March 2009
March 6th / 7th / 8th Friday
Dance at Pacific
Boychoir Academy
March 10th 3:45 - 5PM Tuesday
Berkeley
1st Volleyball Practice
for 6th - 8th Graders
March 10th 6:45 PM
APTA Meeting in Oakland
March 11th thru 13
(Wed-Fri)
7th & 8th Grade Snow Trip
March 12th Friday
2nd, 3rd, & 4th Grade Snow Trip
March 18th Wednesday
5th & 6th Grade Snow Trip
March 20th Friday
K-4 Trip to watch People Like Me
Auction Donations Due
March 18th Wednesday
5th & 6th Grade Snow Trip
Auction Donation Forms Due
6 PM to 9PM Piedmont Veteran’s Memorial Building
April 4th Saturday 5:30 PM
Spring Fling & Silent Auction
• Volunteer to work on the planning committee or the day/night
of the auction (Contact Jackie Lemoine - jklemoine@alamedanet.net)
• Secure or make a donation of goods, services, or a party
(Questions: contact Lisa Scimens - scimens@sbcglobal.net or
Beth Fusco - bethfusco@msn.com)
• Contribute to a class themed birthday basket
(Questions: Contact your room parent)
• Attend Archway School’s birthday bash and bring guests
(with each ticket purchased each guest will be entered into
an auction night raffle drawing for $500)
Letter from the APTA President
By Beth Fusco
A
ll too often these days I find myself asking the same
question: “where has time gone?” and reciting the same
old cliché: “so much to do and yet so little time to do
it”. It seems like the only means of staying “somewhat sane” in
this fast paced world is to have my trusty and never ending “to
do list” nearby.
This month for Archway is by far one of the most important
months for all of us to take a minute to revisit the “to do list” for
our parent sponsored Spring Fling Auction coming on April 4th.
There is no doubt in my mind that if everyone completes their
list, that this event will meet our goals and expectations. As a
reminder, the “to do list” includes three simple things:
[ ] submit product and/or service donations by March 20th
[ ] purchase and sell tickets to the event for yourself, family and
friends
[ ] attend, spend and mingle at the event
Archway is no different from any other public or private school
in its need to raise money, and there is every reason to believe
that our goal of $35,000 is achievable – as long as everyone
participates. Our community may be small and modest, but
what we lack in numbers can be made up in participation and
commitment.
We have a small committed group of parents working hard to
make our “Trip back to the 70’s” memorable and they need
everyone to come, enjoy and celebrate the fruits of their labor.
Events like these do not happen alone, so please step up and
show support for your fellow parents.
I am asking one last time for you to take a minute out of your day
to complete your “to do list” for our Spring Fling Auction. April
4th will be here before we know it, so let’s make sure that we
don’t let time slip by without each of us doing our fair share.
I would like to thank everyone who attended and participated in
our last Parent Association meeting. Your attendance generated
valuable input on important school topics. I hope to see you and
others at our next Parent Association Meeting on March 10th at
6:45 in Berkeley.
 Dear Archway Families
By Sarah Flowers
I
love that the 8th grade families have
planned a yard sale to benefit the
Washington D.C. trip. It embodies
all kinds of great Archway values —
recycling, working collectively toward
a goal, community building, students
engaged in support of a valuable
program—and it has the added bonus
of motivating me to tackle a burgeoning
garage toward the cause. Although
neither inspires me in the same way (to
clear out my garage), our two annual
school fundraising events (the Walkathon
and Auction) do share the qualities of
working collectively toward a common
goal, bonding us as a community,
engaging students, and supporting
important programs of the school.
I am particularly fond of the auction,
the reasons for which I have no ready
explanation. It might be the excitement
of getting a great deal, or maybe the
gratification of sharing admiration with
parents of their children’s artwork. It
might be that at the end of the evening
I’ll take home with me something like the
Susan Sterling weaving I “won” several
years ago, now a treasured fixture in my
house. It might even be the wine and the
atmosphere of conviviality.
Despite having recently made a donation
to the annual fund, ordered my weight in
See’s candies from the 8th graders, and
paid my son’s college tuition with what’s
left in my bank account, I look forward
to this annual event with a fair amount of
enthusiasm.
