Shamrock Fall 2011 - The Chandler School

Founders’ DayChandler’s Founders’ Day celebration in 2010 paireda celebratory gaze back at 60 years of Chandlerhistory with an eye toward the future. A steel beam,signed by every member of the student body, was raisedhigh above the assembled crowd and placed in theframework of the new Middle School building underconstruction. This year, Founders’ Day was firmlyrooted in the present.andSouthStudents, faculty, parents and alumni assembled together for the first time in the new MiddleSchool courtyard to attend the formal dedication of the new South Campus. The briefceremony included remarks from Head of School John Finch, Board President ChristopherRising ’83 and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. In one particularly emotional portion ofthe ceremony, Mr. Finch announced The Point would be renamed in honor of Trustee RickDickerson, who has devoted the better part of six years to carefully shepherding the SouthCampus project to reality. “He said the Point should never be named,”said Finch of Dickerson, ”but it can have no other name than his.”There was also plenty of applause, good cheer and even laughter whenschool co-founder Catherine Chandler and Dickerson were handed agiant pair of green scissors with which to cut the green ribbon.Also on hand for the ceremony were former Headmaster Jeff Stephens;Teresa Lamb Simpson, field representative for U.S. Congressman AdamSchiff; Tina Williams, field representative for Pasadena Council memberJacquee Robinson; Pasadena Fire Chief Calvin Wells and Fire InspectorSteve Lawhorn; Pasadena Building Official Sarkis Nazerian;Principal Plans Examiner Neville Pereira; and representatives fromthe architectural firm Pica & Sullivan and Illig Construction.The ceremony took place early in the morning, but celebrationcontinued through the day. Cake pops were served to every guestas they departed, and a plane towing a banner reading “ChandlerSchool South Campus” circled overhead at noon, promptingcheers from students gathered outside for lunch and recess. As ifon cue, down came the caution tape protecting the newly soddedfield, and for the first time in more than a year, students spilledonto the field in a spontaneous burst of joyful energy. Studentswaved to the plane, started impromptu soccer games, played tagor simply ran around. One student was seen rolling in the grass,proclaiming, “This is the best day of my life!”