Artemis - 2012 - Spring by The Archer School for Girls

february 2012

ARTEMIS MAGAZINE

constructing, connecting & collaborating: USING DIGITAL TOOLS IN THE CLASSROOM

Technology has a very real impact on our everyday lives. These tools—from Smartphones to tablets to personal computers—are integrated into our daily routines and seem omnipresent. As a consequence, new paradigms

In the News

Cultivating Independent Thinking

Community Service Highlights

13 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Joe Busch 14 Athletics Highlights 18 Alumnae Notes 24 Alumnae Profiles

for learning have developed which purposefully and naturally integrate digital tools. The implementation of Archer’s 1 to 1 Laptop Program was just the first step in reflecting this reality in our classrooms and how pedagogies have emerged to adapt these new 21st century tools. Access to technology allows students and faculty to explore, create, and innovate while constructing new types of knowledge. As Middle

School Director Karen Pavliscak reflected, the use of digital tools should not merely be used because they are available, rather they should be utilized because they offer the possibility to build skills and literacy – constructing new modes of discovery for every type of learner represented in the classroom. The strategic use of technology creates a globally connected environment where students share experiences and knowledge with other people around the world. The intentional use of digital tools is aligned with Archer’s constructivist approach to pedagogy which focuses on student-centered and controlled learning. By providing opportunities to use these tools to enhance their understanding, students are able to think critically and creatively about what they are experiencing. The intended result is that students will not just passively learn, but actively engage in a dialogical approach with their teachers, other students, and themselves about what they have discovered. There is a plethora of tangible and effective uses of digital tools in Archer classrooms. From accessing Google Docs to share notes and peer edit an essay, to creating instructive films using iMovie, Archer teachers and students determine the best way to use these tools to create collaborative and complementary learning experiences. The examples shared on the following pages are just a few of the cutting-edge ways our community is using these 21st century skills and tools. (continued on pg. 10)

A R T E M I S THE ARCHER MAGAZINE Editor Christina McIntosh Assistant Editor Angelica Bailon Contributors Chad Attie Angelica Bailon Robert Barker Marcia Berman Shauna Callahan Elizabeth English Beth Gold Daniel In Denny Lennon Christina McIntosh Karen Pavliscak Judey Petix Becky Putzier Evelyn Ramirez-Schultz Cassia Sonderleiter Mia Rille Special Thanks Budget Printing & Copy Design Angelica Bailon Christina McIntosh Photography Archer Communications Office Board of Trustees 2011-2012 Barbara Bruser Cornelia Cheng Stephanie Darrow Beth Friedman Ann Gianopulos Mark Gordon Caroline Grainge Cathy Helm Kathy Kennedy Ray Michaud Catrice Monson Barbara Natterson Horowitz, Chair Winifred Neisser Hillary Newman ’04 Lawrence O’Donnell John Ohanesian Karen Richards Sachs Ana Serrano Ron Stone Suzanne Todd, Vice-Chair Stephen Warren 11725 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90049 310-873-7000 archer.org

mission Statement The Archer School for Girls is an educational community that supports and challenges young women to discover their passions and realize their true potential. · We provide a rigorous, integrated college preparatory curriculum that fosters critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. · We create and sustain a collaborative teaching and learning environment that explores and refines the ways girls learn best. · We help girls to become leaders and life-long learners, strengthening their capacity to contribute positively to their communities. · We strengthen girls’ voices in a diverse and culturally rich environment. · We embrace possibility, promote challenge-seeking and support risk-taking. · We encourage girls to develop meaningful relationships with peers and faculty rooted in honesty, respect and responsibility. · We graduate courageous, committed, and ethical young women who take responsibility for their own physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Few things are more gratifying than seeing one’s vision, hard work, and tenacity pay off. In early February, the faculty and staff gathered to hear the commendations and recommendations of the 2012 California Association of Independent School Re-Accreditation Team, following their four-day visit and inspection of our School. In particular, the Team expressed effusive praise for: Archer’s Board and administration for their bold and strategic leadership, as evidenced by the School’s extraordinary advancement over the past three years; Archer’s faculty and staff for their uniform commitment to professional growth, innovation, and collaboration and for their unfailing dedication to the growth of their students; and for the students themselves who so clearly demonstrate the ideals of an inclusive, ambitious, and joyful educational culture. Put simply, the report was stellar, and the visiting team left The Archer School for Girls wanting to send faculty and staff from their own schools back to see our programs in action. It has truly been a banner year for Archer, with our sports teams clinching league championships; our artists winning top prizes for their photography, painting, and drawing; our debate and robotics teams bringing home first place wins and judges’ recognition; and our seniors, who applied early decision to their first choice colleges, boasting an acceptance rate of 80%, which is twice the national average. Faculty and staff at Archer are working harder than ever to ensure our students’ high-level achievement, all within an environment that values and celebrates each girl for her unique talents and passions. Archer is a wonderfully unique school and we, as a community, are justifiably proud of all our accomplishments. This issue of “Artemis” aims to highlight some of the exceptional work our faculty and students have showcased this year. Equally notable is all that our alumnae are accomplishing beyond Archer. We are tremendously proud of the women of Archer. Their innovative contributions continue to help further distinguish Archer as one of this nation’s leading girls’ schools.

Elizabeth English Head of School

Artemis Magazine February 2012

in the news

FALL/WINTER 2011-2012

Sixth graders enjoying lunch and laughs during the 5th annual Diversity Day in January From left: Danielle Roberts, Sydney Shintani, Summer DeVera, Julianna Goldsmith, and Cybele Zhang

The Archer School for Girls

ARCHER PARTICIPATES IN STANFORD UNIVERSITY STUDY This fall, Archer partnered with Stanford University in a research study based on Carol Dweck’s concept of the growth mindset. The study seeks to determine how students’ beliefs about school and their own abilities affect their motivation and achievement, and how they may benefit from particular kinds of activities that are paired together in a particular order. The purpose of the study is to gain insight into how to optimize student achievement.

TWELFTH NIGHT The Upper School performance of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” put a spin on the Bard’s tale of mistaken identity with the setting of 1930s New Orleans instead of the ancient city of Illyria. Arts Department Chair Tracy Poverstein partnered with assistant

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL Archer 11th graders kicked off this year’s Arrow Week program with a backpacking trip through southern Arizona and New Mexico led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). During the trip, students developed leadership and teamwork skills as they navigated through new terrain and collectively shared in physically and mentally challenging experiences in the outdoors. Archer chose to partner with NOLS because they are the country’s leader in outdoor education and safety. At Archer, we believe that girls develop a

student directors Sarah Eshaghian ’12 and Cora Cull ’12 to cultivate the play’s distinct flavor and character. Cora reflected, “The entire experience was absolutely non-stop fun! With a Shakespeare comedy, there’s really no limit to the way one can interpret the mood of the language, stage the scene, or even set the play. That gave us the total freedom to express Shakespeare’s humor in a way that our peers would both understand and find funny. The only challenging part was making sure all of us understood the language, and saw through the Archaic English to what the text was actually trying to convey. Once that was established, though, we went wild with creativity.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE FAIR More than 40 organizations

critical and enduring confidence through challenging experiential learning that takes them far beyond their comfort zone. Our partnership with NOLS— which will continue with the 7th & 9th Grade Arrow Week expeditions—aims to provide the same transformational, experiential learning for all our girls.

were represented on campus for the annual Community Service Fair, an event organized by the students of the Community Service Board and Director of Community Service Judey Petix. A multitude of causes and service opportunities were presented at the fair, including on and off campus activities. Students recognized the significance of service as a way to both contribute to

the community, and facilitate personal growth. Rachel Arditi ’13 called her work with Best Buddies International an “amazing experience” and her friendship with her buddy has helped her to “grow as a person” because it has compelled her to try and see the world through the lens of someone with an intellectual or developmental disability. Among the organizations in attendance were Young Angels of America, Los Angeles Public Library, Autism Speaks, OPCC Turning Point, OPCC Access Center, Westside Food Bank, Project Angel Food, Ballona Institute & Wetlands Defense Fund, Children Mending Hearts, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mar Vista Green Council and Meals on Wheels. These opportunities offer Archer girls the

chance to be engaged in their communities and learn how to view service as something that can be done in ways both big (putting on events to raise funds for a cause) and small (making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a person in need).

