Harker’s middle school has been recognized for its philanthropic efforts by Camp Okizu. Harker has established a relationship with the camp for the last five years, since their inaugural event together, a Cancer Walk organized by Michael Schmidt, middle school computer science teacher.
Since that first event, the Cancer Walk has been an opportunity for Harker students and families to raise money for the camp. Camp Okizu is dedicated to providing quality care as well as fun activities for young cancer patients. The money raised has been used to purchase new equipment and ensure that more children are able to take advantage of the services offered at the camp.
Harker received the award this year to commemorate the five-year partnership between the camp and the middle school. Over the course of this relationship, Harker has raised more than $40,000 for the camp. We look forward to further collaboration and further giving from the Harker community.
The Saratoga campus received a special Earth Day gift: a London Plains tree from the Modern Woodmen of America. Representatives of the group presented the tree to The Harker School to uphold the central tenet of the group’s charter to give back to the community. With the help the Eagle Buddies (sophomore students and their grade 3 buddies) the tree was planted along the border of Rosenthal Field.
Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal society that provides financial services and other benefits to its members, which number more than 750,000 nationwide.
Harker parents Samir and Sundari Mitra (Shivani, grade 10) have established The Mitra Family Endowment for the Humanities which will match gifts for the Annual Giving Campaign up to a total of $100,000.
“The subject matters taught under humanities, such as history, languages, communications and philosophy, are critical skills and knowledge that develop well-rounded Harker students,” said Samir Mitra. “Humanities is the bedrock of a superior education and will enable our students to stand out as recognized contributors in their future professions.”
Those interested in helping the Mitras’ effort can contribute online at www.harker.org/onlinegiving, send a check to Harker Advancement Office, 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose, CA 95117, or drop off a check at any campus front office.
“The Mitra family’s endowment offer, and every matching give from others, will benefit our students every year, for years and years to come,” said Melinda Gonzales, director of development.
This article was originally published in the Harker Quarterly Spring 2011 Edition
The eagerly awaited fashion show 2011 “When I Grow Up … Dream Big!” lived up to its name, with a big, exciting event. At the two shows, more than 1,000 guests were greeted at the Santa Clara Convention Center by middle school student hosts and led to the event foyer, where they could peruse the beautifully decorated tables filled with auction items. Some tried their luck at the gift wheel, while others headed into the ballroom to find their tables and listen to the Harker Jazz Band, directed by Chris Florio.
Elegant tables decked out with floral centerpieces surrounded a cross-shaped runway flanked by three active video screens. Chris Nikoloff, head of school, welcomed guests and introduced the show’s honorary chair, Diana Nichols, with a short video clip. Pictures of Nichols as a child and a voiceover explaining her passion for science provided a nostalgic introduction to Nichols herself, who took to the runway to thank the guests, sponsors and fashion show committee for their work.
The show’s theme was creatively interwoven throughout by show director Laura Lang-Ree, chair of the performing arts department. Before and during fashion segments, video screens showed clips of teachers and staff sharing their dreams and giving advice on finding one’s passion. Along with taped video, live video of the action brought excitement and immediacy to the proceedings; J Gaston, graphic arts teacher and Office of Communication videographer, and Adi Parige, grade 12, were on the sides of the room handling the live video cameras, a new addition to the production this year.
But what about the fashion? Macy’s of Valley Fair and Eli Thomas for Men of Santana Row provided most of the clothing, and the Giants Dugout Store even got into the action for a segment dedicated to our own hometown World Series heroes. A total of 83 student, faculty, staff, parent and alumni models strutted their stuff with confidence and delighted all with their style and personality. Varsity Dance Troupe, Downbeat and Dance Fusion wowed the crowd with stunning routines, and Downbeat also provided a vocal backdrop to the final modeling segment.
At the evening show the fun continued after the fashion portion with a live auction, ably led by Harker favorite Damon Casatico. He cajoled, wheedled and prodded guests to raise paddles for tickets to the Grammy and Emmy awards, spectacular vacation trips, a quilt made by our kindergartners, a flyover with the San Jose Police Department and much more. Guests relaxed their grip on their paddles after the auction and hit the dance floor, enjoying the terrific cover band, The Cheeseballs.
