Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2000 2:38 PM Subject: Encina Update (homecoming/siblings/search/classes/65/70/75/80/84/85/90/ramona anderson/paul hamby/teaching/polly pickens/whats new) ENCINA ALUMNI, Thanks for all your "kind" notes expressing sympathy for my computer problems and telling me to switch to a Mac. Or in one case a Sun. This week I received an RSVP for the Homecoming 2000 party from Encina staff member Don Golden. I'm running out of staff members to contact so you're going to have to help me out here. HOMECOMING 2000 PARTY All Encina alumni and staff and their families are invited to the Homecoming 2000 party. Date: Friday, October 20, 2000 Location: 707 Commons Dr, Sacramento, CA 95825 (corner of Commons and Campus Commons) Time: 5pm to 2am (game from 7-10pm at El Camino HS) The venue is an office building located in Campus Commons at the corner of Commons and Campus Commons Dr. Many thanks to Kathleen O'Neill Cabe 79 for offering to host the homecoming party. Her husband's law offices are located are the first floor. We will have access to a small indoor lobby area, bathrooms, a small kitchen and conference rooms where we could set up tables for the potluck. There is a large terrace in front of the building along with a large lawn area between the building and Commons Dr. In back of the building is a partly covered walkway which runs the length of the building and ends in a gazebo. A large parking lot is located behind the building. The entrance to the lot is from University Ave. There is also lots of street parking available on Commons Dr and Campus Commons Dr. The building is located in a beautiful wooded area of Campus Commons. There does not appear to be much street traffic so the lawn area is reasonably safe for children. The lobby is small so I would guess we'll spend the pregame party outside on the terrace, the lawn and in the back walkway. Hope for good weather as we'd probably have trouble squeezing more than 100 people indoors... I anticipate poor attendance for a night football game if the weather is bad in any case. Last year the homecoming game was just before Halloween and the weather was very pleasant. Keep your fingers crossed. As far as the post game party goes, we can stay late but the outside areas are not lighted plus it may get cold. If we have too many people we will have problems squeezing all of us indoors. It's about 10 minutes from Campus Commons to El Camino HS where the game will be played. There are pictures of the bulding here: www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming2000/commons.htm Note that this party is free and being organized by volunteers. We're going to need lots of help to make this a successful party. There are about 30 folks on the homecoming party mailing list who have volunteered to help. If you wish to help or participate in the discussion on the mailing list let me know. HOMECOMING RSVPS We have about 190 RSVPs from Encina alumni and staff, not counting guests or family! I spoke with Don Golden this week and he's 90% certain he'll be coming. Don was at Encina from 1958-1973 and was principal while I was there. He went to the District office as Director of Vocational Education and retired in 1980. Don does not have email. I've been trying to contact Cornelia Whitaker. Judy Wilson gave me her phone number but it's been busy for three days now. Ginny Privateer Corsi wrote that she and John Knurr will seriously consider attending if Cornelia comes... I've pretty much exhausted my list of Encina teachers and staff so if you are in contact with any staff who you would like to invite please let me know. The rsvps are distributed as follows: staff: 26 1961: 6 1962: 1 1963: 2 1964: 3 1965: 6 1966: 1 1967: 2 1968: 4 1969: 2 1970: 7 1971: 4 1972: 6 1973: 21 (first) 1974: 4 1975: 6 1976: 3 1977: 6 1978: 7 1979: 5 1980: 5 1981: 9 (fourth) 1982: 3 1983: 3 1984: 1 1985: 11 (third) 1986: 13 (second) 1987: 1 1988: 3 1989: 4 1990: 7 1991: 2 1992: - 1993: 1 1994: 2 1995: - 1996: - 1997: - 1998: - 1999: - 2000: - The class of 73 is still leading with 21, while the classes of 86 has jumped into second place with 13. The class of 86 has 11 and the class of 81 has 9. Staff RSVPs: Eleanor Brown Jack Bassett Shirley Bordisso Jack Carey Eric Dahlin Don Day Jack Dutton Evelyn Fedler Don Golden (new) Laverne Gonzales Kathy Howser Bob Kirrene Christine Kojima Rees Lee Vince Marelich Karen McClelland Lee Susan McGuire Joe Patitucci Marilyn Carlson Spartz Terry Reed JoAnne