No School Next Week: Ski Week
Please note that The Grauer School’s campus will be closed next week (February 20-24) for our annual Ski Week. There will be no classes for students during this week. The campus will re-open on Monday, February 27.
Re-enrollments for 2023-2024: Due Friday
Over the past 32 years, The Grauer School has become the region’s leader in balanced, humanitarian college preparation. Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to prove daily that our students really do mean the world to us. We appreciate your generosity and support as we strive to accomplish this mission. We know that you have lots of school choices and we value and appreciate your entrusting your child to The Grauer School.
Believe it or not, it is re-enrollment time for the 2023-2024 school year. We look forward to the next school year and hope to have your child joining us again next year. Please note that our Re-enrollment Contracts were mailed home and that the signed contracts and re-enrollment deposits are due this Friday, February 17. If you have not received a re-enrollment contract, please contact our Main Office.
We appreciate your adherence to these deadlines as we strive to inform our new applicants of their admissions status by early March and need to know how many spaces are available in each grade. If you have any questions about our re-enrollment process or our financial aid application, please feel free to contact Dr. Tricia Valeski, Admissions Associate, at triciavaleski@grauerschool.com.
Challenge Success Survey Week: February 27-March 3
At The Grauer School, we are constantly striving to create a compassionate, enriched learning community. To understand whether we are achieving this goal, we continually evaluate our programs to identify our successes as well as areas for improvement. Central to this evaluation process are our annual surveys of parents, faculty, and students. During the week of February 27, our students will be participating in the Challenge Success Surveys, in which they will respond to questions about their feelings about school, their teachers, and themselves as learners. Please click here to read the Parent Information for Student Survey form for more information about the Challenge Success surveys and to opt out if you do not want your student to participate. If you would like to see sample questions from the survey or you have any additional questions, please contact Dr. Tricia Valeski to arrange an appointment.
We will also distribute surveys to our parents and teachers via email. Please be on the lookout and take a few minutes to complete your survey. We take all of your feedback very seriously. If you have any questions about our survey process, feel free to contact Dr. Tricia Valeski.
Music Department Presents: 4th Annual Battle of the Bands
The Music Department is excited to present their 4th annual Battle of the Bands. This is a music competition to win the prize of top band, and also compete in categories like “best guitarist, best vocalist, best drummer, best stage presence” and more. The semi-finals will be held at an extended lunch concert on Friday, March 3. The whole school will vote and the top three bands will advance to the finals. The finals will take place on Tuesday, March 7, at assembly, and the faculty will vote on an overall winner. The top band will receive a prize and bragging rights. Parents and friends are invited to watch the concerts. Please contact Isaac Langen or Tom Hopper with any questions. Go, Grauer Arts!
Save the Date: Peace, Love & Pickleball on Sunday, March 26
Calling all parents! We are thrilled to announce the first annual Grauer Pickleball Tournament, which will be held on-campus using our brand new Pickleball courts. Save the date for Sunday, March 26 from 11:00am-1:00pm. All parents are invited to join and more details will be shared soon. New to Pickleball? Not to worry! The Lukens Family and the Williams Family are graciously offering clinics at their homes for any to learn or practice before the big event. Mark your calendars now:
Wednesday, March 8 ~10:00am - Encinitas
Thursday, March 9~12:00pm - Encinitas
Tuesday, March 14~10:00am- Del Mar
Wednesday, March 15~ 2:00pm - Del Mar
PA Meeting Minutes
Thank you to all parents who joined the PA meeting on Tuesday, February 7. If you missed it, click here for the meeting minutes. The next PA meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 7. Questions? Please email PA Co-Presidents Julie Silvaor Diane Zeps for more information.
Gala Committee Meetings - Join Us!
Our annual Spring Gala will be held on-campus on Saturday, May 6, and we welcome all parents to join us in planning the grooviest celebration ever. Please mark your calendars and reach out to Lindsay Zickler with questions or ideas.
Friday, March 3 - 12:00pm-1:30pm - Meeting at Flower Child, Del Mar
Friday, March 24 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Friday, April 14 - 12:00pm-1:30pm
Grauer Literary Society Meeting: March 10
The next Grauer Literary Society meeting will be on Friday, March 10, at Noon at the Hearst Tower, located on the rooftop of The Justice Center (weather permitting). The book that will be discussed is Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston, which tells the true story of one of the last-known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. All Grauer parents, alumni parents, and community members are invited to join our group - just send an email to Sheila Wirick at sheilawirick@grauerschool.com to be added to the mailing list.
Graduation 2023: Friday, June 9
It is hard to believe that we are finished with our first semester and thinking about how we will be celebrating the incredible accomplishments of this year’s Class of 2023. Graduation will be held at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living on Friday, June 9. Our 8th grade ceremony will be held at 11:00am and our 12th grade ceremony will be held at 2:00pm. We have never limited the number of attendees each graduate can invite (which is why we host our ceremonies off campus); please note that we do not offer any reserved seating for these ceremonies.