GRANDPARENTS’ & SPECIAL FRIENDS’ DAY As it is every year, this fall’s Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day was a wonderful celebration of family and community on the Archer campus. Middle School students invited their grandparents or another significant figure in their life to get a glimpse into their daily experience at school. The day kicked off with tea, followed

(continued on following page)

Artemis Magazine February 2012

in the news continued... pictured below with Head of School Elizabeth English). ASB President Victoria Chen ’12 said that “Archer is more than a school, it is a sisterhood.” Co-Founder Victoria Shorr spoke of the leadership capacity of Archer girls. “You’re going to get things done,” she said. “Archer has empowered you in

by a student-produced video filled with messages of gratitude from Archer girls to their grandparents and special friends, musical and theatrical performances, and a classroom visit.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Middle School students wowed audiences with their creative interpretation of Lewis Carol’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” in December 2011. The Blackbox Theatre was transformed into a magical world of intrigue and imagination thanks to the creative vision of Theatre Teacher Reed Farley. “This production gave the girls a chance to explore new ways in which to tell a traditional story,” said Farley. “We really pushed the envelope

ways you can’t even imagine - all of you will be future founders some day.” Archer’s a cappella group sang a rendition of “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, and beloved longtime Math Teacher Judey Petix spoke about the founding days of Archer: “We were fearlessly resilient in the face of adversity. The challenges of starting a school made us versatile and created an electric culture where we were excited to get things done. That spirit of innovation and creativity still exists today.”

7TH GRADER’S PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS FEATURED IN LA MAGAZINE Lulu Cerone ’17 was recently featured in Los Angeles Magazine as an “Action Hero” for her work as founder of Lemon:AID Warriors. She started with a simple lemonade stand to raise money for Haiti in 2009. Last summer, her national LemonAID Campaign inspired 500 stands. She organized a Red Cross Kids Rock concert for Japan and a Water Walk that funded a well in Africa. She is Content Consultant for Punchbowl.com to provide party planning tips for creative fundraisers she calls “PhilanthroParties.” She was featured in USA Today, Discovery Girl, and TIME for Kids. Last fall, Lulu spoke at the United Nations during the Year of Youth Celebration.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS NIGHT OF DANCE Nearly 800 ROCK THE IOC Archer’s a cappella people attended Archer’s recent Night

and tried new things.” Out of a 32-member cast, five different girls played the part of Alice—a fun twist to the telling of the story.

FOUNDERS’ DAY & SENIOR RECOGNITION CEREMONY On November 11, the Archer community honored the School’s founders and the Class of 2012 during the annual Founders’ Day and Senior Recognition Ceremony. Two of the three Co-Founders were in attendance (Megan Callaway and Victoria Shorr

group, The Unaccompanied Minors, performed at the International Olympic Committee Gala, honoring women in sports and sports administration on February 16. More than 600 guests were in attendance at the JW Mariott downtown at LA Live.

of Dance held on February 4 and 5 at the

American Jewish University. Students performed pieces in jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary. Congratulations to all the students and faculty involved. It was another amazing showcase of Archer’s talented dancers and choreographers.

The Archer School for Girls

cultivating independent thinking: STUDENT PROJECTS

For some students, the thought of working one-onone with a teacher is daunting. For Archer girls, it is the norm. This is particularly evident in Archer’s Independent Study Program for the Humanities and Sciences which is open to Upper School students. Students in this program voluntarily opt to conduct in-depth research, guided by a faculty member or expert mentor. The program offers a platform for students to explore their passions in an academic setting, but with the chance to direct their own approach to acquiring and constructing knowledge about a certain topic or field of interest. For Livia Reiner ’14, her passion for reading and writing plays inspired her to take her interest from hobby to elevated study. “Last year, as part of our ‘Medea’ unit, I got to hear Velina Hasu Houston (Leilani ’14), a professor at USC, talk about the book she is coediting of contemporary female playwright’s ‘Medea’ adaptations. This was very interesting to me and I decided that looking at Greek plays and modern adaptations would be a good place to start my study.” Before her yearlong study began under the tutelage of English Department Chair Kristin Taylor, Livia was charged with developing a proposal. This proposal included the intended learning outcomes for the project, a reading list, and structured assessments for each semester. Reflecting on the process of putting together the proposal, Livia shared, “It was fun as well as challenging to put together the proposal, because you can pick anything to focus on and in any way. One of the guidelines for the proposal was that you must know your initial idea and plan for your project to change as you begin to work. Looking back, there is obviously a lot I would have planned differently, but as you begin to work you realize what initial ideas were good and what will change.” During the spring semester, Livia has shifted her focus to actually writing her own adaptation.

This aspect of the process allowed Livia to tap into the expertise of the Archer faculty even further, seeking the advice of English Teacher Robert Barker, who holds an MFA in Playwriting from San Francisco State University. This opportunity to collaborate and receive feedback from experienced mentors has given Livia the chance to build multiple competencies including her creative writing skills and proficiency in research methods. This year, a newly outfitted research lab has enabled students conducting research in the sciences to do their projects on campus, providing not only the materials and tools to perform their studies, but a space for dialogue and a constructivist approach to learning the material. Led by Science Teacher Hanna Shohfi, seven students have met in a seminar setting, coming together to learn about research methodologies by reading and critiquing scientific articles, receiving training to use high-tech laboratory equipment, discuss research ethics, research proposal development, and ultimately, performing data collection, analysis, and writing a scientific paper with their findings. Though based at Archer, students utilize the advice and guidance of outside experts from institutions such as UCLA and the University of Minnesota through meetings, web conferencing and correspondence. Senior Katie Baral said that she took the class because it provided a unique high school experience. “What other opportunity do you have to do this in high school? It’s a good way to put together everything you’ve learned.” She further shared that it shows how to put together scientific theory and find a way to use that theory and apply it to a real application. “You learn more from this than from a book. Last year we learned the theory of biology and we did a few experiments about genetics, but it is cool now to know what we learned and actually, for example, see DNA and test these concepts.” Fellow researcher Shanti Seaman ’12 shared that doing independent research has been a capstone on her high school career. “I thought it was a nice way to end my high school science career. We have all the information that we’ve learned from physics, chemistry and biology. And now we can use it all and kind of see the real life application for it. In college I want to do research, so I thought this was a good way to get started.” Both attested to the importance of the program in supporting Archer’s mission which encourages young women to take risks. Katie feels that it shows how “well rounded Archer is” and allows students to “try something new.” Further, for these students, the purpose of conducting their studies is not necessarily to make ground-breaking discoveries, but to challenge themselves and “use your mind and knowledge and skill and learn how to do it on your own.”

Artemis Magazine February 2012

Archer Girls Serve:

COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS The mission of Archer’s Community Service program is to inspire students to become involved, compassionate citizens. Archer provides opportunities for students to perform community service through school-wide projects and after school activities, while challenging the girls to create and find meaningful service experiences of their own. This year has been particularly successful in fostering partnerships with service organizations that offer real, hands-on experiences. A few highlights from the past semester include:

Tutoring Middle School students at Paul Revere Middle School with the Determined to Succeed organization Working with the Brentwood Community Council to save the Coral Trees on San Vicente Performing at the Brentwood Festivus celebration and helping the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce raise $2,000 for Toys for Tots Making blankets and gathering gifts for 10 families through our annual Adopt-a-Family program More than 100 students and parents delivering holiday gifts to families in need in downtown LA Tutoring at St. Anne’s School in Santa Monica Organizing monthly dinners and art workshops with Daybreak Women’s Shelter Partnering with the Slow Down for Julia Campaign to raise awareness about traffic and pedestrian safety in Brentwood

Coming Up Hold on to your books for the upcoming Book Ends drive in April Sign up to give blood during our Spring Blood Drive with St. John’s Blood Donation Center on May 2

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The Archer School for Girls

cultivating interculturalism:

EXAMINING INTERSECTIONALITY OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING IN FRENCH SENIOR SEMINAR By Shauna Callahan, French Teacher Throughout the first semester, French Senior Seminar students, Lily Puglisi, Giulia Nunnari, Sophie Pendleton, and Shelby Gussman, (pictured in order at left), explored the concept of microfinance in conjunction with francophone women’s cultural identity in developing countries. Students analyzed and discussed diverse resources and media, including “Monique and the Mango Rains” by Kris Halloway, the Grameen Foundation (founded by Muhammad Yunus), the music of “Microfundo,” and statistics regarding women’s health and education from the CIA World Fact Book. Their studies were complemented by the Senior Class trip to the Skirball Cultural Center to view the exhibit, “Women Hold up Half the Sky,” and by the preparation and follow-up to the visit by Mr. Wogensen and the 12th grade team’s integration of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Inspired by what they learned, and by their potential to engage our community in an endeavor to empower women globally, French Senior Seminar students culminated their first semester studies with a collaborative teaching project that presented the concept of microfinance in Malian culture to Ms. Gold’s 7th grade history class. Additionally, they created a Diversity Day seminar that taught our community about microfinance and its potential impact on women in developing countries. During Family Friday in late January, seniors led discussions, prepared by the class, in preparation for their microfinance fundraiser. Students invested the fundraiser’s proceeds ($942.25) in the following microfinance organizations: Tostan, Worldvision Micro, and Opportunity International, and are tracking each investment throughout the course of second semester.

