|
November 2008: Volume 16, Issue 3Message from the Head of School
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| Rita McBride displays some of the generous donations that Mayfield Senior School families have made to the Thanksgiving Food Drive, one of the "200 Actions" the community is taking to celebrate Cornelia Connelly's Bicentenntial year. |
This year’s meeting was held in Philadelphia rather than the usual location outside the city. In honor of Cornelia’s 200th birthday, we took a walking tour of key sites associated with Cornelia’s life in her birth city. Born in 1809, a birth year shared with Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, Cornelia began her life at a time when our country was still awash in the new ideals of the American Revolution. And, like Darwin and Lincoln, she brought a fresh perspective and a timeless influence to our world.
As I walked the streets I was reminded that the transformative vision of the era would have influenced Cornelia’s experiences. The home of Betsy Ross, Independence Hall and the place where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence are only a stone’s throw from the streets where Cornelia was born, grew to womanhood, and married. Cornelia surely was cognizant of the challenges her young country faced and as her life unfolded she met the challenges of her own life with faith, commitment and a positive energy.
As Thanksgiving nears, I am also reminded of the challenges we are facing as Americans today. The current economic, social and political climate mark a new era that will bring changes and choices. Yet, just as challenges, changes and choices deepened Cornelia’s faith and core values, we, too, are reminded at this time of year of the things that we most value. We become more keenly aware that what matters most often cannot be counted or quantified. As we traverse the weeks and months ahead, our Mayfield Senior School community, like Cornelia, will call upon our diverse talents and resources to meet the “wants of the age”. And, through the support of one another, we will remain sure-footed in uncertain times and filled with gratitude for our families, our school, and our nation.
May your Thanksgiving table be abundant in love and filled with the grace and blessing of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christ,
Rita Curasi McBride
Head of School
Mayfield Wins Prep League Trifecta in Cross Country, Tennis and Volleyball
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Cross Country captains Maureen McCarthy '09 and Ellen Banks '10 with coach Eric Sun | Tennis captains Tess Gilmore '09 and Stephanie Hoffer '09 with coaches Chris Tart and Christine Sauceda | Volleyball captains Megan Sweeney '09 and Susan Carlson '09 with coach Ernest Banaag |
VARISTY CROSS-COUNTRY TEAMEmily Balfour '12 |
VARSITY TENNIS TEAM Polly Chang '09 |
VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAMRachel Aragon '10 |
PLAYOFF SCHEDULESaturday, November 22 |
PLAYOFF SCHEDULETuesday, November 18 |
PLAYOFF SCHEDULETuesday, November 18 |
Varsity Volleyballer Susan Carlson Signs With Georgia Tech "Yellow Jackets"
Last week, Susan Carlson '09 signed a letter of intent with Georgia Tech in front of friends, family, Mayfield teammates, coaches and faculty on her Cubs home court in the Sr. Mary Wilfrid Gymnasium.
In an article on the Georgia Tech website, head volleyball coach for the Atlanta-based Yellow Jackets Bond Shymansky says: "Susan can pass, dig, hit, block and serve with precision, power and perfection. Her court sense and her volleyball I.Q. will make her an invaluable part of our program and a key to our future success."
Susan has played on the Mayfield varsity team for four consecutive seasons and has gone to the CIF-SS each of those years. Last year, she was named MVP for the CIF-SS III-A Division. Recently, the Pasadena Star-News reported on Susan's prowess and prospects, commenting that "Carlson arguably is the best player in the highly competitive Prep League." According to the Star-News, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are among the top volleyball teams in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and reached the NCAA Elite Eight six years ago. The Star-News also featured Susan in a separate article as one of nine local "standout area athletes" who signed letters of intent to play college-level sports last week. Congratulations Susan!
 |
 |
 |
| Susan with Athletic Director Lynda Gilbert and volleyball coach Ernest Banaag | Susan with parents Yvonne and Scott Carlson | Susan signs a letter of intent with Georgia Tech as the volleyball squad looks on |
|
||
Theatre Conservatory Explores the Importance of Wilde's Witty Wordplay
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde
presented by the Mayfield Senior School Theatre Conservatory
Wednesday, November 19 – Sunday, November 23, Pike Auditorium
What's in a name? Just about everything, according to Oscar Wilde, in The Importance of Being Earnest. First performed in London in 1895, Wilde's comic masterpiece is full of witty one-liners and laugh-out-loud zingers that continue to delight audiences more than a century later. Members of the Theatre Conservatory will share several of the play's major roles over its five-day run this week, which begins with a free dress rehearsal show on Wednesday, November 19 and closes with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 23. For ticket information and reservations, please email Brenda Castaneda in the Main Office or call (626) 799-9121 ext. 222.