It took only a few days for the exciting totals to be tabulated, and Sue Prutton, fashion show liaison and upper school volunteer director, happily reported that the fundraiser was very successful. The live and online auctions raised $83,270, and our sponsors, advertisers and gift wheel participants contributed $126,730 to the proceeds, which support two main funds: financial assistance through the Financial Aid Fund to students who would otherwise be unable to benefit from a Harker education; and Phase 4 of the capital campaign, including the construction of a theater and gym on the Saratoga campus.
In mid-January the lower school gym was packed with students, faculty and staff – all in pajamas – ready and excited to donate to a good cause. The reason can be traced back to one young Harker student.
Four years ago, Harker third grader Rishi Narain sat down to watch the “Oprah” show. The show’s guest that day was Genevieve Piturro, founder of the Pajama Program, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering warm sleepwear and nurturing books to children in need. Seeing thousands of pajamas and books donated to children who never had them inspired Narain to bring the program to Harker, where he organized the lower school’s inaugural pajama drive.
Four years later, the event is bigger than ever.
The assembly itself was a raucous affair. In addition to all the lower school students, there were also “big people in the audience,” as Joe Connolly, lower school dean, put it in his introduction to the event. The “big people” were sophomores, who had come as part of the Eagle Buddies program.
Eagle Buddies, still in its first year, was an initiative suggested by Butch Keller, upper school head, in an effort to bridge the campus divide. Third and tenth graders are matched together, and according to Carol Zink, upper school history teacher; the third graders get fun, older role models, “while the sophomores get a chance to lighten up and be kids for a little bit.”
The buddies stay together for three years, until the sophomores graduate and the third graders matriculate into middle school. “It’s been going more smoothly than I could ever imagine,” said Keller. “I couldn’t be more pleased with what we’re accomplishing.”
After Connolly’s introduction, Pallie Zambrano, co-president of the Pajama Program’s Northern and Central California chapter, expressed thanks to the Harker students, reminding them that each donated pair of pajamas would change the life of a child in need.
Next, Keller replaced his suit jacket with a bathrobe and reclined on a rocking chair to read “We Are Going on a Bear Hunt” to the children. All the students got involved during the audience participation part of the reading, with special zeal coming from the sophomores, who may or may not have been coached beforehand.
Finally, the students spent some time reading to themselves and with their buddies. Big Buddy Michaela Kastelman said she enjoyed spending time with her buddy because it brought her back to the experience of being in third grade. Kindergartner Andrew Fox wasn’t too sure of what was going on, but he was very excited to be in his pajamas. “They’re not as tight as my uniform!” he exclaimed.
All in all, the event was a huge success, with Harker students donating 727 pairs of pajamas and 204 books, a school record for the program.
In October, several faculty and staff gathered at the home of Pat and Terry Walsh, grade 5 math teacher and Harker archivist, respectively, for a special poker event to commemorate the passing of beloved Harker U.S. history teacher John Near one year earlier.
The event also acted as a fundraiser for the John Near Resource Center, raising a total of $945. Funds were donated by visitors and those who were unable to attend but wanted to contribute nonetheless. The center, located in Shah Hall, adjacent to Near’s former classroom, reflects the late teacher’s love of American history. Near taught at Harker middle and upper schools for 31 years prior to his passing in 2009. His legacy includes many hundreds of students left with a love of learning and history as well as the John Near Excellence in History Education Endowment Fund.
Two tables of Texas Hold ‘Em were run for the poker competition which was won by recently retired 30-year lower school geography teacher John Zetterquist, who pocketed a $200 first prize. Casey Near ’06, Dickinson and Near’s daughter, cleverly called Zetterquist’s bluff on one hand, which netted her a $75 prize.
“Casey did an amazing job for her first time playing poker,” said host Terry Walsh, Harker’s archivist.
On Sept. 23, 30 members of the Harker community joined the Gauba and Reddy families at the Silver Creek Valley Country Club for a golfing tournament and wine tasting. All proceeds from the event will go to Harker’s general endowment fund, which assists the programs not covered by tuition and fees, including athletics, clubs, performing arts, visual arts, the library and technology.
