Harvard psychiatrist Dr. John Ratey paid a visit to the Saratoga campus on Nov. 19, appearing as part of the Common Ground Speaker series. The Common Ground Speaker Series was started by a group of Bay Area schools to feature experts in a variety of fields for the benefit of parents in various communities.
Ratey’s research into how exercise affects the brain has provided persuasive insight into how exercise can combat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse and mood swings. He published his findings in his most recent book, “SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.”
In the opening of his presentation, Ratey said he was “very passionate” about this topic, and that he aims to propel the discussion into the public’s awareness, hoping to “reverse where we’re going in many ways.” He began by using a photo of a close companion to illustrate his point.
“I brought along my friend here,” said Ratey, motioning to the large photo of a young Jack Russell terrier. “One of the things we found about exercise is that when you’re exercising, oftentimes you’ll have this flash of insight and creativity.”
When the dog first arrived, Ratey recalled going for a three-mile run, and wondering what to call the dog. “I came back and I had this brilliant idea of calling him Jack,” he said, earning some laughter from the crowd. The name stuck.
Ratey told of how early in his career in the Boston area, he worked with former marathon runners who had become injured and were forced to stop running, thereafter becoming depressed. After helping his patients work through their depression, many came back complaining that they had symptoms of ADHD. This was due in part to their reduced activity and exercise.
Intrigued, Ratey began looking more closely into the relationship between exercise and the brain. While explaining how the human brain evolved, he noted that the brain assisted in learning how to navigate and adapt to different environments in addition to evolving speech and other cognitive abilities. “Our moving brain is really our thinking brain,” he summarized.
One of the more sobering pieces of information Ratey displayed showed that children who were extremely obese scored nearly 30 points lower on I.Q. tests than children who were of normal weight. Another study found that obese adults in their late 70s had eight percent less brain volume than people of similar age who did not have weight problems. “Their brains looked like they were 95 years old,” Ratey said.
Some good news is that even people well into their lives can stave off such effects through basic exercise routines. “If you start exercising, even in middle age…if you begin and do it three to four times a week for forty minutes or so, brisk walking, you can push back the onset of cognitive decline later on by 10 to 15 years,” he said. Some studies show it may also have the benefit of cutting the danger of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease in half.
Later, Ratey showed that the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that plays a major role in the “executive functions” such as planning, organizing, evaluating consequences and learning from mistakes, “gets switched on by exercise.” Studies done with mice showed that exercise could even promote the growth of new brain cells.
Jack reappeared for a portion of the talk related to the importance of play. “One of the important ways of thinking about exercise is that it grows out of our need to play,” Ratey said. Playing, in the manner of children and young animals, for example, is an integral factor in the development and continued growth of the brain. “Every species that we’ve looked at plays, especially the young,” he said, citing the research of psychiatrist and clinical researcher Stuart Brown. “When you stop them from playing, their brains are smaller, they’re not as intelligent, they have a harder time integrating in groups, they tend to be more aggressive and don’t pick up the social cues if you take play away from them.”
To illustrate the point, Ratey used the example of the school system in Naperville, Ill., which began a rigorous physical education program that emphasized overall fitness and required students to exercise 45 minutes per day. Students in the school district went on to score first in science and sixth in math in an international test that compares the aptitudes of various countries.
Following the talk, Ratey took time to answer questions from the audience.
Joe Rosenthal, Harker’s executive director of advancement, was one of several individuals and organizations honored by the Silicon Valley chapter of the American Fundraising Professionals (AFP) at this year’s annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon on Nov. 19. Held at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara and attended by over 500 guests who represented dozens of Bay Area nonprofits and corporations, Rosenthal was named the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser for 2009.
“Congratulations to Joe for all of his dedication to and hard work on behalf of the school and the children. This is a tremendous honor to him and the school community,” said Chris Nikoloff, head of school, after Rosenthal’s selection for this award was announced in June.
Sharon Svensson, president of Essex and Drake Fund Raising Council, which recommended Rosenthal for the award, said, “The National Philanthropy Day (NPD) selection panel was very impressed by Joe. They specifically said, ‘[We] were very impressed by the quality of the nomination and the length and breadth of Joe’s accomplishments.'”
Rosenthal recognized his advancement team, who were all in attendance, for their outstanding work for Harker. Also in attendance were many of Harker’s board of trustees, Nikoloff and many of Harker’s key donors.
