View as web page

Headlines

Lark Palma answers questions about the tuition increase and value of a Catlin Gabel education

By now, parents have received their re-enrollment contracts with the 1.1 percent average tuition increase. What do you think about the board’s decision to raise tuition by that rate?
The finance committee and board had one goal in mind: keeping tuition as low as possible without compromising the program. I am confident that the board has made the best decision for the future of our school and for our families. By increasing tuition by the smallest amount in 30 years, the board sends a clear message in support of our families who have tough choices to make. They also affirm the reality that tuition funds our high-caliber teachers and exceptional program.

How do you respond to the notion that our tuition is too high?
Catlin Gabel is the region’s premier independent school. We offer a wide spectrum of classes in music, art, languages, global education, and PE alongside science, math, reading, and writing. These educational essentials drive our tuition. We are committed to controlling costs – and have made great strides in tightening our belt – but we will not compromise on Catlin Gabel’s hallmark fundamentals such as small class sizes and extraordinary teachers who have great relationships with their students.

What does tuition pay for?
Catlin Gabel is a people-rich enterprise. Eighty percent of our budget supports faculty-staff salaries and benefits. In addition to classroom teachers, we have first-rate librarians, college counselors, learning specialists, robotics and athletic coaches, outdoor educators, and support staff.

Does student achievement validate the school’s approach to education?
We have so many success stories I hardly know where to begin. Two seniors, Yale Fan and Kevin Ellis, are both national finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search. Two kids from one tiny school! That is a remarkable achievement. Students across the school have won local, state, and national competitions in music and visual arts. Joey Lubitz was awarded the Gold Key in art, the highest regional award given annually in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. All five Middle School robotics teams came back from the league tournament with trophies, and three won trophies at state. Our outdoor education program is the largest and most participatory in the Northwest. We are a national school of distinction for our high number of Advance Placement exam takers getting 5s out of 5 in science, math, and computer science. Ironically, we don’t offer AP classes or teach to the AP tests. Our overall athletic program has won the state all-around athletics award 13 times in the past 25 years. And we have the state’s best college placement record.

Beyond awards and prestigious college lists, Catlin Gabel alumni know how to get the most out of their college experience and go on to become leaders in graduate school, their professions, and their communities. Catlin Gabel alumni make a difference in the world.

Speaking of college placement, how is it looking this year?
We don’t toot our own horn as much as we should. I don’t know of any other school in the area that has the kind of success we have with placing kids in great colleges. More than 40 percent of this year’s senior class has already been accepted to one or more colleges. So far we have three early admits to Stanford and Colorado College, two to Williams, and one each to Oxford, the University of Chicago, MIT, Claremont McKenna, Bates, Colby, Mills, and more. Many college acceptance letters arrive in March, so we will have more great news to share in coming months.

We are proud that our students go to a wide range of colleges that reflect the diverse interests of the class. With two highly experienced and well-connected college counselors for 75 students, we offer Upper School students more support than any other school in the area. We spend a great deal of time and energy helping each senior find the right college. I have received letters and phone calls from college admission officers complimenting our teachers on their beautifully written college recommendations.

Where do you see the school in five years?
Just as we have high expectations for our students, we have high expectations for our program. We will continue to be a strong college prep school with a focus on individual attention and an engaging curriculum. That is Catlin Gabel’s core mission. In five years, we will still be the region’s premier school by virtue of our exceptional faculty, lively and intellectually engaged students, and commitment to fostering future leaders.

Congrats!

Seniors Kevin Ellis and Yale Fan were surprised with the news that they are finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, out of 40 nationwide! It's only the second time that two students from the same Oregon school were named finalists. They each received a check for $7,500 towards college tuition, and they will go on to Washington, D.C., in March to compete for the top honors. Link to news coverage of Kevin and Yale's story.

Senior Joey Lubitz was awarded the Gold Key in art, the highest regional award given annually in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program, sponsored by New York’s Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. As a result of Joey’s Gold Key standing, his artwork will be forwarded to New York City for national judging. Nearly 30,000 high school students from across the country win regional awards, and 1,000 of those go on to earn national awards in the competition. One of Joey’s paintings will be purchased for the permanent collection of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Senior Rahee Nerurkar received a regional Honorable Mention award for her photography portfolio.

Thanks go to Upper School woodshop students for their generous donation of time and effort to build toys for the Toy and Joy Makers. Freshmen Zach Lewis, David Lovitz, Chris Reimann, Mark Van Bergen, and Gene Yamamoto; sophomores Ian Garrett, Alex Liem, Sammy Lubitz, and Charlie Shoemaker; junior Max Baron; and senior Tommy Young built 55 sturdy wooden toys.

Sophomore Gus Crowley served for one week as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives. Rep. Jim Jacks, D-Vancouver, sponsored Gus.

Seventh grade Team Delta robotics team won third place in the recent state tournament. The team was honored for their superb robot design, robot performance, research, and teamwork. The team scored 365 out of 400, higher than any previous Catlin Gabel Lego team. Congratulations to Team Delta and their coach, junior Rohan Jhunjhunwala. Team members are 7th graders Max Armstrong, Evan Chapman, Conner Hansen, and Elliot Lewis. Another veteran 7th grade team, the Green Dragons, came home with a runner-up Champion's Award, just a notch below Team Delta. Their project on airplane air quality won raves from the judges. The Green Dragons include Maddy Bunnenberg-Ross, Claire Fitzgerald, Sophie Paek, Jillian Rix, and Chloe Smith. Junior Rohisha Adke coached the Green Dragons. Sixth grade competitors Julian Baynes, MacGregor Beatty, and Jake Hansen, comprising Team Echo, won the 2nd place Research Award for their project on robotics bridge inspection. This is a tremendous achievement by a first-year team. Junior Henry Gordon coached them.

Soren Anderson's poem "Death" and Abby Hungate's poem "Sharing the Blame" have been selected as the most recent winners in the 2009-10 6th grade Poetry Box competition.

Fifth grader Nikhil Murthy and his neighborhood robotics team, Jedi Knights, won second prize in the Young Team award category at the Oregon State Lego Robotics Championship.

Hello and Goodbye

Join us in welcoming Catherine Healy, our new Upper School registrar. Catherine has a BA in linguistics and religion from Swarthmore College. Most recently, she was the director of youth outreach with the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. Before moving to Oregon, Catherine worked with youth programs in Philadelphia. She also has database experience and worked as a paralegal.

Robyn Washburn, who leaves the registrar job in mid-February, is working with Catherine to ensure a smooth transition. Robyn is taking a break from working to spend more time with her young children. “Although Robyn’s children will be the beneficiaries of her new role as stay-at-home mother, all of our children and her colleagues have been the beneficiaries of Robyn’s quick mind, even disposition, willing attitude, and steel-trap memory for movie trivia and analysis,” said Kate Grant, college counselor.

» Read about what happened at the January 23 "What's Next?" workshop