Order Your Yearbook Now
Students and parents can click here to order your Grauer yearbook for $75 per copy.
CALENDAR
View the 2022-2023 Grauer Academic Calendar Overview: Click here
View the Grauer Public Calendar on our website: Click here
Add the Grauer Public Google Calendar to your calendar system: Click here
Friday, February 17
~ Odd Day (1,3,7,5)
~ Re-Enrollment Deposits and Contracts Due for the 2023-2024 School Year
~ Faculty & Staff Teacher Appreciation Event Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24
~ (No School) Ski Week Thursday, March 2
~ Surf Team presents "Waterman" Movie Night, 7:00-8:30pm Friday, March 3
~ Battle of the Bands Lunch Concert, 12:00pm
~ Grauer Gala Planning Meeting, 12:00-1:30pm (Flower Child, Del Mar) Saturday, March 4
~ High School Science Olympiad Team Competition (San Diego Miramar College) Tuesday, March 7
~ Battle of the Bands Finals Lunch Concert (Top 3 Bands), 12:30pm Friday, March 10
~ Literary Society Meeting, Noon (Hearst Tower)
~ End of Third Quarter/Mastery Learning Day Saturday, May 6
~ Annual Grauer Gala Saturday, May 13
~ High School Prom (please save the date) Friday, June 9
~ Graduation 2023: 8th Grade at 11:00am, 12th Grade at 2:00pm (Seaside Center for Spiritual Living)
IMPORTANT LINKS
~ Attendance Office: Tracy Ahrens, tracyahrens@grauerschool.com, 760-944-6777 option 5 - refer to the Parent Portal on the school's website for detailed Attendance Policy information
~ Daily Lunch Program:Ki's School Lunches
~ Yearbook Orders:Jostens Store
Annual February Faculty & Staff Appreciation:
The Parent Association Needs Your Help!
The Grauer School Parent Association (PA) is excited to host its annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon this Friday, February 17. Thank you to all parents who brought in a sweet treat for our teachers and their families today on Valentine's Day (shown in the photos below). If you would still like to make a financial contribution for gift cards for our teachers, please click on the button below to sign up by this Wednesday, February 15.
Thank you to all families for helping to celebrate our amazing Grauer faculty & staff!
Surf Team Presents: Waterman Movie Night ~ March 2
The Grauer Surf Team is excited to present a community movie night for students, parents, and friends on Thursday, March 2, from 7:00-8:30 pm. "Waterman" is a documentary featuring five-time Olympic medalist and Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who set swimming records and brought surfing to the world while overcoming a lifetime of personal challenges. Waterman explores his journey and legacy as a legendary swimmer, trailblazer, and the undisputed father of modern-day surfing. Surfing's first-time inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a fitting tribute to his work promoting the sport around the globe. This original documentary features commentary from surfing’s biggest stars like Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, and Kai Lenny as well as the first-ever Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore.
The film delves into his personal successes, struggles and humanitarianism through rare footage, contemporary visuals and incisive interviews. From modest roots in Waikiki, Duke swam his way to fame, becoming the face of a changing Hawaii – and a vital part of its tourism industry – as it evolved from an independent Kingdom to the 50th American state. Yet relatively few outside Hawaii know the full extent of Duke’s impact on sports, lifesaving, and combating prejudice.
Through Duke’s incredible athletic accomplishments, personal doctrine of Aloha, and enduring gift of surfing to the world, the film explores a theme that still resonates today – the role of sports in breaking societal barriers. This movie celebrates his triumphs and philosophy of inclusion, challenging us all to embrace diversity and incorporate Aloha into our own lives.
Click here to view the Waterman Trailer, and please click on the button below to RSVP. We hope to see you there!
The Grauer School is a proud member of WeCare San Diego, a non-profit consortium of independent schools in San Diego County whose mission is to serve the community by providing parent education events. The next WeCare parent education talk features Cyber Safety Consultants and will take place on Wednesday, March 15at 6:00pm at The Bishops School. If you missed our parent talk on Cyber Safety with Jon Moffat earlier this year, this could be a great resource. Click here or on the QR code to register via Eventbrite for this free event.
Ki's School Lunches
Ki's School Lunches is now providing hot lunch service at The Grauer School. Ki's menu provides a healthy, natural and delicious lunch which will be delivered every day to the school. Their menu offers many selections for all dietary needs. Click here to find out how to sign up for Ki's lunches and a preview of the menu, and you can click here to learn more about Ki's lunch program, set up an account, and order lunches for your student on their website. If you have any questions, contact Tracy Ahrens.
Weekly Columns
Principal's Desk
Congratulations to our Women’s and Men’s CIF-Basketball Teams!