[Update] Nov. 20, 2009:
The Harker girls tennis team’s run in the CCS team championships came to an end earlier this week after a great 16-5 season. In singles play, Arthi Padmanabhan, Gr. 12, won her match 6-1, 5-7, 10-8 against Monta Vista. Jenny Chen, Gr. 9, also chalked up a win against Monta Vista with scores of 7-6, 0-6, 10-6. Monta Vista won its next two singles matches over freshman Daria Karakoulka, 6-1, 6-0and sophomore Aranshi Kumar, 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, Harker seniors Kelly Chen and Brittany Chu defeated top seed Monta Vista 7-6, 6-2. Monta Vista was able to clinch a spot in the final four, however, by winning two doubles matches. Padmanabhan and Jenny Chen will compete in the CCS Individual Tennis Championships, held Nov. 23-24, facing Monta Vista. Harker’s top doubles team, Kelly Chen and Brittany Chu will compete against St. Francis. Congratulations to the Harker girls tennis team on a fantastic season!
[Update] For the first time in Harker tennis history, boys or girls, a team has reached the CCS quarterfinal round. The girls narrowly defeated eighth seeded Menlo-Atherton 4-3. Freshmen Daria Karakoulka and Jenny Chen, each won deciding matches, with Chen clinching the final match. The number one doubles tandem of Kelly Chen–Brittany Chu and number three doubles team, senior Vivian Huang and frosh partner, Chau Nguyen, contributed as well. Number two doubles lost a close match–a sudden death tiebreaker — in the third set. Number one singles, senior Arthi Padmanabhan and number four singles, Aranshi Kumar, Gr.10, lost well-fought matches. The team now faces number one seed Monta Vista Friday, Nov. 13, 2:30 at Monta Vista.
Nov. 6, 2009:
Harker’s girls tennis doubles teams faced off for first and second at the WBAL tournament at Menlo School. In the championship match Jenny Chen, Gr. 9 and Arthi Padmanabhan, Gr. 12, teamed up to defeat seniors Kelly Chen and Brittany Chu 6-4, 6-4. Kelly Chen and Chu were seeded second and they defeated Sacred Heart Prep to get into the championship match. Jenny Chen and Padmanabhan were unseeded and defeated first-seeded Menlo 6-3, 6-0 in the other semifinal. Jenny Chen and Padmanabhan are automatics for the CCS Individual Tournament, Nov. 23-24, and Kelly Chen and Chu will be nominated for an at-large spot and will likely get one, said Dan Molin, athletic director.
Two Harker performing ensembles helped “light up” Santana Row at the “Light Up the Row” event on Nov. 17 from 6-6:30 p.m. Downbeat and Dance Fusion appeared at the eighth annual lighting of the 40-foot tree, decorated with half a million lights. Photos of the event can be viewed at the slideshow below.
Harker’s first Homecoming at Davis Field on Nov. 13 was a fitting spectacle for all in attendance. The event got started at 4 p.m., with the junior varsity football team facing off against Berean Christian High School. Harker came up short in the hard-fought contest, losing 18-9.
Tailgate activities were in full swing by the time the varsity football teams began preparations for the big game. Students, parents, faculty and staff from all campuses enjoyed pizza, sandwiches, homemade snacks and cold drinks before and during the contest. Harker alumni were also in attendance, and could be seen socializing and catching up with friends and teachers at the alumni booth. A large bounce house and an inflatable slide were also set up to provide the younger students with some age-appropriate fun. Music was provided throughout the evening courtesy of the Harker Jazz Band, with Chris Florio directing. Transportation to and from the game went smoothly, due to the convenient and orderly shuttling service between the Saratoga and Blackford campuses.
Fans filled the stands to watch the varsity game between Harker and Berean Christian. Before the game, attendees were treated to an energetic routine by the varsity Dance Troupe, directed by Laura Rae, an enthusiastic performance by the lower school’s junior cheerleaders. The “Eaglets” also performed their traditional “fly by” through the stands. Prior to kick-off, a spectacular rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner”was sung by vocal groups from all three campuses and directed by upper school music teacher Catherine Snider.
During halftime, the finals of the upper school tug-of-war contest took place, with the seniors taking first and the juniors coming in second. More halftime entertainment was provided by the varsity cheerleaders, who put on an entertaining and acrobatic display of school spirit. Shortly afterward, the students of the 2009 homecoming court were escorted onto the field, where seniors Kevin Fu (who, as a player, was suited up for the game) and Mahum Jamal were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.
The crowd was thoroughly fired up for the second half, which saw great competitive spirit from both teams. Harker eventually lost the grueling contest 25-13.
Slideshow of Homecoming spirit rally in the afternoon:
The 2010 fashion show, “Outside the Box,” is coming on fast; designers are hard at work on specialty garments and model tryouts are just around the corner.
A team of six upper school students, led by Priya Bhikha, Gr. 12, is hoping to complete a half-dozen garments made from recycled material. The call has gone out for plastic bags, soda can tabs, paper clips, unused coffee filters, unused duct tape and CDs.
