Outings Week

2

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

We made it through the wilderness. Well, Sarah made it through one too many college ad-

mission offices and Joe made it through several food-filled ice chests. Despite the obvious lack

of wilderness spirit, we are committed to getting down and dirty, grabbing the bull by the horns,

and Christian by his... arms, as we force him to do all the work while we laugh and eat cinnamon

toast.

But seriously, welcome to Cate! We’re here to hand you literature, precious photo memo-

ries, crosswords, and hot gossip like nobody’s business, and we certainly haven’t let the dirt and

sweat from Outings Week spoil our plans. Rejuvenated from his time in the wild, our beloved

Outrider has undergone his own metamorphosis and is making his debut as a beautiful, exciting,

and strangley satisfying publication.

This past week we three have been toiling deep down... really deep down in the School

House basement. Not only have we been operating a moody computer that only runs when given

a blood sacrifice, but we have also been blinded by the paint some obviously colorblind past edi-

tor chose for the walls. Yet in spite of all this, here is your issue. It’s fat free, rich in fiber, and

soaked in ink, so open up! October 5, 2009

3

Welcome Back!

ContentsNew Faculty 4

Prefect Updates 6

Carp and SB 8

Summers Abroad

Babies on Board

Opinion 10

Outings Week 12

LifeStyle 16

Sports 18

The Arts 19

Nature Photo Contest 20

El Phat 21

4

New Faculty

Jessica BlockYen Truong ‘11

Many of us have seen Jessica

Block roaming around campus with her

husband, Jacob, and two children, Owen

(age 5) and Duncan (17 months). Despite

the fact that she has only been on campus

for about a month, it is quite clear that she

is fitting in nicely with our community and

enjoying herself. One of her favorite things

about Cate is developing relationships with

Cece

SchwennsonEleanor Bennett ‘10

As I entered the lower hall CHE

apartment, I couldn’t help but think of the

wonderful teacher and friend who used to

live there. Although Mrs. Vega, or “Habes”

as many of us called her, had and still has a

huge presence on this Mesa, her old apart-

ment has now been filled with a very wor-

thy person. Cece Schwennsen has arrived.

Halfway through the interview,

I asked the over-used question, “What is

your favorite food/drink/ice-cream?”

Without hesitating she replies, “I

have a serious addiction to Diet Coke.” For

a moment I am in shock; not only is this a

hilarious answer that I would never have

expected, Diet Coke also happened to be

the one thing Mrs. Vega was never with-

out! I tell Mrs. Schwennson this, and we

agree that this is a sign; she is meant to be

here, in this apartment, at Cate School.

Cece Schwennsen was born and

raised in a small town in Iowa. After ob-

serving her older sister’s experience at the

huge Iowa State College, she decided to

attend a small, but good Norwegian Lu-

theran School. Although she wasn’t Nor-

wegian or a Lutheran, she says she enjoyed

the experience, and found her passion for

music. She soon realized however, that she

didn’t want to teach or perform, so she got

degrees in chemistry and psychology.

Her first job out of college was

working as a corporate trainer for a food

service company. She describes to me how

it was “horrifying” and how she “never

wanted to eat out again after a chef told her

[about coming] to work with a full set of

artificial nails and leaving without them at

the end of the day.” As she told this story

with a completely strait face, I couldn’t

help but burst into laughter.

I then asked her if she’d always

known that she wanted to be a teacher. She

said absolutely not, but that her mother,

like most mothers, had somehow always

known. She told me that her favorite

teacher was her English teacher who had

the lowest voice of any person she’d ever

known. I found myself laughing again as

she went on to tell me this same teacher’s

saying, “I don’t want to read crap, and you

don’t want to write crap, so lets just cut the

crap.”

I realized that our fifteen minute

interview had turned into a forty-five min-

ute one. I felt bad for distracting her from

her work (re-writing the chemistry text-

book), but I was also so excited to have

met this amazing new teacher who is as

hilarious as she is insightful.

Thus, I kept her for a few more

moments to ask what advice she could give

to high-school students who want to be

teachers one day and general advice for us

before we enter the “real world.”

“Don’t let people discourage

you!” she said enthusiastically. And if

you’re thinking of becoming a teacher,

“You won’t get rich, but you get to expe-

rience things like watching your students’

faces light up when they finally understand

something they’ve been struggling with.”

Then she told me, “I saw a sign the other

day. It said, ‘Life is not about finding your-

self. It is about creating yourself.’”

the students. Whether it is teaching class,

hanging out in the dorms, or even talking

in the dining hall, Mrs. Block loves getting

to know everyone. When asked why she

was drawn to our campus in the first place,

she admits to wanting to find a school near

home in order to maintain a close family

life. Having taught former Cate students,

Lydian Blossom and Rebecca Gomache,

Mrs. Block saw firsthand the effects of

Cate on its graduates. Now that she is here,

she is really excited about being a part of

the community and developing the theater

program.

Welcome Back, JayIsabelle Spears ‘11

For years, this campus has ben-

efited from the warm and tranquil presence

of Mr. Dorion. When he left Cate last year

to pursue a new career at Saint Paul’s, a

boarding school in New Hampshire, he

was dearly missed and never once forgot-

ten. This interview was our opportunity

to get inside the mind of the dashing Mr.

Dorion and ask him the questions that most

of us have been pondering:

1. First of all Mr. Dorion, welcome back

to the Mesa! How do you feel about being

back with us?

Thank you! I am overjoyed to be

back. I know that may sound like an over-

statement… my family was very sad when

we left Cate. Being back is amazing.

2. What did you miss most about Cate?

Oh gosh, there are so many

things. I would have to say I mainly

missed the interactions between the stu-

dents and faculty. Being away really gave

me a new perspective on how special the

bonds are between them at this place; it is

so unique. I also missed the opportunities

I had at this school to coach, teach, and

advise. Just the chances I have to interact

with everyone.

3. What were your reasons for returning?

Well, I really missed the close-

knit community and the size of the school.

I missed the emphasis Cate places on char-

acter development and… simply the im-

portance of how you treat people. I think

this school does a better job at embracing

these attributes then where I was.

4. What are you most excited for this

year?

A new challenge in this role. I’m

really excited to be teaching again… I’ve

been at it for a week or so and I’m incred-

ibly excited for the opportunities to get to

know the students. I hope to be a dorm par-

ent again in the future, but right now I’m a

MOD (chuckles).

5. What were the main differences between

Cate and Saint Paul’s?

The size of the school was a huge

difference; it was about twice as big as

Cate. It is such a beautiful place, but its

size was something I found difficult to ad-

just to. In no way am I trying to demean

Saint Paul’s when I say this, but I think

they are less concerned about the relations

between students and faculty. It also had no

programs for human development, no out-

ings week, and no Junior Retreat. I think it

is really important for everyone to spend

time together. Without the sense of com-

munity, I sort of felt like I was working in

an office all the time. I mean, I’m working

in an office here too, but I also get to inter-

act with everyone.

6. I have to ask, how is your baby Char-

lie?

(Smiles) Great. Fantastic. He is

walking… actually running now. He adores

his sisters and is so much fun. He’s not the

best sleeper… he’s up way to early for us

sometimes! He eats a lot and I think he

likes the weather here. He didn’t like hav-

ing to be bundled up in mittens and jackets

all the time.

Dorion!

5

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

Annalee

SalcedoEleanor Bennett ‘10

Annalee Salcedo’s favorite part of

teaching is, as she puts it, “when a student

experiences that ‘Aha-I get it!’ moment.”

Unlike many people today, she always

knew that teaching was what she wanted to

do.

Mrs. Salcedo describes the op-

tional homework assignment her pre-calc

teacher gave to her class junior year as

being the moment she really knew teach-

ing was for her. “We could study a chapter

in-depth and then teach the lesson to the

class. I decided to do mine on exponential

growth,” she told me.

After graduating from Yale with

a major in Chemistry, she got her first job

teaching at a small school in Boston called

the “Commonwealth School.” She also

worked for an organization called “City

Year,” which she described as being “a pro-

gram in which students do a year of service

projects in Boston, sort of like a domestic

Peace Corps.” During the summers, she

was an instructor for one of the Outward

Bound backpacking and sailing trips.

Before coming to Cate, she had

been teaching at an inner city public school

for six years, and although she is excited to

be here, she does miss the kids and teach-

ers she knew, as well as being in Boston.

When I asked her how the transition is go-

ing, she replies happily that, “it has been

great and definitely lived up to my expecta-

tions.” She also told me how she is excited

to get to know everyone in and outside of

class, as well as to become a better teacher

by working with the great math department

Danny

Seigle ‘05Ivy Kim ‘10

How does it feel to be back at Cate as

a faculty member?

It feels almost surreal and odd,

but it’s great to be back! I still think it’s

weird when some of the students refer

to me as Mr. Seigle. But I think Mr.

Deigle is kind of catchy.

Who was your favorite teacher when

you were a student?

Ross Robins. We tried to call

him D. Rob because he has a Ph.D, but

it never quite caught on. I never really

liked English until I had him as my

teacher. He made my college English

classes disappointing.

I heard that one day, you entered the

dining hall after working out, and New-

some sent you back to go change. Is

that true?