An extraordinarily high percentage of Grauer students play sports and compete in athletic competitions. For our high school athletes, we partner with Horizon Prep in varsity and junior varsity sports sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Divisions 4 and 5. CIF sports offerings include basketball, cheer, cross-country, football, golf, tennis, track and field, and volleyball (indoor and beach). Club sports also rotate throughout the year, including archery, soccer, and surfing. Participating in a CIF-sanctioned high school sport requires a strong level of commitment and accountability in balancing academic coursework alongside athletic pursuits.
We are proud to announce that both our Women’s and Men’s CIF-sanctioned basketball teams have qualified for playoff competition this winter season! Our men’s team finished the regular season with an 18-4 record, finishing second in the Patriot League. They earned a #5 seed in the Division 5 playoffs which start tonight (Tuesday, February 14); come out to Eden Park in San Marcos to watch the Horizon Prep/Grauer team take on High Tech High North County at 7:00pm. As this is a CIF-sanctioned event, tickets must be purchased in advance using CIF’s Go Fan website: https://gofan.co/app/school/CA72879
After winning the Pioneer League title last year, our women’s team moved up from CIF Division 5 to the more competitive Division 4 this year, finishing the regular season with a 12-6 record and finishing second in the Patriot League. The team moves onto Division 4 playoffs with a #11 seed, taking on Patrick Henry High School (the largest school in San Diego Unified with over 2,600 students enrolled) on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00pm at Patrick Henry.
Congratulations to our men’s and women’s Grauer basketball student-athletes: Adrien C. (’23), captain Sean F. (’23), Tate S. (’23), Noe P. (’25), Zoe Ba. (’26), and captain Samara D. (’25). We would also like to congratulate Gabriel C. (’23) for all of the work he has invested in serving as the men’s basketball team manager.
CIF-sanctioned spring sports started yesterday. We look forward to seeing our Grauer Women’s Beach Volleyball team, Women’s and Men’s Golf Teams, and Women’s and Men’s Track and Field teams compete this spring.
Good luck to our basketball teams as they advance to playoffs!
Deans' View
10 Ways to Take Back Control on Anxiety - It May Not Be Your Fault, But It Is Now Your Responsibility!
From Dean Trevor Olson: As educators, teenage anxiety is an issue we discuss on a daily basis. I've recently read that nearly 40% of female teenagers and over 25% of male teenagers have some type of anxiety disorder. This is a very sad, yet very real statistic.
As a Health teacher, I spend a good deal of time not only discussing anxiety with my students but more importantly, providing them with tools to help manage and better understand anxiety and how it plays a role in their personal lives. And while I know taking control over a mental condition is not easy to do, I strongly believe it is possible if you have the tools, mindset, support (oftentimes from a professional), and perseverance needed to do so.
In this week's column, I will be providing you with 10 ways to Take Back Control of Your Anxiety. These 10 points are a collection of ideas, thoughts, Ted Talks, etc. from various sources and numerous perspectives. I hope you find them to be useful. Remember this, we all deal with things that were not, and are not, our fault, however, they are now our responsibility! Taking personal responsibility over your mental health is a key component to taking back control and overcoming anything that comes your way!
10 Ways to Take Back Control on Anxiety #1: Be aware of your thoughts and feelings and express yourself with people you trust.Talking about how you feel is the first and oftentimes most important step to dealing with your anxiety and getting help. It is time to stop resisting reality and express it. In the process of expressing your feelings with trusting adults (professionals), you will gain the tools to be able to solve your own problems.
#2: Optimize your health. Eat well. Hydrate. Sleep. Exercise. Avoid drugs (including caffeine) and substances of abuse. Your body matters! Embrace and optimize your physical health, and you will begin to see changes in your mental health.
#3: Renew your mind.Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture (news, fake news on all sides, social media, etc) that you lose sight of yourself and your own personal beliefs, values, attributes and goals. You become like the people you surround yourself with. “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Who are you hanging with? Surrounding yourself with? Watching? Following? Idolizing? Are they in accordance with your values, beliefs and heart? Align yourself with those that bring value to you and your mental health.
#4: Pursue social support. Who are your friends? “A bad friend corrupts good morals.” Find friends that make you feel good about yourself and who you are. You have the power to do this!
#5: Stay calm. Relax and realize that life is a marathon not a sprint. It was never meant to be easy, quick or dull. How much are you missing out on your life because you are overthinking and stressing out about things that are out of your control?
#6: Plan moments of joy into everyday life.You are the “designer of your life” so ask yourself this question daily...”What brings me joy, peace and happiness?” Art, writing, sports, and music, are just a few examples of activities that might bring you joy. You are the designer, so plan things you enjoy!
#7: Express gratitude!Appreciate your life and everything you have. With gratitude, what you have becomes enough. A Harvard professor said that “the more you express gratitude, the happier you will be.” Research shows simple acts of daily gratitude make you happier. A small thank you text can sometimes be a good start!
