At San Francisco Friends School, students learn in a community grounded in the Quaker values of reflection, integrity, peaceful problem-solving and stewardship.
Our teachers challenge students with a dynamic curriculum that inspires curiosity, cooperation and hard work. We teach children to listen to all voices and to trust their own.
We engage with the world around us with kindness and conviction, working toward the Quaker ideal of a caring and just society.
Table of Contents
Message from the Head of School 2
Pankti Sevak
Campus News 3
Tunnel Vision 6
How Curiosity About Worms Led Kindergarteners Underground
A Transfomational Partnership 8 A Closer Look at Horizons at SFFS
Faculty & Staff News 10
Commencement 12
Celebrating the Class of 2025 ANNUAL REPORT 2024–25 14
Alumni News . . . 19 Integrity Testimony 20
Blue Party . . . 21 School of Rock
Among Friends Magazine is produced by San Francisco Friends School’s Communications Office and Development Office
Kim House Director of Communications & Marketing khouse@sffriendsschool.org
Stephanie Kastner
Associate Director of Development skastner@sffriendsschool.org
Charlie Meade Director of Development cmeade@sffriendsschool.org
Colleen Curran
Associate Director of Parent & Community Engagement ccurran@sffriendsschool.org
A Message from the Head of School, Pankti Sevak
Dear Friends,
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on hope—not as wishful thinking, but as a feeling that moves us toward deeper meaning and inspires us to imagine a bright future. This is a purpose-driven hope that allows us to see possibility. It’s a quiet, persistent force that grounds our community and helps us grow together.
Our Quaker testimonies—simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship—give this hope its structure. In simplicity, we focus on what truly matters for children. In peace, we teach habits of deep listening and problemsolving. In integrity, we endeavor to speak the truth and do the right thing, even when it is hard. In community, we invite students to honor the dignity of every individual and respect the perspectives and ideas of others, even if they are different from their own. In equality, we strive towards creating a more caring and just society. In stewardship, we help students take responsibility for themselves, their community, and the world around them. These are not abstract ideals; they are the everyday ways hope becomes visible.
Each day at Friends, I see this hopeful pattern come alive—in the curiosity of our students, the care of our teachers, and the commitment of families who help our children flourish. Together, we are cultivating a community of lifelong learners where learning is shared and joyfully pursued. Now more than ever, our work as a Quaker school calls us to look forward with courage and optimism.
In the year ahead, we will launch a new strategic plan that translates our values into action—clarifying our vision for the decade ahead and strengthening the ways we teach, learn, and live our mission together. It is, at its heart, an act of hope: a shared commitment to nurture the next generation of thoughtful, capable, kind individuals ready to meet a complex and changing world.
In friendship,
Pankti
ON MY BOOKSHELF:
2025-26
Board of Trustees
Board Co-Clerks:
Yvonne Perez-Sallaberry and Ben Tranel
Camilo Barrera Acosta
Marc Babsin
Seth Brenzel
Rory Eakin
Chrysty Esperanza
Kelly Greenwood
Nikita Gujral
Jennifer Hsieh
Caitlin Kavanagh
Matt Kenaston
Elizabeth Longstreth
Dan Miller
Gaby Mishev
Tal Mor
Rubbee Myggen
Enrique Ortegon
Alison Pincus
Andrew Salverda
Ami Sanghvi
Nelly Sapinski
Michael Simmons
Shalinee Thakur
Neil Wadhawan
Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Vera Wong • Good Things, Samin Nosrat • 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, David Yeager • Life, Cynthia Rylant • The Telepathy Tapes (podcast) • The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran Desai • The Backyard Bird Chronicles, Amy Tan
Campus
NEWS
LEAD WITH LIGHT: A Conversation with Daniel Lurie
In October, we welcomed Daniel Lurie, parent to Taya (Class of 2025) and Sawyer (Class of 2028) and Mayor of San Francisco, for a conversation about the intersection between his work as mayor and his connection to our school, our values and our role in the community. The event was part of our ongoing Lead with Light series, designed to create space for meaningful conversations and community connections.
Daniel talked about some of the challenges facing the city and how he’s working to address them, including homelessness, public safety, housing affordability and public education. He also talked about the importance of creating community, working together toward a common cause, and embracing multiple perspectives and ideas to solve complex problems. “I get a lot of joy from this job every single day,” Daniel said as he spoke about his deep love of San Francisco and his commitment to bringing people together to make a positive, meaningful impact. “I want us to succeed.”