Smith Larry Stallings Bob Trathen Tom Wilde Judy Wilson Stephanie Woo New alumni RSVPs: Irene Birchfield Campbell 68 Guy Blair 70 John Hagus 70 Susan Kehoe Jacobsen 72 Kathy Schroeder Hansen 73 Vicki Patteron Zoradi 76 Lisa Ott Williams 81 William Sassman 85 Gerald Bennett 86 Jeff Howser 86 Marci Sanschagrin Howser 86 Carol Rice 89 Marlo Rice Albert 89 Please RSVP if you think you will be attending the homecoming alumni party this fall: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming_form.htm I'll keep the RSVP list on the Homecoming 2000 page up to date so you can check and see who's going: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming2000.htm SIBLINGS Jeff Howser 86 wrote: Mike Howser 82 Jeff Howser 86 Stephanie Ortiz 79 wrote: Stephanie Ortiz 79 James Tyrovolas 84 Peter Tyrovolas 84 Michael Robison 79 wrote: Michael Robison 79 Stephen Robison 80 Tyla Anderson 80 wrote: Ramona Anderson Spradlin 79 (deceased) Tyla Anderson Healton 80 David Farmer 67 wrote: David Farmer 67 Janet Farmer 71 Karen Farmer 73 George Newhouse 83 wrote: Cheryl Newhouse 72 George Newhouse 83 Errol Egolf 73 (uncle) Robert Rice 80 wrote: Robert Rice 80 Ilona "Nonie" Rice 81 Vicki Patterson 76 wrote: Sue Patterson 70 Mike Patterson 72 Vicki Patterson 76 Valori Patterson 78 Vicki Patterson 76 is in contact with: Karen Edwards 76 Pam Allen 72 Susan Mayes 76 Dave Wolfe 77 Carolyn Dankman 73 is in contact with Linda Taylor 73 ALUMNI SEARCH We found Kim Kazee 90. Or should I say, she found us. We found Sue Patterson 70 via her sister Vicki Patterson 76. Please write if you know how to contact: Richard Landrove Rea 92 CLASSES 1965 REUNION Jeanne Kern mailed me the list of those on the mailing list and I'll be updating the 65 class directory so you'll know who is contactable. Date: August 19, 2000 Place: Unitarian Church 2425 Sierra Blvd (between Howe and Fulton) Sacramento, CA 1970 REUNION FLASH. Pam Deason Thomas wrote that the reunion is scheduled for October 21 at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. They are finalizing the registration form and will be distributing it to the class mailing list within the next two weeks. 1975 REUNION Only two weeks to go! Where: The Sutter Club (1220 9th Street, Sacramento) When: Saturday, July 15, 2000 Time: 630 - 1130 pm Contact: Jenny Bender Bittner (916-972-8530) Jay Michael (916-978-9611) 1980 REUNION The mailer went out and I'm already hearing from 80 alumni who have checked out the website. Where: The Firehouse When: October 14, 2000 1984 REUNION First planning meeting for the 20th reunion: Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2000 Time: 730pm Place: Susan Hobson's home 1985 REUNION The class of 85 has the second (oops third) largest group RSVPed for the homecoming 2000 party this week. It looks like the 15 year reunion will take place at the homecoming party... 1990 REUNION Date: Saturday, October 21, 2000 Place: TBD Denyce Bellinger wrote that classmates should plan to attend the Homecoming 2000 party on Friday, October 20th and the 10 year reunion on Saturday, October 21st. RAMONA ANDERSON 79 Tyla Anderson 80 wrote that her sister Ramona Anderson Spradlin 79 passed away in January 1999. PAUL HAMBY 74 More on Paul's Mount McKinley expedition: The photos are not back yet... as for a report? We were on the mountain for 22 days. Pulled sleds, cached high and slept low till 14,000... Got pinned down in a storm at 11,000 for five days, but had fun playing some european card game in an igloo made of snow blocks with a Bavarian woman; I lost one coffee, one shnaps, and one cookie... those euros are tough.... Went to 14,000... more bad weather... I hung out at 14,000 while some of the others went up to (tried) 17,000... they ended up sleeping in an ice cave at 16,000 because of the high winds and white-out above the "head-wall" (a half mile ice sheet as steep as stairs with no steps). While they were up there, I was at 14,000 having fun trading "coffee singles" for smoked salmon with the British. Also, the Bavarian woman came down from 17,000, and I thought it was important that I help her complete her sentences in english. She thought the word "destroyed" meant "entertained".... I told her may Allied bombers had entertained the german cities in WW2..... fortunately she has a sense of humor. I went up to 17,000 with the Bavarians... I was sucking air hard, but we passed many people on the approach to 17,000. It was pretty extreme with high winds and very cold. I was like a prisoner on a