These items will be used by the team to make outfits of recycled materials for one of the fashion show segments, and to get enough material, all three campuses are collecting. “We won’t be able to return any of these items (obviously), so please make sure they don’t donate their mom’s favorite Barry Manilow CD,” said Sue Prutton, director of US volunteer programs and fashion show liaison. The recycled outfits will augment fashions provided by Macys and the Tuxedo Wearhouse at Westgate Mall.
Along with the behind-the-scenes work, there are models to select and train. Applications are due this Thursday, Nov. 5, and tryouts are Sunday. Harker Students, parents, faculty, grandparents and staff are all welcome to try out. There is an optional workshop on Saturday, too. Details are online in the Harker Parent Portal.
The Harker Speaker Series kicked off its 2009-10 season in grand fashion with the appearance of travel author and television personality Rick Steves, who discussed his newest book, “Travel as a Political Act.” Having traveled to Europe regularly since his teens, Steves began his travel writing career in the 1980s with the publication of “Europe Through the Back Door.” He went on to author more than 40 books that specialize in traveling Europe cheaply and experiencing the less tourist-oriented aspects of European cultures. He now hosts the popular public television series “Rick Steves’ Europe” and organizes European tours for thousands of people each year, in addition to writing a syndicated newspaper column and hosting a weekly radio show. Steves spoke to a packed audience at the Saratoga gym, and was also seen via live video feed by audiences in Nichols Hall. The theme of his hour-long discussion was how Americans can use the experience of travel to improve their understanding of the world and its many different peoples. In so doing, they can help improve America’s relationship with the rest of the world. Learning about the key figures in a country’s history can teach us much about the culture and people, he said, citing El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero, an advocate for human rights who was assassinated for his outspoken stance. Steves compared him to the soldier Nathan Hale, who was captured and killed by the British during the Revolutionary War – understand the people’s heroes and you will understand their culture. He covered some of the key differences between Europeans and Americans, such as work habits. Europe, Steves said, is often criticized by Americans because its citizens make less money than those in the U.S. “The full story is not being told here,” Steves said. He pointed out that workers in Europe actually make roughly the same hourly wage while choosing to work less. “Europeans are adamant about not working themselves into an early grave,” Steves said, noting that he was very happy to be an American citizen and would much rather run his business at home than abroad. “Because I love my country and love this way of life, I believe it is good style and patriotic to bring home a few challenges to encourage my neighbors to get it a little better,” Steves said. “We can learn from other people.” Toward the end of his presentation, Steves talked about his recent trip to Iran, saying he wanted to humanize its people. He confessed that he was nervous about visiting the country at first, a fear that was quickly assuaged. While stuck in traffic in Iran’s capital city of Tehran, a man in the next car handed Steves’ driver a bouquet of flowers, saying, “Give this to the foreigner in your backseat and apologize for our traffic.” He also shared the story of an Iranian woman who implored Steves to “tell the truth” about her country’s people: That they were strong, united and didn’t want their children to be “raised like Britney Spears.” These attributes, Steves said, are common among Americans who worry about how culture affects their offspring. “Think about their counterparts here that are most quick to hate Iran,” Steves said. “They’re good people, motivated by fear and love.” Steves said that among young people there is an opportunity to learn more about the world outside their borders and understand it, rather than fear it. “There’s a lot of fear being used against us these days,” he said, “and I’ve learned the flipside of fear so often is understanding.” He closed his presentation with an anecdote about a whirling Dervish he observed in Turkey. Whirling Dervishes are Muslim worshippers known for their distinct method of praying, which involves a circular dance that the Dervish does as a form of meditation. The Dervish explained to Steves that when he prays, he places one foot down to represent his home and family, and the other foot circles around, to praise the wonder and variety of God’s creation. One hand is raised to receive God’s love and another is lowered to bring this love down to his creation. He then begins whirling and entering his trance-like state. Steves said that the Dervish’s reverence of home, family and the world around him made them “fundamentally the same, and if I can go home with that appreciation, and then employ that broadened perspective as a citizen of this great nation, that’s the most powerful and beautiful souvenir, and that’s making travel a political act.” Following the presentation, Steves spent a brief period taking questions from the audience and signed books for his fans. Students interviewed after the event enjoyed Steves’ well-articulated and balanced perspective. Vamsi Vemereddy, Gr. 11, found the presentation “very interesting. I learned lots of different things about Europe, like how they view us.” Fellow junior Priya Sahdev said, “It makes you want to travel a lot more than I expected. I didn’t really know who [Steves] was when I was going in there, but going out of there, I really enjoyed the whole talk and I learned a lot from it.” “It was really educational to learn to learn about all these different places,” said Puneet Sidhu, Gr. 11. “It kind of makes me want to visit these places now, and have the experience myself.” Launched in 2007, the Harker Speaker Series invites inspiring, visionary individuals from a wide variety of fields to share their stories and expertise with Harker parents, students and faculty, as well as individuals from the larger community. For more information, visit http://www.harker.org/page.cfm?p=1307.[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”http://skylark.harker.org/hno/backups/wp-content/story-slideshows/Rick_Steves_October_29_2009/soundslider.swf” width=”500″ height=”400″ targetclass=”flashmovie”]
The Harker School ran an informational article in the Bay Area regional edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s annual private schools and colleges edition.
