not afraid to voice an opinion at all, because Burke’s Sophie Saviano ’95 (right)
Charles Kendrick Marron Kendrick Rose Kathryn “KK” Kendrick Marie Angela McNeil ’39 Kendrick Otto Stephen Hayes Barbara Kendrick Kendrick Geraldine “Gerry” Marie Luise Callander ’44 Kendrick Morris Susan Otto “Mimi” Otto ’54 Lindsay ’36 Comartin ’59 Claire Kendrick ’95 Elizabeth Anne “Betsy” Otto Bruce Callander Peter Sara Kathryn Callander Geraldine Diana Morris Jane Leslie “JL” Dohrmann ’56 Callander Stephens ’69 “Gerry” Wild ’66 Morris Morris ’64 Williams ’72 Jayne Callander Sara Olivia JT Stephens Parker ’05 Callander ’08 Sophia “Sophie” Callander ’17 Saviano ’95 Cecilia “Cece” Nina Louise The Kendrick Tree Stephens ’26 Stephens ’27
SPRING 2021 55 BARBARA BURKE LEGACY SOCIETY Planned Giving at Katherine Delmar Burke School
The values, education, and relationships from my time at Burke’s have been a bedrock in my life. I want to do my part to ensure Katherine Delmar Burke School has the resources necessary to continue its mission to educate, encourage, and empower girls for years to come.
— KIMBERLY FULLERTON ’77e Member of the Barbara Burke Legacy Society
For more information about making a gift through your estate plans or another type Burke’s is grateful for the many gifts it has received over the of planned gift, please contact years through estate plans. These gifts are a way to ensure Selena Shadle at 415.666.3204 or that our mission not only continues, but thrives for years to [email protected]. You can come. By including Katherine Delmar Burke School in your estate planning, your gift has a long-lasting impact on the also visit our Planned Giving website school — just as Burke’s has made an impact on you. at burkes.org/plannedgiving.
56 BURKE’S MAGAZINE
Ways to Give
CASH, CHECK, OR CREDIT CARD PLANNED GIVING OTHER DEFERRED GIFTS Gifts of cash, typically payable by check, and The Barbara Burke Legacy Society honors It is possible to make gifts of property that credit card gifts are tax deductible and provide alumnae, past parents, grandparents, current may allow income tax benefits for the donor immediate funds to the school. The easiest parents, and friends who have remembered during his or her lifetime, may be used during way to give is online at www.kdbs.org/give. Burke’s by bequest in their estate plans or the lifetime of the donor, and which would who have made a life income gift or other type revert to Burke’s, with possible estate tax You can also send a check to: of planned gift. You can become a member by: savings. Institutions can achieve stability and growth through planned giving. Contact your Katherine Delmar Burke School • placing Burke’s in your will tax adviser for specific advice that relates to Advancement Office • making Burke’s the beneficiary of a your particular circumstances. 7070 California Street retirement account San Francisco, CA 94121 • making a gift of a life insurance policy (a gift of life insurance can result in tax savings and GIFTS IN KIND can be made through an existing or a new Burke’s welcomes donations such as MATCHING GIFTS life insurance policy) classroom supplies, athletic equipment, Many companies offer their employees the • establishing a charitable trust and other items related to the educational opportunity to double or, in some cases, triple • making a gift of real estate or other tangible program, as well as donations of auction their gifts to certain programs or organizations property items to the annual Burke’s Benefit. Gift value by matching them. Please check with your is determined by the donor through appraisal employer about their Matching Gift Program. Each of these gifts can result in substantial or a record of purchase. Please contact the tax savings for the donor. Please consult the Advancement Office if you would like to make Advancement Office or your tax adviser for a gift in kind. SECURITIES & PROPERTY more information. Gifts of stocks, other securities, or property have two significant advantages to the Please notify the Advancement Office if you donor — they are tax deductible for the full have made a deferred or planned gift to For more information about making a gift fair market value of the gift when it is made, Burke’s so that you will be included in The of any type, please contact Selena Shadle, and the donor does not pay capital gains Barbara Burke Legacy Society. Director of Advancement, at 415.666.3204 on the appreciated value of the stock or or [email protected]. To make a gift property. Contact the Advancement Office online, please visit www.burkes.org/give. for more information on making a gift of securities or property.
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