rope, but the Bavarians got me there safe and fast. the Germans have excellent meat and potatoes freeze dried dinners. they summited the next morning. I did not feel aclimated, so I stayed at 17,000. Four from my original group summited also, but two of them ended up with frostbite; one severe enough that the NOVA film crew at the 14,000 medical tent filmed him being treated. the elevation does weird things to you. There is half the oxygen available at 16,000, that there is at sea level. your body has to create more oxygen carrying cells to compensate... also, you have to drink a lot of water since you are gassing off water vapor everytime you breath. When you first wake up at ta new altitude, you have like a screaming hangover headache from not breathing fast enough while you were asleep... but then after a rest day it ussually goeas away. There can still be problems though.... a french canadian and his girlfriend had just done Mt Hunter, Mt Foraker, and were set to do Denali from 17,000 when she had a sudden onset of a coughing fit, and fluid in her lungs, which made her very sick very fast... it was "high altitude pulmonary edema"... they took her down to 14,000, put her on Diamox (tricks you into breathing faster) and then she was OK... she will be the first woman to do the three Denali peaks in less than two months....... Anyway... after we did a death-march from 14,000 to base camp, we barely got out due to weather... unfortuneately, a plane with some rangers tried to get in and they perished when it crashed and burned. We were unaware until the next day. When we got to Talkeetna, we ate $170.00 worth of cheesburgers and beer. maybe next year I will try Aconcogua in Argentina... it is only 22,000 feet tall, and it is summer there when it is winter here.... OK so that should teach you guys a lesson... to ask for a detailed report..... OK... now you know I need to be put back through english class.... can I re-do Mr. Wise's english class? TEACHING Thanks for all of you who wrote in response to last week article! Diana Midthun Jones 77 wrote: The article on teaching in Silicon Valley was very interesting but not the norm. Housing is so artificially high and it is a unique segment of the work force. I am presently a sub for the Clark county school district in Las vegas. (no benefits but a nice second income) Las Vegas is somewhat unique because of the quick growth in population but the cost of living in the normal range. It is possible for a teacher to own a home here. I consider full time teaching a good career in Las Vegas . I think that in general the public has become ruder. Having also worked in retail, I have met many people with no manners or consideration for any one but themselves. It is possible that some of these people are parents. + Kari Reser Mozingo 84 wrote: I'm writing in regard to the article about teachers; I have to say I have the utmost respect for them as people and educators! I love my kids and spend a lot of time with them - I can tolerate a lot, but I refuse to take disrespect and the like; with their hands tied as much as they are now, I cannot imagine myself spending all day, every day, teaching kids (who are not my own), while receiving in some cases disrespect and even some [verbal] abuse that goes on and not being able to take measures to discipline and correct it. I think parents NEED to be involved with the schools their kids attend, their kids and keep communication open; however, I think they also (if it applies) need to take a step back and realize they need to SUPPORT these teachers as THEY ARE HELPING US TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN! + Susan Gundy Clarke 65 wrote: Harlan, I found your article on teachers very interesting and true. I have a masters degree in English and teach 8th grade English/Literature in a Catholic school here in Tallahassee. (It's the only Catholic school in the area.) I make almost $25,000 per year. I will start my 5th year at the school in August. I've also taught at a Catholic school in south FL, and in a public high school in the Tallahassee area. I choose to teach in my school because my faith life is important to me. I actually get paid to pray and to share my faith! We go to Mass once per week and every class begins with a prayer. In discussing literature we often connect themes to our religious faith themes. It's a natural! The cost of living here is much lower than the Silicon Valley, but I often feel underpaid and overworked. There are lots of extras