THE GALLERY AT ARCHER The Gallery at The Archer School for Girls opened in 2006 with an inaugural exhibit that got people talking about the small gallery space that once used to be a chapel. The photography of Leonard Nimoy helped to establish a standard of showcasing excellence. Now in its 6th year, The Gallery has featured works from prestigious artists such as Julius Schulman, Peter Alexander, Frank Romero, Gerardo Monterubio, Laddie John Dill, and Barbara Brody Avnet. This year’s Student Gallery Board (pictured at top right) continues The Gallery’s commitment to providing the School and larger community with a dynamic art experience in order to encourage and develop a vital interest in and passion for the arts. The next exhibit “Remastered” by Nicole Maloney opens March 9 and is on display through the end of April. To schedule a viewing, please call Gallery Director Patti Meyers at 310-873-7043.

www.archer.org/thegallery

Artemis Magazine February 2012

DIGITAL TOOLS

(continued from pg. 1)

Edmodo Makes the Grade in English

Library Resources by Becky Putzier

by Robert Barker

The 7th grade students are using Edmodo, which is an educational social networking platform, modeled after the look and experience of facebook. Each section of the 7th grade has its own page in our class, with a “wall” where they communicate. Edmodo has its own quiz taking software, can accommodate attachments of all sorts of files, and also enables the teacher to create a library of documents that the students have access to 24/7. Lost the handout from yesterday? You were sick last week? The material you missed is just a few clicks away. In addition, when students take an assessment on Edmodo, it keeps track of it for them. They get a message every time they log on, indicating whether their assignment is “Waiting for Grade” or “Graded.” While the site is all about sharing, the grades and assignments of each student are only visible to her. All of these features work together to streamline and enhance student-to-student and student-to-teacher communication. Recently, the students in 7th grade English have been making great use of Edmodo in order to analyze writing samples and practice assessing them with a rubric. Groups of four to five students post their assessment scores in real time, while other teams view them and compare. The live discussion that ensues centers around any scoring discrepancies that exist between the groups. “You gave that sample paragraph a 3.7/4 for mechanics? Did you see all the comma splices and sentence fragments? Our team only gave it a 2! We need to talk!” Because the revision process is at the heart of English classes at Archer, Edmodo is the perfect fit, as it provides comfortable housing for all of a student’s work throughout the writing process. And students get to see a trail of their progress: they can scroll through weeks of work at a glance, reading through numerous written reflections, referring back to exchanges with classmates to get clarity on a concept, or just check out the Calendar section to see upcoming deadlines and assignments for class. Edmodo isn’t a digital portfolio of neatly typed essays. It’s a sprawling, living document that captures the journey and celebrates the day-to-day discoveries.

This year, the Archer Library has been working with teachers to compile digital resources on an array of topics that support their curriculum. These resources include links to scholarly resources that model reliable and educational content, such as Journal Storage (JSTOR), ProQuest Publishing, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Smithsonian Institution, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Encyclopedia Britannica Online, and the Getty Museum. In addition, the librarians introduce students to effective beginning and advanced online search strategies. Our goal is to move students beyond simple Google searching to a more meaningful search experience that produces scholarly educational content.

Making Connections in History by Beth Gold

Students in Ms. Gold’s 7th grade world history class have recently become ePals with a 7th grade class in Shenzhen, China. The goal of the project is for students in both countries to use digital tools to create a global classroom, and for the students to learn about each others’ culture and geography through direct contact and communication. In preparation for their email exchange, Ms. Gold’s students explored popular search engines in China to find news headlines to explore further with their new ePals. The Shenzhen students sent Ms. Gold’s class an email describing their classes, their school routine and their city. Ms. Gold’s class has responded with emails about a typical school day at Archer, as well as their daily routines and life in Los Angeles. After our initial exchange of information, the classes will hopefully be able to Skype or video conference with each other. Learning about life in China through the eyes of students in China will greatly enhance the Archer girls’ understanding of cultural differences and similarities and teach them how to use digital tools to get firsthand information about their world.

The Archer School for Girls

Science Simulations by Cassia Sonderleiter

Creating Timeless Art Using Technology by Chad Attie

I use AirSketch and my iPad during note-taking and problemsolving in class. This allows me to project the Unit Packet (a pdf of the lessons in a given unit) and put up notes or have students solve the problems by writing on the iPad as it is projected on the board. I can move around the room to show students their process on the board without having to rearrange the classroom. My students all complete labs with their groups using Google docs to collaborate. They insert pictures, data and graphs from the digital lab probeware software, and upload their labs to their group’s website. Students use a variety of physics simulations (from the Phet and Explore Learning websites) to complete guided inquiry activities to develop an understanding of processes that occur at the microscopic level and cannot be observed directly. Students create video tutorials using Jing, voicethread, or iMovie to teach and explain concepts to their peers.

The idea behind this class was to teach a course that utilizes the latest technology as a tool for creating art. Today the art world climate has changed dramatically and continues to do so day by day. Behind this change is technology. A key question facing artists today is, “How do I create work that is vital and pertinent?” Archer girls are living in a time of iPhones, facebook, texting, Internet, apps, Google (and Google Earth), and up-to-the-minute satellite imagery. These technologies constitute a language for them, so this class addresses how they can use these modes to their advantage creatively. We explore how they can tap into this wealth of knowledge to produce work that is informed, connected, and relevant. Harnessing technology to become an extension of their thoughts, ideas and feelings, the girls are currently designing projects based on both technology and their own lives and observations. The current work touches on and ranges from multi-layered digital prints that capture the kinetic movements of ballerinas, paintings inspired by a cell phone app imagery, a multimedia art installation, which utilizes video, sounds, and various light techniques to simulate the feeling of descending in a submarine, detailed drawings capturing the intricate and miniscule inner workings of a computer chip, paintings based on x-ray technology, and much more. (Artwork at left by Auveen Dezgaran ’15). Ultimately, the class is creating art that is on and about the forefront of our lives. Through the students’ fearless explorations, we—the viewers—can learn a great deal about them and the rapidly changing world we live in.

Flip Teaching in Math by Angelica Bailon Math Department Chair Eileen Finney utilizes “Flip Teaching” in her classroom in order to provide more individualized learning experiences for her students. Ms. Finney uses Jing videos to briefly illustrate a math concept; students are asked to watch this video before coming to class so that they can be prepared for the following day’s discussion. This approach allows Ms. Finney to have more in-class time to discuss and collaborate with students one-on-one and also gives students the chance to learn and master a concept at their own pace.

To read more about how Archer teachers and students are using technology to enhance their learning experiences, visit www.archer.org/digitaltools

Artemis Magazine February 2012

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS Four Archer seniors were named by the National Merit Scholarship Program as finalists for 2012. Victoria Chen ’12, Sophie Kimball ’12, Emma Pauly ’12 and Benina Stern ’12 are among the less than 1% of high school seniors in the nation recognized with this designation. The program aims to honor students with exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Students identified as semifinalists were initially recognized for exceptional performance on the PSAT. Those who were named finalists were done so after a rigorous application process that involved submitting an essay and demonstrating participation in their school and community. Each student’s SAT scores and overall academic record were also assessed.

FAMILY FRIDAYS Archer has a variety of peer programs, classes, and clubs that support, stretch, and empower students at each developmental level. “Family Fridays” is a new program this year where every Archer student is part of a “family” of seven students from each grade level. Older students act as big sisters and lead discussions every week about matters relevant across grade levels. Topics include cyber bullying, healthy study habits, and conflict resolution. It is also a social time for girls to get to know other students outside of their grade.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CHAIR RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

archer fast facts 2011-2012 Grades: 6 - 12 Enrollment: 430 Faculty: 65 Faculty w/ advanced degrees: 63% Male Faculty: 28% Faculty of Color: 20% Student/Teacher Ratio: 7:1 Average Class Size: 16 Course Offerings: 115 courses taught, including 11 APs. 79% of juniors and seniors currently take an AP course. Student Life: 30+, mostly student-run & student-initiated activities Diversity: 31% students of color; Students come from 134 different elementary and secondary schools and from 75 different zip codes throughout the city. Financial Assistance: 29% of students receive some form of financial assistance. Nearly $2.8 million in financial aid was awarded for the 2011-2012 school year.