Well, that did happen, but I

didn’t leave. I felt like I should have

left, but Newsome doesn’t have that

kind of power over me now! But if I

were a student, I would have definitely

left.

Do you call Mr. Williams Mr. Williams

or Ben?

I call him Big Ben.

If you could redo anything during you

time at Cate, what would it be?

I would give a Tuesday Talk. I

never gave one because there were so

many people from my class who wanted

to give one, and I was not as passionate

as they were, so I didn’t sign up. But I

am planning on giving a convocation at

the end of the year.

Are there any confessions you would

like to make right now that could have

had serious consequences back when

you were a student?

Well, there was one incident

when my friends and I eventually got

caught, but I’ll tell you anyways. I was

in AP Statistics my senior year, and T

Smith taught us the Double Method,

teachers.

When I asked her about going to

Pyles camp with the freshmen this year,

she was equally enthusiastic. Although she

enjoyed the whole experience, what she re-

membered most was, “when Dolphin spoke

to everyone and said, ‘You guys are what

kids should be like; you have so many op-

tions and choices, and you share a sense of

community that is so unique. You’re lucky,

don’t forget to take advantage of that!’”

Mrs. Salcedo lives with her hus-

band and her adorable daughter in 25’

House and can’t wait for the new addition

to the family, a baby girl, to arrive on No-

vember 13th! Although they haven’t come

up with a name for her yet, they’ve been

calling her by her “fetal’ name, “Peanut.”

As I sat in her home listening to

her stories of teaching in Boston and bik-

ing around South America, I watched as

her smiling daughter handed her a little

pinecone. I was touched by what a caring

mother, great teacher, and an incredibly ac-

complished person Mrs. Salcedo truly is.

which is a mathematical way to earn

money playing blackjack. So, my

friends and I hacked into our parents’

emails to email the assistant dean al-

lowing us to take a weekend to our

friend’s house.

But of course, instead of going

to her house, we went to an Indian re-

sort casino in Santa Ynez to play cards.

Eventually we got caught because of

the rumors circulating around. We won

about $2000, but to apologize, we do-

nated some of our money ($500) to the

A&D Office.

What do your friends think about your

working at Cate?

Many said that they saw it com-

ing. They are jealous because they just

graduated from college, and are going

out into the corporate world now.

6

Notes From Your Prefects

To sum up High House in one

blurb, I would have to touch upon our

brotherliness. We may have our minor

skirmishes, but what siblings don’t fight?

Even though we may be the craziest and

most dysfunctional family, we take pride in

upholding the great name of High House.

From Cam’s taping countless bugs to the

wall to the sweet melody of Taylor Swift

produced from Rohit’s sound box, we truly

have a unique bunch. To put it simply, High

House is just like a large insane asylum

filled with psychotic children, looked after

by some of the strangest but most amaz-

ing wardens. And we love it with all our

hearts…

Hig

h H

ouse

Just

in B

ars

ano, B

youngw

ook

Jang

Long House Sarah Appleton, Sara Blank, Paige Miller, Simone Nettles

We, the lovely Ladies of Long, represent forty-one amazing girls all living together under

one long roof. Together, we make up the best dorm on campus. Our weekly meetings range from

“female fun” to laughing yoga. We are looking forward to our soon to be fiercely decorated com-

mons room and getting excited for fun with ’25 House. We are the only dorm on campus that is up

by 6:00 AM and silent by 10:15 PM, but we certainly play hard and study hard in between. Long

House doors are always open…just remember to keep it clean…in all aspects.

CHE Liana Corwin, Megan Falvey, Mackenzie Walsh

CHE is off to a great start this year!

The dorm is cleaner than ever and morale is high

with endless birthday celebrations. To keep up

the good vibes, we plan on introducing a few

new things this year such as CHE movie nights,

as well as bringing back some old traditions like

CHE Tea and Holiday Parties! New CHE girls are

meshing well, and we especially love listening to

Stephanie Duong play Disney songs on the piano

after sports. Everyone should be looking forward

to the new decorations we’ll be putting up around

the dorm in the coming weeks. We’re so excited

for the upcoming year. And keep an eye out for

the CHE shirts!

Lido Roy Young

Lido is sometimes made out to be

the “dungeon dorm,” mainly because of the

sizes of the rooms. However, Lido has great

character, and this character comes from

the guys living here. I am proud to say I

have legendary gamers, computer masters,

eclectic guitarists, and all-around bros. So,

whenever you pass by Lido, don’t be afraid

to check it out and kick back with some chill

dudes.

Bothin/ParsonageEleanor Bennett, Jazmin Sherwood, Nathan Killea

When asked about his future vision for Bothin, Mr. Bonning stated plainly, “I want it to become a boys dorm.” We the

prefects of the fine Bothin dormitory, however, have a very different desire.

In recent years, Bothin has become widely known for its weekly tradition, “Tuesdays for Your Tummies.” This year,

with the new schedule in place, we were forced to switch it up a little bit; thus “Mondays for Your Munchies” was born. At

approximately 7:45 on Monday nights, the guys and dolls of Pars/Bothin gather for a feast prepared by our favorite DJ, Wade

Ransom, with the help of the local prefects. Thus far we’ve enjoyed exquisite cuisine - ranging from grilled cheese to Mac and

cheese. Although we’ve noticed a “cheesy” trend emerging, we are working hard to plan a new hybrid menu which will consist

of a large variety of foods including hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream floats, chips and salsa, etc..

Although Mondays for your Munchies is our most unique trait, we also boast our newly revived co-ed commons room.

Fully equipped with an old-school TV, well-used floral print couches, a toavster, a blender, a spatula, a non-functioning stove (at

least for the time being), and a small but exquisitely tiled bathroom, this commons is prepared for anything.

Nathan Killea, our partner over in the fine Parsonage dorm says he has high hopes, and many great plans for his “Pars”

boys this year. He tells us how “Pars is as awesome and wild as it has ever been.” Nathan is looking to hold down the fort with

(as he calls it), “a bunch of fun stuff.” He says he will try to enforce study hours and a maintain good academic environment. He

will also work to promote good study conditions during the day, leaving more free time for bonding and stress relieving activities

in the afternoon. He wants this year to be a memorable one.

So the Pars/Bothin dorms begin the year on an exciting note, with many hopes and aspirations for the years to come.

The most important point though, we’ve got Wade.

Cook House

West Mackenzie Bohannon, Belle Kammer

We are really excited for Cook

House West this year. Considering we have

the best dorm on campus, there isn’t much

competition. On upper hall we got Sierra

Mountains, Georgie WalkOva’Yaa’, Legos

put it together Gallegos, RDP, Ruth Kayiz-

zlewondizzle, Hadley Brakin’ Hearts, Gra-

cie G’Money Gates, Nikita Kat Bar, Abby

the Killa Whale, Jay Pay, Angela Bruce-

Lee, Charlotte Bowl a Strike Er’time, Ellie

Up On tha’ Hoop, Karolyn Park yo’ Car.

On lower hall, we got Julllleeee, T-Ling,

Marguerite Getcho Mannix, Emily Gusty

Winds, Faith “Keepin’ the Faith” Donald-

son, Grace Gail, Alison Mugnut Mockison-

maker! We be fly down here with Fortnasty

and Special –K Kellogg, cuz everyone

knows its best in the west!

25 Victor Grajski, Bryan Kim, Randy Person,

Edgar Velasco

The Head Doggs of the Deuce Five

Dog Pound have set high goals for our litter.

Aside from holding it down and doing it live,

we plan to make this place too legit to quit.

We expect to have interdorm for more than

twenty-five minutes and not be on lockdown

for the whole year. Out with the old (a.k.a

the donkers), and in with the new ( a.k.a the

doggs), we will be the ones showing peo-

ple what’s up and what’s going down. Like

Andy Samberg says: We’re going to run this

pound….Like a boss.

7

Day StudentsMark Mullen, Allegra Roth

The Day Room has always been a

place to gather, eat, nap, and talk to Teresa.

We day students are a rare breed with carrols

instead of rooms, and parents at our disposal,

or we like to think. This year, Mark and Al-

legra are planning on making it the hottest

bagel- eating, and burrito- devouring place

on campus. There will be a monthly food

day, solely to honor the day student’s ability

to eat as many jack’s bagels as possible. Bor-

ders, don’t even think about it. The incom-

ing day freshman and sophomores are going

to carry on the legend of Day, and continue

to dominate in Greg’s Wiffleball games, aka

continuing to be the best dorm on campus.

Head Prefects Randy Person and Jazmin Sherwood

We are so damn stoked and super excited for this year. From the dorm competi-

tions to the pranks (which we don’t endorse), we can’t even begin to put into words how

jammin’ this year is going to be. We’re just soooo committed that Randy swears he’ll whip

out the skirt for a second time, and Jazmin will suit up in the ram suit even if it means

breaking the promise to herself that she won’t. Above all else, we want like y’all to have a

bomb year so tell us how we can make that happen. We really don’t think this has to be two

paragraphs, beacause really all we need to say is: GET READY TO WET YOUR PANTS

IN EXCITEMENT!