By the time you get this you will have
received information from your APTA
co-chair Beth Fusco and Development
czar Bridget Rivezzo encouraging your
participation in the auction. I hope you
have taken a moment, or plan to do so, to
look through it and give some thought to
the ways you can help in its success.
Page 2 APTA March 2009
My understanding is that at present we Trustee Community
have:
Outreach Meetings
• Less than a month to the March CAIS recommendations cond’t from page 6
T
By Tonya Hersch
20, deadline for donating (items or MAJOR
services) to the auction COMMENDATIONS MAJOR COMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Just about 30 days to the Auction he Woods Edge Board of Trustees
STUDENTS 1. Exposure to and 1. To students for 1. Professional
itself, and appreciates and thanks parents for
involvement in outside personifying A.R.C.H. development in
• Half of the anticipated auction items their input during the Community
community values differentiated
we need to collect. Outreach Meetings in January. We value instruction and
these meetings because they provide the 2. Diversity of learning 2. Admissions process that learning styles
Time goes by more quickly than you board an opportunity to report on the styles has produced a diverse
can imagine. I know that I have not yet current issues facing Archway, such as student body 2. Including learning
turned in my own donation form, and the CAIS accreditation process and visit, specialist in
but also to hear from the parents. admissions
that teachers are busy working on theirs.
decisions
I promise to do my part and hope you can
do yours too. Let’s help our hard-working We received incredibly insightful COMMUNITY 1. Clear support and 1. Volunteers beyond
auction volunteers by turning in those comments and suggestions. All of which understanding of core group of
forms! You can bring them or mail them was complied into an extensive report mission parents
to the front office of either campus or go presented to Sarah and the whole board.
And the board has already responded 2. Community events 2. APTA needs
use our auction website (http://auctions. to examine
readysetauction.com/archwayschool/ to the feedback with some important
changes. 3. Increased alumni best practices
home) to fill out a form on-line. contact for improving
ongoing
If you haven’t yet thought of the perfect The most significant comment we 4. Parent Ed NIghts communication
thing to offer, how about asking a received was a need to have greater (e.g., for web-
neighborhood restaurant to provide a gift communication between parents and pages & emails)
certificate? Or maybe coordinating with the school. As a community is only as
other families to offer a themed party strong as its communication, we take 3. Marketing and
like the Mother-Daughter Tea donated this concern very seriously. The board outreach plan
by two fourth grade moms? Maybe (like is committed to developing policies for PROGRAM 1. Celebration of 1. To Faculty for connecting 1. Improved focus 1. Production of
me) you ordered something fabulous on informing parents better. One such policy diversity through classroom experiences to on writing Curriculum Guide
Amazon but never used it and now it’s is that the board will be contributing curriculum real world conventions in for internal and
too late to send it back? It’s all good! monthly articles to the newsletter to language arts external use
report on actions and issues of the board 2. Four agreements classes (inclusive of
I know that for a lot of us, the experience and its committees. Trustees will also scope & sequence
make an effort to be more visible in the 2. Examination & curriculum
of being an independent school parent of CPM math mapping)
brings with it a seemingly endless stream community by wearing name badges at
school events, so that parents will know program’s
of opportunities to write checks. It is a effectiveness
testament to your dedication to your whom trustees are. We will also continue
for students
children that you are so generous with to organize the Community Outreach
with language-
your time and money. It is impossible to Meetings annually. based learning
overstate the value of this support and I differences
can’t thank you enough for joining the In addition, many commented on the
lengthy list of Archway parents who, need for greater marketing of the school. LIBRARY & 1. Classroom library 1. Long term plan
As a result, a Marketing & Recruitment ELECTRONICS collections for technology
over the past 35 years, have created this
tradition of service to our community. committee has been formed and is
Student & parent
working on a comprehensive and long- volunteers in
I look forward to seeing you all at the term plan to: generate name recognition maintaining collections
Auction and to celebrating Archway of Archway, outreach to preschools, high
School’s 35th year! schools, and alumni, and organize events
that bring potential families and the
community onto the Archway campuses.
APTA March 2009 Page 7

Outreach Meetings Continued...