#8: Adapt a role model mindset.Even if you don’t see yourself as a role model, know that at any time, someone is watching, hearing and listening to you. Someone is following you regardless if you want it or not. You are a role model, so raise your standards and present yourself with confidence.
#9: Find meaning in your life. Flip the script of unhappiness and allow perseverance to overcome. Our own personal experience with mental health is what transforms us. Flip the script and find meaning in your life. For some, this could mean digging deeper into your faith or religion. For others, it could mean spending more time in nature or pursuing passions that bring you happiness.
#10: Invite good into your life and be responsible. This is your life, your story and your journey. Remember it may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility. Taking personal control over the things you CAN control and letting go of the things you CAN’T is a mind shift that can add great value and happiness to your life.
Click here if you'd like to subscribe to Dr. Grauer's weekly column!
Black History Month In A Time of Strange Lawmaking
The Supreme Court will soon be making a decision on whether the admissions policies of Harvard University discriminated against Asian-American students in favor of African Americans and other racial groups. Ironically, this decision will likely be made during Black History Month, which recognizes the historic and ongoing disadvantage and oppression of African Americans.
Archery Program
Archery Season is underway for Middle School and High School students. Practices will be held every week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm on the Grauer Archery Range (weather permitting). The team's second competition will be held at home on Saturday, March 4. OAS (Olympic Archery in Schools) competitions will take place in March and April - click here to view the OAS competition schedule.
Grauer High School Spring Athletics Programs: Last Chance to Sign Up!
If you're interested in participating in the Spring sports season of our CIF partnership with Horizon Prep, sign up as soon as possible. The Spring season runs from February through May, and practices for all of these sports started this week. The following sports are being offered:
CIF Sports At Grauer
With the start of the CIF Spring season sports, here are a few reminders about CIF sports and Grauer protocols to make sure everyone is on the same page. CIF sports through our partnership with Horizon Prep require a high level of commitment, and the more transparency we can provide early on, the more successful the season will be for all included.
Here are three important details about CIF Sports at Grauer:
Transportation – Individual families must provide their own transportation to-and-from all events including but not limited to: practice, games and tournaments. The Grauer School does not provide transportation for our student-athletes participating in CIF sports.
Commitment – High School CIF-Sports require a very strong commitment. Student-athletes that choose to participate in CIF sports are expected to display strong commitment and communication throughout the entire season so that success can be achieved at all levels. If you are signing up for a High School sport, please plan on committing to having daily meetings with your team.
Off-Campus Sports – All High School sports offered through this partnership are held off campus at Horizon Prep and other schools within our league. Because of this, student-athletes will occasionally have to leave school early on game days. The individual student-athletes are required to communicate with their teachers and coaches, in order to keep up with their academic and athletic commitments.
As always, Trevor is here to help support our student-athletes, so please don't hesitate to reach out at trevorolson@grauerschool.com if you have questions or concerns.
High School Co-Ed Soccer
High School Soccer with Coach Morgan Brown started this week. Practices are on Mondays at 3:15-4:30pm and Fridays at 1:30-3:00pm, at Grauer or at the YMCA. Games will be on Fridays between 4:00 and 8:00pm starting in March, and the games will take place at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas.
Middle School Spring Sports - Starting Up Soon!
We are excited to announce that our Spring Sports sign-ups are starting to take place. Patricia Young will be sending home an official sign-up email to all Middle School families this week, and Trevor will be stopping by all Home Room classes to gather some initial interest. If we have enough student interest, here are the Middle School sports we are planning on offering this Spring season:
Girls Basketball
Boys Soccer
Boys Volleyball
Once everyone has had a chance to sign up, Trevor will send out specific information to the students and their parents, including a schedule for the season. If we don't have enough interest for all of these sports, we will field the ones that we do have enough students to run. Go, Gorillas!
Co-ed Basketball Club with Johnny King: Wednesdays at 3:00pm
“Basketball Club” with Johnny King is Co-ed, and open to Middle School students, High School Students, teachers, and staff. Basketball Club is held on Wednesdays after school starting at 3:00pm, and continues for however long people can stay, even if it's only for 30 minutes. The group will decide what games to play depending on the amount of players who show up, including multiple half-court games or full-court games. Knock Out and Around the World are also some favorites of Basketball Club. This is a great opportunity for the younger players to get more experience playing against older players. Contact Johnny King for any questions.
Grauer Archery Teams Compete in Their 1st Competition of the Season vs. High Tech High
From Trevor Olson, Archery Coach and Athletic Director: Grauer's High School and Middle School Archery teams competed in archery meets this past Saturday, February 11, on our home archery range. What a fun and exciting day it was! Not only did Grauer archers shoot incredibly well, they also displayed a very high level of character and sportsmanship both on-and-off the range. Coach Eric and I received numerous compliments from the parents at High Tech High regarding how kind and supportive our students were, and for me, that is better than winning. Well done, Grauer Archers!