 |
 |
 |
| Lindsay Butcher, Natalie Ferguson, and Noelle Franco |
The Theatre Conservatory ensemble | Lindsay Chenelia as Ms. Prism and Caitlin Cross as Rev. Chasuble |
 |
 |
 |
| Noelle Franco as Gwendolyn and Sarah Dawley as Jack |
Taylor Fance as Lady Bracknell | Alana Parrish as Cecily and Annie Mergenthaler as Algernon |
SHOWTIMES:Free Dress Rehearsal Evening Shows Matinee Shows |
CAST LIST:Wednesday 19, Friday 21,
|
CAST LIST:Thursday 20 and Saturday 22Algernon — Grace Ashford '10 |
Mayfield Alumna, Trustee and Students Collaborate on "Roses on Parade" Project
Four Mayfield Senior School visual arts students participated in a citywide Pasadena art project called Roses on Parade, which was spearheaded by Mayfield alumna and Tournament of Roses member Linda Klausner '62.
Inspired by Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” and Seattle’s “Pigs on Parade” community art events, Linda commissioned 27 five-foot, fiberglass rose sculptures and invited local artists to interpret the 2009 Rose Parade theme of "Hats off to Entertainment" in painting the roses.
Trustee Sandy Bane donated the Mayfield rose, and students Monica Palos '10, Caeli Molina '11, Kaitlyn Fritz '11, and Elizabeth Sanchez '11 (pictured at right with their rose) painted it over the summer with intricately detailed scenes from "The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party" from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
The students volunteered to participate in the Roses on Parade project to support Mayfield Senior School's "200 Actions" community project, which commemorates the 200th birthday of Cornelia Connelly. They felt this whimsical theme was an appropriate way to pay tribute to Cornelia and her love of children.
The work of all 27 artists, comprising five school groups and 22 professional artists, formed a special “Rose Garden” on the front lawn of the Tournament of Roses House on Sunday, November 2, when the 27 roses were unveiled before being moved to display locations throughout the City of Pasadena. The Mayfield Rose will be on display at the Tea Rose Garden in Old Town Pasadena through January 15, 2009.
Mayfield Senior School Students Volunteer at Polls For Election 2008
Fifteen Mayfield Senior School students saw their United States Government course work come to life as they volunteered with the Los Angeles County Student Pollworker program on Tuesday, November 4. The students, a number of whom were eligible to vote, spent Election Day 2008 working at check-in tables at a variety of local polling places, and were thrilled to see democracy in action during this historic election.
The United States Government course, offered by the Social Studies Department, examines the structure and function of American government, including the presidency, congress, elections, ideologies, state and local government, civil liberties and the role of the media. Social studies teacher Toi Webster-Treister '82 coordinated the students' volunteer efforts.
Pictured (front, from left): Lindsay Chenelia, Lindsay Butcher,Veronica Hidalgo, Kate Plumley, Stephanie Segovia, Caroline Choi (back) Michelle Gibson, Meaghan Westenhaver, Polly Chang, Camila Ryder, Katie Wong and Maisie Hooper. Not pictured: Madison Hagen, Paula Narvaez and Devon Newhouse.
|
||||||
Annual Giving 2008-09Mayfield Senior School kicked off its Annual Giving Drive in October with the Annual Parent Phonathon. More than 50 parents made calls to both current and past parents. As of November 1, more than 60% of our current parents and nearly 10% of our past parents have made their Annual Giving commitment. By now you should have received the Annual Giving mailing outlining the many ways in which your gift supports the current year’s operating budget. If you have not received your Annual Giving package or would like to request additional information, please contact Molly Meyer Gervais, Director of Annual Giving and Alumnae Relations or click here to make your gift online today. Remember, every gift — no matter what the size — helps us close the tuition gap. CALENDAR NOTES:
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
Questions or comments?Contact Mayfield Senior School Communications Manager Michele Hilland. Have you moved, or changed your email address or phone number?Please send all contact information updates to data@mayfieldsenior.org |
||||||
Europe, and especially Rome, was a revelation to the Connellys— ancient buildings, beautiful works of art, the society of so many cultured Catholics. As an intelligent and vivacious couple, Pierce and Cornelia were invited to the homes of many influential people, including that of the English Earl of Shrewsbury. Cornelia developed a close friendship with his lovely daughter, Gwendoline, who introduced her to work among the poor of Rome, and who was to die a few years later when she was only 22.