These are just a few of the issues the
board has begun to address from the
Community Outreach Meetings, but
most importantly we are listening and
acting on your input. We recognize the
ways in which parents are invested in
the school and the education of their
children as well as the charge with which
we, as trustees are responsible. Archway
is a community effort in which each
component is essential to the school’s
growth and success.
Board Corner: What Does
the Board of Trustee Do?
By Ann Wrixon
R
Chair, Board of Trustees
ecently, the members of the
Board of Trustees met with
Archway parents to let you
know about the work of the Board and to
hear your feedback. You gave us lots of
great feedback, including that you would
like to know more about the Board and
would welcome a regular column on the
Board in this newsletter.
Most of you probably know that
Archway is governed by a non-profit
organization called Woods Edge, Inc.,
with a 14-member Board of Trustees.
The Board is composed of parents of
current Archway students and alumni,
as well as community members and a
former Archway teacher. Every member
of the board was asked to serve on the
board due to specific skills they could
provide to the school, including expertise
in finance, fundraising, facilities, real
estate, strategic planning and education.
Although our Head of School, Sarah
Flowers, runs the school on a day-to-
Current Trustees (term end)
* George Becker, Community Member,
Founding Board Member (8.1.2009)
* Sarah Flowers, Head of School (non-voting member)
* Sharon Hammond, Parent of Alumni (11.1.2009)
* Abram Hardin, Parent (11.1.2010)
* Pamela Hawk, Parent of Alumni (11.1.2009)
* Tonya Hersh, Parent (11.1.2010)
Page 3 APTA March 2009
day basis, the Board of Trustees is
responsible for setting overall policies
and long-term direction for Archway
School. It was the Board of Trustees
who spearheaded our recent strategic
planning process. The Board is also
responsible for ensuring that the plan
is implemented and for measuring our
success in that endeavor.
The Board is also responsible for
ensuring the financial stability of the
school. This includes developing the
annual budget and a long-term budget
plan. This process is done in cooperation
with the Head of School. Setting both
the tuition levels as well as working
with the Development Director to set
fundraising goals is part of the process,
as is controlling expenses.
Finally, it is the Board of Trustees who
hires and evaluates the Head of School.
The Board works with the Head of
School to set goals that are in line with
the strategic plan, and the Head of School
is evaluated based on her performance in
meeting these goals.
The Board is composed of 14 individuals,
however, no one member of the Board
can act independently. As the Board
Chair I often serve as the Board’s spokes
person, but I cannot initiate actions or
speak on behalf of the Board without the
approval of the full Board of Trustees.
Below is a list of the current Board of
Trustees. We all welcome your input on the
overall policies and long-term direction
of the school, but please remember that
Sarah Flowers is responsible for the
day-to-day operations, including hiring
and evaluating teachers, developing
curriculum, or dealing with student
concerns.
* Jackie Lemoine, Vice Chair, Parent (11.1.2010)
* Dr. Kimberly Mayfield, Community Member (11.1.2009)
* Humberto Rivadeneyra, Treasurer, Parent (11.1.2010)
* Jason Salter, Community Member (11.1.2009)
* Cheryll Anne Taylor, Parent (11.1.2010)
* Stacy Thomas, Former Archway Teacher (11.1.2009)
* Shoshana Winkelstein, Parent (11.1.2010)
* Ann Wrixon, Parent, Chair (8.1.2009)
CAIS recommendations cond’t from page 5
DATES & UPDATES
COMMENDATIONS
Lower School Yard
FUNDRAISING & 1. Hiring p/t
Our new turf has at last been installed, DEVELOPMENT
Development
and it looks beautiful! Thanks to the Director to help
lower school for their patience and with fundraising
faith. Thanks also to the K-4 students
2. Dev Director’s
for helping to spread the new bark
role in creating
that now covers the backyard of the
a “culture of
Kindergarten/1st grade cottage.
giving” in the
school
Alameda Food Bank Drive
All throughout March we will have our
annual food drive – collection barrells
will be placed outside the main office
at the lower school and are already
in Advisors’ classrooms at the upper
school. We welcome all your donations
of nonperishable food for this worthy
cause.
