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The Cate School's El Batidor Outings Week 2009 issue.
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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
Chi
ld A
nsw
ers:
1. A
. Ros
ita
Sal
cedo
, 2. B
. Sam
uel
Kel
logg
, 3. C
. Gil
es B
eam
er,
4. D
. Sor
en A
lldr
edge
, 5. E
. Zoe
y K
rill
, 6.
F. O
wen
Blo
ck