In December 2011, English Department Chair Kristin Taylor was re-certified as a National Board Certified Teacher by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Ms. Taylor is the only Archer faculty member with this distinction and is one of the 97,000 highly accomplished teachers nationally to receive this honor. After a yearlong process, which involved creating an extensive portfolio to illustrate mastery of a specific content area while highlighting professional growth, this 10-year certification continues to reaffirm her commitment to the professionalism of teaching. Now in her 15th year as an educator, Ms. Taylor believes that “This process is about challenging yourself. It’s about not being satisfied with ‘good enough.’ It is one of the most amazing growth opportunities I’ve had as a teacher.”

Campus: Built in 1931 by famed California architect William Mooser, listed as a Los Angeles Cultural/Historic monument; 95,000 square feet of interior space including a 6,000 square foot library, 4 acres of playing fields and outdoor space

ARCHER TO SPONSOR FIRST-ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

The Archer Film Festival is dedicated to empowering student filmmakers with a focus on the promotion of women in the film industry. The festival, to be held in May, will feature guest of honor and keynote speaker Nina Jacobson, producer of the upcoming movie, “The Hunger Games,” screenings of selected student films from across the nation, and will culminate in a series of moderated pannels led by industry professionals. To view a promotional video and learn more information, visit the website at www.archerfilmfestival.org.

Athletics: Middle School teams compete in the Pacific Basin League, the Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL) and the Delphic League (no-cut policy); Upper School teams compete in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Delphic League and in the CIF Alpha League and the IEL. Teams include Equestrian, Tennis, Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Track, and Swimming.

Memberships: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), College Entrance Examination Board, Online School for Girls, A Better Chance (ABC), The Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, Young Eisner Scholars

The Archer School for Girls

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: JOE BUSCH, PH.D.

When you read a resume that includes a BA in Math with Physics minor from Boston University, a MS in Math from NYU, a MA in Math from UCLA, a CPhil in Math from UCLA and a PhD in Math from UCLA, you probably make some quick assumptions – researcher, engineer, college professor, astronaut, or perhaps you think of someone who just does complex algorithms all day. Dr. Joe Busch could do any of those things full time (okay, astronaut may be a stretch since he has a fear of heights), but he chose instead to be a teacher at Archer. Why? Because when he came to the School for the first time, he saw something different. “During the interview process I gave a sample lesson for 8th grade geometry. The girls were involved and on the edge of their seats, they were excited and engaged, lively and interested. I got positive, real-time feedback from my teaching and it was then that I realized that being in an Archer classroom was what I wanted to do all day every day.” Now in his fourth year, Dr. Busch says it is hard to imagine teaching anywhere else. “Archer has a clear mission when it comes to teaching girls math,” he says. “We help girls to discover their potential in mathematics and then perform at an elevated level.” Dr. Busch firmly believes that every student has the ability to take calculus. “By increasing a student’s competence in math, you increase their confidence to attempt mastering more sophisticated and subtle mathematical concepts.” He also believes there is a distinctive difference in the way girls learn and process math as opposed to boys. “In my experience it seems that girls tend to learn best when they learn inductively, going from specific real-world

examples to abstract relationships. Boys are a bit more top down,” he says. “The difference between girls and boys is in learning style, not in ability or potential for achievement at the highest level.” For the first time in our nation’s history, more women are attending college than men, yet only 13% of girls pursue careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering or math). According to Dr. Busch, the challenge is to help girls realize what could come next in the world of science and engineering. “With the advancements in technology, there are a lot of exciting things we, as teachers, can do to address the needs of students while simultaneously helping them see the myriad opportunities that lay ahead,” he says. “Realtime, tailored learning is key. I always try to make my classroom as student-centered and studentdriven as possible.” While Dr. Busch continues to refine his teaching practice, he also continues to work on research in complexity theory from his dissertation titled “Lower Bounds in Arithmetic Complexity Via Asymmetric Embeddings”...as a hobby.

Artemis Magazine February 2012

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

By Denny Lennon, Director of Athletics

Fall Sports Wrap

This past fall, Archer teams ascended to new heights along the scholastic sports scene of Southern California. On Saturday, November 5, the Archer Middle School Swim Team broke the Pacific Basin League scoring record en route to the PBL championship. Coach Stephanie Ferri guided the girls to the championship, and the Archer swimmers were more than happy to “guide” her into the Brentwood pool in celebration.

The Varsity Tennis team, under the direction of Coach Julio Rivera, finished the year in 4th place in the Alpha League. Chloe Mills ’13 and Aimee Von Arx ’12 were named to the Alpha All-League team. Next year, the Tennis Team will compete in the Delphic League, and they will be a favorite to win the league.

Archer’s highly rated Equestrian team, which traditionally finishes in the top three of the 75 school Interscholastic Equestrian League, is halfway through another ribbon winning season. After two shows, Archer, led by team captains Caroline Lurie ’12 and Kendall York ’12, stands at #4 in the overall team standings and #1 in the Freshman Division. Ella Angel ’16 is in the #4 position in the Freshman Archer’s Volleyball Program has experienced success before, but never Division individual rankings. The final show of the year takes like this past season. All four Volleyball Teams (Middle School and Upper School) compiled a staggering overall record of 50-7. The Upper School JV place on April 15 at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. Team won the Delphic League Championship and made it to the finals at the Burbank Invitational, defeating a number of large enrollment schools in Given the successes of the Middle School teams, the offseason commitment of athletes and the fact that much of the process. Varsity Volleyball, after taking 2nd place in league, advanced the rosters from each fall team returns next year, Archer will to the CIF 5AA playoffs. After victories in the first two rounds of the continue to climb. playoffs, it was onto the CIF quarterfinals against Victor Valley Christian, where Archer fans, encouraged to “Green-out Grisanti Gym,” created a sea of green at Crossroads School for the historic victory that sent Archer Winter Sports Wrap into the semifinals against Desert Christian Academy, the defending CIF The 2011 Archer Basketball and Soccer teams enjoyed champions. Again, clad in hunter green, a huge Archer crowd was on hand highly successful seasons, and both teams played ambitious at Crossroads School to support the girls. The Archer Varsity Volleyball schedules against high level schools this winter, a sign that team stood strong, but Desert Christian took the match in three sets. each program is moving forward. Both teams played their On the season, the Varsity Volleyball Team, coached by Jonathan Lotz, home games at Archer’s “home away from home,” Santa Anthony Mezzavilla and Caitlin Lawson, finished 16-5 with a 3rd place Monica College, much to the delight of the faithful Archer finish in the CIF 5AA division. fans that cheered them on. The Archer Varsity Soccer team On November 12, Archer’s Cross Country Team qualified for the CIF Cross Country preliminaries for the first time, taking 3rd place in the powerful Alpha League. With teams from every part of Southern California and a stadium full of fans at Mt. San Antonio College, this event was a proud moment for Coach Kim Smith, the Cross Country Team and Archer.

The Archer School for Girls

Please follow us on Twitter@ArcherAthletics title. The team played their best at the end of the season, as they defeated Big Bear High School in the first round of the CIF playoffs before falling to #2 seeded St. Paul High School in the second round. Archer played St. Paul tough right up until the end of the game on their home court in Santa Fe Springs. The strong showing puts schools, irrespective of division or enrollment, on notice that Archer is ready for any and all challenges.

