Year-End Volleyball Honors Roll In

Clare Bolton '09 was named to the Monterey Herald All County team for the fourth year in a row. She was also chosen for the MTAL first team and voted MVP by the MTAL league coaches. As senior captain, she led the volleyball team to back-to-back league championships and Central Coast Section playoffs. "Despite being the team's best offensive weapon, Clare unselfishly knew that to win a league title and advance to the playoffs, she had to put that aside and play the role of setter. She set up other players for points and glory," said coach Mark Zalin. "Volleyball aficionados are most impressed with Clare's ability to mix up her sets and keep a defense off balance and an offense happy with opportunities for everyone to excel and contribute."

Michelle Briggs '09 was named to the Salinas California and Monterey Herald All County teams, as well as the MTAL first team. "Michelle is one of the most dominant middle hitter and blockers in the county," stated Zalin. "She was instrumental in the team's back-to-back championships and playoff run."

Taylor Fox '10 was selected to the MTAL first team, and singled out as "one to watch" by the Salinas Californian and Monterey Herald All County teams. "She is one of the leading outside hitters in the county and another reason we were able to capture the league crowns," Zalin said.

Congratulations to the entire team for an amazing season!

Students Identify with Kip Fulbeck

Students traveled to Palo Alto to hear Kip Fulbeck speak on the art of identity. An award-winning artist, slam poet, filmmaker and author of the acclaimed Part Asian: 100% Hapa, Fulbeck is an internationally known speaker who blends stand-up comedy, political activism, and personal stories into a spirited exploration of identity, racial heritage, multiraciality, and diversity.

Christmas by Candlelight

Upper School students rang in the holidays with the annual Candlelight celebration on December 13, 2008. Lit only by candles, the girls gathered for dinner, attended mass, and sang Christmas carols under the tree.

Alumnae Celebrate Christmas in the Hacienda

The Monterey Chapter of the Santa Catalina Alumnae Association hosted their annual open house on December 9, 2008. Having previously been held in several venues, the event has now settled into the old Hacienda Dining Room. Alumnae, as well as past and current parents, enjoyed refreshments and music by ecco!, the Upper School a cappella group, and the Songbirds, an all-girl ensemble from the Lower School.

Upper School Concert Welcomes Winter

The annual Upper School Winter Concert took place in the Performing Arts Center on December 11, 2008. Led by Mark Purcell, Music Department Chair, the chamber ensemble performed Presto by J.C. Moller and excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite. The choir than sang Cantatel by John Leavitt and Ave Maria followed by two Spanish carols, Fum, fum, fum! and A la Nanita Nana. Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi and Hope for Resolution concluded the inspirational evening.

Lower School Presents Holiday Concert

The annual Christmas concert was performed by Lower School students on December 16, 2008. With a theme of "Make a Joyful Noise," the children sang, played musical instruments, and danced to traditional carols. Directed by Rosella Crawford-Bathurst, the concert featured holiday favorites such as Trepak from The Nutcracker Suite, Canon of the Bells, and Silent Night.

Students Find Both Heart and Art in the City

Upper School students visited Glide Memorial and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on December 7, 2008. Organized by Dana Hart-Stone, Chair of the Visual Arts Department, the tour began with Glide Memorial, a Methodist church founded in 1929. The church serves 750,000 meals a year to the poor and disadvantaged, and was recently featured in the film The Pursuit of Happyness.

The SFMOMA exhibited The Art of Participation: 1950 to Now with artists such as John Cage, Hans Haacke, and Lynn Hershman Leeson. Their works directly engaged the students as collaborators in the art-making process.