Hugh Jebson will be new head of school at All Saints' Day School

Hugh Jebson, now assistant head of school at the Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, will become the next head of school at All Saints' Day School in Carmel.

Jebson's career in education spans 25 years, including 15 years of operational experience as a senior administrator and school leader. Throughout his career, Jebson has retained direct contact with students as a teacher of history, advisor, and coach. An immigrant to the United States, he began his teaching career in England and has served a number of elite day and boarding schools. He is a teaching fellow of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, has been published widely, and has presented to numerous regional and national independent school conferences on a range of topics, including student safety, academic leadership and faculty evaluation.

His contract begins July 1. School officials would not disclose his salary. 

All Saints' Day School celebrates diversity

As part of the International Week Festival at All Saints' Day School, the middle school hosted a panel discussion last week about the cultural similarities and differences immigrants experience when they come to the United States.

The panel was composed of nine All Saints' Parents and teachers from Ecuador, England, Japan, Trinidad, Uganda, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Germany, and Colombia. The students had great questions about cultural differences, how the moving to the USA affected family life, what people  missed most and more.

This is just one of many events that took place at the Episcopalian, private school in Carmel during the biennial celebration of international diversity.

Parents of students helped celebrate this event and presented their ancestors’ home countries through music, dance, slideshows, artifacts and food, reports Kristin Templeman, the school's communications director.

And it was great fun, she said. Next time we won't miss it!

York School surpasses $3 million fundraising goal.

York School exceeded the $3 million goal of a fundraising campaign to boost endowments for financial aid for students and for the professional development of its faculty, officials announced Thursday.

"Financial contributions are vital to the life of a non-profit institution like York," said Head of School Chuck Harmon. "The contributors to The Campaign for York have made an investment in the present and future of this great School, and we are grateful for their continuing generosity."

Top donors to the campaign were Peggy Downes Baskin and Jack Baskin of Carmel and Santa Cruz, whose total giving to York rose to more than $1 million. The Baskins were honored for their financial support at an event at York on Thursday.

Other major donors to the Campaign for York include: Corie and Fane Opperman of Santa Cruz, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, Beverly and Lyman Hamilton of Carmel, Betty and Jim Kasson of Carmel Valley, and Susan Aqeel and son Omar Aqeel (York Class of 2007).

In total, 214 donors contributed to the Campaign for York.

The Campaign for York will provide funds for student financial aid. Approximately 40 percent of the students at the independent school receive need-based financial aid. York School has 225 students in grades 8-12.

The fundraising campaign also will provide funds for professional development opportunities for York teachers, such as stipends for professional growth conferences, workshops, and supplemental coursework, funding for special projects and the development of innovative courses, grants to research best practices, teacher exchange opportunities, and artist, economist, and writer-in-residence programs.

Notre Dame High School in Salinas has new principal

Colleen Eagleson is the new principal at Notre Dame High School, a college preparatory high school for young women. Eagleson was hired after an in-depth search that included representatives of the Notre Dame community. She began her tenure at Notre Dame in the 2013 school year.

Eagleson, 42, previously worked at Archbishop Riordan High School, a college preparatory high school for young men in San Francisco. She holds a masters of arts in Catholic School Leadership from the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership and an administrative credential from the University of San Francisco. She has a bachelor's degree in urban studies and single-subject teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. She has recently received Instructional Technologist Certificate from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

“In the few months I have been at Notre Dame, I have been extremely impressed by this amazing community and I am honored to be a part of it," Eagleson said. "I hope to build on the already incredible traditions that exist and continue the important mission of the school.”

York School board of trustees elects new officers

Jane Paulsen of Carmel, a former journalist and public relations professional, is the new chair of the board of trustees for York School. Paulsen is the parent of a current student and of a 2010 York graduate.

The board of the independent school also elected Mary Adams of Pebble Beach, president and CEO of the United Way Monterey County, as vice chair.

The board also re-elected Gary Ray of Monterey board secretary, and elected Marilyn Calciano of Santa Cruz board treasurer. Ray, a partner in the Salinas law firm of Ottone Leach Olsen & Ray LLP, is the parent of two York students. Calciano also is the parent of two York students. Newly elected to the York board were: Drew Gibson, Carmel Highlands; Matt Simis, Monterey; Kirsti Scott, Aptos, and Gordon Howie, Redwood City.

All Saint's School recognized for its ethical education program

The Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education has recognized All Saints’ Day School for excellence in ethical education.

"We are deeply honored to receive this award,” said Michele Rench, head of school. “We continuously strive to inspire All Saints’ students to build lives of purpose and service, and we greatly appreciate CSEE's recognition of our program.”

All Saints’ is private, Episcopal school with grades Pre-K through Grade 8. Tuition costs $19,000 a year for grades 1 through 8. About 220 students attend. The school committed to developing character with both depth and breadth.

The Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education noted three facets of the school's commitment to character:

• Commitment to professional development

• The Bean Program, now in its 20th year at ASDS, is integral to life at All Saints’. This service learning project involves a well-organized group of students breaking down large bags of pinto beans into 4-pound parcels to be distributed to needy families in the Salinas Valley.

• The All Saints’ buddies program pairs older students with younger ones. The program fosters relationships, gives younger children an older student to look up to, and encourages older students to play a meaningful role in the furthering of All Saints’ culture.

Chartwell School in Seaside holds open house

Check out the programs at the private, non-profit Chartwell School, which helps prepare students in grades K-8 with dislexia or other language-based learning difficulties.

Likewise, the New High School Project serves students in grades 9-12 who may have struggled in more traditional high school settings.

The school offers open houses regularly. The next ones are coming up Nov. 3 and Nov.6 from 10:30 a.m. till noon. At the school, 2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside CA 93955 For more information, call 394-3468 or click here.

York opens its doors for fall fair

The yearly celebration, organized and hosted by the students, features food, games, student performances, farmers market, used book sale, and more. Proceeds benefit the private school’s student financial aid and the various activities and charitable causes of participating student clubs.

The celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.

For more information, call 372-7338 or click here. 

Chartwell gets $130,000 for financial aid

Chartwell School received a grant of $150,000 from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, $130,000 of which is designated for the financial aid program that benefits 35 to 40 percent of students at Chartwell School and The New High School Project.

It is the sixth year that The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has supported
financial aid for the school's student population. Chartwell serves students with learning disabilities.

Santa Catalina's annual Lower School Art Show runs this week

And I'm being told by reliable sources the show shouldn't be missed.


So come on by to enjoy the artistic creations of students in Kindergarten through the eight grade at the 20^th Annual Santa Catalina Lower School Art Show
Starting today and ending Friday, from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.
Lower School Multipurpose Room
Reception Thursday, May 17 following the Spring Music Concert
Santa Catalina is at 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey
(Art: "Pop Art Mona Lisa" by Grace Russell, Grade 8)

For Santa Catalina's site, click here.