Prior Lead with Light guest speakers include:
Jamil Zaki, Parent to Alma (Class of 2030) and Luisa (Class of 2031), Stanford professor and author of Hope for Cynics
Azikiwee Anderson, Parent to Xavier (Class of 2023) and Logan (Class of 2025) and founder of Rize Up Bakery
Tal Mor, Parent to Ora (Class of 2028) and Lila (Class of 2033) and owner of Four Barrel Coffee & Loquat Bakery
Sam Mogannam, Parent to Zoe (Class of 2017) and Olive (Class of 2021) and owner of BiRite Markets
Exploring Migration Through Family Stories
Each year, third graders take part in a year-long social studies unit that explores themes of migration and immigration. Students learn about the forces that shape human movement — the push and pull factors that influence people to leave one place and make a home in another — and explore questions such as: Why do people migrate? How do people migrate? How does migration help communities evolve? This learning deepens through family migration shares, when parents and guardians present their stories in the classroom. These personal narratives illuminate the many paths that have led our students to where they are today and celebrate the diverse experiences of families in our school community. Third graders also go further afield to study the history of migration in California with field trips to Chinatown and the Angel Island Immigration Station, which served as an immigration port between 1910 and 1940.
CUTE AND CREEPY CREATURES—OH MY!
Caren Andrews, our Lower School Art teacher, is an artist through and through, proclaiming herself an artist on her first day of kindergarten many decades ago. She considers her students artists too, and seeks to inspire a lifelong appreciation, love and practice of art making. Fourth grade artists designed and created stuffies inspired by the work of Takashi Murakami and Jason Freeny. Students sewed these imaginative and fantastical creatures using colorful fabrics, buttons and thread to bring the details of their creations to life. This sewing project also honored the rich history of our building, a former Levi Strauss & Co. factory where employees once cut and stitched blue jeans.
Taking Chances: Middle School Probability Day
At Friends, an important goal for our math program is to help students see mathematics as a discipline full of connections among concepts and to other disciplines—not merely as a collection of isolated skills. Teachers aim to instill a love of math and build students’ confidence by encouraging them to test ideas, revise, debate and develop meaning of mathematical concepts. Probability Day is just one example of how our students develop mathematical skills in a joyful, hands-on learning environment. Middle school students design and test their own games of probability such as Free Throws, Corn Hole, Oreo Flips and Catch & Release to put their understanding of chance and statistics into motion. Adding to the fun are the “math trolls”—older students in costume who pose math flash-card questions to anyone hurrying between rooms and only a correct answer will “free” players to move onto the next game. Eighth graders hone their leadership skills through supporting younger peers, tracking data, and hosting games. By day’s end, students gain a deeper appreciation for how math, curiosity, and community intertwine.
THE SCIENCE AND STEWARDSHIP OF TIDEPOOLS
Each spring, first graders eagerly anticipate one of the most exciting days of the year: a field trip to Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay to explore the tidepools. The adventure begins in the classroom, where young scientists share what they already know about ocean life and, just as importantly, what they are curious to discover. Through books, videos, and lively discussions, they learn about tides, the creatures that call tidepools home, and how humans can care for these delicate ecosystems. As part of their preparation, students practice being careful observers and thoughtful writers, recording what they notice and the questions that bubble up in their minds. “I wonder how a sea star eats?” “Why do crabs hide under the rocks?” When the big day arrives, students crouch along the rocky shore, eyes wide as they spot sea stars clinging to stones, anemones waving in the water, and crabs scuttling across the sand. Teachers and parent chaperones guide them, but it’s the students’ own curiosity and careful observations that bring the tidepools to life. Back at school, students transform their notes and discoveries into a collaborative tidepool display, blending art and science to share what they’ve learned. The project celebrates more than just the creatures of the coast—it highlights the joy of asking questions, observing the world closely, and bringing science to life through both writing and creativity.
Building Together at Mission Community Woodshop
Last September, SFFS community members Andrew Salverda and Dan Matz opened the doors to Mission Community Woodshop just down the street from 250 Valencia. Andrew and Dan are long-time friends, educators, parents to SFFS alumni, and in Andrew’s case, the former Middle School Head at SFFS. The vision for Mission Community Woodshop is simple: build a tight-knit, inclusive community of good-natured woodworkers—accomplished and amateur alike—to be a part of something bigger. Integral to this vision is a commitment to making woodworking accessible to a wide range of San Franciscans, which comes as no surprise given Andrew and Dan’s deep connection to our Quaker values and commitment to the Mission neighborhood. This fall, SFFS began offering an after-school enrichment class at Mission Community Woodshop, giving our students an opportunity to learn about woodworking, practice using a variety of hand tools and machines, and complete a project.
