Ian Rees, class of 2007, began working on feature films, short films, iPhone apps, and more after finishing his college career at CSUN. For his Senior Recital (a requirement for his graduation) he hired a live orchestra and conducted them as they performed his original compositions in sync with scenes from movies that he had chosen to re-score. He recorded this recital and used it to apply to the USC Scoring for Motion Pictures & Television (SMPTV) program, which only admits 20 students annually. He was accepted; however, Ian declined the offer in order to continue his music career. He decided that a year apart from his work would be detrimental to his progress, especially since he would be abandoning his friends and fellow band members from Audioplacebo.

Audioplacebo is an experimental Indie rock band that was formed during Ian’s college days. Besides Ian (vocals, keyboard, guitar) the band includes former Waverly graduate James Franks (vocals, guitar, keyboard), along with Michael Peters (guitar, percussion, synth), Nathan Harvey (drums), and Eddie Myers (bass). The band currently rehearses and records their music at Nathan Harvey’s studio (www.harveyproductions.com) in Burbank, CA. Audioplacebo purchased their own domain name (www.audioplacebo.com) not too long ago and their concert dates are listed on multiple websites/apps including Bandsintown. Their first full studio album is being mixed by the talented Will Borza and will be released later this year! Ian is totally excited for this.

The second piece in a series of occasional reports on Waverly graduates.

Iris Helle takes to the skies whenever she can.

Iris Helle, class of 2007, always came to school on Halloween dressed as Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. She said she wanted to fly and she pursued her dream.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, (majored in Aeronautics, minored in Aviation Safety) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Right now she works as a Flight Coordinator at Van Nuys Airport for a company called Jet Edge International. Her future plans are to “stay with the company and see if I can climb the corporate ladder – if not, I plan to move to Europe to start working in aviation there.”  When asked if she gets to fly, Iris explained that her job is to “arrange flights and arrangements for crew members (i.e, hotels, rental cars, etc.) –  no flying at work, unfortunately. But,” she added, “I do get to fly for pleasure!”

Max Libbrecht’s dream job is waiting at the end of his PhD program.

Max Libbrecht, class of 2007, did his undergrad work at Stanford in Computer Science. And now, Max says, “I’m in the Computer Science PhD program at University of Washington. I’m doing research in Computational Biology with my advisor, Bill Noble. I’ll be at UW for a few more years. PhDs usually take between 4-7 years, and I’m currently in my second year. After that I’m hoping to get a job as a professor at a university.”

Marly Young found the job of her dreams after a few months slinging coffee. 

Marly Young, class of 2005, graduated from University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in English Literature. After college, she, like many others, looked for a job.  Marly explained, “When I graduated I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life so I worked in the café of a local art gallery where I started writing their press releases during the café’s lulls. That experience helped me obtain an unpaid internship, which turned into a career.”  From there, Marly began working at Paschal Roth, a boutique public affairs firm in Sacramento. Paschal Roth managed the communications and day-to-day operations of the campaign to pass Proposition 30, the Governor’s tax initiative. Marly said, “That was the most challenging and rewarding moment in my career.”  And now, Marly lives in Sacramento and when asked what she is doing now, she said, “This February, I started a new job as a Communications Specialist with the California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. I love what I’m doing now. I get to work on a wide variety of state policy issues that interest me, like high-speed rail and education funding.” Asked about her goals, plans and dreams for the future, she said, “I’m not sure about my future plans yet. I love working in public affairs so I suppose I will continue working in State Government and see where it takes me.”

Vivian Sullivan took advantage of a variety of opportunities to find her way into interesting jobs.

Vivian Sullivan , class of 2005,  (pictured left with Laramie Bowron, ’03) graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism & Public Relations.  Vivian reports that, “After three years at The Atlantic magazine and website, I accepted an offer to join Twitter in San Francisco. I currently work on Twitter’s Mid Market Sales team and am loving every minute of it.”  She went on to talk about her time after high school.  “My journey from high school graduation to Twitter has required a TON of hard work, but I’ve had a little fun too. At one point, in college, I served as a hand model for a national line of bath products. And through my professional work experiences, I’ve been lucky enough to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend and have had the pleasure of front row seating at a variety of conversations featuring some very influential people including Katie Couric, Deepak Chopra, Chris Mathews, Nancy Pelosi and most recently, Gordon Brown.”

