Newsletter: June 5, 2009
Dear Pilgrim Families, First Church Members, and Friends,
Reflecting on this past school year, I am impressed by and enormously proud of our Pilgrim School students. From the youngest preschoolers to our Class of 2009, Pilgrim School is filled with bright, creative, fun and inspiring young people. The same applies to our faculty, who motivate our students to excel. When I say I have the best job in town, I am not exaggerating!
This has been an especially auspicious year, as we have celebrated our fiftieth anniversary, beginning with Founders’ Day in September and ending on Monday with Commencement. I hope you all received the e-mail invitation to Baccalaureate Sunday and Commencement from Madeline, who was Head of School on Tuesday. She sent it to Pilgrim families and alumni, and we received some lovely responses from our alumni, many of whom will attend. I look forward to seeing you at 11 a.m. on Sunday at First Church, and at 7 p.m. as we wish our Class of 2009 well. Trust me, these two events are not to be missed!
On behalf of the whole school, I want to like to thank the graduating seniors for their service to our community. Instead of sleeping in and going to graduation parties, all of our seniors spent three days working for Habitat for Humanity. The work was hard physical labor. In addition to building homes, they worked to clear land. Clearing land is hot, dirty work, weeding and leveling ground. I'm sure the students also learned the practical lesson of the value of a good education! I especially want to thank Elizabeth Turro and Mike Sarafian for working along side the seniors. Congratulations to our hard working and unselfish seniors -- you do Pilgrim School and yourselves very proud!
Ring a Round of Writers, the Elementary Literary Magazine for students in grades K-5, was distributed this week. Now in its sixth year, Ring a Round of Writers gives our young authors an opportunity to express and share their writing talents with friends and family. It's a proud and exciting moment, when children get to see their published work! Extra copies are available in the front office. Thank you, Mrs. Koller, for your role as editor!
Two faculty members and one administrator were awarded Pilgrim School Professional Development grants. Ryan Grady (mathematics) has been studying Judo since he was eight years old. He has achieved the level of Shodan, first-degree black belt, and will spend a month in Tokyo studying at the Kodokan Judo Institute. There is a high probability that Judo will be offered at Pilgrim next year …. Stay tuned! Our esteemed Japanese teacher, Hiromi Takahashi, will travel to Korea to learn more about the culture. Development Director Toni DeVito is staying closer to home. She will spend a week in Idyllwild taking a writing course. These three proposals were awarded out of more than a dozen proposals. I am so pleased that Pilgrim is able to offer these opportunities.
When I look back at this year, we have so much to celebrate. Commencement on June 8 will be the culmination of our fiftieth anniversary celebrations, and will also be the first step on the journey upon which our Class of 2009 will embark. I am so proud of them, and encourage you to join us at 7 p.m. that evening. Commencement is not just for seniors and their families, but also for the entire Pilgrim School community. For our younger students, attending graduation gives them something to aspire to, and helps to connect them to the traditions of our school. As with all things Pilgrim, there is a surprise planned!
I have just returned from an action-packed day, even by Pilgrim School standards. I want to offer my congratulations to students on the Headmaster’s List, to students who won awards and were recognized for their many talents, and to our students who were promoted to Middle School and High School. A complete list of these remarkable students follows my letter.
Thank you to all who made this year so extraordinary. I can’t begin to name names, because our community is so widespread. Our faculty go above and beyond every single day, in and out of the classroom. Our volunteers, be they on the Board of Governors or parents planning fundraisers, are essential to our infrastructure. Parents, your support of your children by ensuring they are at school on time, have a good breakfast and a good night’s sleep and that they do their homework is crucial to their success in school. Pilgrim would not exist without First Church, and I am daily grateful for their support. Donors large and small ensure that families who require financial help receive scholarships. Annual fund donations bridge the “gap” between what families pay in tuition and what that education actually costs. Generous gifts from in many forms, from in-kind donations of items for use in the classroom to underwriters for special programs and buildings. Pilgrim’s staff members wear many different hats, always in service of making the school the best place possible for our students. Alumni near and far stay in touch, make donations, participate in Career Day and organize reunions.