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

8

FEATURES

GuatemalaLexi Greenwald ‘10

e entered the dimly lit room

and lying there on a bed that

took up most of the house

was an emaciated, elderly

woman. She was rocking

and muttering desperate prayers, while her

daughter sat at the edge of the bed looking

upon her with a look of anguish. The so-

cial worker we were traveling with hugged

the two women and began conversing with

them. The younger of the two began to de-

scribe her mother’s battle with an undiag-

nosed illness that had left her completely

immobilized. We discovered that the fam-

Santa BarbaraKate Montgomery ‘11

By now, your body is free of dirt,

your scrapes are starting to heal, and your

sunburns are finally peeling away to reveal

healthy skin. You have survived Outings

Week but still need the restorative powers

of mani-pedis, fancy soaps and shampoos,

delicious teas, and really good food to help

you forget all that you went through during

Outings Week. But where to go?

Many of you have probably al-

ready experienced the Carpinteria nail

salon scene. If you haven’t, you may fare

better in Santa Barbara. For the best mani-

pedi in the county, go to Rainbow Nails on

West Calles Laureles Street. It is right off

State Street, so you can take the shuttle that

goes up and down State (its costs $0.50),

and the salon is right across from the big

Longs Drugs. It is a small salon with only

four people who work there, but they al-

ways give a nice, long foot massage that is

perfect for all those with sore and blistered

feet from Outings Week.

This summer, Lush and Teavana

opened in the Paseo Nuevo shopping mall.

Lush sells all kinds of bubble baths, lo-

tions, soaps, and shampoos. Treat yourself

to some jelly soaps and sparkly lotion to

make you feel so clean and smell so good

that you forget that you ever skipped show-

ering for a week. Teavana is next door and

is filled with hundreds of flavors of iced

and hot teas. They always have samples by

the door, so be sure to stop by and try some

of their exotic flavors. If you are already

feeling stressed out about your workload at

school, buying some tea may help to calm

and focus you for the first marking period.

CarpinteriaJoe Gottwald ‘10

Spanish explorer Gaspar de Por-

tolá discovered a group of Native Ameri-

cans hollowing out logs to make seagoing

canoes in 1769 on the coast of California.

The area was christened San Roque but

the Spanish soldiers fittingly started call-

ing it La Carpinteria, the carpenter’s shop.

Today, there are no woodchips from canoe

construction on the beaches, the native

chaparral has been cleared for orchards

and housing, and the only Natives you can

find are the mascots at Carpinteria Senior

High (even though their presence is cur-

rently being debated by the school board).

Carpinteria is a beautiful little town and to

help you appreciate all it has to offer, here

is some advice and useful (well at least in-

teresting) information for everyone who is

daring enough to venture down the Mesa

1. Carpinteria is definitely not the cuisine

capital of anywhere, but there’s a fair share

of restaurants to choose from. Different

levels of sophistication can be found at

each establishment, so to help you feel

comfortable wherever you go, here is a

list in order from formal dress to shirts and

shoes optional.

1. Gianfranco’s

2. Zookers

3. The Palms

4. Sushi Teri

5. Siam Elephant

6. Rudy’s

7. Hugo’s

8. The Spot

2. Carpinteria is home to the only avocado

festival in the world. It’s one of the big-

gest attractions of the year and I suggest

attending at least one of its three days.

This year it is running from October 2nd

through the 4th. My sister helped start the

Carp and Santa Barbara

Battle it Out!

VS

Guinness World record tradition of the

largest bowl of guacamole. The cheerlead-

ers from Carp High sell bowls of chips

and guac from an unused/sterilized metal

swimming pool. I enjoy watching my food

being stirred with a boat paddle; anyone

else who feels the same should make the

time in between the many other attractions

the festival has to offer to go visit the Carp

High guac booth.

3. The world’s safest beach can be found

in a few miles from Cate. No one has ever

died on the Carp beach, and being the first

person would not be worth the publicity.

The city works diligently to protect the

beaches precious title, so I would suggest

not dying on or near the beach for fear of

retribution from the City Council.

4. Some notable facts about Carp: we

have the largest Torrey Pine known in

existence, located across from the library,

which happens to be the first public

library in California. We have a museum;

the most fun part is actually finding it and

a fountain with seals on it in front of Vons.

There is a flea market on the last Saturday

of every month across from the Torrey

Pine, on Maple Avenue.

5. For everyone who misses the culture

of bigger cities, here are some locations

to make you feel a little more refined or

spoiled, either one. SOAP, in the Torri

Gates center has plenty of scented… soap,

as well as lufas, towels, jewelry, and other

fancy toiletries. There is a nail salon on

Linden and clothing stores located along

the Main Street as well. At the furthest

end of Carpinteria Ave. Chocolats du Cali-

Bressin offers a wonderful selection of

chocolates made by an expert chocolatier.

So go out! Have fun! Don’t

complain about Carpinteria or Carpas (the

local “gang,” if you could even call it that)

will find you and not know what to do

with you because well, they aren’t a very

good gang.

Hug the Torrey Pine, meander

through the flea market, splash in the seal

fountain and make seal noises... its a tradi-

tion trust me!

ily could not afford to send her to the hos-

pital, so she was left to suffer in bed as she

awaited her fate. She had not been able to

eat for twenty-one days and was complete-

ly incapable of retaining body heat; her

family had resorted to ironing cloth, which

they wrapped around her feet and hands to

keep her warm. Yet despite the blatant de-

spair of this family, there was a sense of

gratitude from the ailing woman that was

truly remarkable. I could not help but mar-

vel at the fact that even though this woman

was suffering, she still had faith.

I encountered this phenomenon

countless times throughout my trip to Gua-

temala: the existence of remarkable hope

in a seemingly hopeless situation. Over

the course of a week, our group visited an

elementary school, a preschool, an infant

malnutrition center, a homeless shelter, and

various medical clinics. With each project

the spirit and heart of the Guatemalan peo-

ple became more evident.

They deal with hardship beyond

anything we can imagine on a daily basis.

Many cannot afford food to feed their fam-

ilies or uniforms for their children to attend

school. Some cannot even afford a simple

mattress for their bed that sleeps their en-

tire family. These are the typical trials of

a Guatemalan citizen, yet their spirits are

unwavering.

Initially, I went on this trip to de-

liver supplies for the non-profit Direct Re-

lief International and to work in its social

programs there. However, I believe I have

taken more away from the trip than I pos-

sibly could have given.

W

9

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

Carryn In

Italy

Lexi Greenwald‘10

1. What is your typical day like?

Well, I get up and walk to school in

the morning so I can be at my first class by

9:00 a.m. I’m taking ancient Greek, Latin,

Italian, English, calculus, and art history. I

love all my classes, but they are definitely

challenging; particularly Greek and art his-

Summer in

JapanStephanie Ruys de Perez ‘10

This summer I was fortunate

enough to go on a foreign exchange pro-

gram to Japan for six weeks and live with

a host family. I went

with the program

Youth for Under-

standing, and lived in

Hatsukaichi, a suburb

of Hiroshima. The

majority of my time

in Japan was spent

going to a Japanese

school called Sanyo

Joshi, an all girls pri-

vate school, where I

was immersed Japa-

nese schooling for

the first time. Outside

of school, my host

family made sure I

was always busy by

taking me to judo and

calligraphy lessons, elementary schools,

soccer games and many of the famous

sights near Hiroshima. Perhaps the most

Baby BoomAnnaliese Schroeder ‘11

It’s safe to say that the Cate com-

munity has been experiencing a baby

boom. Charlie Dorion, the baby who began

it all way back 2007, has recently returned

from his one-year hiatus from Cate. Hot on

his heels were Giles Beamer, who made

his grand entrance in July of 2008, and So-

ren Alldredge, who was born in April. Yet

these three patrons of the Early Learning

Center are only the beginnings of Cate’s

baby boom movement.

As far as this movement is con-

cerned, things have really picked up in the

past few months. The Bryant’s have been

fostering a baby, Gray, since June. His

crowning glory so far seems to be the mas-

sive quantity of fluffy, dark hair on his little

head. Baby Gray was followed by Samuel

Porter Kellogg (August 4, 2009), who is

joining Willy as the proud sons of Mr. Kel-

logg and Ms. Porter.

However, the most recent addi-

tion to the campus is Reagan Aleska Mack,

who is the first baby girl of the Mack fam-

ily. Reagan was born on September 20,

2009, which, coincidentally, is Mr. Mack’s

birthday too! Theo and Emmett are very

excited to have a new baby sis.

Fear not, Reagan does not mark

the end to the baby boom! More is still to

come. One of our new faculty members,

Ms. Annalee Salcedo, is expecting a baby

in November. She currently has a young

daughter, Rosita, who is eighteen months.

Clearly, for all you babysitters out

there, business will be lucrative, and for

the rest of you who just need a baby fix,

there are certainly plenty of options. So,

please, congratulate the proud parents and

siblings, be watching for first steps, and

keep your ears open for their first words!

Can you guess who this little angel be-

longs to? See the Faculty Child Game on

p. 25

tory, which are taught in Italian. There are

60 students in the program altogether, but

each class has only 10 to 15 students; it’s

very similar to Cate in that way.

Lunch is at 1:30, and all the stu-

dents walk to the Italian University to eat

in its dining hall. Our classes finish by

3:30, and then I take the bus to a club in

town where I play tennis. I get home by

6:30, when I start my homework.