Middle School Winter Sports - End of Season
From Johnny King, MS Boys Basketball Coach: I want to congratulate our team members on a great 2022-2023 Middle School Basketball season. We accomplished our main goals this season, which were to improve each week (each practice, each game), learn some basketball, AND to have fun. What I really loved was the progression I saw from our team members from the initial practices to the very end of the season. By the end, our defense came together and looked very in sync, everyone knew where they were supposed to be on the court, and were able to notice if someone was out of position and help communicate that.
Our final game of the season was an incredible game. Ending the season with the vision of you all celebrating together as the final buzzer sounded with the final score of 36-28, is something that I will remember for years to come. Everyone contributed a ton with great passes, made shots, tough defense, steals, and rebounding. But what made me most proud as a coach though was hearing our team members encourage each other after every missed shot - to keep shooting, and with genuine cheering for their teammates after every made shot, and great play made. I highly encourage all of our team members to continue to play basketball next year. As long as you love the game of basketball, find these opportunities to get out on the court and play! I am also so thankful to the team's parents and family members who came out to support our team at home and at the road games. Congratulations to all of our team members, including Zane B. '27, Oliver B. '27, Inder C. '27, Will L. '27, Evren M. '27, Jacob C. '28, Sean H. '28, Jack R. '28, and Carson S. '28!
From Paulina Davis-Fisher, MS Girls Soccer Coach: Our 2022-2023 Middle School Girls Soccer team had an amazing season this year, taking 1st Place during our league's regular season and 2nd Place in the playoffs! The girls ended the season with a record of 3-1, scoring a total of 28 (!) goals along the way. They did so well that they earned a BYE for the first round of playoffs. It was a hard-fought battle at the championship game, ending the first half down 0-2, but then coming back with a fierce energy to end 3-3. The match ended in a shoot-out of penalty kicks, where our girls unfortunately fell short. We still brought home a trophy with second place which is awesome!! Well done, ladies! Congratulations to all of our team members including Mikayla B. '27, Chloe C. '27, Nalani C. '27, Elsa C. '27, Danika L. '28, Isabella M. '27, Siena P. '27, Arielle P. '28, Liana R. '27, Natalie R. 27, and Nina R. '27. I am super proud of each and every one of you!! Go, Gorillas!
In The Garden Stephanie Murphy and Sally Grauer will be working in the garden on Wednesdays and Saturdaysfrom 8:00am to 11:00am, unless a garden event is happening at that time and if the weather permits. Volunteers are welcome to come on campus and join them in the garden on those days.
We put the finishing touches on the Rose Garden by adding irrigation to the four potted roses, as well as a shut-off valve for future heavy rain storms. Thanks to garden friend Daniel who came to help in the garden Wednesday and finished sieving the compost bin which generated tons of home-made compost that we will be spreading around the gardens soon. Also thanks to garden friend Lori H. who, along with Sally Grauer, started 72 seeds in 6-packs to include 4 varieties of eggplant, 5 varieties of tomatoes, 2 varieties of peppers, and 5 varieties of zinnias. Those seeds will sit on a heat mat until germination, then be moved outside to acclimate, then be planted in our gardens in March or April. We'll start more seeds in a month or so.
Have you noticed all the robins flying around? Wow! We noticed hundreds of them flying overhead at school recently, with many stopping to drink at our bird baths. We hope that some of these beautiful birds are also finding meals of the berries on our Toyon bushes. The robins seem to have invaded all parts of San Diego County, which is unusual according to experts. In fact, this has been the largest robin incursion on record in 50 years, and nobody knows exactly why. Enjoy them while you can, and click here to read more about their visit.
Save the citrus trees! Huanglongbing (HLB) is a disease spread by the citrus psyllid which is fatal to citrus trees. There are newly issued citrus quarantines as close to our school as Carlsbad and Rancho Bernardo. We implore you to click here and watch a 3-minute video that explains the virus and how to handle home-grown citrus in your area. To protect citrus trees in Southern California, including the five trees in The Grauer School's orchard, please do not bring homegrown citrus to school if you live within the 5-mile quarantine area. To check if you are within the quarantine area, you may click here and enter your address at the Citrus Quarantine Map (which takes a moment to load). If the circle surrounding your address extends anywhere into the quarantine site, please do not bring to school, trade or give away any kind of citrus fruits or plants - no oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, kumquats, etc. HLB is a very serious disease that destroys citrus trees.
Upcoming Events Native Verge Garden Tidy-Up - Friday, March 3, at 9:15-11:15am
Join alumni parent Jesse Giessow in our Native Verge Garden on Friday, March 3 at 9:15-11:15am, where we will be sprucing up the area, to include weeding, removing old stakes, and perhaps transplanting crowded plants. If time allows, we will also be working in the other Natives Garden by the basketball court, and may also be evaluating the native habitat trails for new Kumeyaay plants.. There is no sign-up for this gathering, just meet us right outside the school entrance on Tennis Club Drive.