The life and contributions of John Near, 31-year veteran teacher and coach, were celebrated with tears and laughter by a crowd of nearly 500 on Oct. 10 in Nichols Hall on the Saratoga campus.
The moving tribute brought Near’s family, friends, fellow teachers, alumni, students and parents together to share anecdotes, reminisce, and, ultimately, celebrate a life well-lived and the impact Near had on all those around him.
From a stage featuring Near’s classroom and coaching memorabilia, including his roll top desk and sports jerseys, Head of School Chris Nikoloff spoke movingly of Near’s contribution to Harker’s development over the past three decades; Diana Nichols, former head of school and current Harker trustee and consultant, told how Near grew with the school, ever improving his teaching methods to challenge his students, and how he contributed immeasurably to the development of the school – and thus thousands of students – in many areas, from the classroom to faculty meetings to basketball teams.
Three alumnae, Jessica Liu ’04; VyVy Trinh ’07 and Casey Near ’06, Near’s daughter and a senior at Scripps College, read excerpts from Near’s legendary baccalaureate speeches, relaying philosophies he shared with graduates. Steve Tedesco, a lifelong friend, took the stage to talk about Near’s life prior to and outside of Harker, and was joined by two other friends he’d had since elementary school, Craig Pettengill and Mark DiFiore.
The audience was treated to a photo slide show set to music (“Secret of Life” and “Shower the People,” both by James Taylor and favorites of Near’s), spanning his life and showing the very human side of this most respected educator and mentor. The slide show illustrated his many roles: teacher; coach; husband of Pam Dickinson, director of Harker’s Office of Communication; father; son; brother; and friend.
Jim Near, John’s father, wrapped up the formal program. Over the years, John had repeatedly said how his father was the only man he respected more than former head of school Howard Nichols, who passed away in December 2008. His dad’s strength of character, passed from father to son, was apparent as he talked about his son growing up, in maturity, ill and in his final weeks, and how his son had come to accept the inevitable with the same strength he demonstrated throughout his life. His parents have established the John Near Excellence in History Education Endowment Fund in his honor.
Microphones were opened up and teachers, alumni, students, parents and friends shared their special John Near memories and moments. Many involved the famous “Mr. Near look,” and each told how behind the look they found a caring, passionate teacher. An alumnus, inspired to become a history teacher, told how he also adopted Near’s approach to a wayward student, “We can do this the hard way, or my way”; a phrase as effective in his own classroom as it had been when he was on the receiving end in Near’s classroom many years ago.
Refreshments were served in front of Nichols Hall afterward, and guests mingled and reconnected, just as Near had requested. His favorite snack foods were served, such as popcorn, apples and brownies, which he was known to bake each week for his advisory group.
The printed program included some of Near’s favorite quotes, and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s especially captured the day:
“What is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden path, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. That is to have succeeded.”
From the dozens of anecdotes and memories – whether they were courtside, in the classroom or with friends and families – it was clear that Near’s life and impact is a legacy that will continue to inspire his thousands of students, scores of peers and friends, and his own loving family.
At Near’s request, donations can be made to any one of the following: The John Near Excellence in History Education Endowment Fund (Harker School Advancement Office; 3800 Blackford Ave; SJ 95117; checks to The Harker School, memo line “John Near Endowment Fund”); Hospice of the Valley; CaringBridge; Silicon Valley Wellness Center. To order a DVD of the memorial, email communication@harker.org.
[Updated] Renowned concert pianists Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhaes visited Harker Oct. 9 to conduct a master class and perform. The versatile South African duo, currently on a world tour, spent time with Harker piano students in the two-hour master class, and followed with an evening concert attended by about 130 people. Both events were in the Nichols Hall auditorium; see the slideshow below for photos of the master class.
The visit was arranged by Chris Florio, orchestra director, who noted the pianists were a hit with the students and that the duo enjoyed their visit to Harker. “Piano is very popular at Harker,” said Florio, “and this (was) a great opportunity to bring in international talent to meet our talent. This is another one of those events that you hardly ever find at a high school; it is much more of a college or university type of event.”