Dinner is usually at around 8:30

or 9:00 p.m., and I spend the rest of the

night talking with my host family and fin-

ishing my schoolwork.

2. What do you do for fun?

I don’t have school on Fridays,

so I use the three-day weekends to travel

around Italy with all the students in the

program. We have visited various towns

around Rome, and have seen some of the

paintings we’re studying in art history.

3. What’s your favorite thing about Vit-

erbo?

It is exactly what you would think

of when you picture Italy. It is picturesque

with its cobblestone streets and beautiful

buildings. There are pizzerias and bakeries

everywhere, and the food is delicious!

impressive thing I got to see when I was in

Japan was the island of Miyajima which is

home to Itsukushima Shrine, possibly the

most famous shrine in Japan.

Other notable places I vis-

ited were the Hiroshima Peace Park, and

the Kintaikyo Bridge of Yamaguchi. Of

course, my favorite part of the Japanese

culture was the food; I got to have a ton

of ramen, udon, tempura, sushi and even a

fair amount of “tacoyaki” (fried octopus).

Foreign exchange for me was incredibly

memorable and would highly recommend

it to anyone who’s interested.

10

OPINIONLos NiñosIan Keneally ‘12

In the past I have always thought

of community service as a service solely

benefiting people in need. I have seen this

type of selfless service all around the Cate

community generally manifested in Foster

Homes. The one place where I have seen

this value lost is in the Los Niño’s Pro-

gram.

Now at this point in the article,

those who support the community service

program are quickly becoming outraged,

and casual readers are now bypassing the

block of text articles to skim the Hot or Not

list, but before you prejudge this article or

turn the page, consider the costs involved

in the Los Niño’s trip.

The cost of the 2009 trip was

$4560.36. Mr. Holmes provided this num-

ber on an email to the General folder. After

getting this number, I began to research oth-

er factors and break down the cost of Los

Niño’s into what we could provide if we

were to donate it solely to improvements

in a Mexican town. The minimum wage

in Mexico is 53 Pesos, or about $4.02. If

we take the cost of the Los Niño’s trip and

divide it by that hourly wage we can calcu-

late the number of man-hours that could be

purchased with the Los Niño’s funds. This

comes out to roughly 1134.5 hours. This

means that one Mexican worker could be

hired to work 141 eight-hour days. Even

if you hire 10 workers instead of one, that

crew of 10 workers could work 14 eight-

hour days. If you were to hire skilled work-

ers for double minimum wage, 10 workers

Outings WeakJulia Hodgkinson ‘11

Tradition masks all manner of sin.

It really does. At Cate, tradition happens to

involve the treacherous death marches of

sophomores and juniors on their respective

Summer ReadingElizabeth Rosenberg ‘11

Summer reading: the seemingly

benign combination of these two familiar

words is powerful enough to recall relax-

ing images of page turning on white sandy

beaches or the dreaded anxiety of late-Au-

gust scramble after weeks of procrastina-

tion. However, whether you read Tolstoy

for pleasure or rely upon Cosmopolitan

to provide you with your weekly quota of

intellectual stimulation, if you attend Cate

School, required reading has undoubtedly

played a crucial, if not traumatic, role in

your summer holidays.

According to our librarian ex-

traordinaire, Ms. Krill, the English depart-

ment chooses the grade specific books

based upon individual recommendations

and then votes to determine which titles

will make the final list. However, while I’m

certain that this summer’s selections were

meant to resonate with the majority of their

audiences, the interviews I had with stu-

dents proved otherwise. When asked about

their reading, my interviewees provided

could work 7 eight-hour days. The Los Ni-

ño’s trip is 72 hours long. If you subtract

the two 5-hour drives, and 8 hours of sleep

for the two nights they spend in Mexico,

the resulting number is 46 hours of time

awake in Mexico. If we assume a strong

work ethic, we will only subtract one hour

for each of the three meals. This means

that if Cate students worked every hour

that they were awake, with the exception

of three one-hour breaks a day, they would

have worked 40 hours. This number of

man hours pales in comparison to the num-

ber of man hours that could be purchased

with the Los Niño’s fund.

Often when this concept is pre-

sented to people, they defend this type of

community service saying that it is the ex-

perience that is important. But really what

is that argument saying? It essentially says

that the purpose of the Los Niño’s trip is

the experience that each Cate student gets.

If this is true, then isn’t the Los Niño’s trip

to a degree a selfish endeavor? If the pur-

pose of the trip is for Cate students to ac-

cept the gratitude for their hard work and

learn how to help communities, then the

whole act of community service is just a

means to an end. It is a tool used to give

a student the sense of accomplishment and

pride in their actions, so I wrote this ar-

ticle to present a question: why is it that

as a school we have decided to sacrifice

efficiency for student experience? Why

have we decided to substitute professional

workers for inexperienced students? Why

is it that we value the experience more that

we value the actual help done? This trade

of effectiveness for experience seems to be

a growing trend not only at Cate School but

also in modern culture.

There are many arguments against

just sending money. There may be corrup-

tion and the money may never reach the in-

tended people. It could also be spent frivo-

lously. But the arguments for the sending

of cash instead of workers are just as nu-

merous. Economically it makes far more

sense to send money instead of students.

The money that we use to pay workers will

stay in the Mexican economy. By paying

workers within the Mexican town we help

two different types of people. It would

employ the unemployed, by giving them

a decent paying job, and boost consumer

spending, which helps to support local

businesses. The other method of charity,

builds houses and sheds for these people at

no charge.

My intent in this article is not to

slander the Community Service Program

or any part of the Cate Community. It is,

however, intended to bring attention to

the way we perceive community service.

I believe that what it boils down to is the

types of philanthropists we want to be re-

membered as. Do we wish to revel in the

experience of helping others? Or should

we approach community service in a way

that maximizes efficiency, quality, and ef-

fectiveness of our actions?

Outing Week trips. Although tradition tells

us that we must endure the wilderness and

face its many dangers in order to bond each

other, there comes a time when safety and

reasonability must conquer all.

It is absolutely ridiculous to have

students who succumb to nature’s wrath

be evacuated by helicopter all the way to

Fresno. It is even worse for the less fortu-

nate who were made to ride the winding

25 miles on horseback with a broken hip.

At least at Cate, a fallen comrade should

not be seen as inherently weak. We are at

a school that prides itself on having aca-

demically superior students with critically

thinking minds; they shouldn’t be made to

prove themselves in the wilderness, and

made to feel inadequate if they cannot. I

happen to know that my strengths lie very

far away from a trail or a campfire – and I

am proud of it.

For the amount of risk these trips

pose to the students, and the archaic skills

that are necessary to survive them, there

is little or no benefit to the students them-

selves. Outings Week now only stands to

satisfy its own tradition.

a variety of an-

swers. Some were

complex and ar-

ticulate: “Despite

the recreational

context in which

we were assigned

this book, the

forced analyzing

of any reading in

the summer auto-

matically ruined

any chance I had

of enjoying it.” Others were more succinct:

“It sucked. Like really.” This statement

particularly regarded Jasmine, one of the

titles required of incoming juniors. Person-

ally, I thoroughly enjoyed one out of the

six books assigned to me, and I was given

the opportunity to select it from a rather

lengthy and diversified list of titles. But,

as long as we obediently remain enrolled

in the American education system, summer

reading will undoubtedly endure as a per-

manent fixture in our time off from school,

just in case our brains fry from all that tan-

ning.

11

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

New Schedule:

Flex or Flab?Megan Falvey ‘10

For the past few years, I have

heard mention of the “Time Committee.”

However, due to the vague context of

these various conversations, I viewed it

as more of a secret society than an actual

committee of teachers. It was not until the

end of last year that the Committee made

its presence known when they dramatical-

ly changed the way in which we students

go about our daily business. In theory, the

new schedule they created would free up

more time for students to sleep, work, and

play: an idealistic outlook that initially

made both students and faculty propo-

nents of the change.

Then school started. As the real-

ity of the academic year began to settle in,

many people began to use the schedule as

a scapegoat for personal stress. It cannot

be denied that the beginning of the year

is stressful, due largely to the dramatic

transition from summer. Yet, whether or

not everyone realizes it, the new schedule

is actually facilitating this transition.

Most opponents of the schedule

claim that the multiple time frames they

are put under have caused more stress.

These students, who are usually taking up

to 6 or 7 courses this semester, do have

schedules that look daunting. It is ironic

that they are blaming the new schedule,

when in fact, they should be grateful for

it. Although their schedules may seem

overwhelming, due to the increase in text

and boxes drawn in the table, the time

committee has successfully broke up the

day with flex blocks in order to mini-

mize everyday stress. By adding in these

periods, students are guaranteed an open

period in their day to study and relax, a

pleasure that was not available to us last

year. But the change is not restricted sim-

ply to the academic day. The committee

also pushed back dinner half an hour in

order to allow us athletes to finally be able

to shower before eating and still make it in

time for chocolate chip cookie ice cream

sandwiches.

Perhaps the most controversial

aspect of the schedule is the new lights out

policy, establishing a bedtime for Under-

classmen which some nights is earlier than

that of Zoe Krill – much to her mother’s

dismay. Although I am a senior, and there-

fore am largely unaffected by the change,

I certainly see the benefit in implementing

this new procedure. By enforcing a lights

out, underclassmen will learn how to man-

age their workload so that homework does

not with interfere sleep, a feat that Cate

students have not achieved for years. Al-

though today a lot of complaints surround

the new policy, it is my conviction that in

retrospect, most students will appreciate

what the Time Committee has done for

them.