I said I wouldn’t name names, but an enormous note of appreciation needs to go to some of our staff who sometimes fly under the radar: Cheryl Sarafian, who keeps me in line (well, she tries!); our very own Susan Swan; the ever-patient and helpful Mauren Burgoa; and Arin, our Business Office accountant who calmly handles requests that seem to be endless. Once started, I must go on: Cindy Dizon, Business Manager Estelle Dougherty, accountant Lina Ashar; Facilities Managers Fernando Vargas and June Flowers (and believe me, this is a complex facility to keep in tip-top shape!), and Miss Ashley and her team of before- and after-care staff. I have to add just ONE more name: Karen Smith, our Registrar and Director of Information. The miracles she has worked this past year in organizing our datum are due to her hard work and intelligence. Thank you one, thank you all, and remember – we are a community, we are a team, and we rock!
With best wishes,
PS: The Nelson family is spending two weeks in Zambia this summer, helping to build a school near the capitol. If you can donate any leftover school supplies from the year – chalk, paper, pencils, pens, scissors, art supplies, notebooks – they would be most grateful. You may leave items in the front office. Many heartfelt thanks for your help.
SECONDARY SCHOOL ACADEMIC AWARDS
Pilgrim Student Columnists of the Year:
Gavin Somes (Larchmont Chronicle) and Jake Weber (Los Feliz Ledger)
Middle School Speech Contest
1st Place 6th Grade: Harmony Streams
1st Place 7th Grade: Addae Melhuish
1st Place 8th Grade: Justin Ifekwunigwe
AP Calculus: Jay Choi
Math
Highest Academic Middle School: Jae Park, Aaron Chin, and Jae Won Chung
Highest Academic High School: Karissa Azucar
Most Improved Middle School: Junior Yi
Most Improved High School: Cherise Pierson
Science
Highest Academic Middle School: Jae Won Chung
Highest Academic High School: Jake Weber
Most Improved Middle School: Junior Yi
Most Improved High School: Jacky Ng
History
Highest Academic Middle School: Christopher Yoon
Highest Academic High School: Nathaniel Nelson
Most Improved Middle School: Baltazar Martinez
Most Improved High School: Dustin Aspiras
English
Highest Academic Middle School: Jae Won Chung
Highest Academic High School: Zack Perry
Most Improved Middle School: Karisma Naran
Most Improved High School: Marlene Kleinerueschkamp
Art
Highest Academic Middle School: Grace Cho
Highest Academic High School: Joyce Kamau
Most Improved Middle School: James Stoppani
Most Improved High School: Marco Lee
Dance
Highest Achievement High School: Ed Ko and Amanda Hurtado-Harding
Most Improved High School: Lili Arakaki
Concert Singers
Highest Academic High School: Madeleine Kanazawa
Most Improved High School: Henry Downs and Seong Choi
Band
Outstanding Musician Middle School: Jae Won Chung
Outstanding Musician High School: Khari Rhynes
Most Improved Middle School: Aaron Chin
Most Improved High School: Jake Weber
Chinese
Highest Academic Middle School: Grace Cho
Highest Academic High School: Audrey Dalton
Most Improved Middle School: Henry Klapper
Most Improved High School: Sophie Park
Spanish
Highest Academic Middle School: Shivani Patel
Highest Academic High School: Ryan Williams and Alice Cho
Most Improved Middle School: Junior Yi
Most Improved High School: Coco Maurice
Japanese Honors Society Inductees
Soohan Kim
Seok Moon Choi
Gabe Andreen
Jay Choi
Japanese Awards
Highest Academic Middle School: James Stoppani
Highest Academic High School: Jay Choi
Most Improved Middle School: Joseph Casabar
Most Improved High School: Haydn Muir
Latin
Most Improved: Mario Brajevich
Highest Achievement: Chloe Taylor
ESOL
Highest Academic 6th to 9th: Justin Choi
Highest Academic 10th to 12th: Marlene Kleinerueschkamp
Most Improved 6th to 9th: Kiana Fang
Most Improved 10th to 12th: Ming An
OVERALL GPA
Highest Academic Middle School: Jae Park
Highest Academic High School: Jay Choi
Most Improved Middle School: Hong Justin Jang
Most Improved High School: Zack Perry
The Citizenship Award
This award is presented to the student who has been responsible and fair, who has served his or her classmates, Pilgrim School and our community well, and who has shown exemplary attitude and conduct. The 12th grade award will be presented at Baccalaureate on Sunday. The 8th grade award is presented to Shivani Patel.