Also, if you were not able to attend our Campus Beautification Day earlier this month and you still want to help in the garden, we need help moving dead logs and branches from our native habitat to the upper parking lot on March 3 between 9:15am and 11:15am. If you're not available on that date, please contact Stephanie and let her know when you would be available to lend a hand. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long-sleeved shirts/long pants for this work.
Events & Activities at The Grauer School
Tolerance Day Presentations
Tolerance Day is a long-standing Grauer tradition that was inspired by the International Day of Tolerance created by the United Nations in 1996. UNESCO's 1995 Declaration of Principles on Tolerance states, “Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.” Grauer adopted this day into our annual curriculum because it promotes our school’s core values and relationship-based philosophy, and ultimately contributes to a more compassionate world.
Tolerance Day was observed at The Grauer School on Tuesday, February 14. Our theme this year was "Courage and Integrity in the Face of Discrimination", and our goals were to give students tools and insights to help them be an upstander, learn about inclusivity, and learn from the experiences of others.
Students broke up up into grade-level groups and heard from different guest speakers:
7th and 8th graders heard a talk about how language can heal and hurt by Dr. Tarane Sondoozi, an experienced psychologist who specializes in conflict resolution, team building, and healthy relationships.
9th and 10th graders heard from Kyla Langen (Isaac’s sister), teacher and founder of QueerSurf, and Marlon Taylor, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at SDG&E, who spoke about being an upstander, the significance of allyship and using career to support diversity and inclusion.
11th and 12th graders heard a talk from Annie Rodriguez, the Executive Director of GenerateHope, a San Diego safe house for survivors of sex trafficking. Ms. Rodriguez defined sex trafficking, unpacking common myths, discussing how San Diego county is impacted by sex trafficking, and discussing the rehabilitation work done at GenerateHope.
Here are some reflections from the students after hearing the workshops. Student takeaways included:
“Be mindful of the people around you and look out for the people in your life.” - 12th grade
“That anywhere can be your safe space and you can create a safe space for other people” - 7th grade
Skills or tools students learned that they can apply to their own lives:
"Have my inner voice tell me positive things instead of negative." - 8th grade
“That it's possible to see humanity in all peoples despite previous assumptions.” - 7th grade
“I learned that my inner voice generally speaks negatively to me and that I should try to ignore that voice if I feel like it's being negative.” - 7th grade
Thank you to our students for being respectful and engaged audience members. Huge thanks to all the teachers and staff that contributed to making Tolerance Day a success, including Shelley Joslin, Alicia Tembi, Lindsay Zickler, Paul-Michael Ogburn, Mimi Robinson, Erin Langen, Simon Checa, and Peggy Gardner.
The Grauer School Competes in FTC Robotics League Championship
From Liam Murphy and Ryan Stevens, Shockwave Robotics Coaches:
Grauer's Shockwave High School Robotics #3848 team competed in their FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) League Championship in Escondido on Sunday, February 12. Sixteen teams came from across the San Diego area to compete in this year’s “Power Play” competition. Teams entered the event with accumulated points from their previous league meets. Grauer’s team, Shockwave Robotics, entered in 9th place out of the 16 teams. The team worked valiantly to repair a variety of hardware malfunctions that inhibited the proper functioning of their robot's arm component. Although they were not able to get the arm functioning properly, they were able to score points by pushing cones into scoring zones. The team ended the competition in 10th place, which was not quite enough to land a spot at the San Diego Regional Championship.
The Shockwave team is proud of the work they put into the robot this year and is excited for off-season STEM opportunities such as 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting and Engraving, Programming, and Circuitry. Congratulations to Shockwave team members Gabriel C. '23, Ethan D. '23, Nicholas H. ‘24, Mac R. ‘24, Anthony B. ‘25, Milan B. ‘25, Brandon D. ‘25, Zoe Br. '26, Augie K. '26, Alana M. '26, and Gavin N. '26 for a great season!
Pre-Calculus Class At The Beach
From Clayton Payne, Pre-Calculus Teacher:
Pre-Calculus classes went on a field trip to the beach on Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9. To evaluate the students' ability to write trigonometric equations from data (usually in the form of sterile graphs), we left the classroom and traveled down to Cardiff Reef. We observed the breaking waves, Socratically identifying how each aspect of what we were watching corresponded to the graphs we had previously made. The surfers weren't struggling with their math, but with their desire to be out in the water instead!
The activity began with a simple question, "How would you write the equation of what we are seeing?" In mixed-ability groups, students formulated strategies for collecting data while on land. These groups compared methodologies, agreeing on the best to use. As the class began collecting data and critiquing each other, I had the pleasure of sitting back and watching them ride their intellectual curiosity just as the locals were riding the waves.