For an afternoon, faculty, parents and students participated in friendly competition. Denise Broderson, Barbara Young, Dorothy Scarpace and Ingrid Wu won first place in the tournament; Mike Armstrong won Closest to Pin; and Susan McNealy won the Longest Drive. In a putting face-off, Maverick McNealy, grade 10, defeated Christopher Nikoloff, head of school, and won a new wedge.
Afterward, adults took part in a wine tasting. “Watching the sun set was a very nice way to finish off the event,” said Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement.
Reprinted from the Harker Quarterly June 2010 issue
The Head of School’s Circle Celebration took place in late April for Harker’s most generous donors and Parent Development Council (PDC) members. Guests were treated to performances by a woodwind quintet from The Harker School Orchestra, Downbeat, High Voltage and Showstoppers. Head of School Chris Nikoloff welcomed guests, thanked them for their wonderful support and introduced two of the PDC cochairs, Tamra Amick (Michael, Gr. 9; Alyssa, Gr. 7; Julia, Gr. 3) and Brian Richardson (Ian, Gr. 8; Shannon, Gr. 6). Third co-chair Sangeeta Mehrotra (Malika, Gr. 11) was unable to attend.
After a review of progress on the new upper school library including a walk through the nearly-completed building, seniors in Downbeat related how donations have helped them by reminiscing on their involvement in the arts at Harker and sharing their college plans. Diana Nichols, former head of school and lifetime trustee, who is heading up the effort to fund the next phase of campus development, presented an overview of the master site plan and encouraged attendance at her more detailed presentations of the performing arts and athletic facilities plans, held in May (see story page 47.) The light repast was prepared by the Harker food service team under the eyes of Chef Steve Martin, Harker’s executive chef.
For more information on the master site plan and the performing arts center and athletic facility planning, contact Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement, at JoeR@harker.org.
Reprinted from the Harker Quarterly June 2010 issue
Student artists of all disciplines and their families had three opportunities in May to celebrate the unveiling of the conceptual design of their new space, a performing and visual arts center (PVAC) planned for the center of the Saratoga campus as part of phase 4 of Harker’s master site plan.
Diana Nichols, former head of school and lifetime trustee, hosted the events in the Nichols Hall auditorium. The programs included talks by visual arts chair Jaap Bongers, performing arts chair Laura Lang-Ree, and an impassioned speech by Nichols herself, who charmed, cajoled and nudged the audience into understanding the importance of completing this new venue for Harker.
Bongers outlined the difficulties his students have trying to make art pieces in the same space they are stored, and the need to work outside in all weather, because there are no rooms with proper ventilation or floor space. Lang-Ree’s speech included a dramatic visual punch – a video made by a local school that shows a time-lapse sequence of their new space, and testimonials by their faculty detailing how competitive and attractive their school can now be because of their arts center. Lang-Ree pointed out that while audiences may only see the “glitz and glamour of our productions,” what they don’t see is much more revealing; the students then gave a laundry-list of challenges they face as performers in their limited and unequipped spaces.
Student performers gave the potential donors a look at their future beneficiaries, performing dances, songs or dramatic scenes at each of the gatherings. Nichols then opened the floor to questions and comments.
The highlight of each show, though, was the presentation of the site plans. Built around the theme of a crystal – which is constantly changing, growing and reflecting light, the way students are – the new gym, student center and PVAC have glass entries. Waterfalls, a suspension bridge, a roof vegetable garden and green space will make the center a stunning addition to the campus.
A special “gift club” called The Director’s Circle has been established to recognize the many teachers, staff members and others who have made early gifts to this campaign.
The excitement at these gatherings was palpable, and momentum is growing. The time to get on board is now!
This article originally appeared in the spring 2010 Harker Quarterly.
“If you build it…” The oft-quoted line from the movie “Field of Dreams” has been echoing in the halls of The Harker School the last few years. Nichols Hall, which opened to great celebration in the fall of 2008, has proven to be a spectacular home for science classes, competitive research students, music concerts and lecture series. Davis Field and the Singh Aquatic Center have taken the sports department to new levels of athletic achievement. And the buzz continues. Next on the plan: a performing and visual arts center (PVAC).