All-League

Archer Varsity athletes were recognized with “All-League” certificates, chosen by coaches from the Alpha and Delphic Leagues. The leagues are part of the 20-school Gold Coast Athletic Conference. Cross Country: 1st Team - Becca Samuelson ’13 Tennis: 2nd Team (Doubles) - Chloe Mills ’13 and Aimee Von Arx ’12 Volleyball: 1st Team - Leslie Baker ’12, Lindsay Levesque ’13, and Coco Maurice ’12; 2nd Team - Kirsten Avila ’14, Ciena Lennon ’13 Soccer: 1st Team - Lindsay Levesque ’13, Krysia Sikora ’13 2nd Team - Jessica Cranston ’13, Yasmeen Namazie ’15, Geffen Treiman ’13 Basketball: 1st Team - Coco Maurice ’12, Mariah Davis ’13 2nd Team - Leslie Baker ’12, Ciena Lennon ’13 Delphic League Basketball Most Valuable Player: Maia Barnett ’14 started five 9th graders en route to a 9-12 overall record. Highlight victories included wins over rival Crossroads and a huge win at the San Pedro Pirate Cup Tournament over host school and city section powerhouse San Pedro High School. Archer’s Middle School Soccer team advanced to PBL championship game with a 9-3 record. Given the return of key players combined with the upcoming Middle School players, the Soccer program will contend for years to come. Varsity Basketball put together another record breaking season. Based on the success of the 2011 season (18-8 record, CIF 5AA Quarter finalist), the team was invited to and participated in the Inglewood City of Champions Tournament, the West Coast Jamboree in the Bay Area and represented small private schools in the MLK Public vs. Private Showcase in Beverly Hills. Archer was also bumped up by the CIF to the 4A division for playoffs. None of this stopped the squad from compiling a 18-9 overall record, including a 9-1 record in league play. The Delphic League Championship is Archer’s first ever basketball league

Delphic League Basketball Coach of the Year: Denny Lennon

All-CIF

The prestigious All-CIF award is given to athletes who perform at a high level through the regular season as well as the playoffs. Players are selected by an appointed committee for the divisions, comprised of anywhere between 50 and 100 schools. Volleyball: Lindsay Levesque ’13 and Coco Maurice ’12. Coco is the first athlete in school history to be selected “All-CIF” in two sports. Coco was named to the 2011 basketball “All-CIF” team. Basketball: Maia Barnett ’14 and Coco Maurice ’12 have been nominated for All-CIF consideration. The All CIF team will be announced in late March.

Spring is Here!

Spring sports have started and Archer has literally sprinted out of the gate. Behind 2011 Delphic League Track MVP Krysia Sikora ’12, the Archer varsity track team dominated at the seven school Brentwood School hosted season opener, winning the 4x100m and 4x400m relays along with first place finishes in the 100m, 400m, 300m hurdles and long jump. The girls also placed in several other races in what is believed to be the most dominating performance ever for an Archer track team. Varsity softball put together a 12-8 season, a second place finish in league and CIF playoff appearance in 2011. With the entire team returning plus new additions from the middle school, look for the girls to challenge for both the league and CIF title. Varsity swim returns Victoria Chen ’12, who has last season qualified for the CIF finals in two events. Chen will lead a team that also will battle for the league championship.

See you at the next game! All information as of February 29, 2012

Artemis Magazine February 2012

reasons to support the archer fund What is the Archer Fund? The cornerstone of Archer’s annual fundraising program, the Archer Fund provides critical funding for the School and expands the opportunities and experiences that form the core of Archer’s curriculum beyond what tuition alone can cover. The beneficiaries of our efforts are our girls and the dynamic programs which offer ways they learn best, both in and out of the classroom.

Top 3 Reasons to Support the Archer Fund: • Like other independent schools, Archer depends on annual giving to offset the difference between tuition and the true cost of an Archer education. • The mainstay of Archer’s fundraising program, annual giving contributions are raised and spent during the current fiscal year, providing an immediate and direct benefit to each student. • Foundations and corporations often look at parent participation percentages as a gauge of community involvement. Broad-based Archer Fund participation reflects an engaged and invested community; therefore, foundations and corporations are more inclined to invest themselves.

We are proud to say that Archer enjoys a strong history of participation, achieving over 90% parent participation and 100% faculty and staff, and Trustee participation. In addition, our alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents and friends of the School generously respond to our annual request. As a young school working to increase our donor base, we are truly proud of and grateful for the generosity of our Archer Community. These participation rates send a strong statement of community commitment when Archer seeks outside funding. Relationships are the key to all successful fundraising efforts and if you are able to open a door to a foundation or connect us with an individual who would be interested in learning more about The Archer School for Girls, please contact Mia Rille, Director of Advancement, at mrille@archer.org or 310-873-7079.

FOUNDATION NEWS The Archer School for Girls is honored to receive support from a variety of foundations and corporations. Foundation grants are vital to the lifeblood of independent schools, assisting with areas such as financial aid, professional development, capital funds and academic programs. Archer has secured partnerships with several foundations and continues to reach out to those whose mission aligns with ours. Many of the grants received have been the result of Archer Trustees, parents, alumnae parents and grandparents working with the Advancement Office to reach out to their personal and professional contacts. This support is essential to the growth and success of the School. We are proud to share with you some of the grants we have received this year starting with The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation. The Norris Foundation supports programs that advance better health and intellectual enlightenment, through education, cultivation of the arts, individual responsibility, freedom and dignity. We are pleased to announce that The Norris Foundation has awarded The Archer School for Girls a grant in support of our Flexible Tuition Program, providing an opportunity to maintain the School’s diverse and culturally-rich student body which is

tantamount to Archer’s mission. We are extremely grateful to partner with such an esteemed foundation. In addition, our sincere gratitude goes out to the Specialty Family Foundation which has supported the Archer Flexible Tuition Program for the past two years. This Foundation is committed to alleviating the conditions that lead to persistent poverty including a focus on education for low-income families. Foundation Board Member Karen Cane, an Archer Alumnae Parent (Madeleine ’11), has been instrumental in the formation of this partnership. Many thanks to Karen and the Specialty Family Foundation for their generosity and belief in our mission. We are truly grateful for these partnerships and the difference they make at Archer. If you have a connection to a private or corporate foundation, please contact Marcia Berman, Director of Annual Fund at mberman@archer.org at 310-873-7092. We look forward to our continued partnerships with these foundations and to sharing news of additional foundation support as the school year progresses.

The Archer School for Girls

CELEBRAT ING A LUMNAE A CHIEVEMENTS NOTES & PROFILES OF ARCHER ALUMNAE

Artemis Magazine February 2012

ALUMNAE NOTES 10 Year Reunion

CLASS OF 2002

Submitted by Class Representative Helen Vera ’02 This has been quite a year for the Class of 2002. True to the pioneering spirit of Archer, several of the creative and tenacious members of our class run their own businesses. Elana Schwarzman Besserman’s kettle-corn company, PopGram, can be found at farmers’ markets around LA or booked for any event (www.popgramkettlecorn.com). Elana married Adam Besserman in a beautiful ceremony in Malibu last July. Congrats to the newlyweds! Meghan Muntean left her Wall Street job in 2010 to run her own company, ChickRx, full-time. An online health and wellness community for young women, ChickRx invites users to share insights, ask questions and get answers from experts and peers. Check it out and sign up for the new private beta at ChickRx.com. Ashley Sawtelle recently left her job in the financial industry to run her own photography business specializing in portraiture, events, and live music (www.ashleysawtellephoto.com). Ashley traces her passion for photography back to Mr. Hartsfield’s class at Archer. “Mr. Hartsfield is such an amazing teacher and mentor,” Ashley writes. Ashley lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her fiancé, Joey Kietzmann; they are planning a Colorado wedding in June, a few weeks after our ten-year reunion on April 21 (stay tuned for updates on that!). Congratulations to Korinne Mitchell Hinderliter and her husband, Victor, who were married last May. Korinne, a fabric manager at Taylor Scott furniture, recently started a book club with other Archer alumnae—what a great way to keep in touch! Alisha Bunch Perry and her husband of a year and a half, D’Juan, live in England. Alisha is enjoying her job as a first-grade teacher, as well as the opportunity to travel around Europe—the Perrys spent Thanksgiving in Spain and New Year’s in Ireland. Julia Gazdag lives in L.A.

and edits a blog, Women Working To Do Good, in partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement. Julia is also a photographer; you can check out her work at www.juliagazdag. com. Ivy Weinglass lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as an assistant stylist at the online home-furnishings retailer, One Kings Lane. Ever the world traveler, she recently vacationed in Paris. Natalia Serrano lives in Seville, Spain, and teaches English in a local public school. She will marry Alejandro Sanchez Dominguez next summer. Samantha Estrada quit her job at Juicy Couture last year to pursue freelance fashion design. Sam, who enjoys figure drawing, is excited to report that she is remodeling a studio space in the LA home she shares with her fiancé and their two pit bulls. Our very own Casey LaBow played Kate Denali, a beautiful vampire, in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” Part 1, and reprised the role in Part 2. Congrats on the breakout role, Casey! I’m sure scores of current Archer girls are painfully envious. I want to extend the warmest wishes to Rebecca Emshwiller, who has been fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma; it is currently in remission. Rebecca has been spending quality time with family and friends and focusing on getting better. We are all thinking of you, Rebecca, and wishing you a full and relaxing recovery.