Tunnel Vision: HOW CURIOSITY ABOUT WORMS LED KINDERGARTENERS UNDERGROUND
By Kim House
When a group of San Francisco Friends School kindergarteners sat down in Duboce Park one winter morning, they didn’t know they were about to launch a months-long exploration of one of nature’s most remarkable feats of engineering: tunnels.
As the children settled on the grass, several large earthworms began to emerge from the damp soil. Instantly, the chatter began.
“Where are they going?”
“Why are they going underground?”
“How do they dig like that?”
Kindergarten teachers Andrea Snyder and Jessica English listened closely. “All of their questions centered on how and why the worms were tunnelling into the ground,” Andrea recalls. “And almost at the same time, they noticed the Muni tunnel at the edge of the park—another tunnel, but one made by and for people.”
That moment of connection—from worm tunnels to MUNI tunnels—became the spark for an inquiry that would shape the next several months of classroom learning.
Following the Questions
At Friends School, we believe in an inquirybased approach to learning. Grounded in Quaker pedagogy, this approach values listening deeply to children’s questions, trusting that authentic curiosity leads to meaningful learning.
Back in the classroom, the kindergarten teachers invited their students to reflect on what they already knew about tunnels and what they still wondered. Their questions touched on topics including engineering, geography and animal behavior:
“How do people build tunnels without them falling down?”
“Where in our city can we find tunnels? Where else in the world are there tunnels?”
“Why do animals build tunnels?”
In looking at all the wonderings, two essential questions emerged: Why do we have tunnels? How are tunnels in nature and tunnels made by people similar and different?
Next came another central Quaker teaching practice: thinking collectively about how they could find answers to their questions. “Many children suggested visiting tunnels,” Andrea says, “so that became part of our research plan.”
Learning Through Experience
Soon, the kindergarteners were off to explore. They began by returning to Duboce Park to look more closely at the Muni tunnel before boarding the N-Judah to ride through it themselves. The journey prompted more questions (How did they build this tunnel? Why did they need to build it?) and opened the door to new ideas about transportation, engineering, and city planning.
Their explorations continued in Golden Gate Park, where they examined a pedestrian tunnel under a roadway and considered how the tunnel was helping both pedestrians and motorists. Back at school, they took a deep dive into methods and materials used in making tunnels in different settings and looked at examples of tunnels around the world, stopping to discuss what purposes the tunnels served and how they were built. They also conducted hands-on investigations of tunnels in the natural world: observing ants digging miniature tunnels in ant farms, learning about how tunnels help animals survive, and setting up a classroom worm bin to watch their original inspiration at work.
Meeting “tunnel experts” was also part of the kindergartners’ research plan, so they were excited to welcome a special guest: Jordy Coleman, a Caltrain engineer and parent to SFFS alumni Oliver (Class of 2020) and Julian (Class of 2022), who visited the class to share stories about the history and construction of Caltrain’s tunnels and what it’s like to drive trains through them. “For many of our train-loving kids, meeting a Caltrain engineer was a dream come true,“ said Jessica.
Emergent Curriculum in Action
CATHY HUNTER FUND FOR THE FUTURE
Named after our founding head of school, The Cathy Hunter Fund for the Future was created in 2016 to provide transformative professional growth experiences for our faculty. Through this endowment, kindergarten teacher Andrea Snyder spends two days each week supporting curriculum development and instructional practices across K-2 – work that reflects our commitment to professional learning and collaboration and celebrates the spirit of curiosity and lifelong learning that Cathy Hunter championed.
This project exemplifies the student-led, inquiry-based approach to teaching that is a hallmark of San Francisco Friends School. The tunnel study emerged directly from students’ observations, questions, and natural curiosity about the world around them.
Students kept journals with observational drawings and notes. They also designed and built tunnels collaboratively, then tested their tunnels for strength and revised their designs to make them stronger. Throughout, teachers emphasized the process of discovery—the testing of ideas, the revision of understanding—in addition to the accumulation of facts.