The Scholarship Award
This award is presented to the student who has demonstrated a love of learning, who pursues knowledge in breadth and depth, and who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. The 12th grade award will be presented at Baccalaureate on Sunday. The 8th grade award is presented to Jae Won Chung.
The Leadership Award
This award is presented to the student who has demonstrated fine and promising leadership skills and who has led his or her class in a meaningful, positive way. The 12th grade award will be presented at Baccalaureate on Sunday. The 8th grade award is presented to Austin Adams.
The Larry and Nancy Brown Community Service Award
The recipient of this award shows exemplary service to the Pilgrim School community. This service has been above and beyond what is expected of a student as a member of his or her class. Thus if all members of a class or grade level are involved in a community service project with Pilgrim School as the beneficiary, this student will have contributed more time and with more energy than any other member of the class. The Middle School award is presented to Robert Villagomez and the upper school award is presented to Marlene Kleinerueschkamp and Etienne Maurice.
The Brian Robillard Cedar Lake Memorial Scholarship
This award is presented in honor of Brian Robillard, the son of Ron Robillard, manager of Cedar Lake Camp of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. The $500 tuition scholarship is presented to a student who has strong moral values and standards, appreciates, respects and celebrates the outdoors, is a positive roll model and proudly represents Pilgrim School. The award is presented to Ryan Williams.
The Viola P. Elder Award
Hyde Park Congregational Church gives this award in memory of a church leader who attended Congregationally-founded Talladega College and was a lifelong Congregationalist. Known by many as the “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court” on her nationally syndicated radio show, she was a woman who overcame many challenges yet pursued academic excellence, exuded responsibility and perseverance, and led by example. The 12th grade award will be presented at Baccalaureate. The MS award is presented to James Stoppani.
The Wellesley Book Award
This award is presented to by the Wellesley College Book Club of Los Angeles to a female member of the Junior Class whose academic record and community involvement reflects the values of Wellesley College. This award is presented to Amanda Hurtado-Harding.
The Harvard Book Award
This award is presented by the Harvard Alumni Association and is awarded to the outstanding junior for excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with outstanding achievement in extracurricular endeavors. This award is presented to Gabe Andreen.
The Leslie Richardson Memorial Scholarship
Several years ago, Glenn Richardson, a long-time member of this church and a longstanding member of Pilgrim School’s Governing Board established the Leslie Richardson Memorial Scholarship. Recipients are well-rounded students with high academic achievement, active in student government, athletics and fine arts. Students receiving this scholarship perform service to the Pilgrim School community and the greater community, and they always exhibit a positive and supportive attitude towards Pilgrim School. This scholarship will contribute $500 toward Pilgrim School tuition in the fall. This award is presented to current 9th graders Xavier Sallas-Brookwell and Dustin Park who will split the scholarship, current 10th grader Christopher Han and current 11th grader Vivian Lin.
The Dr. Walter James Vernon Scholarship
This award is presented in the honor of a man whose life and ministry at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles have embodied the qualities of integrity, leadership, erudition and strong moral character, as well as a compassionate concern for others. This $1000 scholarship is given to the High School student who most reflects the ideals of the honoree. The award is presented to Nathaniel Nelson.
Pilgrim School Faculty Scholarship
This scholarship has been designed and funded entirely through the donations of the Pilgrim School faculty and staff. The award was established in order to recognize a student who has shown great academic promise and a high potential for success at Pilgrim School. This year’s recipient has shown great resilience and was the Faculty’s unanimous choice to receive the award. The first Pilgrim School Faculty Scholarship is awarded to Lilly Allen.