Some of us have gone back to school in recent years. Cailey Hall left New York City last summer and is now working on a PhD in English at UCLA. She plans to focus on women writers and female fan groups. Hazella Bowmani left her job as a software trainer last year to start law school at Santa Clara University. She is interested in social justice work. Helen Vera (that’s me! --Ed.) is a second-year student at Yale Law School, and is interested in the rather divergent areas of prisoners’ rights and intellectual property. She will work in the New York office of the law firm Ropes & Gray next summer. Well, that’s it for now! It has been so much fun corresponding with many of you and hearing your latest news. Please never hesitate to get in touch with updates, questions, or just a quick hello. We may not be able to return to our Archer days—lunches in the courtyard, Spice Girls impersonations, overnight trips to Joshua Tree for “outdoor credit”—but keeping in touch is definitely the next best thing.

Photos (clockwise from left): Adam and Elana Besserman ’02 on their wedding day, July 9, 2011; Alisha Perry ’02 snorkeling in the Canary Islands in 2010; Korinne Hinderliter ’02, Natalia Serrano ’02, and Helen Vera ’02 at Adam and Elana Besserman’s ’02 wedding

The Archer School for Girls

ALUMNAE NOTES CLASS OF 2003

Submitted by Class Representative Devon Dunlap ’03 From opening their own businesses to continuing their studies to creating art, the alumnae of the Class of 2003 have proven themselves to be women of passion. For the past four years, Isabelle Edwards has lived in London, where she works for a prestigious impressionist and modern art gallery in Mayfair and oversees the collection’s exhibition loans to museums around the world, such as Tate, MOMA, and the Getty. Recently, she has been instrumental in the private collection’s first public museum show, “Miro, Monet, Matisse – The Nahmad Collection” currently on view at Kunsthaus Zurich Museum for Modern Art in Zurich, Switzerland. Chloe Clifford will be graduating from Columbia Law School in May and will start work as an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in New York City next fall. Jacqueline Mention has been living a pastoral life in Port Townsend, WA, where she wears many hats as a freelance writer for the local paper, is a volunteer coordinator for a local arts non-profit, Centrum, and hosts a radio show on the community radio station called “Meet My Friend,” on which she interviews local artists, writers, and eccentrics. She and her fiancé are also planning their wedding in Southern Baja, Mexico for this April. Marissa Bass graduated from chiropractic school last December and opened her own chiropractic center in Los Angeles called “Bass Chiropractic” in January. Certified in pediatric adjusting, she is also certified in Crossfit. Laura Kadner recently wrote, co-directed, produced and starred in a comedic play titled “Dinner” for an evening of dinner theatre in San Francisco. The event was part of a project she helped produce called “100 Days of Spring” at a community space she helps run called The Schoolhouse. Perla Trejo Carlson returned to college and will graduate from San Jose State University this spring with a BA in Child and Adolescent Development.

Laura Korman recently graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in Childhood Education and Special Education. After pursuing her love of teaching at UCLA Lab School for two years, she decided to also pursue her passion for art and animation, and enrolled at the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles with a focus in Media Arts and Animation. In addition, Laura is working as an Art Gallery Assistant at TAG Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, and writing as a news editor and film critic for an international film website (www.cinemawithoutborders. com). Gavin Frank is living in Los Angeles and working at E! as Coordinator of Program Planning and Acquisitions. Kaulin Gracie was married to Graham Snyder in an August ceremony on the Big Wood River in Idaho with the blessing of their 3-year-old son, Wheeler. In addition to running their own restaurant in Los Angeles, Osteria La Buca, and opening a brewery, Kaulin has recently returned to training and competing in Jiu-Jitsu at her brother, Kron Gracie’s, jiu-jitsu academy in Culver City. After spending three years living and working in New York, Sophie Wasson is now living in Berkeley while studying to get her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute. Freddi Zeiler graduated from UC Berkeley in 2007 and moved back to Los Angeles to start her own small business, FSTOP Promotions LLC, specializing in graphic design, printing and promotions. She works mostly with non-profits, including charities such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and The Pet Adoption Fund. Her book, “A Kid’s Guide to Giving” was published in 2006 and in 2007, and was mentioned in Bill Clinton’s book “Giving.” Almie Rose Vazzano is a blogger who writes for “Hello Giggles,”

the comedy site for girls founded by Zooey Deschanel; Apocalypstick, her own blog which focuses on dating and Los Angeles; and many others. She has her own relationship column in “Genlux” magazine. Almie just took on a new position as Web Producer for BCBGeneration. She is also working

on a book, even if it kills her. You can follow her on twitter at twitter.com/ apocalypstick, watch her web series at youtube.com/theapocalypstick, or read her blog at www.apocalypstick.com. Or you can do none of those things and she’ll totally understand. Above is a fashion spread she was featured in about LA bloggers. Devon Dunlap has been working as a television producer for the last three years and moved to New York last winter for a change of scenery. She has spent the past year traveling around the country working on a variety of shows and recently completed her first 5k on Thanksgiving Day. Photos above: Laura Kadner ’03 and the cast of the comedy “Dinner” in San Francisco; Almie Rose Vazzanno ’03 (second from the left) featured in a fashion magazine for her cutting-edge blogging

Artemis Magazine February 2012

ALUMNAE NOTES

CLASS OF 2004

Submitted by Class Representative Maria Vera ’04 The ladies of the class of 2004 are thriving all across the country – making their mark in industries ranging from media to entertainment to fashion, and doing a great deal of good while they’re at it. In LA, Hillary Newman works for GOOD – a community of individuals, businesses, and non-profits whose goal is “to push the world forward.” She also recently joined the Archer Board of Trustees. Hannah Zeiler Hodgden got married last year. She and her husband Wiley live in Topanga Canyon where Hannah works as a realtor for Snyder Sutton Real Estate. Leylie Aghili earned her master’s degree in journalism from USC and is now making it big in the LA fashion scene. She currently runs a boutique in Santa Monica, Tribute, where she acts as the creative director for what is quickly becoming one of LA’s hottest new shops. Liza Epps is an artist working in the background design department at Bento Box Entertainment on the new animated Fox series “Bob’s Burgers.” When she isn’t drawing backgrounds for the series, Liza continues to develop

her own art (displayed above at left) by focusing on a new series of portraiture using a range of mediums from oil paint to paper collage. Back east, Erika Johansson is thriving in New York City, where she was promoted to Senior Strategist at Purpose, whose mission is to harness the collective power of millions of citizens and consumers to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Lately, she has been working on Van Jones’ Rebuild the Dream, All Out the largest international LGBT rights organization, and community strategy for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She also recently won the Open IDEO Maternal Health Challenge with a project called mBaby—personal SMS health reporting for expectant moms in developing countries. Based in Washington, D.C., Maria Vera works for the national headquarters of PBS. She was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Publicity for PBS KIDS, spearheading efforts to promote the organization’s children’s content across platforms and furthering its mission to leverage the power of media to help all children succeed in school and in life. She also chaired the 2011 Yale Day of Service for the D.C. region (and is gearing up to coordinate the 2012 Day of Service now!).

CLASS OF 2005

Submitted by Class Representative Rachael Rebujio ’05 The girls of the Archer Class of 2005 are far and wide these days. After graduating from Penn State in 2009—and receiving the KCACTF National Sound Design Award while at it—Patricia Cardona is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Sound Design at UC Irvine. Quinci Land also found her way back to Southern California. Since graduating from Sarah Lawrence and spending some extra time in New York, Quinci got engaged to a nice fellow named Chris and they now reside in Los Angeles with their brood—their dog Gus, and Charley, their cat. She now works in the event industry at a company called Amazing Grace Designs and very much loving her career path! Rachael Rebujio has stayed true to her Los Angeles roots. Since graduating from UCLA in Art History (shout out to Dr. Friedman!), she is pursuing a career in the health care field and works as a medical assistant for a private practice in the area. New York has been the city of choice for many college grads. May Herskovitz received her degree from NYU and is now living in Brooklyn. She most recently finished working as a project manager

Photos (clockwise from left): Artwork by Liza Epps ’04; Upper School Director Ms. Coyne Donnel & Hillary Newman ’04 at the Alumnae Social in January; Hannah Zeiler Hodgden ’04 and her husband, Wiley, on their wedding day; Aaryn Costello’s ’04 daughter, Shay; Gabrielle Miller ’04, Maria Vera ’04, Liza Epps ’04, Korinne Hinderliter ’02, Cailey Hall ’02, Leylie Aghili ’04, Helen Vera ’02, Dominique Miller ’01 at a holiday party this past winter.