The Light Beneath the Surface
By spring, the kindergarteners had developed sophisticated understandings of tunneling—both natural and human-made—and, just as importantly, they had practiced the habits of inquiry: observation, questioning, collaboration, and reflection.
In one of their final reflections at the end of the study, a student made a thoughtful connection: “Animal tunnels and people tunnels are both dark because they’re deep underground and they’re long. Sometimes they put lights in people’s tunnels. The animals’ eyes are like lights in their tunnels.”
Casting light on new ideas and taking the time to ask, to explore, and to go deeper is exactly what San Francisco Friends School hopes to nurture in every student. Sometimes, it all begins with a few curious worms and teachers who know how to listen.
San Francisco Friends School’s commitment to equity, community and stewardship comes to life through the Horizons at SFFS program—a transformational, 12-year partnership between SFFS and Horizons that supports families from San Francisco’s Mission District. Horizons at SFFS makes it possible for public school students—many of whom are multilingual, and first- or second-generation immigrants—to access exceptional out-of-school programming that might otherwise be out of reach.
At its heart, Horizons is more than just an educational program. It’s a community where students build on their strengths and talents with the individual attention they need to thrive. To create this environment, the families and educators that nurture Horizons students are deeply engaged and supported in their own development as well.
A Transformational Partnership Horizons at SFFS Celebrates 12
Years
By Amy Anderson
While Horizons fundraises independently, the collaboration with SFFS runs deep: teachers who work across both institutions share best practices, enriching both communities. Joint family events, shared leadership, and thought partnership between administrators and board members help align our values and deepen our connection.
SFFS students and alumni also benefit from this powerful partnership. From the Horizons Middle School Club to volunteer opportunities, students are learning what it means to be engaged, responsible community members. These experiences help instill values of service, inclusion, and stewardship.
Horizons continues to evolve to meet the needs of its students and families. Recent years have seen the creation of a robust pipeline supporting students through high school and into postsecondary success. And this year, Horizons is launching “Super Saturday”—a once-a-month gathering that brings together the entire Horizons community for joyful learning and reconnection. Visit www.horizonsatsffs.org to learn more.
By the Numbers
190: students from local public schools
12: years of support from kindergarten to high school graduation
2-3 months: average gains in math and literacy every summer
4:1: educator to student ratio in each classroom
7: field trips a student participates in each year
95%: average retention and attendance rates
71: Horizons affiliate sites across 21 states serving 7500+ students nationally
Services
• Project-based academics
• Restorative, trauma-sensitive environment
• Wellness coaches and intervention specialists
• Swim safety & skill development
• Enrichment classes & field trips
• Workforce development and college counseling for high school students
• Safe outdoor play & healthy meals
• Educator professional development and parent workshops
Volunteering with Horizons: SFFS Alumni Say it Best
“Volunteering at Horizons was such a meaningful part of my summer. I loved being able to connect with the students and watch their confidence grow as they explored new skills. The program created an amazing community, and I was super grateful to be a part of it.” — Zoe Hahn, Class of 2022
“Horizons was an incredibly great experience; I loved connecting with the kids and helping out with various tasks. The community was really inclusive, fun, and supportive. I loved going on field trips, helping with assignments, and meeting new people. I feel like I have learned so many skills by working with Horizons. I learned more about responsibility, leadership, patience, and teamwork. Overall, I loved connecting with the kids and working with such a great community. I hope to come back and work next summer.” — Tayo Jones, Class of 2024
Faculty & STAFF NEWS
This summer, we welcomed two experienced administrators to our senior leadership team: Sarah Wolf, Middle School Head, and Charlie Meade, Director of Development. Sarah most recently spent 8 years as the Middle School Dean for Academics and Student Life at Polytechnic School in Pasadena while Charlie spent 15 years as the Director of Advancement at The San Francisco School. We sat down with Sarah and Charlie to get to know them and hear more about what inspired them to join our community. Come say hi next time you’re on campus. Welcome, Sarah and Charlie!
Meet Sarah, Middle School Head
This summer, San Francisco Friends School welcomed Sarah Wolf as our new Middle School Head. From her first days on campus, Sarah has embraced the warm, vibrant spirit of SFFS, and she has built relationships with teachers, students and their families.
“I was attracted to the sense of community at Friends,” she shares. “We are a diverse group of students, parents, faculty and staff, and SFFS is a place where everyone can feel at home.”