Volleyball
Mr. Saul and Ms. Mel are calling out to all 1. Lower school
6th-8th graders interested in participating ADMIN, FACULTY head’s dedication
in volleyball this year. Practices will be
& STAFF to mission and
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45- growth
5pm, beginning Tuesday, March 10th.
2. Commitment and
dedication and
Upcoming Trips mutual support
It’s that time again! 7/8th graders go on among faculty &
their snow trip on March 11th-13th, staff
2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders have a one-day
snow trip on March 12th,
and 5th/6th graders to follow with a trip
on March 18th-21st.  teachers
The first week in April will find the 8th
Community Events
graders in Washington, D.C. for their
annual visit to the nation’s capital and
On Friday, February 6th, our lower
the 7th graders in Yosemite on a week-
school students  hosted a goodbye pizza
long field study and exploration with the
lunch for Helen the librarian on Friday,
February 6th,  distributing cards, and
Yosemite Institute.
sharing the delicious dragon bread
made by Ms. Melissa (with some help
from her students). They will  return to
Piedmont Avenue later this month for
an encore music performance. Students
and teachers alike look forward to People
Like Me, a multicultural music and dance
performance planned for Friday, March
20th.
All are invited to attend the very special
performance benefiting the 8th grade trip
APTA March 2009 Page 6
MAJOR
MAJOR COMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Development strategy for 1. The Board and Head
Annual Giving norms must take a more
visible leadership
2. Investigate foundation grants role in increasing the
& alumni association culture of giving in
the community.
3. Examine effectiveness
of traditional fundraising
activities and timelines
4. Improve reporting and
tracking of fundraising
income & expenses
5. Procure a database which
tracks parent occupation and
other information
6. Articulate explicit protocols
for stewardship and donors
(follow-up, relationship-
building, info gathering)
1. Head’s dedication to 1. More efficient staffing 1. Board needs to
mission and growth re-examine the
2. Provide opportunities for organizational
2. Attracting and retaining cross grade level discussions structure of the
exceptional staff and of curriculum school
faculty
3. Investigate best practices for
3. Collegiality & flexibility professional & curriculum
of faculty development, and faculty
evaluation
4. Improved new teacher support
& ongoing support for veteran
cond’t on page 7
to Washington, D.C. of Brian Copeland’s the week of April 6th -10th, so look for
“Not a Genuine Black Man.” The sign up sheets on the clipboards. Ms.
benefit will take place on Sunday, March Angela will be contacting parents of 5th-
15th, at 3 pm at the Marsh Theater -- 8th grade students in several weeks to
1062 Valencia Street (near 22nd Street) schedule upper school conferences.
in San Francisco. Tickets are available
by contacting 8th grade parent Jackie Auction
Gamble (jackie.gamble@att.net). Our We’re all hard at work preparing our
thanks are due to Marsh Theater owner donations for the Spring Fling on April
and 8th grade parent Stephanie Weisman 4th. Invite your friends and family to come
for generously making this benefit too! Please remember that all donation
possible. forms are due Friday, March 20th. Be on
Conferences the lookout for opportunities to purchase
The end of Marking Period III is right your tickets. For more information,
around the corner! We will be having please visit the website:  http://auctions.
parent conferences on the lower school readysetauction.com/archwayschool/
 Dear Archway Families
by Melissa Castello Zippin and Sarah
Flowers
T
o anyone who is a parent there is
perhaps nothing more inexplicably
reassuring than a heartfelt
compliment about your child. Similarly,
of all the positive and earnest feedback
we heard from our accreditation team
on the heels of their three-day visit, the
feedback we heard about our students--
your children--gave us the greatest sense
of pride.
Sure, we heard gratifying validation of
our academic program and accolades
about the way teachers hone critical
thinking skills in their classrooms.
We heard confirmation that all of us--
parents, students, teachers, and staff--are
united in commitment to our mission
and community. We also heard about
challenges ahead as we continue to
evolve as a school.
But there was something about our
students that captured the hearts of
our visitors. A sentiment we heard not
infrequently, it is perhaps best captured
in a comment made by Betty Winn, our
accreditation committee chair:
“[Archway] kids are truly amazing.
They are responsible and respectful and
confident. They embody your mission.
This is my tenth accreditation and it’s rare
that you see children like this; it really is
special. It makes you really different.”
