As always, on Fridays we celebrate the beginning of our weekend with food and fun, hanging out by the pool, enjoying grilled food outside in Mercedes Courtyard, playing ping-pong, ordering takeout, and sharing delicious cultural dishes from our cooking celebrations. Mercedes Courtyard is the prime meeting point for most students, with a fire pit for making s’mores and gathering around as the evening cools down. This Friday we did all of the above, plus enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather!
Saturday began early with a Women’s Water Polo game in the pool. Even if they were not playing water polo, students got moving by going to the gym and weight room, followed by various trips. Students visited Haight Street in San Francisco, a historically hippie neighborhood full of vintage clothing shops and record stores, to explore under the backdrop of Golden Gate Park, Hayes Valley, and the University of San Francisco. Additional trips took students to restock on supplies for the coming week at Target in San Rafael, Vintage Oaks in Novato, and Town Center in Corte Madera. On campus, students played Magic The Gathering, baked brownies, and enjoyed flower arranging with dorm parents. Finally, the evening ended with a nighttime trip to a local gelato shop and the downtown San Anselmo street festival.
Sunday offered a historical walking tour of the Castro district in San Francisco, led by teachers Ms. Winkeller and Ms. Baird. Students who preferred to stay on campus were greeted with some really amazing weather to enjoy the usual rotation of the weight room, gym, conservatory, and pool. In the afternoon, students visited various shops including Costco and Target, plus picked up a late lunch at everyone’s favorite hamburger joint, In-N-Out. Students ended the weekend with an “ease into the week” homework session, finishing any last-minute class assignments and practicing their instruments. Martin P. ’25 has been gracing the boarding program with his piano playing—appreciated by students and staff alike.
Students began the week anew with basketball practice, club sports, and working on classwork. Upper School Science Teacher, Coach, and Dorm Parent Mrs. Churchill offered her usual biology and sciences preparation lessons prior to test days, in which she helped boarding students prepare for their upcoming exams. A key benefit of the boarding program is that students are able to have close support from their teachers before exams and other major educational milestones.
Wednesday was a school holiday in observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for people of the Jewish faith. Students who observe this holiday shared their experiences with others, providing the opportunity for our boarding students to learn and grow as individuals and as a group. Additionally, many students went on trips to enjoy the beautiful day, including Union Square, where even San Francisco was sunny (an appreciated rarity given the city’s legendary fog)! Other students went to a local Farmers Market in Fairfax or The Village in Corte Madera to shop and hang out with friends.
– Jessica Farley, Resident Dorm Head