For Sarah, joining Friends is a homecoming of sorts. After years in Los Angeles, she’s delighted to be back in the Bay Area, where her professional life began. “This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world—the views, the people, the neighborhoods,” she says.
When asked which Quaker SPICE resonates most deeply, Sarah doesn’t hesitate: Integrity. “My superpower is authenticity,” she explains. “Integrity means being true to yourself and doing what’s right, even when it’s hard.”
Sarah brings that same spirit to her work with middle schoolers, a group she describes with affection. “I love their awkwardness, curiosity, and willingness to dive into new things with abandon,” she says. “They’re constantly changing as they discover who they are.”
Outside of school, you’ll likely find Sarah exploring local hiking trails or sampling new restaurants—and she’s always open to recommendations!
Sarah Wolf
Meet Charlie, Director of Development
When Charlie Meade first encountered San Francisco Friends School, it was at his son’s middle school basketball game. “I was so impressed by the Friends School players,” he recalls. “Their sportsmanship and positivity really stood out and it sparked an interest in learning more about the school.”
That initial impression stayed with him, and now, as the new Director of Development, Charlie is thrilled to be part of the community that made such an impact. “The entire community has been so welcoming and patient—I immediately felt at home here,” he says.
For Charlie, integrity—one of the Quaker SPICES— guides his approach to philanthropy. “Integrity guides both my life and my work and allows me to approach fundraising at Friends in a way that is authentic and rooted in trust,” he explains.
Charlie is especially excited to deepen connections across the community. “I see giving as an ‘invitation’ to join a worthy and powerful cause,” he says. “San Francisco Friends School is such an important part of the city’s landscape—whether it is through our neighborhood connections in the Mission District, or our Friends School graduates who go on to make a positive, meaningful impact wherever their path takes them. I’m honored to help move our school forward.”
Charlie has deep roots in San Francisco, having raised his three kids in Bernal Heights and worked in schools and nonprofits throughout the Mission, Portola, and Presidio. When he’s not on campus, you might find him at a live show—he’s an avid music fan—or exploring the city’s neighborhoods.
SFFS ALUMNI RETURN AS ASSOCIATE TEACHERS
We’re thrilled to share that two SFFS alumni returned to Friends this fall as Associate Teachers. Jackson Kao (Class of 2013) and Olivia Aguirre (Class of 2017) joined the Lower School faculty to teach third grade and second grade, respectively.
“I’m delighted to be working with my third grade students this year. Don’t be fooled by their silliness— they are a precocious group of young minds with a range of talents and fascinations,” Jackson shares.
Reflecting on his time at Friends, Jackson recalled Athletic Director Mick Colburn telling the class “You cannot have integrity without grit”
—a message Jackson has carried with him. “Doing the right thing can be very hard,” says Jackson, but his experience at SFFS provided him role models to look up to and the space to practice integrity.
During her time at Friends, Olivia connected deeply with teacher Amabelle Sze, now our Lower School Head. Olivia attended Haverford College, where she participated in the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship Fellowship. Through that fellowship, she worked with Friends Peace Teams in Indonesia, where she supported inclusive, nonviolent early childhood education by integrating peace-building practices and Universal Design for Learning into the curriculum. “Working alongside SFFS educators that I was lucky enough to have been taught by has shown me that we are a community that values the minds and uniqueness of our students,” Olivia says. “There is a fundamental notion that learning and understanding individuals’ differences and inviting them into the classroom can enrich the learning environment.”
Charlie Meade
Jackson Kao
Olivia Aguirre
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025
We bade farewell to the Class of 2025 on June 11 with a joyful graduation ceremony on the San Francisco Friends School campus. Family and friends gathered alongside SFFS faculty and staff to celebrate our graduates as they began their high school journey.
The ceremony featured an original spoken word performance written and performed by our 8th graders, musical performances from our 8th grade graduation band, and remarks from Pankti Sevak, Head of School, and Lizzie Rogal, Middle School Head. In SFFS tradition, students awarded diplomas to each other, sharing thoughtful and heartfelt words about their fellow classmates.
We wish our graduates the best of luck in high school and beyond!