The Archer School for Girls

ALUMNAE NOTES for a federally funded research project at NYU, which looks at positive parenting in low-income families living in the New York City area. Also on the east coast is Beth Nabel, who is finishing up her master’s degree in Criminal Justice at Northeastern University. Beth’s future plans include finding a career in the field of re-entry, helping ex-offenders assimilate more successfully into society after serving a prison sentence. Kaci Taylor is studying abroad a second time around —as a graduate student in the Masters of Architecture program at Tulane University in New Orleans—in the magical city of Rome. When she returns to New Orleans in the spring, she will be working on a series of design/build projects that foster community interaction.

CLASS OF 2008

Submitted by Class Representative Callan Coles ’08 The class of 2008 has really been making moves since their graduation almost four years ago. Alyssa Lanz studied abroad in Florence, Italy last fall and spent the summer in New York City interning in the public relations department at Chanel. Rebecca Dersh recently interned in Washington, D.C. with Heather Freeman Media & Public Relations and plans to move to New York following graduation in May 2012. Zoe Ravich and Tilly Reniers are both graduating early this year. Tilly plans to move back to Los Angeles while Zoe is moving to Washington D.C. Courtney Joe is looking to further her higher education and plans to obtain her master’s degree in bioengineering in the fall.

CLASS OF 2010

Submitted by Class Representative Georgina Stage ’10 As Beyoncé so articulately put it: “Who run the world? GIRLS!” Archer girls that is! And the class of 2010 is living up to this precedent in more ways than one as we conquer the world as college sophomores. Sarah Durrer currently attends Allegheny College, majoring in English on the creative writing track and minoring

in Economics. She has continued her passion for athletics on the equestrian team at Allegheny College (her team placed second out of fourteen teams last year--you go girl!) She also works at the Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center where she cares for injured and sick birds such as bald eagles, barred owls, great horned owls, screech owls, hawks, falcons, song birds, etc., as well as handling the education birds. Sophie Sargent loved Archer so much that she decided to go to the “college version” of it. (well, almost...) She is majoring in psychology and minoring in art at Mount Saint Mary’s College. She’s completing her pre-med requirements there so she can be a pediatrician one day...good work!! Shade Quintanilla is keeping it funky at Barnard College where she co-hosts her own radio show called Tu Madre on Barnard’s radio station WBAR (www.wbar.org) She also writes for Barnard’s magazine, The Bulletin, in the politics and opinion section. She is also part of Community Impact with Columbia University as a reading tutor for first and second graders at an elementary school in Harlem...girlfriend is rocking at life (of course, she’s an Archer girl). Courtney Teller is doing big things on The Ellen DeGeneres show and absolutely loving it. She’s at Chapman, where she majors in Narrative TV Production, with a minor in advertising. For the third year, she also co-chaired the “Literature and...” conference this February with Dr. Morgan. Courtney is literally RUNNING the world as she prepares for her second marathon to raise money for cancer research. She is pictured above on-set for a TV pilot; Courtney served as Executive Producer. Elisa Glubok is working as a women peer counselor (woo woo girl power!) in one of the first-year dorms and volunteers for an organization called Health Leads, which aims to help low-

income families achieve better health through helping them attain resources like food stamps, clothing, adult education, child care, utilities assistance, better housing, etc. She also started playing ultimate Frisbee this semester (so collegetypical) and other than that, she’s just enjoying the Brown lifestyle! Our old pal Ari Cohen is still at the University of Pennsylvania and studies history with a concentration in culture. She is also getting certified to be a yoga instructor in a really intensive program at Dhyana Yoga in West Philadelphia. Namaste, Ari! So, as you can tell, Beyoncé would be quite pleased with Archer’s class of 2010... we’re running the world AND THEN SOME!

CLASS OF 2011

Submitted by Class Representative Kandace London ’11 The women of 2011 have been spending the last few months getting adjusted to their new life as college students.

Chelsea Montgomery-Duban

is currently at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. She sings in the choir, performs on the dance team, auditions for shows and takes some really incredible classes like “religion and violence.” Mary Chavarria is studying at Duke University where she is involved with the Duke Undergraduate Bioethics Society (DUBS) and Duke University Culinary Society (DUCS). She is also applying for an intensive summer Spanish language program in Alicante, Spain. Molly Wylie is living in one of the coldest parts of the country -- in a small town in Maine called Waterville. Their biggest shop is Walmart, so no more city life for her. She writes for the school newspaper, serves on the equestrian team, stays active in the salsa dancing club, and volunteers rehabilitating dogs at the humane society.

Artemis Magazine February 2012

ALUMNAE NOTES Kimberly Horn is a member of the Internal Vice President (IVP) Fellowship at UCLA, where she and 18 fellow students serve and support the UCLA campus through the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC), UCLA’s student government. In the fall she underwent IVP training. Beginning winter quarter she will be assigned to several clubs to help them find sources of funding to ensure their organizations are successful. She is also active with One Step Ahead (OSA) Mentorship under the huge Filipino organization Samahan Pilipino, and the Alumni-Student Mentorship. In both of these programs, she has mentors (very similar to Archer’s new family program) who guide her with her academic endeavors and social life. Additionally, with the help of her alumni mentor, she will have the opportunity to intern at the LA District Attorney’s office this summer. Maddie Cane is living in DC where she describes the city as being,

“incredible--the atmosphere is political and vibrant, there are so many things to see and do when I get out.” She is pledging the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma along with fellow alumnae Sarah Shatz and Megan Loughman, and joining the gang

of Archer girls that make up a huge part of KKG. Caitlin Topkis is a business major at the University of Rochester in New York. She joined the rugby team and is currently a hall representative for her dorm. She also has begun to take Lyra (aerial art with a hoop suspended from the ceiling, pictured at left), and plans to do a study abroad internship this summer in England. Kandace London is currently studying at the University of Southern California. She joined the student council where she works with a select group of members to increase diversity on campus. She is also a part of Ladies Striving for Unity, a group of women who give back to the community and help others in any way possible. Kandace is also planning a weeklong event on campus titled “Taking Back the Night” which encourages safe sex practices in relationships and aids in the prevention of violence in domestic relationships. She also mentors youth who need guidance on the college process. Kandace plans to study abroad this summer in Japan.

SUBMIT YOUR ALUMNAE NOTES! Every February, alumnae notes will be featured in “Artemis.” Share the latest news with your fellow alumnae and the Archer community by sending in your note to your class representative. Lauren Hochberg Class of 2001 Lauren.Hochberg@fox.com Helen Vera Class of 2002 helenvera@gmail.com Devon Dunlap Class of 2003 devon.dunlap@gmail.com Maria Vera Class of 2004 mariavera27@gmail.com

Rachael Rebujio Class of 2005 rachael.rebujio@gmail.com Marisa Guterman Class of 2006 marisaguterman@aol.com Natalie Babcock Class of 2007 natalie.babcock@googlemail.com Callan Coles Class of 2008 ccoles@berkeley.edu

Chloe Makhani Class of 2009 cmakhani@wisc.edu Georgina Stage Class of 2010 gstage@usc.edu Kandace London Class of 2011 kandacelondon6@gmail.com

If you would like to learn how you can become more involved in the Archer Alumnae Association, contact Evelyn Ramirez-Schultz, Associate Director of Advancement, at 310-873-7062 or eramirez-schultz@archer.org.

The Archer School for Girls

ALUMNAE social 1.3.12 Members of Archer’s graduating classes returned to campus in early January for the annual Alumnae Social. The event was casual and fun— complete with sushi, sliders and sundaes! Alumnae enjoyed viewing the alumnae art exhibit in The Gallery and were excited to catch up with their favorite teachers and former classmates. They also heard from Head of School Elizabeth English about Archer’s future campus plans.

ALUMNAE parent social 12.13.11 Alumnae parents were welcomed back to campus on the evening of December 13 for an Archer update as well as an evening of conversation and reunions with friends. The main focus of the event, which was held downstairs in the library, was a presentation about Archer’s Campus Preservation and Improvement Plan. Alumnae parents were thrilled to see the vision for the future of Archer’s campus and were happy to become supporters of the project. Alumnae parents are an important part of the Archer community; not only do they provide current parents with words of wisdom and advice, they support the school by volunteering their time and supporting our fundraising efforts. If you are a parent of an Archer alumna and would like to get involved, please contact Evelyn Ramirez-Schultz in the Advancement Office at 310-873-7062 or eramirez-schultz@archer.org.