given to us teachers. Probably more so than in public schools. We don't get any extra stipends for taking on extra duties. I do parking lot duty, coach the debate team, run the Spelling Bee, clean the teachers lounge, and head up the Middle School Division as co-ordinator without any extra pay. Everyone else has extra duties too, so we're all running on empty most of the time. The middle school has no teacher aides to assist in any way. We rely on parent volunteer help for some things (eg. lunch recess duty so we can eat lunch - in 15 mins.) I think the system was based on what the nuns performed in the "old days." But they didn't have to drive home and take care of a house, kids, etc. Anyway . . . this sounds like a gripe session. Didn't intend for it to become this. I actually like my school very much - it's not perfect, but it's mine. I love the time I spend in teaching and reading some of my favorite novels : To Kill A Mockingbird, The Giver, A Day No Pigs Would Die. We also read Anne Frank's Diary and study the Holocaust. 8th graders are at a great age in many ways. They're so eager to move on to highschool. It motivates them quite a bit to learn and achieve in the 8th grade. The kids' parents can be very supportive, and they're probably more involved in the school than many schools here and throughout the country. They can also be incredibly critical of teaching methods, testing, classroom management, and give all sorts of unsolicited advice. I think all parents should teach middle school for one month just to get the feel of it. Maybe just a week would do it. Much of their advice would work with a group of 5-6 maybe, but a class of 30 or 32 is a whole different animal! Anyway, those are some of my random thoughts. I try to get to a good out-of-town conference or workshop at least once per year to relight my flame and share with others in the profession. Sincerely, Susan Gundy Clarke, Class of 65 PS I did not start teaching right out of college. My husband and I had 4 kids pretty early. I stayed home with them until the youngest went to Kindergarten. Then I did some part-time community service work, went back to school for the masters degree, and then plunged into full time teaching ten years ago. + Polly Pickens Wolf 82 wrote: The article on teaching from the Wall Street Journal certainly was interesting. While being a teacher in Sacramento certainly isn't terribly lucrative, it's not nearly as difficult to get by as it would be in the Bay Area. When I became a teacher I had every intention of getting a job down there, but found that I couldn't afford to do so. So I remain in Sacramento where my housing dollar goes farther! I have taught for the past 12 years, 11 of them in the North Sacramento School District and 1 year at a private school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The level of respect that I perceived in Argentina was so much higher than here even though the salary was paltry. I earned $800/month working half-time, and the public school teachers in Argentina earn even less $200/ month until they've taught for 20 years and then their pay doubles to $400/month. At the time I was there the national teachers' union was on a hunger strike in front of the Argentine Congress. Last year they finally saw an increase in their salary. Now that I'm back in teaching in the United States, I still enjoy teaching but get tired of having to defend public education at every turn. The general public has no idea how much teachers do to show "accountability" especially since Gray Davis has become Governor. We are constantly testing the children to show growth (or a lack of it). They also have no idea that despite all our hard work there is only so much a teacher can do, especially in a district like mine with a high transiency rate, when students have inconsistent attendance and support from home. I'm curious to see what will happen in Chicago where they have started giving the parents report cards. I rather digressed from the topic of teacher salaries, but I don't teach for the money (obviously!) but rather for the satisfaction. Most teachers I know feel the same. It certainly is refreshing,however and makes us feel like we do something worthwhile to finally have a governor that is trying to do something about poor teacher compensation. Well, enough of my rantings on education. Feel free to share my comments. - Polly Pickens Wolf '82 + Katie Farrar Amoureux 79 wrote: I have not experienced the disrespect the teacher in your