Carlton Brooks Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is presented in memory of Dr. Brooks father, Carlton Brooks, to three individuals who exemplify what it means to be a Pilgrim student—fiercely traditional, conscious of our past, passionate about moving forward, global in perspective, resilient and ambitious. The 2008-2009 recipients of the Carlton Brooks Memorial Scholarship are Nathaniel Nelson, Caroline Wade, and Jonathan Salisbury.
Headmaster Award
This award is presented by the Head of School to a student who shows great promise academically, ethically, and socially and has the potential to bring great honor and pride to him/herself, his/her family and Pilgrim School. For the first time, we have two winners this year for Headmasters’ Award for 2008-2009. We congratulate Khare Rhynes and Haydn Muir.
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC AWARD WINNERS
Boys Varsity Football:
Most Improved: Dustin Park
MVP: Ryan Williams
Coaches Award: Alex Park, Chris Park, Zachary Perry, David Cho
Girls Varsity Volleyball:
MVP: Coco Maurice
Most Improved: Cherice Pierson
Girls Varsity Basketball:
MVP: Madeleine Kanazawa
Def. Player of the Year: Karissa Azucar
Off. Player of the Year: Coco Maurice
Most Improved: Cherice Pierson
Sixth Man Award: Felema Yemane
Boys Varsity Basketball:
MVP: Peter Young
Off. Player of the Year: Etienne Maurice
Def. Player of the Year: Ryan Williams
Coach’s Award: Eric Cho
Rookie of the Year: Xavier Sallas-Brookwell
Hustle Award: Homer Mason
Boys Varsity Soccer:
MVP: Ian Kamau
Most Improved: Justin Choi
Coach’s Award: Dustin Park
Captain’s Award: Jose Martinez
Off. Player of the Year: Seok Moon Choi
Girls Varsity Softball:
MVP: Elizabeth Brajevich
Off. Player of the Year: Madeleine Kanazawa
Def. Player of the Year: Karissa Azucar
Most Improved: Marlene Kleinerueschkamp
Boys Varsity Volleyball:
MVP: Peter Young
Most Improved: Michael Song
Boys Varsity Baseball:
MVP: Jonathan Salisbury
Most Improved: Dustin Park
Most Potential Award: Chris Han
Def. Player of the Year: Ryan Williams
Off. Player of the Year: Cosmo Kelly
Cheerleading:
Captain’s Award: Lili Arakaki
Coach’s Award: Amanda Hurtado-Harding
Most Improved: Sophie Park
MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC AWARDS
Flag Football
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Ifekwunigwe
Defensive Player of the Year: Mina Anthony
Captain's Award: Austin Adams
Goliath Award: Nils Lindblom
Girls Volleyball
MVP: Mariah Davis
Offensive Player of the Year: Grace Cho
Defensive Player of the Year: Pilar Stennis
Most Inspirational: Nadia Skelil
Boys Basketball
MVP: Justin Ifekwunigwe
Defensive Player of the Year: Joon Yeop Kwon
Most Improved: Joseph Casabar
Sharpshooter Award: Michael Willoughby
All Star Player: Austin Adams
Leadership Award: Allen Park
Baseball
MVP: Nils Lindblom
Offensive Player of the Year: Austin Adam
Golden Glove Award: Alec Palchikoff
Coach’s Award: Gabriel Garza
ELEMENTARY AWARDS
Covenant
K Piccinino Ivan Rho Camille Andrews
K Cho Isaiah Nicholson Monica Min
1st Evans Declan Kelly Ann Nishida
1st Houston Max Rauchberg Kate Yamaguchi
2nd Basom Max Starn Lissa Kanai
2nd Koller Galo Medina Teri Newman
3rd Nagel Louis Armstead Gabrielle Traylor
3rd Diaz Alex Liang Emma Yood-Howard
4th Koller Cameron Ifekwunigwe Melia Rigney
5th Lang Xavier Orozco Hanna Streimer
Specialists
Art
K Nathan Oh
K Joanne Lee
1st Diego Dela Cruz
1st Arath Pedroza-Alberto
2nd Ian McCambridge
2nd Aidan Yood-Howard
3rd Thomas Lee
3rd Gabrielle Traylor