Their full report won’t be delivered
until May, but we have included in this
newsletter our notes from the committee’s
reading to the faculty and Board on the
last day of their visit. They are divided
into the many commendations and
recommendations which will serve as
guidelines of our work ahead.
Thanks to all of you who shared not only
in the preparations for this event, but in
the values of introspection, improvement
Page 4 APTA March 2009 Page 5
and accountability which motivated Former Archway Student, SUMMARY OF CAIS COMMENDATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS (from 2/3/09 Report Reading)
this endeavor and which are essential
Ally Little – National Merit
to ensuring the continued vitality of our
Scholarship Finalist
C
school. We trust you also share with us the RECOMMENDATIONS
MAJOR
MAJOR COMMENDATIONS
renewed sense of pride we feel in being COMMENDATIONS Things we OUGHT to over the RECOMMENDATIONS
members of this special community. ongratulations to Ally Little, next 3 yrs Things we MUST do in the
next 3 years
Archway School graduate, who PHILOSOPHY 1. Clear & concise 1. Community’s dedication
Archway Donor Party has advanced to Finalist standing statement of to and embracing of
of the National Merit Scholarship mission values
by Tonya Hersch
A
Program!
2. Visible
s a trustee, not only was it an displays around
Ally attended Archway School from
honor to recognize everyone school and in
Kindergarten through 8th grade and classrooms;
who contributed to Archway’s
is now a senior at Holy Names High materials
2008 Annual Fund at the donor party 1. Adherence to 1. Completion of Strategic 1. Better risk 1. Convene a board
School. On the basis of her performance GOVERNANCE
hosted by the Woods Edge Board, but it mission Plan management committee to
was also just a great time. Over beers, on the PSAT last Fall, Ally was one of
explore options for
mini pizzas, and nachos at the Pacific 16,000 students selected as a National 2. Comprehensive 2. Evaluate meeting reuniting K-8 onto
Merit Semi Finalist. After submitting her
Brewing Co. in downtown Oakland, I elf-assessment frequency for one campus
transcripts, teacher recommendations,
had the pleasure of talking with many of effectiveness
activity and leadership resumes, Ally (i.e., meet more 2. Board needs to
those who generously give to Archway
is now a National Merit Finalist and frequently) engage a consultant
in a variety of ways.
now has the opportunity to continue with independent
to compete for 8,200 National Merit school governance
In an atmosphere of warmth brought
Scholarships, worth more than $35 expertise to a) focus
on by the congeniality of community, on development and
million. Scholarship offers to winners
no children, and a hefty glass of beer, finance and b) look
will be announced in March.
the room filled with laughing, voices, at best practices for
and, although Archway is ever present trustee recruitment
Since leaving Archway School four 1. Rich program on 1. Automatic payment 1. Board must
in our hearts and minds, engaging FINANCES
years ago, we have stayed in touch with a tight budget system for tuition to produce a strategic
conversations which drifted off the topic
Ally through campus visits as well as her decrease bad debt & financial plan which
of the school to interesting personal
dedication as a counselor in our Cuisine accounts receivable incorporates class
stories and commonalities. size, annual giving,
and Art summer program. Not only is
site, salaries, and
And as a parent, I was able to socialize does she boast a 4.0 GPA at Holy Names
tuition
with old friends and meet new Archway High School in multiple AP classes, but
we have had the pleasure to know that she
parents, Lisa Scimens and John Moss; 2. Find the resources
is also an extremely reliable counselor, to hire an on-
their daughter Sonja is new this year to
always going above and beyond what is site [may be p/t]
my son’s sixth grade class. Both Lisa
required of her and developing a great business manager to
and John commented later that, “Being
rapport with the kids and teachers. We handle:
a new Archway family, it was great to
are so proud of you, Ally! • finance
attend something like this. We really
management
enjoyed how down to earth the Archway • facilities
family feels.” A sentiment held by many • compliance
at Archway, which motivates us to • human
dedicate so much of our time and effort. resources
Archway is about its people. • risk
management
It’s events like these that give us the
cond’t on page 6
chance to connect with each other and
to feel the comfort and friendship of
belonging to a community.
Thank you Bridget Rivezzo for
organizing such a fun event.