I want to go to kindergarten again but this time, I want to go to Waverly.

In just one week my kindergartner, Murray, began the first book of The Boxcar Children, learned about the inventions of Benjamin Franklin, performed with the new class microphone on the classroom stage, practiced money skills in Minute Math, investigated the properties of water and the temperatures at which water freezes and boils, learned a Chinese song for Chinese New Year and performed it at All School Meeting, visited classroom neighbors for a performance of Strega Nona, and learned everything about the letter “O.”

Outside of the classroom, Murray is hungry to apply his learning.  At the Waverly Farm, he and his friends built a structure and imagined they were the Boxcar Children.  They also made fresh apple cider with an old-fashioned cider press.

At home, I often overhear Murray singing songs from his music class or find him sitting at his keyboard practicing a new tune that he learned at school.  And Murray often enjoys teaching his third grade brother words in Hindi and German that he learned in class.

While all this is amazing, the most incredible things that Murray learns in kindergarten are less tangible.  Murray is learning kindness.  He’s learning how to listen to others.  He’s learning what it means to be a friend.  And he’s learning that learning is exciting and fun.

Each day he returns to school with the same excitement and energy as the day before. Something very magical is happening in that kindergarten classroom. I really wish they’d let me go too.

–Wendy Lopata
Mom to Murray, kindergarten and Nolan, 3^rd grade

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”
~Thomas Fuller, 1732

Maybe Eli (dad of Hannah, 1^st grade) was thinking along these lines last summer, when he decided to adopt our poor, forlorn, empty farm pond.  Eli single-handedly hauled several tons (literally) of rock, concrete and brick out of the pond, removed the old liner, smoothed out the bottom, and added a layer of sand and a new, sturdy liner.   Then, we turned the pond over to the Purple Pelicans, who, in light of their “Coastlines and Communities” theme built us a new coastline of cattails, papyrus and water lilies.  The pond is back, and already it is a magical and serene spot.

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature.  It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
~Henry David Thoreau (King of the pond, after all)

Thank you, Eli, for giving us the benefit of your hard labor. The children are drawn to our pond like a magnet– watching, studying, and wondering.  Gazing into earth’s eye.

–Barbara Ayers,  Farm Manager

Every so often I find a book of non-fiction that speaks to me so loudly, I carry it around in my purse, to reread, to cite from, and to recommend to others. The Lost Art of Reading: Why Books Matter in a Distracted Time by David Ulin was one such book. Recently, I was delighted to discover that next week, David Ulin will be at Waverly’s Literacy Night, along with a panel of two other speakers.

My current non-fiction choice is a book by Madeline Levine titled Teach Your Children Well–Parenting for Authentic Success. This is the only book I have requested be carried at our Book Fair this year, and if I could give a copy to every parent at Waverly, I would. Throughout the early chapters of the book, Madeline Levine advocates for the kind of education and experience provided at Waverly. Encouraging parents to resist pervasive worrying about early education, she says, “No child is better off in front of a computer or practicing the times tables. Childhood is precious. It is not preparation for high school, college, or a profession but a brief and replaceable period of time when children are entitled to the privilege of being children.’’ With chapters dedicated to the “tasks” of each the elementary, middle and high school years, Levine gives reasonable, experience and research-based advice. For parents of elementary age students she says, “mastering content is the easier part of learning. What we really need to attend to with elementary age children is keeping their interest alive and helping them figure out multiple approaches to thinking about content.”  For parents of middle school students, Levine describes how the middle school brain is changing in ways that cause young adolescents to be susceptible to risks, novelty, and stimulation, explaining that, “at this point the brain is kind of like a Ferrari being driven by a twelve year old.”

There is so much more I could say, but hopefully you will consider picking up copies of these–and many more–books at our Book Fair, Tuesday 10/35 – Thursday, 10/25 in the community room at the elementary school.

Literacy Night will be held at the Elementary School on Wednesday, October 24 at 7:00.

– Jen Dakan
Bibliophile and Director of Admissions

The first week of school at Waverly our eyes were wide open, and we could feel our hearts pounding as we stood taking everything in: children laughing, digging, climbing, drawing, hugging the legs of parents, and waiting for the sweet school bell to be rung by an eager child.  How lovely the sound of this bell in contrast to the loud automated one we were used to. Everything felt new and different.