Harker’s six-phase capital improvements plan is currently completing phase 3, which was the building of the two new sports venues and Nichols Hall. (Previous phases improved the Bucknall campus and built Shah Hall.) Phase 4 is the long-anticipated PVAC, which will transform the 16-acre Saratoga campus yet again.
The groundwork for this next phase began in the fall of 2008 with a series of Head of School Gatherings, casual socials at the homes of Harker parents. At those events, Chris Nikoloff led discussions with interested parents about the future of the school, not only sharing information but gathering feedback about what parents wanted most for their campuses.
In 2009 focus groups were convened to discuss the master site plan in more detail, focusing on the gym and student union (phases 5 and 6). A third focus group narrowed the view on the PVAC. Families, students, alumni, faculty and administrators were invited to complete an online survey, which asked for very detailed opinions about the current performing arts and visual arts facilities, as well as the respondents’ wishes for the future. This information was crucial to the administration and architectural team, and “uncovered all sorts of valuable ideas and highlighted several issues that [David Takamoto, our architect,] has been able to address so that once completed everything works very well from parking, to campus flow to beauty,” said Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement, of the survey.
Head of School Gatherings continued in the fall of 2009, when Nikoloff presented parents with a draft of the master site plan, incorporating all the ideas culled from families, alumni and employees from the past year. The next step will be spearheaded by former head of school and current trustee Diana Nichols, who will host a series of meetings in the spring of 2010 to get further input on the developing project and unveil the conceptual design of the master site plan.
All of these gatherings and drawings are leading up to the submission by Takamoto of a conceptual design to the San Jose City Planning Commission. Currently Harker is zoned for residential occupancy; the administration wants to convert that zoning to planned development use, which would maximize the use of buildings on campus and greatly minimize the red tape involved as permits are sought for each new building. Another major benefit of the rezoning is that campus buildings will be permitted to reach 50 feet instead of the current 35, allowing for three-story buildings and a theater with room to install a fly system for moving props and scenery vertically on and off stage.
Other designated areas within the building will include a third floor dedicated to visual arts, allowing for natural lighting and separate rooms for stone carving, painting and ceramics; two theaters – a black box and a full-size space with orchestra pit; costume, prop and set building spaces; music and art classrooms and libraries; practice rooms; gallery space; and dressing rooms and lounge areas.
The visual and performing art staff is understandably excited about the project. Laura Lang-Ree, K-Gr. 12 performing arts chair, points out that, “We are the only high school in a 40-mile radius that does not have a theater. Our lack of facilities is dramatic when contrasted with the level of education we provide and the sheer interest in the program and volume of children that we educate. Both students and teachers deal with this subpar facility issue daily.”
Visual arts chair Jaap Bongers concurs: “Our current space does not allow our students to develop their artistic talents to their fullest extent, partly because they can’t spread out and are working in storage and drying areas. The new building will give us separate spaces for storing completed works, works in progress and active studio space. And a separate gallery will mean we can adequately highlight student and faculty art.
” Mike Bassoni, Harker’s facility manager, who has overseen each of the large construction efforts on all of Harker’s campuses, speaks for many families and teachers who are eager for a space that can match the talents of our students: “The new center will greatly enhance an already well-recognized Harker program. With new, state-of-the- art facilities, the possibilities only become that much greater. We know our programs are great, but a contemporary facility will serve as a picture frame to display that level of perfection for many, many people in the community to enjoy.” Rosenthal wants parents of all grades to “ensure that the legacy of excellence passes to the next generation of Harker students,” and that we “invest in programs that make a difference in the world.”
A small group of parents and faculty are already contributing to the $30-35 million that will be needed to build the PVAC. The architectural and rezoning fees are being paid for by the very generous contributions of a group of current and alumni parents whom Rosenthal calls “seed investors.” These kind donors will be recognized and thanked at this year’s Head of School Reception on April 30.
So will they come “if you build it?” Perhaps a project of this size needs a better tagline than one from a Hollywood film. Virginia Woolf once said that all that women needed to write fiction was money and a room of their own. Artists, too, need financial support and their own space to play, create, dream and exhibit. That space will be coming soon for all to enjoy!