CLASS OF 2025
Abraham Mega Walsh
Aditya Sen Vahalia
Aiden Klinger
Alyxis Valentina Montero
Amelie Anna Rocca Holstein
Angelo Paisano Rosas
Anna Camila Garcia-Zuro
Anya Simone Zaheer
Ares Phan
Asa Chipman Gray
Ashley Dos Santos
Ayla Stone Howard
Benjamin Kennedy
Birdie French
Carmen Bloom Pincus
Charlotte Dawn Hare
Christian Iparraguirre
Clyde Boardman
Cole Marcus Kamber
Cora Brenzel Gaines
Cora Josephine Salverda
Eli Nathan Albukerk
Elijah Bonaparte Cordes
Ellie Garoutte
Emma Tewksbury
Evening Eliana Wiesler
Fergus Osborn-Hobbs
Greer J. Lowery
Ivy Hardenbergh
Jack Harriss Pinnix-Bello
Jacqueline Hope Kunene
Jasper Joseph Caimi
Jayla Mouton
Jesse Bayer
Jonathan Bell
Kai Mateo Lacayo Castillo
Livi Jun-Slangen
Logan Talbot Anderson
Luca Rigby
Macario Benjamín
Ibarra-Tacdol
Maya Oren
MJ Crompton
Na’Imah Abdul-Hamid
Nathan Oliveira Stewart-Kahn
Nate Mitton
Neko Hirsch
Nola Quann
Olivia Ahyeon Tantoco Nam
Penn Eustis Watters
River Yee
Ruhi Karamchandani
Solly Curry
Sophia Seims
Sylver Behar
Taya Prowda Lurie
Thara Kempner
Wolf Schneider
CLASS OF 2025 HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS
Balboa High School
The Branson School
The College Preparatory School
Convent of the Sacred Heart High School
Drew School
International High School
Lick-Wilmerding High School
Lincoln High School
Marin Academy
Palo Alto High School
Phillips Exeter Academy
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (SOTA)
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
Salesian College Preparatory
San Domenico
San Francisco University
High School
San Francisco Waldorf High School
Stuart Hall High School
The Urban School of San Francisco
Revenue & Expenses
Each year, the Board of Trustees carefully balances the fiscal and programmatic needs of the school, while attending to the vitality of our Quaker values, our faculty and staff, and our school community. Our operating budget reflects our school’s priorities and culture, and we are proud to lead the way among Bay Area schools in our Adjustable Tuition and Friends Community Scholars programs.
As an independent school, we depend on the philanthropic support of our community to sustain our programs and strategic priorities. We are grateful for the generosity, and for the careful stewardship of our budget, to allow us to remain in a strong financial position.
Annual Giving
Every gift to SFFS is an opportunity to grow and shape the lives of our students. We are tremendously grateful for the gifts from parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, students, grandparents, and friends that strengthen every aspect of our school and nourish our future.
Thanks to the generous support of our community, we raised $1,001,363 for the 2024-25 Annual Fund and $351,328 in support of Adjustable Tuition through 48 Hours for Friends and the Blue Party. ≥ $15K
Annual Giving by Gift Size | # of Donations | Amount Received*
$10K – $14,999
$5K – $9,999
$3K – $4,999
$1K – $2,999
$500 – $999 < $500 $43,249
$206,4535
*Does not include Blue Party ticket sales, raffle sales, or Count-Me-Ins.
Total: 627 Donations | $1,266,989 Received
ANNUAL REPORT | 2024-2025
Sustaining Friends: 2024–2025 Annual Giving
The honor roll is an expression of gratitude for the generosity of the Friends community. This list reflects gifts to the Annual Fund and 48 Hours for Friends from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