My daughter Cora is new to Waverly this year. She is a fourth grader in Molly and Kerry’s class. My husband Mac and I made the decision to tour Waverly last year, when we concluded that Cora’s K-3rd grade academic experience at one of the top school districts in California, was not playing to her creative strengths, but rather creating daily stress.  We had heard about Waverly through friends with children who attend the school, and we were eager to learn more.  After touring and visiting several times, we felt in our hearts that this was a school where Cora would soar.  We knew it would not be easy to move schools at age 9, but it would more than likely be worth it.

Within one week of attending Waverly this fall, our family and friends noticed and commented on a brighter, lighter Cora.  She hops into the car at the end of the day with energy in her eyes, stories of what she created and learned, and a relaxed disposition.  We experience quality family time after school, and she is engaged in her homework rather than in tears from the overwhelming amount of it. Everything is new and different and better.

Cora’s heart still beats quickly as we walk into the school yard each morning.  But every day, she is greeted with warm smiles, bear hugs, and friendly hands taking hers – to bring her in – into the nurturing, creative, and inspiring arms of Waverly.

– Michelle
Mom of Cora, 4th Grade

On the third day of school, I entered the elementary playground and noticed two girls on the swings in the young kindergarten yard. The day before I had spent a little time with these same girls, encouraging them to get the swings moving on their own. Each one tried, but it isn’t easy to swing yourself when you are four years old. I was happy to see that in just two days, they had figured it out. Together, or maybe separately, each had found her way to get the swing going without help from an adult.

It takes time to learn how to swing on your own. I am grateful to be at Waverly, among a community of people who are willing to help one another find their way, and to sometimes stand quietly beside, while we figure it out on our own. — Jennifer Dakan,  Director of Admissions

The morning of the first day of school is always filled with animated conversation as students connect with one another and their teachers through sharing; this year was no exception. As I walked through the playground and visited classrooms yesterday, I listened to students from young kindergarten through twelfth grade share about summer travel, past school experiences, books read, pet stories, first jobs, and favorites of all sorts, from holidays to rooms in the house.  By the afternoon of the first day of school, conversations shift to the present and the task of learning now at hand; it happened yesterday as it always does.  Having connected through the telling of their separate stories, the students began the work of creating the school year, nine months that they will share.

During our Sixth Grade Celebration last week,  George, who came to Waverly in the middle of the year, spoke emotionally and eloquently about his transition from public school and what Waverly has come to mean to him.  Please enjoy his heartfelt words!

I first arrived at Waverly Elementary School 7 months ago, fresh from [a] public school I had attended for the first half of the school year. I hadn’t fit in very well there, so I was eager to come here, especially since I’d made friends during my shadow day.

I was already expecting Waverly to be great, and within the first few days after I’d arrived, I knew I’d made the right choice coming here. The curriculum was much more challenging and fun than I was expecting, but the best part is I have many, many friends.

As soon as I arrived, I was instantly taken in, shown around, and introduced to everybody in the school. Now, I can’t go anywhere in Pasadena without running into someone I know from Waverly.

I realized how lucky I was during our camping trip to El Capitan. We’d been told by the teachers we were in big trouble with the campground officials for leaving trash on the ground. We were walking to where we were supposed to have a talk with the camp manager, and it turned out that it was actually a surprise birthday party for one of the students. Nothing like that had ever happened at my old school, and I realized just how special a place this was. It was the nicest feeling in the world.

Thanks are due to several people here had the biggest hand in making this such a nice place to be. Those people are my teachers, so I’d like to thank them. Erin, Cheri, Kerry, I don’t think I’ve ever accumulated as much knowledge as I have this year since I learned to talk.

I also want to thank my other teachers, Ken, Adriana, Josie, Michael, Eddie, and Billy for teaching me to make marionettes, present projects in Spanish, play Ultimate Frisbee, and learn new songs of every kind. I’ll remember you all my life.

One of the secrets to Waverly is that every teacher knows every kid’s name, they’re always friendly, and they’re always helpful. I wish I could have been taught by all of you, but sadly that’s not possible.

However, graduation isn’t just about looking back, but looking forward to be ready for what lies ahead. And judging from how much I’ve learned and how fun it’s been here, I know that I am ready for middle school and that it will likely be just as fantastic as this year has been.

The only reason I’m ready is that this school has prepared me. I am more grateful for that than you could possibly imagine. Thank you, Waverly, for the best school year I’ve ever had.