It is true that students need to

make a few adjustments, including chang-

ing sleeping habits and planning ahead for

outrageously brief lunch periods (which is

currently being addressed by the fac-

ulty), but there are now certainly enough

positive aspects in the new schedule to

outweigh the bad.

12

Outings Trips

Yosemite Kel Mitchell ‘12

Blake and Jacob ended the week with scruff, a true sign of the wild. Everyone

had changed after the trip whether it be with more facial hair or dirt under the finger nails.

The Smith-Vega pod was one of the pods that got dirtiest and ended the trip with a bath in

Tenaya Lake. We started in Toulome, and after spending two nights there, we moved on

to Cathedral Lake. The hike took us only about four hours, so we took a day hike to the

top of Cathedral Peak.

The next day, I woke early to see the sunrise over the peak. We spent the next

day with our heavy packs on the trail to Sunset Lake. In mid-hike, we detoured to the top

of Treseter peak and back to the trail. After about six miles we arrived at Sunrise High

Sierra Camp, where we were low on water, had achy feet, and began to see the start of

dark. A few of us went on the search for water but found little and struggled to fill one

gallon. We kept hiking at about a 3mph pace and made the two miles in 45 minutes. We

finally relaxed at the lake and had a nice swim.

Our next day we hiked the eleven miles to clouds rest, steep downhill and steep

uphill. In the end it was completely worth it. We could see everything around including

Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Tenaya Lake. We went back to the camp to enjoy our

last swim in Lower Sunrise Lake. After our sleep we hiked down to Tenaya, and took a

bath for the ride home.

Yosemite was an awesome trip and I think everyone can agree to that.

Pyles: Take Two Christian Lowe ‘10

It was the simple acceptance of knowing that our lives were drastically about to

change that made Outings Week the season of birth for many of us. At Pyles Camp, we

came into a new family, our Cate family that is. Three years ago, it was hard for most of

us to truly understand just how closely knit this family would become.

I went to Pyles this year with the freshmen class, and a special moment for me

was witnessing the Pinecone Ceremony. A circle of pinecones was drawn near a blazing

fire and students had the opportunity to pick up a pinecone, walk into the circle, and share

closing thoughts on the week. As I watched the freshmen thank one another for a great

week and happily anticipate the coming four years, I realized that it was in those moments

by the fire, on the hiking trail, and in the cabin three years ago where the seeds of my cur-

rent relationships were sowed.

On one night, we held a seniors only sweat lodge. Inside the man-made bur-

row, nothing was visible except for a few hot coals glowing bright red in the center

of our ranks. Water was poured onto the

coals, and it vaporized upon impact. The

hot steam opened our pores, and soon we

found ourselves drenched in a steady flow

of perspiration. I felt like I was inside a

womb. McFly said a few words that cap-

tured the spirit of the four seasons; each

description was heightened with certain

spices and smells of incense. For spring, the smell of pine entered my nostrils, and I felt

refreshed, which turned into the blossoming taste of summer, a vaporization of sage in

my throat and lungs. During his description of fall, the essence of cinnamon lingered on

the tip of my tongue like candy, and in winter, ice water cooled my senses.

McFly described the season of winter as death, but at the same time, he explained

how it also gives rise to birth. I found this to be particularly true as I lay back onto the cool

earth beneath me. I realize that the four seasons are in no way linear; they are circular.

This makes sense seeing as I found myself yet again inside the womb of the sweat lodge,

a place I did not expect myself to ever return to. As I lay there talking amongst my friends,

I felt the significance of the sweat. The openings of my pores and the release of my sweat

was, if anything, a metaphysical rekindling of spirit. The experience was complete the

moment I emerged from the sweat lodge through the tent flap and plunged myself into the

freezing lake nearby. I ran to the fire and thawed with the rest of the group and soon after

we went to bed.

It was weird knowing that I returned to the campgrounds a completely different

person than I was three years ago. This time around, I went to Pyles in the winter of my

four-year Cate experience, while as a freshmen, I had come in the spring. The whole trip

was a convergence of seasons, of births and in some ways, deaths. For all I know, my

experience at Pyles Camp has finally ended. As with all ends, however, there are begin-

nings. I ask myself, at the end of my Pyles experience, what beginning did it mark?

Inside the sweat lodge, McFly did say one more thing. “The four seasons of your

life are continuous, and they never will end with the start of another.” I left Pyles with one

last closing thought: the seasons are changing.

“For all I know, my expe-

rience at Pyles Camp has

finally ended.”

13

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

14

squirrels and the chirping of the birds. The

relief I felt when I heard the trickling of

water, which meant the campsite was near,

was the type of relief you would feel af-

ter you are done making an announcement

during assembly. When I got there I would

be able to take my pack off and sleep away

my pain. After I put my pack down, I felt

a burning sensation on my heels and ten-

derly took off my boots to a blood soaked

sock. What a great way to start of the first

day! I lay down on my one-inch sleeping

pad wishing to somehow fall asleep. There

were a lot of things to not like about the

trip so far, but what I haven’t mentioned are

the positive things. Our pod leader cracked

jokes that caused us to fall off the trail and

the time when a friend and I built a sweat

lodge so hot that it felt like my skin was

melting away. These are the memories I

will have of the Kern, the experiences that

wouldn’t be possible without a trip to the

forest.

Two days into the trip, we arrived

at a privately owned camp named Henry’s.

The twelve-mile hike in made our group get

excited to arrive at the camp, because then

we could take our packs off of our aching

backs. The afternoon we got to Henry’s we

ate dinner with the rest of our classmates

and were ready to get some rest for the day

ahead of us. We woke up the next morn-

ing to a breath of cold, crisp air; we were

wrapped tightly in our sleeping bags, which

served as our only shield from the frigid

winds. The joy I felt to begin the only day

of the trip where we had the choice to do

whatever we wanted with our whole class

was unforgettable. The day began well; on

my way down the hill I smelled the bacon

that waited down by the campfire. The two

mornings before, the breakfast had either

consisted of a cliff bar or a couple of packs

of oatmeal. After eating breakfast, we

could either hang out around camp, horse-

back ride, or go fishing. I signed up to go

horseback riding with some friends, which

turned out to be an adventure since the in-

structor was lenient about the rules of how

fast we could go. When we got back, we

attempted to make a floating device out of

two logs and several small branches which

turned out to be a disaster when we hit the

Death March Brian Warren ‘11

It was still dark outside as I lay

on the heated floor of the bus, drifting off

to sleep, the metal footrests digging into

my back; I wished for my bed. Little did

I know, this was the most comfortable I

would be for a week. I was rudely awak-

ened by the jolt of the bus when we got to

the parking lot. The minute we got off at

Inyo National Park, we put our overstuffed

packs tightly around our shoulders and

walked up the trail until we arrived at a lit-

tle creek. We walked with our heads down;

the only sounds were the scurrying of the

“I felt a burning sen-

sation on my heels

and tenderly took off

my boots to a blood

soaked sock.”

rapids downstream. This was the only day

of the Kern trip that was all fun and games.

The rest could best be described as a near

death-march.

The Kern was studying the two

feet marching in front of them, seeing

Ned’s bare feet, or eating dinner around the

campfire as a group talking about things

that we would normally not talk about at

school. For forty-six miles we walked with

the twelve people in our pod getting to

know each and every one almost too well.

We hiked together, slept together, ate to-

gether, did everything we possibly could do

together. The last hike of our trip was eight

long and dusty hours and placing our packs

down by the bus was the biggest feeling

of relief I had experienced in a while. On

the bus back to Cate, I was thinking back

to when I heard about these outdoor trips

before I came to Cate. I wondered how

forcing us to camp with twelve random

classmates and two faculty members could

have any real benefit. The connection I felt

with my pod is a bond that I may never feel

again with a group of classmates. Toward

the end of the trip, we each told things to

each other that we wouldn’t even tell our

best friends. I believe that experiencing the

natural world and going through the same

struggles brings people together, at least it

did for me.

Outings Trips

“We walked with

our heads down;

the only sounds

were the scurrying

of the squirrels and

the chirping of the

birds..”

15

Once Upon a

College TripIvy Kim‘10

There is one specific image in my

head that keeps replaying itself. It’s the

scene that every cartoon-watching child is

familiar with: a character is running away

or towards something, yet by the time the

character reaches the destination, the end

of the road appears out of nowhere. How-

ever, because this character is traveling

at such an incredible speed, the only way

to stopping is by attempting to come to a

screeching halt, with all of its weight on its

heels.

This bizarre, yet freakishly relat-

able memory correlates to my time at Cate.

Better Than

Your Week Edgar Velasco ‘10

While the underclassmen of the

school were sweating on dusty trails, 9 se-

niors, who opted against college tripping,

were relaxing in perfect 80-degree weath-

er at the beach. No ten mile hikes for us:

just kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling.