Current Families
Anonymous
Janelle Acacio
Laurence & Tania Albukerk (14)
David Alderson & Ashley Bauer
Azikiwee & Tamsen Anderson
The Aragona Bwogi Family
Zena & Bob Arnold
Caheri Arroyo & Maria Rocha
Margo & Roland Bainton in memory of Rebecca Bainton ‘14 (20)
Aruna Balakrishnan & David Knight
Jonathan Bayer & Janine Okmin (12)
Yves A. Behar & Sabrina Buell
Drew Behnke & Chloe Thomas
Andrew & Aylin Bell
Evan Ben Artzi & Diana Levin
Michael Bergelson & Nancy Spector
Otis & Nicole Berkin
Adam Berman & Alejandro Scotta
Kimo & Sarah Bertram
Jessica Bier & Edgar Lopez (11)
Amber & Aaron Binkley
Katherine Blum & Tom Kennedy (11)
Hala Borno & Rajaie Batniji
Violet‣ & Matt Borowski (13)
Michele Boscia & Amy DiBenedetto
John Bove & Laurel Coco
Sarina Bowen Kennerly & Owen Kennerly (17)
Seth Brenzel* & Malcolm Gaines
Starr Britt‣
Kurt Brown & Mina Matin
Bea C de Baca ‘28 & Family
Greg & Lara Caimi
Brittany Candell & Erin Antunez
Aneesha Capur & Tom Kelly
Luz & Rebecca Cervantes
Rachel & Joseph Chang (11)
David Chen & Justin Collingham
Jonathan Chicas
Sophia Seims ‘25 & Hana Chin
Brent & Lily Chiu-Watson
Yong Chun Li & Da Wu
Jessica Mendels & Todd Cleary (16)
Mick Colburn‣ &
Elizabeth Charnas (15)
Judson Coplan & Kate Goldstein-Breyer
Ian Cornwall
Gail Cornwall-Feeley & Brian Feeley
Flor De Maria & Boris Cotom (19)
Leslie Cotom & Cristian Recinos
David Crimmins & Carolyn Suh
Charlie & Meno Crompton
Louis Cubba & Neil Penick
Elana & Jefferson Curry
Marianne David & Marc Babsin*
Amalia & Eliot Davidoff
LiAnna Davis & Alex Feinberg
The Dewan Family (10)
Erika Dirkse & Owen Rescher
Jessie Dubreuil & Aran Nichol
Lydia Dworetzky & Timothy Grose
Anne Osmun & John Eidinger
Geoff & Erin Eisenberg
Kenneth Ellis & Corey Monteith
Michael & Lindsey Fitzgibbons (10)
Timothy Floreen & Duncan Kerr
Sylvia & Andrew Fong
Kean & Christine Foo
Aaron & Sangita Forth (13)
Doug & Rebecca Foster (10)
Nick & Victoria Fram
Elizabeth Longstreth* & Adam French
Helen Friedland & Igor Spivak
Mitesh Gala & Aradhana Goel
Kate Galbraith & Adam Ginsburg
Matthew Gallivan & Dana Kalish
Jason Garoutte & Wendy Garbers
Suzanna & William Gardner
Nira Geevargis & Daniel Zaheer
Menekse Gencer
Gary & Aggie Gettys (10)
The GheithLevy Family
in honor of Darby & Lou
Stephen Gikow & Sophie Hood
Katharine Gin & Kjell Nordeson
Nick Goldberg & Crystal Sumner
Elena & Thomas Gorman
Rebecca & Scott Grant (10)
William Gray & Sharon Maloney
Rachel Sheinbein & Joe Greenstein
Satish Gudiboina & Soumi Gupta (12)
Ranvir & Nikita Gujral*
Jim Habig & Caroline Smith
Andrew Hahn & Molly Maybrun
P.J. Haley & Jennifer Hsieh*
Michelle Hall & Bryan Janeway
David Hamsher & Katherine Karas
Morgan Hankins & Deanna Volkmann
Leslie Harlson & Jared Brubaker
The Hartnett Family
Gary Helmling & Ownjung Park
Tristram Hewitt & Dominika Seidman
Kristi & Howard Hirsch
Cassia Holstein & Peter Albers
Peter Hultman & Erin Willard
Benjamin Ibarra & Aya Tacdol
Dawn & John Iparraguirre (12)
The Ishimaru Family
Devalin Jackson
Ted & Kathleen Janus
Knute Johnson & Kelly Mayes
Jenny Johnston
Annie & Morgan Jones
Scott Jones & Chrysty Esperanza* (10)
Joshua Joseph
Alison & Matthias Kamber (12)
Hemal Kanzaria & Alissa Detz
Caitlin* & Niall Kavanagh
Max Kelly & Deepti Rohatgi
Margot & Matthew Kenaston* (11)
Thomas Kim & Christopher Tatro
Marta Kochanska & Paul More (12)