We had an open critique of the data, the surfers explaining certain natural phenomenon as represented in the numbers. Once appropriate sets of data were agreed upon, students set to work writing the equation. How did they know if they were right? They used a smartphone to check the surf report, discovering that what they had calculated was just what the app was reporting. I'm not sure who was being held more accountable, the students or the app! While they had to be resourceful, show perseverance, and hold each other accountable, the real success is that they found the mathematics in something they love and appreciate... while having fun!
Fireworks Flame Test Lab In Chemistry Class
From Paulina Davis-Fisher, Chemistry Teacher:
Ever wonder how fireworks come in so many different colors? Last week, Chemistry students were able to explore this idea and see first-hand how different metals in salt compounds can produce different flame colors. Students reviewed the concept of how electrons in atoms can become "excited" when energy (in this case heat) is absorbed and in turn releases that energy in the form of light. Depending on the amount of energy released, these electrons can give off different colors of light. Students went on to use the data they collected of known salt samples to then identify mystery samples. Overall, the lab was a huge hit, full of lots of "Ooh's and Aah's".
Guest Speaker In 8th Grade History Class
From Alicia Tembi, History Teacher:
Barry Nickelsberg, from the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, spoke with the 8th grade U.S. History class on Tuesday, February 14, about the role of the Vice President and how President Jimmy Carter helped change that role during his time in office. 8th graders had previously explored the qualities that make a strong leader, so Mr. Nickelsberg's talk provided more examples of leadership in action. Mr. Nickelsberg spoke about the significant accomplishments of Jimmy Carter's presidency in addition to the role of the Vice President, and focused on Carter's reputation as an honest and humanitarian-oriented leader.
Neuroscience Class: A Race For An Action Potential!
From Paulina Davis-Fisher, Neuroscience Teacher:
In this group activity to get a “neuron” to reach its action potential threshold, teams of Neuroscience students raced using spoons to toss ping pong ball “signals” into a “cell body” (graduated cylinder). Ping pong balls represented either positive (+) or negative (-) charges and at the end of the race, the ping pong charges were added up to calculate whether or not an action potential occurred.
Guest Speaker In World Religions Class
On Wednesday, February 8, Clayton Payne and Bill Harman's World Religions class had a guest come in to discuss Hinduism in the 21st century. Isa Grimes shared what it means to be a member of the Brahmin caste in modern India and the origins of the pantheistic practices while correcting common misconceptions. He then graciously answered students questions ranging from how reincarnation effects the grieving process to how stars and numerology play into traditional marriages.
Counselor's Corner
From Shelley Joslin, Director of Counseling:
Summer Programs
Summer programs are open and accepting applicants - click here to learn about many offerings for the summer of 2023, from domestic programs in the United States to programs where you can travel abroad, including both academic and service program options. Many of the programs have deadlines for applications and financial aid in the February/March/April timeframe. This is a working list and will be edited and updated as needed throughout this semester. Please reach out to Shelley with any questions.
We will spotlight a few of the programs on the list each week. This week's spotlight programs are:
Summer Program Spotlight: Cal Poly Engineering Possibilities in College (EPIC)
Students in grades 6-12 can learn about Engineering Possibilities in College (EPIC) through 1-week residential programs in July on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus. The program’s primary goals are to attract more students to the field of engineering and inspire them to choose it as a career path. Topics for students in grades 9-12 include Fun with Rockets, Python Programming, Exploring the World of Nanotechnology, Design of a Green City, Robotics, and more. Click here to learn more about the program - applications are due by April 15.
Summer Program Spotlight: OxBridge Academic Summer Programs
For more than 35 years, Oxbridge Academic Programs has hosted bright and enthusiastic students aged 13-18 for four-, two-, and one-week study programs on some of the world’s leading campuses. What began in 1986 in Oxford, England, now additionally includes Cambridge, Paris, Montpellier, Barcelona, Salamanca, and New York City. Central to each of their programs is a commitment to imaginative teaching, experiential learning, and cultural enrichment—paired with a safe and supportive environment for students to immerse themselves in some of the most fascinating cities in the world. Visit Oxbridge Academic Programs for more information.
Community Service
From Jessi Brown, Humanitarian Service Coordinator:
Moonlight Beach Cleanup: Saturday
Students and families can join Surfrider Foundation for a beach and street cleanup at Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas this Saturday, February 18 at 9:00–11:00am. Meet on the beach to the right of the volleyball nets, just look for the blue Surfrider tent. Each individual volunteer must sign and register either ahead of time online or on their smartphone the day of the event. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian confirm their liability waiver. Click here to learn more about the event and register.
Be A Study Buddy!