Our days were filled with Mr. Plummer’s

surprisingly good cooking, most notably

bruschetta. Kirk Seaman’s, a.k.a. “Captain

Kirk’s”, Eagle Scout lessons would arise at

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

least twice a day even though the trip so

far from real camping that his advice was

usually irrelevant. The trip was some sort

of a culture shock for Thai scholar Non

Tanaset, who, initially baffled at the humor

of nine teenage boys, was introduced to

impressions of Chinese immigrants (cour-

tesy of Nathan Li) and the card game of

Bulls**t. We were all gripped with laugh-

ter when Nathan Li defeated Thomas Yu in

a chess match, during which he explained

in great detail and in a hilariously didactic

fashion his every move as well as his op-

ponent’s. Add to that about a dozen types

of card games and more than enough sleep

and you get a perfectly relaxing trip that

was a lot of fun.

For the last three years, I have felt as if I

was constantly being chased by time. Now

that senior year is actually here, I want to

chase time for once.

I have to tour Occidental College

today at 3:00 PM. And this is weird. As

a tour guide myself, I am usually the one

trying to make the school appealing, I am

the one who realizes after every tour how

lucky I am to be attending such a “beauti-

ful” school, as many prospective students

put it, and most importantly, I am the one

being envied because I am here, and this is

where I will be, and others have to work to

be here. Now, I am at the other end of the

spectrum and I have never been so scared.

It was during my seniors’ gradu-

ation when I realized that my time here is

limited. That realization has stayed with

me ever since. I guess where I am trying to

go with this overwhelming nostalgia is…

well nowhere, but Cate.

16

LIFEStyle

Brennan Cusack ‘11

Nutrition/Mental

Health As the school year begins again,

many of us students find ourselves ask-

ing the questions, why is lunch so short?

What do I do in a flex block? When can

I fit in more sleep? Who actually knows

Mr. Swain’s real birthday and where in the

world is Carmen Sandiego? Ok so not the

last one, but you get what I mean.

This year has not only brought

new faces to the campus but also a new

schedule. The schedule, complete with two

flex blocks per day and a 25-minute lunch

period, has shaken the majority of us in the

first couple of weeks. But never fear, for

those who don’t have class in flex periods,

you don’t have to wander aimlessly around

campus any longer. A flex block is a great

opportunity to talk to your teachers about

anything you’ve been falling behind on or

to just go grab an apple in the dining hall

and eat it while reviewing for your next

class. No one knows when there will be a

pop quiz, so try to make the most of your

time by heading to the library and starting

your history reading so you don’t have to

do it later that night. Then you will be free

to hang out with friends or go to bed early.

A shorter lunch period means

you’ll have to think ahead. If you want to

Vivian Chen ‘11

Convocations and formal dinners:

you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. The Stylist

says love them. As a new school year be-

gins, a string of formal dinners await. Many

who don the occasional pair of heels dread

the part where they trot around Cate’s jag-

ged terrains paved with hidden perils.

Unfortunately for all the fashionistas who

dread the wearing of heels, this season is

all about falling in love with heels as well

as trotting in the dangerous zone. Heels in

which a sturdy spring replaces the heel,

heels without any heels, updated version of

your mother’s Mary Janes, Beyoncé’s part

crocs-metallic pumps, and all other wild

and sassy heels are hot.

Why else should you wear heels?

Scientists have proved that not only do

heels make you feel more confident and

stylish, they can also improve your posture

and help heal sore hamstrings. Further-

more, you can exercise in heels. Celebrities

The Accessory of the MonthCharlotte Bowles ‘12

When the fog rolls onto the Mesa, we know that fall is on the way. Hot cocoa

warms up, slippers come out, summer shorts are tucked away, and we’re left to wonder:

what’s the best thing to wear this chilly season? To answer this pressing question, I turned

to experts of dress, Cate girls and guys. The results of what the best fall accessory is rank

as follows:

So it’s time to whip out those fall booties, and slide into a warm sweater as the season gets

brisk, but maybe save those leggings for another day.

35% BOOTS

20% SWEATERS

17% SCARVES

16% OTHER

12% LEGGINGS

take a long time in the dining hall, make

sure you have your books for the next class.

This saves walking time, though it does

make your bag a little heavier. If you want

to make a quick dash back to the dorm,

make a sandwich that you will be able to

take on the go if you have to; but try to eat

healthy at lunch because what you eat ef-

fects how you feel for the rest of the day.

are certainly doing so: Heidi Klum posed

in her 12-inch heels, Jennifer Love Hewitt

played tennis in high wedges. The Pussy-

cat Dolls practice hurtles in stilettos. Not

all of us are celebrities. However, we can

still participate in the heel mania by trying

the ultimate stiletto workout. To be honest,

it does burn. But heels will surely get your

legs in shape without the torturous training

of cross-country or track.

Many people tell me, “But I can’t

walk in heels! How do you do it?” I would

say there are three simple steps to becom-

ing a heel guru: believe, practice, and suf-

fer.

Believe. If you don’t believe that

you look hot in heels, no one else will be-

lieve it. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. Heels

bring confidence, but you have got to bring

your own confidence to your heels too.

Don’t give up. Did I give up when Andy

Lee from seventh grade attempted to hu-

miliate me when the straps of my heels

ripped so I twisted my ankle? No. Failure

is not an option. Look at me now; I could

strut up to him, strike a pose, then put a

hole in his foot with my stilettos.

Practice, practice, and practice.

Wear them all the time and everywhere.

And when I say “all the time,” I mean “all

the time.” During my amateur days of heel

wearing, I had trouble with a new pair of

black pumps. How did I deal with the situ-

ation? I wore them all the time and every-

where. Yes, I am neither lying nor exagger-

ating when I say I even wore them to bed

while sleeping.

Suffer. Beauty comes with a price. And

that price might just be a couple of blisters

on your toe or it might be one or two bro-

ken ankles. Nevertheless, if you don’t suf-

fer for fashion, then you will- regrettably

- miss out big time.

So now that you’ve got a swagga in heels…

what now? Just don a tight tee-shirt and

jeans with a pair of stilettos then you might

very well be the next Megan Fox. Or follow

my footsteps and wait your formal dinner

tables in those foxy eight-inch heels like I

did. Now, go get noticed and start strutting

your stuff around the Mesa in style.

Love,

The Stylist

Head Over Heels

Advice from the Experts

Sit in the stands of any sports

game in the gym and you will no doubt hear

the reoccurring “you can’t beat the blues”

chant. And though that is true in the sports

world, the saying does not have to pertain

to you when you’re off the court. Yes, at

some point this year, you may start feeling

a little blue. An awful feeling that combines

stress with lack of sleep might come over

you making your glass seem half empty.

Now to avoid this unfortunate situation,

you will have to start forming habits right

away. Figure out how long it takes to finish

your homework on an average night so that

you can start it at a time that gets you to

bed at a reasonable hour. Try doing most of

your homework away from any computers

and possible distractions. As we know, the

Internet is all we need to waste a perfectly

good hour (or two), so it would be best to

not be near it during your studying.

Once you’ve got your homework

routine down, it’s time to check your diet.

Though Nutella toast and cookies taste

quite delicious, they will in fact (after a

quick burst of energy) make you even

more tired than you were before. So weigh

it out in your head: are two ice cream sand-

wiches worth the crash? Are they even

worth the calories? Though a good lunch is

important, the most necessary meal of the

day is breakfast. Eating a good breakfast

every morning will help keep you going

longer. And by a good breakfast, I mean

your staples such as fruit and protein. Try

to steer clear of the Lucky Charms. Also,

to reduce stress, make sure you are getting

enough exercise. Swimming, running, or

even walking in the morning will get rid of

extra energy before a big test, helping you

to focus.

So make some habits now before

the year gets too hectic. And just for fun,

pick someone everyday whom you don’t

know and start up a conversation. Also,

with a school so small, try saying hello to

everyone by name when you see them in

the halls. Good luck, and remember, this

year will go by incredibly fast so live every

moment of it rested, relaxed and with your

glass half full!

17

Adjusting to Life at Cate Adam Werksman ‘12

Harry Potter loved his life at Hogwarts. As he would probably tell you, boarding

school can be the most amazing time of your life. Life at Cate is exciting, busy, hectic,

fun and most importantly, your home away from home for the next nine months. There

are many experiences to discover, countless new friends to make, and of course, the learn-

ing. The friendships and attachments that come with being part of the Cate community

are like none you will find anywhere else.

The transition from living at home to living with your friends and classmates

can be difficult. There is no cure in the Health Center for homesickness. Homesickness

is probably the biggest problem for most new students. Homesickness comes from the

longing for the comfort of the familiar and the familiar is home. It is extremely common

to miss home and miss your life there. The best thing to do is to “throw” yourself into

your life at Cate. Make an effort to meet new people, become a part of the activities, and

get involved in the Cate community as much as possible. Once this all becomes more

familiar, the more friends you make and the more familiar it all becomes, the apprehen-

siveness and uncertainty should disappear.

For many of us, this is the first time in our lives we have completely taken care

of ourselves. While the freedom of no parental supervision is appealing, it is important

to remember that, we are here to learn, grow, and take care of ourselves as best as we can.

Sleep and healthy eating are two incredibly essential habits that need attention. With all

the excitement here, it is easy to skip sleep and eat poorly. Not a good idea, it will affect

your overall health in a negative way. Cate serves nutritious food in the dining hall ev-

eryday. It is important to eat well and get plenty of sleep. It will benefit your mind, body

and soul.