4th Sean Kim
5th Brandon Oakley
Music
K Monica Min
1st Kate Yamaguchi
2nd Teri Newman
3rd Alexander Liang
4th Joey Cheng
5th Hanna Streimer
Band Awards
4th Max Gleiberman-Trombone
5th Avery Lopez -Trumpet
PE
K Brandon Liang Heather Baza
1st Reese Dixon Mya Afflalo
2nd David Ortiz Akuti Patel
3rd Ryan Willoughby Madison Quan
4th Steven Gi Melia Rigney
5th Jake Gleiberman Avery Lopez
Spanish
5th David Reyes
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Greatest Academic Improvement
2nd Ian McCambridge
2nd L. Simpson
3rd Nasir Isaacs
3rd Mikio Metoyer
4th Trevor Altenburg
5th Jake Gleiberman
Highest Academic Achievement
2nd Koller Grace Kim
2nd Jared Cox
3rd Shiv Patel
3rd Yasmine Yemofio
4th Joey Cheng
5th Jonathan Lee
Presidential Awards
4th Joey Cheng
Journey Streams
5th Sam Gallagher
Glenn Han
Juliet Kim
Jonathan Lee
Avery Lopez
Khari Melhuish
David Shim
Jeremy Tan
ELEMENTARY ATHLETIC AWARDS
This year the Hollywood-Wilshire League was created for our Fourth and Fifth Grade students to compete against students at other schools in the area. Students who just completed Grade Three, you will be eligible to play volleyball, basketball, flag football and soccer next year! Our Athletic Department thanks our Pilgrim parents for supporting this program, which the students enjoyed so much. Congratulations to Pilgrim Patriots Trevor Altenburg, Breanne Anderson, Robert Beesley, Joey Cheng, Jayvier Davis, Sam Gallagher, Steven Gi, Max Gleiberman, Jake Gleiberman, Glenn Han, Allegra Hennington, Cameron Ifekwunigwe, Garrett Ikegami, Jordan Isaacs, Maeve Johnson, Erica Johnson, Shota Kawaii, Sean Kim, Avery Lopez, Khari Melhuish, Brandi Myricks, Raymond Nava, Xavier Orozco, Jigar Patel, David Reyes, Melia Rigney, David Ryoo, David Shin, Myles Stafford, Journey Streams, Hanna Streimer, Jeremy Tan and Jasmine Yang.
The Headmaster List will be published next week. Congratulations to all!
SUMMER SCHOOL
Summer is rapidly approaching! Pilgrim Summer School has classes for all ages and all needs, from the educational to the entertaining. Last week our Elementary students enjoyed demonstrations from teachers of violin, science and karate, and we’re sure they all would like to make beautiful music, blow things up, and learn to chop a block of wood in half! Sign-ups are available on our website.
SECONDARY NEWS
MEDIA ARTS NEWS
Next year, Lucas Calhoun will teach a Digital Photography program. We are excited about this expansion of our Media Arts Program. We are still in need of digital SLR cameras, and would appreciate any donations of cameras or cash contributions. Thank you!
PRESCHOOL NEWS
We are so excited about our upcoming Preschool Graduation (the end of the school year picnic), which will take place on Wednesday, June 10th at 10:00 a.m. All of our Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students will be acknowledged for their progress. We hope everyone is able to participate. We look forward to seeing everyone at the graduation to celebrate the commencement of Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students.
New and exciting summer journeys are waiting for us and we are pleased to have your children with us throughout the summer. The Preschool and Kindergarten Summer Bridge Programs will encourage students to sharpen their academic skills and enhance their social and emotional skills by making new friends while interacting and exchanging their ideas. Look for the exciting "Summer Theme" Calendar next week for the months of July and August.