The Study Buddy program is now accepting applications for the Spring Semester. Study Buddy is a community service opportunity to tutor and be a mentor/friend for an elementary school student for one hour after school each week in person at their elementary school. Applications are due by February 28 - click here to view and download the application.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation - Worm Wranglin’: February 23
Students and families can join the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in Encinitas for a Worm Wranglin’ volunteer opportunity on Thursday, February 23, at 3:30-5:00pm (during Ski Week). Their resident worms help teach San Diegans about the value of vermicomposting (composting with worms). Their worm bins act as a demonstration site, a nursery for providing worms to community members who compost at home, and a source of nutrient-rich castings for use in gardens. Help care for these amazing compost critters and promote sustainability in our community! All volunteers under the age of 14 must attend with a parent or guardian. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian sign them up on their behalf. Click here to learn more about the event, and click here to register.
Help Clean Up Agua Hedionda Lagoon: March 4
Agua Hedionda Lagoon maintains 5 lagoon trails, and they strive to keep the trails safe for public use. Students and families can volunteer on Saturday, March 4, at 9:00am to Noon to clean up the Discovery Center Trail and Hubbs Trail. The goal of this event is to cleanup any litter in the surrounding ecosystem, and remove invasive plants that have started popping up along the trail. Email carly.shields@aguahedionda.org to participate in these monthly cleanup events.
Middle School Fridays
From Patricia Young, Expeditionary Learning Program Director:
While it may be hard to believe, our Winter sports and activity rotation has come to an end. With Ski Week break starting next week and Winter Sports (Boys Basketball and Girls Soccer) having ended, we have opted not to host a rotation activity this Friday, February 17. All Middle School students are invited to start their holiday after the completion of Period 5 on Friday.
Parents of Middle School students, please be on the lookout for a Google Form being emailed home. This form will list spring sports and Middle School activity options that will be starting on Friday, March 3. If you have any questions about Middle School Fridays, feel free to contact Patricia Young.
MS Friday Winter Elective Cycle
2/17 - No Middle School Friday activities (due to after school departures for Ski Week)
2/24 - Ski Week
3/3 - Mini-elective session #7 and sports practices
3/10 - Mastery Learning Day – MS Noon Dismissal, sports practices
3/17 - Mini-elective session #8 and sports practices
Staff Spotlight
Women in STEM Guest Speaker at Girl Rising: Peggy Gardner
On Thursday, February 9, The Girl Rising Club was thrilled to welcome Grauer's very own Communications Director, Peggy Gardner, as a guest speaker. Peggy shared her story of growing up in rural New Hampshire and how receiving a scholarship to Dartmouth College was a pivotal moment in her life. She started her career in STEM by becoming a Computer Science major in college, graduating in the first class to offer that major in 1984. Peggy passed around old copies of her programming textbooks from college, and the students were surprised to learn that the computers she worked on used to be the size of the large classroom tables! After college, Peggy moved to San Diego to work for NCR Corporation for 15 years, and The Grauer School has been lucky enough to have her for the past 7 years as our Communications Director. She told the students that her STEM knowledge and skills have given her the ability to have great jobs throughout her career, and that the field of STEM has been a fascinating field to work in because there is always something new to learn.
Peggy was the first of the "Women in STEM" speakers, and the Girl Rising Club looks forward to hearing from Jasmine Sadler, CE0 of the STEAM Collaborative, this Thursday, February 16.
Student Spotlight
Parents, please let us know if your child is doing something newsworthy, so we can congratulate them in our Student Spotlight section! Please send submissions to newsletter@grauerschool.com.
Valentine's Day Candy Grams Delivered By ASB
The High School ASB/Leadership class sold Valentine’s Day Candy Grams again this year. Students were able to purchase a student-designed card with an organic lollipop, and the Candy Grams were delivered to students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, February 14. Thanks to the ASB for coordinating and delivering the Valentine's Day Candy Grams to spread love and positivity on campus, and special thanks to Kendall B. '24 for coordinating the virtual grams for parents.
Young Leaders in Healthcare Student Protest
The Young Leaders in Healthcare Club hosted a protest on Friday, February 10, on El Camino Real near Santa Fe Drive. The purpose of the protest was to spread awareness of issues in the medical community, with a special highlight on helping Grauer students and other individuals in our community understand and support the importance of women's reproductive rights. The students created handheld signs to showcase their messages. Congratulations to student lead Gabby C. '24 for leading this activity, and to all of the students in the club for making their voices heard in a peaceful protest.
French Club Celebrates Valentine's Day
Members of the French Club, with mentor Frida LeBreton, baked and decorated sugar cookies to celebrate Valentine's Day on Tuesday, February 14, in the Grauer Kitchen. The students all enjoyed eating their delicious cookies!
Happy Birthday!
Mia L. '25 - February 15
Evren M. '27 - February 19
Gavin N. '26 - February 20
Embry R. '23 - February 21
Julien W. '26 - February 25
Roman F. '26 - February 28