You will become like Harry Potter and have best friends like Ron and Hermione.

After a small adjustment period and some effort on your part, Cate will be what you miss

during vacations. Cate is not Hogwarts, but it does have its own magic.

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

Breathe Dave Mochel

It is difficult to overestimate the

importance of breathing. Of course there

is the taking in of the oxygen we need for

respiration and the expulsion of the by-

product in the form of carbon dioxide, but

the role of breathing in our lives goes even

beyond that. In terms of basic mechanics,

breathing is an autonomic response gov-

erned by one of the evolutionarily oldest

parts of the nervous system—a part I like

to refer to as the “lizard brain” because it

is something we share in common with

the our scaly friends. The lizard brain is

continually sensing levels of oxygen in the

blood and sending signals to a large sheet

of smooth muscle that separates your chest

cavity from your organs such as the stom-

ach, liver, kidneys and intestines. When

this muscle—the diaphragm –drops down

and lowers the pressure inside the chest

cavity, air pressure from the outside pushes

air into your lungs. When the diaphragm

contracts, greater pressure is created and

air is pushed out. This happens roughly

twelve times a minute or about four to five

hundred million times in over the course

of a human lifetime. If you voluntarily

hold your breath, the lizard part of the

brain would eventually push the reset but-

ton—you would either feel fear and gasp

for breath or you would pass out and start

breathing again automatically.

Despite the fact that the rhythmic

experience of breathing is with us every

waking moment, very few of us pay at-

tention to this process with any regular-

ity. This is unfortunate because how you

breathe and the awareness of breathing can

have an enormous impact upon your health

and well-being. For example, the heart rate

speeds up when we inhale and slows down

when we exhale. One way to calm down

when we are stressed or excited (stress and

excitement are actually the same physi-

cal experience interpreted differently) is

to intentionally lengthen your exhalation.

Cooking Corner Paige Miller ‘10

Can you believe that summer is

over?! I, for one, am choosing to ignore

this fact and will do anything in my power

to avoid the cold months ahead. Even if it

means eating summery foods for just a bit

longer, the feeling of summer can perhaps

still exist to some extent. One of my favor-

ite summer dishes is a Caprese salad. For-

tunately for Cate, we have most of the in-

gredients for this summer delicacy right in

Interior Décor Paige Miller ‘10

For all you boarders out there,

upon first stepping into what is to be your

haven for the next year, what did you think

of the walls? Were you shocked? Enraged?

Inspired? Consider your boring and empty

walls a blank slate—an avenue of creativ-

ity and self-expression. What do you like?

What kind of person are you? What do

you want your room to feel like? Luck-

ily for you, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara

are great places to find fun things to spice

up your walls. Like creating a work of art,

your walls are a canvas. Here are a couple

of ideas to get you started:

Tapestries: Essentially a decorative piece

of fabric, tapestries can be found at both

Urban Outfitters and the Indian Imports

mart (next to Pierre Lafond’s) both on low-

er State Street in Santa Barbara.

our very own D-Hall. In the grand scheme

of things, this salad is simple. All it takes

to make is 5 minutes, the right ingredients,

and an appetite. You will need: Heirloom

tomatoes (these are the deep red and yel-

low ones that the kitchen has been placing

at the salad bar), green basil pesto (from

the sandwich bar), Parmesan cheese, olive

oil, balsamic vinegar, and a dash of salt/

pepper to taste. Don’t forget to toast a piece

of Panini bread for dipping in the excess

vinaigrette. Lastly, enjoy and bon appétit!

Short, shallow breathing sends a message

throughout your body and brain that you

are in danger—this is why hyperventilation

when you are scared may be difficult to

stop. On the other hand, deep, slow breaths

send a message that you are safe. A won-

derful practice for calming down when you

are nervous is to breathe in deeply through

the nose and into a relaxed belly for a count

of six, hold the breath gently for a count of

two, and exhale slowly through the mouth

for a count or eight or ten. This exercise

can be very helpful for falling asleep at

night when you are anxious or excited.

Simply placing your attention on

the experience of breathing can help you

remain present and experience life as it

actually is rather than getting lost in your

story about how life should be. Every en-

during wisdom tradition uses the breath

as a basis for practicing greater aware-

ness. A large number of clinical research

studies have demonstrated the benefits of

practicing using the breath - these benefits

include increased concentration and ability

to focus attention, improved immune sys-

tem and more rapid healing, reduced stress

and anxiety, greater longevity, improved

athletic and academic performance, more

positive moods, and even stronger inter-

personal relationships.

A simple exercise for practicing

awareness of the breath is to place your

attention on the sensation of the breath

and to silently count “one” on the inha-

lation and “two” on the exhalation until

you reach “ten” when you will begin with

“one” again. If you lose count or go past

“ten,” then simply start over with the next

inhalation. Setting aside a regular time to

practice each day can be very helpful, but

this can be done anywhere for any amount

of time: standing in line in the dining hall

or while waiting for your teacher to hand

back your chemistry test. The more you

practice, the more you will benefit.

So, enjoy the gift of the breath

and experiment with how you can use it to

increase the quality of your life.

Posters: Many movie posters are avail-

able at Blockbuster in Carpinteria. If you

are into music posters, check out Morning

Glory Music in Santa Barbara (on State

Street) for a great selection.

Photos: The easiest way to get photos for

your walls is at CVS in Carpinteria. You

can bring in a CD filled with your favorite

photos and they can create prints in min-

utes! Also, on the CVS website, you are

able to upload photos, place an order, and

pick them up later.

18

Megan Falvey ‘10

Thacher: Known to the girls for the boys,

and to the rest of the community for its

foul horse manuere odor, Thacher has been

Cate’s rival since Mr. Cate left its valley

setting for the Mesa 100 years ago. Today,

Cate students take joy in seeing a smashed

toad on the path and hitting students

dressed in orange and green with a wiffle

ball bat. But hey! There’s nothing wrong

with a little friendly competition!

Football ReportLegos Gallegos ‘11

Sometimes thinking can be dan-

gerous. Last May, I made up my mind to

join the Cate School football team. I knew

it would be difficult and challenging. I

knew I would probably die both physically

and mentally, but the thing that made my

decision was the thought that if I didn’t

join, I would regret not doing so.

The result of my decision started

ten days before I was supposed to arrive on

the Mesa for school. My brother, Austin,

and I trudged up to Newsome’s apartment

after unloading all of our junk and throw-

ing it in our rooms. The first day of practice

was indeed a fiery inferno of pain. All the

guys were, of course, bigger, faster, and

stronger. By the end of the first day, ev-

erything, from my neck to my feet, was in-

credibly sore. But somehow, I was able to

push through the second day of practices...

and the third...and the fourth...and so on.

Perhaps the thing I was most con-

cerned with when I arrived on the Mesa

to play football was the way the guys on

the team would treat me. I was nervous

that they wouldn’t want me there. I was

nervous that the coaches would try to con-

vince me to not play. I already knew what

Newsome thought. He kept telling me that

I was going to get the sh*t knocked out of

me. Of course, being his advisee, my ears

are used to his playful verbal abuse. Aside

from Newsome though, I quickly learned

that my nervousness was fortunately un-

necessary. Although surprised, Coach

Soto was glad to see me on the field and

was very supportive. Coach Alvarado was

just as kind to me as he is to all of the other

players. Coach Plummer was very apt at

helping me learn the basics. Coach Ran-

som was very kind-hearted, and good at

explaining plays.

Along with the coaches, the other

Dunn: Dunn is located in the quiet, se-

cluded town of Los Olivos. On any given

day, the temperature is around 10 degrees

higher on their campus than on the Mesa,

which makes Cate athletes dread away

games. Although the title “California

Academy of Teenage Elitists” originated

at Dunn, for the most, we have very little

ill will towards them (with the exception

of our soccer team, who seems to always

Sports

players were and still are really encour-

aging and welcoming towards me. Even

though I started out completely clueless

about football, the guys didn’t shun me

or laugh at me when I didn’t know what I

was doing. Instead, they patted me on the

back when I did something right and shook

my hand at the end of practice. Mackie is

always quick to tell me when I’m doing

something wrong, but he always tells me

how to do it right. Randy is super enthu-

siastic about my playing. He claims to be

my “biggest fan.” Ugo encourages me to

ignore Coach Newsome’s comments or say

something smart right back to him. I can

never think of anything quite good enough

though.

On September 12th, at 1pm, we

had our first football game of the season,

against Trona High School. On that day, I

became the first girl to not only suit out for

a Cate football game but to actually play

in one! Coach Soto courageously put me

on the field in the third quarter as part of

the Punt Return Team. I was so scared

when he told me to get out there, but run-

ning onto the field felt great. Granted, I

didn’t do very well in the two plays I par-

ticipated in, but I did get to hit a guy... and I

got hit by two guys... haha, but that’s okay

because I had fun doing it. We ended up

winning that game, 36 - 12!

