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Lark Palma reflects on tradition

As we head into the Thanksgiving break and look ahead to the rapid pace of early December, I invite you to slow down and savor traditions. These are times for enjoying family and friends and for thinking about our good fortune.

We have wonderful winter traditions that bring us together here at Catlin Gabel: Grandparents and Special Friends Days, family heritage sharing in the preschool, Lower School Revels, the 8th grade production of St. George and the Dragon, and the Upper School choir and instrumental concert. Our students and faculty-staff from every corner of the campus enjoy a cherished and raucous assembly on the last day before winter break. We look forward to our annual traditions because we take comfort in ritual, especially rituals that celebrate children.

I love the predictability and consistency of traditions. Michael Brown’s 1966 classic Santa Mouse was a favorite book in our house. More than 30 years ago, when my son Ian was a little boy, my mother sewed a tiny Santa Mouse suit and placed it in the toe of his Christmas stocking. These days Ian nestles that Santa Mouse suit in the toe of his son’s stocking. I cannot remember a year when my family did not eat cassoulet on Christmas Eve, a nod to my father’s French background. On New Year’s Eve, we honor our German heritage with potato soup. Children are central to our rituals at home. These rituals take on meaning through repetition.

I love hearing stories about the many diverse ways Catlin Gabel families celebrate the season. So many of you have found ways to reflect, give thanks, serve the community, and strengthen your faith, in whatever form that takes. Most of us in the Catlin Gabel community have the good fortune of stability in our lives. Unfortunately, many families are not so lucky. During this difficult time for our fellow citizens, please be aware of the hardship they endure. Let us be thankful for what we do have and mindful of those who cannot celebrate traditions because they are jobless, homeless, or in transition. I hope you will join me in counting our blessings and reaching out throughout the year to help those who face instability.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good health, family, friends, pie, and generosity toward others.

Congrats!

Junior McKensie Mickler was named an Oregonian newspaper athlete of the week, October 25 – 31 after she had “27 kills to power the Eagles to a four-game victory over Vernonia" on Oct. 27. Catlin Gabel won the regular-season championship of the Class 3A Lewis & Clark League.

Junior Anna Byrnes placed 4th in state in the children's working hunter competition on her horse Lucero, and 1st in state in Low Child Jumper 3" on her horse Chances Are.

Junior Michael Zhu took first place in the Oregon Music Teachers Association Piano Romantic Festival competition. Earlier this year he placed 3rd in the OMTA Chris Tapang Scholarship Competition.

Congratulations to fifth grade teacher Jordan Heintz and his wife, Erica, on the birth of their son Parker Griffin on Tuesday, November 24.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and enthusiasm for the Viewfinder Film Series. More than 135 people came to see the four films presented on November 12.

Congrats to the outdoor eduction program for bringing mountaineer and author Stephen Venables to campus on November 17 and for sharing his visit with the broader Portland community.

Eagles celebrate terrific season

Girls Cross Country — District Champions, Second at State
Eloise Miller — First-Team All-District, Second-Team All-State
Hannah Jaquiss — Second-Team All-District, Third-Team All-State
Hannah Rotwein — Second-Team All-District, Third-Team All-State
Rebecca Kropp — Second-Team All-District
Christine Weston — Second-Team All-District
Molly Hayes — Honorable Mention All-District
Jessica Ramirez — Honorable Mention All-District

Boys Cross Country — Seventh at District

Boys Soccer — League Champions 7-0-0, State Finalist, Overall 16-1-1
Ian Maier — First-Team All-League
Adam Maier — First-Team All-League
Ian Agrimis — First-Team All-League
Will Caplan — Second-Team All-League
Jesse Kimsey-Bennett — Honorable Mention All-League
Joseph Oberholtzer — Honorable Mention All-League
Mike Davis — Co-Coach of the Year

Girls Soccer — League Champions 9-1-0, State Finalist, Overall 17-2-0
Abby Conyers — First-Team All-League
Zanny Allport — First-Team All-League
Leah Thompson — Second-Team All-League
Taylor Smith — Second-Team All-League
Sydney Smithf — Second-Team All-League

Volleyball — League Champions 13-1, First Round of State, Overall 15-7
McKensie Mickler — First-Team All-League
Leslie Nelson — First-Team All-League
Sabin Ray — Second-Team All-League
Esichang McGautha — Honorable Mention All-League
 

What's the next big thing after Rummage?

The 65th and final Rummage Sale was an AMAZING success thanks to energetic volunteers and loyal customers. We generated $274,000 in sales, just $1,000 shy of last year's total. The Catlin Gabel community spirit is epic. We do great things together — we always have and we always will. Thank you very much!

So, what’s next?
Do you have ideas about what Catlin Gabel might do to recreate the wonderful sense of community and commitment to service we have experienced through Rummage? Share your after-Rummage Sale ideas with us on the After Rummage Forum or send your ideas by e-mail to AfterRummage@catlin.edu. Ideas will be considered at a community-wide meeting on Saturday, January 23. Stay tuned for details.

Junior class selling winter greens to raise money for prom

Partnership with our neighbors at Cornell Farm

Link to photos, descriptions, and order form

Year-end giving reminder

If your family has already contributed to the 2009-10 Annual Fund, thank you! If you have not yet made your gift and plan to contribute by December 31, please note the following so you can receive the tax benefit for 2009.

Checks: Checks must be postmarked or delivered to the school on or before December 31 to qualify for a 2009 tax deduction.

Visa or MasterCard: The development office must receive your credit card information on or before December 31 to make the charge in 2009. Make your gift online.

Stock (direct transfers): The gift date is recorded as the date on which the stock is transferred into Catlin Gabel’s account. Please request the transfer and notify the development office. It often takes a few days to verify transfers, particularly when many financial institutions close for the holidays. We want to make sure your transfer is completed before December 31.

If you have any questions about making your calendar year-end donation to Catlin Gabel please call Eileen Andersen, annual giving program director, at 503-297-1894 ext. 306.

Thank you for sustaining and strengthening Catlin Gabel.  

Gambol

Thank you for participating in the Gambol's first annual online auction. We are pleased with the results. Thanks go to all the bidders. Stay tuned for more information regarding the Gambol live event on Saturday, March 13. Invitations will be mailed in January. In the meantime, you can support the Gambol and give someone a special holiday gift by purchasing a $25 raffle ticket to win a family trip for four to San Diego! Purchase tickets online or email the auction office at gambol@catlin.edu.

Catlin Gabel logo merchandise clearance sale

Tuesday, December 8, and Wednesday, December 9
1 – 3:30 p.m in the Barn

We are clearing out our inventory to make way for new logo merchandise. This is a great opportunity to get one-of-a-kind items from the vault. Great deals on sweatshirts, T-shirts, mugs, Frisbees, collectibles, and more!

Questions? Email Lauren Dully Hubbard ’91 in the office of alumni and community relations at dullyhubbardl@catlin.edu.