Artemis Magazine February 2012

Alumna Profile

ALYSSA LANZ, CLASS OF 2008

Currently attending: Wesleyan University Art History and African American Studies (Honors Candidate) Since graduating from Archer, what accomplishments are you most proud of? Being the first in my family to attend college, getting there had to be the proudest moment. At Wesleyan, I am most proud of the student of color art show called BE THE ART that was started by Archer alumna Alaina Gibbs ’05 in which I now serve as head chair. Also, I am proud to be one of five Mellon-Mays Fellows in my class which is a fellowship funded by the Andrew C. Mellon Foundation to recruit and mentor students of color interested in pursuing their PhD and becoming a professor. Both accomplishments have been a huge part of my undergraduate experience and have helped shape my favorite accomplishment (in progress) yet which has been my senior honors project titled, “The Early History of the National Museum of African Art: Negotiating Black Identity in the Public Art Museum.”

How has your Archer experience contributed to those accomplishments? Without the supportive faculty at Archer who always encouraged me to challenge myself, study what I loved, and be the best student I could be, I would not have the confidence and ability to accomplish everything I have done so far.

Which teacher influenced you the most at Archer and why? Mr. Donnel was the first teacher at Archer who embraced my skills as a writer not as a weakness of mine, but a tool I needed to refine in order to help get my strong ideas onto paper. Before his class, no other teacher had taken the time to help me improve my writing and tell me on a daily basis that my ideas were smart, creative, and worth sharing. During my last visit to Archer, I told Mr. Donnel that to this day on every paper, proposal, or application I turn in, I go through and remove the ‘is’ in each sentence to add an active verb. I remember dreading this exercise, but now it is one of the best writing tricks I use!

What was your favorite Archer experience? The field trips I took with my Contemporary Art elective with my art history teacher to LACMA, Bergamot Station, and private collectors’ homes showed me how exciting art can be. It helped me realize that Art History was something I am interested in and has been a big part of my life since.

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Alumna Profile

CAILEY HALL, CLASS OF 2002 Graduated from Princeton University, 2006

Since graduating from Archer, what accomplishments are you most proud of? In no particular order: graduating from college, living and working in New York for four years without starving to death in a snow drift, starting a Ph.D. in English at UCLA.

How has your Archer experience contributed to those accomplishments? Archer was a pretty unconventional place when I started the 7th grade there way back in the fall of 1996. It was small and scrappy, and we got to forge new traditions, in part because there weren’t any old ones. Going to Archer taught me to embrace the new and the unknown, which is an important lesson to carry with you wherever you go.

Which teacher influenced you the most at Archer and why? It’s a tie between Dr. Morgan, who taught me how to be a thoughtful reader and writer, and Mr. Everett, whose infectious enthusiasm for teaching AP US History helped me realize how much love needs to go into teaching and learning.

What was your favorite Archer experience? At the risk of sounding trite, there are so many Archer experiences I consider favorites that it’s difficult to choose. Hard as it is to believe—if you know me—I learned to appreciate camping during a wonderful rock climbing trip to Joshua Tree during my senior year. I also loved being the co-founder of The Harry Potter Club, and helping organize some highly athletic Quidditch matches. And, of course, I’m grateful for the unique, brilliant and hilarious friends.

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CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 2002 & 2007 Please save the date of April 21, 2012 for Reunion Night! This year Archer is celebrating the classes of 2002 and 2007. If you are interested in planning or helping with the reunion, please contact Evelyn Ramirez-Schultz, Associate Director of Advancement, at eramirez-schultz@archer.org or 310-873-7062.

Artemis Magazine February 2012

Alumna Profile

MIMI GIANOPULOS, CLASS OF 2007 Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, 2011

What are you most proud of since graduating from Archer? Graduating college with a BFA in Acting is sort of an interesting accomplishment. On one hand, Carnegie Mellon Drama is ranked one of the best in the world and I am still immensely grateful and humbled to have attended, but on the other hand, I was an actor moving to Los Angeles with what felt like a giant bull’s-eye on my face. There’s nothing like people assuming you went to school for computer science (something CMU is also widely known for) and then having to drop the “I’m an actor” bomb. However, I was lucky enough to do a movie a month after graduating in May, and even luckier to do a second film two months after that. Since graduation, the “real world” has felt like such a whirlwind, but I am so grateful to have had these experiences so soon after school. As of now, I would say those are the accomplishments I am most proud of, but packing my entire college apartment in one night (even though my parents told me to start a week ahead of time) is definitely a close second. I never want to see bubble wrap again.

How has your Archer experience contributed to those accomplishments? It may seem a little extreme to say “without Archer I’d be nowhere,” but I would argue that Archer gave me the confidence and belief in myself and my ability to think that anything was possible. To me, that’s the best thing a school can do. Of course the education was wonderful and the environment was encouraging, but it was the teachers that really instilled in me the idea that if I put my mind to something and worked really hard, it could happen. At such a young, influential age, growing up in a crazy city like LA, that was invaluable.

Which teacher influenced you the most at Archer and why? Ms. Pav had such a profound affect on me during my time at Archer. I think the qualities that make a good parent— having structure and rules and not just being your kid’s “friend,” while also being simultaneously accessible and available—make a good teacher, and Ms. Pav possesses a remarkable ability to be the coolest teacher around, while also making sure you understand literary devices (and never forget them!).

What was your favorite Archer experience? One of the best aspects of Archer, in my opinion, is the fact that students are given the opportunity to travel with their class. As I thought about my favorite memories (and exchanged hilarious text messages with my former classmates, so I could make sure not to miss any), one that came to mind was our eighth grade fall outing. We were in Big Bear staying in cabins, and each cabin was assigned a country, which we then had to research and come up with a “theme song” of sorts that included all of the facts we’d learned. I was part of the Nepal group, and in the hour we spent making up the song, I have never laughed harder. It was to the theme of the popular TV show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” In all honesty, I don’t remember any of the “facts”, but what I do remember is thinking that it just doesn’t get much better than rapping about Nepal on the top of a mountain with people I knew would be in my life forever.

The Archer School for Girls

recent achievements Archer’s all-girls Robotics team, The Muses, competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Championship in San Diego where they won the Judges’ Award for their determination, positive attitude and well-crafted engineering of their robot, Clio. The National Council of Teachers of English awarded both the Middle School and Upper School literary magazines a rating of “Excellent.” Archer was one of 18 California schools to win an award out of the 391 national schools that competed.

A R T E M I S THE ARCHER MAGAZINE

ADMINISTRATION Elizabeth English, Head of School Rick Benfield, Director of Finance & Operations

Members of Archer Debate Team competed in the Western Bay Forensic League’s Winter Classic, taking home 1st place trophies in their respective three events. Even though Archer only brought four competitors, the competitors’ impressive standings earned the team 3rd place in the Sweepstakes Prize for total team points. Archer’s student literary conference, “Literature and...” celebrated its 6th year. Participating schools included Archer, Buckley, Crossroads, Flintridge, Marlborough, New Roads, Pilgrim, and Polytechnic. The 5th annual Diversity Day program included several student and faculty facilitated workshops. Guest presenters included Homeboy Industries, actress-activist Sheryl Lee Ralph (Coco Maurice ’12) and author Gladys E. Barbieri.

Samantha Coyne Donnel, Director of Upper School Pam Horrocks, Director of Technology Beth Kemp, Director of Admissions Denny Lennon, Director of Athletics Christina McIntosh, Director of Communications Karen Pavliscak, Director of Middle School Mia Rille, Director of Advancement

11725 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90049 310-873-7000 archer.org

11725 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049

ambitious, joyful learning

She’s ready to lead.

Camila Gazcon, Archer Class of 2015:

Archer Ambassador Leader, Theatre Buff, Member of Student Council, Varsity Swimmer, Community Volunteer, Future Leader

Are you ready to let her? Less than 1% of girls in this country attend a girls’ school or womens’ college and yet they make up nearly 25% of the female members of congress, a third of fortune 500 board members, and nearly every female head of state across the globe is a girls’ school graduate.

At Archer we are educating the future female leaders of this country and the world.

Artemis - 2012 - Spring

Articles inside

Alumnae Notes

Athletics Highlights

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Joe Busch

Community Service Highlights

In the News

Cultivating Independent Thinking