Being on the football team isn’t

easy, just as AP classes aren’t easy, but in

both cases, you just have to work hard. I’ve

been embarrassed in front of the team, I’ve

screwed up, I’ve been late, I’ve made the

team run extra sprints. But no one holds

me to what’s happened in the past. I joined

the football team because I knew I would

greatly regret it later if I didn’t. I stayed

on the football team because it really is a

team. I am a girl on the Cate School foot-

ball team. Someday I’ll be able to look

back at life and see how this experience

enriched my high school years.

lose at the hand of their Ghanan squad, or

should I say foot).

Laguna: As our informal rivals, Laguna

students seem to go out of their way to in-

timidate us. Laguna games always draw a

large crowd (from both sides), but as much

as Laguna would like to claim us as their

rival, our competitive loyalties remain with

Thacher.

Ojai Valley: Cate students seem to enjoy

playing Ojai Valley, which could be attrib-

uted to the handful of Cate students who

have roots at OVS. In fact, a game against

the Spuds, yes their mascot is a potato,

usually promises a high scoring victory for

Cate.

Midland: We tend to associate Midland

with their rugged lifestyle. The mere fact

that they have to slice their own wood to

heat their showers and have classrooms

with only three walls is enough to spur

several jokes at their expense. Although a

victory against Midland is not a significant

source of pride, Cate students do feel lucky

when they return to the Mesa’s four-walled

classrooms and automatic water-heaters.

Condor League: Know Your Competition

19

THEArts“Identity”A collaborative poem by English 10-3

I was born with jet-black hair

I am a Texan

I always throw salt over my shoulder after

I accidentally spill it

I am lactose intolerant, but I don’t like

cheese all that much anyway

I am scared of heights

I am a nerd

I am a xylophone player

I am a son

I am a daughter

I am worried that my hair smells bad

I am Salvadoran

I am insecure

I don’t mind change

I am afraid of seals

I am afraid of Nazis

I desperately want a tattoo

I still sleep with my blankie

Trepidation SnapshotKate Groetzinger ‘11

Cool mountain air is the first thing I am aware of; it floats past my nose carrying

the aroma of freshly turned earth and rotting fruit. The night outside seems deeper than

usual. The stars are unfamiliar. Dark faces begin to take shape against an equally dark

background. I step down from the bus doorway, duffle bag digging into my shoulder, and

a chunk of loose pavement gives way beneath my foot. Countless sets of white teeth,

bared in grins, are pointing in my direction. They jump out at me, intensified by the dim

light. A feeling of uneasiness sets into the pit of my stomach. In my head I picture myself

this morning, a century might well have passed since I lay in bed, staring at a crack in the

ceiling, waiting to get out of Florida and the dilapidated condo I had stayed the night in.

Now I am here, in a mountain village, twenty miles away, up a poor excuse for a road,

from any sort of civilization. My traveling companions and I are led down a crumbling

path towards a concrete block room that is to serve as our home for the next month. The

light switch on the wall is flipped on and a few seconds later two fluorescent bulbs buzz

to life, humming as loudly as the cicadas in the mango trees outside. The bulbs reveal a

square cell, flecks of pea green paint chipping off of the walls. As I shed the weight of

my duffle, the power goes out and once again I’m plunged into this unfamiliar crushing

darkness.

Moonlight

Villanelle

Break the moon into a million pieces.

Use the pearl hammer that the sea gave

you.

Stars, look away until the night ceases!

Once it’s gone, the light at night decreases

To plain hours of darkness through and

through.

Break the moon into a million pieces.

The creatures of the night feel releases

Through the songs they sing hidden from

view.

Stars, look away until the night ceases!

The black air hides the earth’s wrinkles,

creases,

Furrows; everything’s prettier when you

Break the moon into a million pieces.

When the light is gone, freedom increases

And we can finally make our debut

Stars, look away until the night ceases.

Blinding light in the sky that polices

With scrutiny us, we think its time to

Break the moon into a million pieces.

Stars, look away until the night ceases.

20

OUTINGS WEEK 2009

Nature

Photo

Contest

1st Place, Kasey Oopik ‘10

2nd Place, Allegra Roth ‘10 3rd Place, Dom Pincot ‘11

Honorable Mention, Christian Lowe ‘10 Honorable Mention, Kasey Oopik ‘10

21

Aries (March 21- April 19) -

You are feeling tired and having a hard

time concentrating on what you are do-

ing. Take a deep breath. Then take Mr.

Mochel’s advice and do some laugh

therapy. If that doesn’t work, then clearly

the stars just aren’t in your favor. Better

luck next month.

Taurus (April 20 -May 20) –

Time for a total makeover. Get a haircut

and change up your style. Self-improve-

ment is the word of the month. One word

of warning: do not die your hair. It will

not turn out like the color on the package.

Nowhere near.

Gemini (May 20 -June 21) -

You are confused. There is no way around

it. However, you will find something to

do during flex blocks besides wander

around aimlessly and you will find a way

to squeeze your lunch routine into a 25

minute time slot. Have faith and keep try-

ing. Your puzzlement will fade away soon.

Hopefully.

Cancer (June 21 -July 22) –

You will have a strange dream in which

you will win a sports game. It’s up to you

to make it come true. The sun and wind

are in your favor.

Lio( July 23- August 22) -

This month you will start on a spiritual

journey. It will be complicated and may

leave you staring out of the classroom

window pondering the meaning of the

path. But don’t fear. This experience will

give you a clearer view of who you are

as a person. So embrace it, you probably

need the change.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22) -

You are (or will be) very stressed this

month. This will lead you to eat more

comfort food, resulting in the gain of an

extra few pounds. To eliminate the stress,

(and excess poundage) try joining Abby

and Denali for a quick workout before

school. Start your day feeling (and look-

ing) fresh and ready.

Libra (September 23- October 22) –

Don’t be afraid to take risks this month,

someone special is watching over you and

it isn’t your guardian angel. Keep on the

lookout, because you might like what you

find. You also might not.

Scorpio (October 23- November 21) –

You are in love. Don’t deny it, and don’t

wait until Christmas season to express

your true feelings. Mistletoe will hold no

magic for you this year.

Sagittarius (November 22- December 21)

–

You will be run over by a train. Say good-

bye to your family now. Just kidding...

However, you should be weary this month

of moving objects and flashing lights.

Capricorn (December 22- January 19) -

Let me guess. You feel nauseous all the

time. You can’t sleep, can’t eat, and are

totally distracted from your schoolwork.

You’re officially in love, baby. Whether

it’s with your life long crush Annie Weis

or with the new kid you’ve never talked

to, this feeling cannot be denied. So make

something happen. Send some roses, light

some candles, and be sure to look your

best. With Venus rising, things are sure to

work out.

Pisces (February 19- March 20) –

An old crush comes back and crushes

some more. Know this now. This is not a

love story. Even if you’re the Scarlet Let-

ter. Even if your Romeo and Juliet. Baby,

this just won’t end in a yes.

Aquarius (January 20- Febraury 18) -

Ring, Ring. It’s for you. Your love interest

is on the line. Don’t get too excited, it’s

only for math homework help. Or is it?

Watch for signs of possible attraction, and

give all the help you can because every-

one knows being good at math is sexy.

Horoscopes

22

Entertainment

Cate Lingo Crossword

Across1. fotyfo

4. def

5. ca-yoot

7. d-hall

8. FC

11. totes

12. bros

13. libs (pro-

nounced “libes”)

Down2. OG (used by

Mr. Newsome)

3. trub trub (used

by Bryan Kim)

6. legit

9. scandy

10. bee tee dubz

“Be one with the mountain. Then the mountain will be with

you.” – Karl Weis

“What are the properties of a bezoar?? Don’t know?

….Shame…” - Christian Lowe

“The salted pork was PARTICULARLY good.” – Stephanie

Ruys de Perez

“The Asian in me just thought you said chopsticks.” – Rico

Fung

“Oh, OH dayum!” – Ms. Preston with the blue shirt

“Is this our old campsite? Are we back in Rapeland?” – Mat-

thew Lowe

“Because you know, humans are dirty, sexual beings.” – Mr.

Mochel

“Tila Tequila is the bomb.” – Tim Annick

“I’m not a one-night stand type of guy!” – Shyam Akula

“MY BABY WILL WALK. I’ll teach it how to walk as soon

as it comes out of the womb.” – Julie Lee

“There’s a river here?!” – Isabelle Speers

The Frame: Outings Week Quotes

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23

There has been a tremendous

growth in the number of fac-

ulty children in the past year.

Can you guess who these ba-

bies are?

1. SAMUEL KELLOGG

2. ZOE KRILL

3. SOREN ALLDREDGE

4. OWEN BLOCK

5. ROSITA SALCEDO

6. GILES BEAMER

NAME THAT FACULTY

A.

C.

D.

E. F.

B.

CHILD!

A. B.

Cate School

1960 Cate Mesa Rd.

Carpinteria, CA 93013

El Batidor Staff

Editors-in-Chief: Joe Gottwald and Sarah Appleton

Layout Editor: Christian Lowe

Photo Editor: Sarah Martzloff

Business Manager: Vivian Chen

Copy Editors: Harley Sugarman and David Crandell

Section Heads--

Features: Eleanor Bennett and Ivy Kim

Opinion: Kate Donahue

Science and Nature: Liana Corwin

LifeStyle: Bryan Kim

The Arts: Lexi Greenwald

Entertainment: Karolyn Park

Welcome Ms. Fortner! Our new faculty advisor! Fac

ulty

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