article has suffered. However, I teach in a small Idaho farming community of 7,200 people, and I believe we are 20 years behind the times. When it comes to teaching, that is a wonderful thing. The teachers use up-to-date methods, and Idaho and the Albertson Foundation have an extremely strong commitment to technology, both in the classroom and out of it. However, harking back to a simpler time, my students' parents support me, their children have nice manners, and I seldom have a discipline problem worse than students talking out of turn or running in the halls. The salary is another matter, though :-\ Mirna Jope (wife of Brad Jope 75) wrote: Thank you for including the article about teachers. My husband and I have 4 children. We both work full-time. I have taught foreign language in elementary and high school and will now be teaching second grade after four years of kindergarten and 1st grade (my year of kindergarten was at Greer with 31 students). I am thoroughly discouraged by the general public's belief that teaching is a part-time job. I wish that we had a time-clock. We put so much time and money into doing our job in a way that makes us proud. I can't imagine doing anything else, but I do know that I will discourage any of my children from following in my footsteps. + Dawna Spivey Hunter 85 wrote: This is Dawna (Spivey) Hunter , Class of 1985. What an article! WOW! Yes, it is very true! Teaching is not a high paying job. Teaching Public school is so much better than private!!! I'm elated now with what I make compared to what I made in my last job teaching at a private school. I was amazed to find out that next school year I'll be making over $40,000. (My dad said that was almost what he makes in his job selling textbooks!) This was quoted to me before all the budget stuff with the governor. I'm truly excited to make this much! This year will be my 3rd year teaching in a public school district in Merced, CA. I haven't looked into buying a house yet. I plan on returning to the Sacramento area in a few more years, so my husband can finish his schooling at CSUS. I truly love my job, but I have thought about changing fields. I'll just tackle that road when it comes around. In the article, it mentioned the "new" teacher housing that was being built. I agree with those teachers about it feeling like the teacher "projects". We don't make enough money and we need a cheap place to live. HOW DEMEANING! Let's help the teachers out. I also have met those parents that think they can call and chat while I'm teaching class. I'm at work!!!! My work just happens to involve their children and shouldn't I be paying attention to them! It would be the same as if I were to call them during their dinner prep time or right as they were eating dinner to discuss their child's progress. Yes, this topic really gets me fired up. You may share my thoughts. Thanks for sharing the article.:) POLLY PICKENS 82 Polly Pickens 82 wrote: My husband, Ken and I would like to announce the birth of our son, Gregory William Wolf on March 10, 2000 WHAT'S NEW 6/27/00: Janet Farmer 71, Karen Farmer 73, Jill Hosier 65, Ken Gaugler 70 update, Phil Driver 65, Robert Rice 80, Ilona Rice 81, Mike Howser 82, Vicki Patterson 76/bio, Sue Patterson 70, Mike Patterson 72, Valori Patterson 78, Dave Wolfe 77, Ally Morales 94, Melissa Smith 91 update 6/24/00: Ramona Anderson 79, Joy Pritchett 70, Rick Carda 80, Lissa Bracken 91/bio, Cynthia Stimers 68 update 6/23/00: Arlene Gamble 80, Bill Vinsant 87, Erin Yeast 88, Laura Bui 93 update, Kristie Hartley 92 update, Kelly Boyd 82, Michael Robison 79, Stephen Robison 80, Gary Disher 65, Ben Ruhmann 65, Stephanie Ortiz 79 bio, James Tyrovolas 84, Peter Tyrovolas 84, Barbara De Vere 75, David Farmer 67, George Newhouse 83, Richard David 69, Tyla Anderson 80/bio 6/21/00: Steve Harrold 65, Susan Finlay 72, Mark Finlay 74, Lauren Finlay 76, Cassandra Beckstead 86, Patti Morgott 80, Christine Rea 70 update Don't forget to RSVP for the homecoming party: www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/homecoming_form.htm and submit your contact information or bio: contact: www.encinahighschool.com/directory/submit_contact.htm bio: www.encinahighschool.com/submit_bio.htm Here's wishing all of you a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend! As you see your friends and family, be sure to spread the word about the Encina website and the homecoming party in October... Harlan Lau '73 Encina webmaster www.encinahighschool.com harlan@rambus.com