Chau & Joshua Koltun
Naomi Kort & Zachary Powers
Catherine & Brian Kwong
Susie Lee & Chris Lacy
Gael & Cheryl Lala-Chavez
Enrique & Dara Landa
Eugene Lee & Paul Lei (11)
Aimee & Tjarko Leifer
Asher Levin ‘31
Marc & Jennifer Levin
Rachel Levin & Josh Richter (11)
Sophie Levin ‘33
Danielle Levitas & Glen Kunene
Maureen Linch
Diane Loviglio & Gilman Tolle
Daniel Lurie & Becca Prowda
The Lopez Madrigal Family (10)
Karena Man & John Kearns
Lourdes Martinez & Enrique Ortegon*
Christina & Davis McCarroll-Doherty
Andrew McCollum & Gretchen Sisson
Ariel Mendez-Peñate‣ & Patricia Cotter
Erin & Stephen Meyer
Alla & Victor Mezhvinsky
Andrew Miller & Eleanor Hsu
Rich & Katie Miller
Rob & Gaby Mishev*
Tal Mor & Lisa Johnson
Jennifer Morales & Christopher Elliott
Milo Morgan ‘33 & Family
Fred & Kristin Moyer
Maryam Mozafari & Amir Afifi
Jennifer Mraz & John Whelan
Karen Mu & Jonas Edman
David Muller & Lana Porcello (11)
Drew Myers & Clare Gupta
Masato & Katie Nakagawa
Matt Newcomb & Caitlyn Fox
George Ng & Irene Chan
Lorena Ng & Yedi Wong
Leanne Noguera & Juan Campos
Omondi & Heather Nyong’o
Ingrid & Kevin Oliver
John Oram & Stacey Rubin
Yaron & Amanda Oren
The Osborn-Hobbs Family
Gene & Seta Paige
Rene Paisano & Angelica Rosas
Christina Papanestor
Sarah Patterson & John Kucera
Yvonne Perez-Sallaberry* & Michael Sallaberry (17)
Han N. Pham
Alison Pincus*
Mark Pincus
Robert Pinnix & Charles Bello
The Puckett Boardman Family
Donna Rabin
Supriya Rajpal & Evan Kempner
Amir Rao & Anna Lee
Vikram & Geeta Rao (13)
Matthew & Julia Knight Richards
Ben & Charlene Rigby (14)
Corinne Rocca & Jared Holstein
Carmen Rodriguez
Greg Romero & Michele Sutton
Rachel & Alexis Rouda
Mia Rubie
Mika Rueda-Albright
Oliver & Kate Sabot
Mona Salma & Mark Hoffman
The Salverda Family* (17)
Maria Sanchez & Jose Escandon
Ami Sanghvi* & Snehal Patel
Nelly* & Tim Sapinski
Pravin Savkar & Meher Singh
J.P. & Ellen Scanlon
Robert Schechtman*
Family of Wolf Schneider ‘25
Laura Pincus & Brian Schwartz (10)
Josh Seims
Maya Setchkova
Pankti Sevak‣ & Josie Rodberg
Farouk Ladha & Seema Shah
Hetal Shah & Rakesh Tondon
Manish Shah & Lenore Estrada
Anthony Sharp & Brandi Montaño
Jamieson Sheffield & Natasha Miley
Nadeem & Katherine Sheikh
LaMar Sheppard & Joy Sheppard
Michael Simmons
Jessica & Aaron Sittig
Guybe Slangen‣ & Susan Jun (16)
Eri Chaya & John Smith
Priscilla Nylin Smith & Andre Deshay in honor of Frances Nylin and in memory of Nelson Smith
Susie Smith & Michael Mitton
Yennie Solheim
Felipe Solis & Veronica Cab
Craig Soules & Deepti Srivastava
Derek Steer & Heather Phillips
Daniel Sternberg & Claire Faggioli
Rich Gill & Emma Stewart
Matthew Kahn & Abigail Stewart-Kahn
Holger Struppek & Laura Pirri
Ege & Sonali Tanor
Miriam Telles in memory of Randall Trefzger
Shalinee* & Ravi Thakur
Ahin Thomas & Jennifer Wilcox Thomas
Meghan Thurlow & Charles Praska
Darick & Nori Tong
Srini Vishnubhatta & Sukhi Thethy
Yogini & Neil Wadhawan*
Vivek Wagle & Janet Brunckhorst
Nicholas Walsh & Jessica Mega
Constance Wang & Kevin McAlea
Nathan & Susan Weems
Adam Weiss & Sara Van Acker
Aaron & Carrie Whitmore
Samantha & JJ Wiesler
Miriam & Shawn Wrobel
Ana Yamashiro
Timothy & Cindy Yan
Ann Kim & Kevin Yee
Chloe Yoon
Sonya Yu
Sandra Zamora & Felipe Garcia
Shuyi & Steve Zhang (11)
Alumni Students
Anonymous
Lily Ross ‘12
Emily Rupright ‘14
Audrey Sachleben ‘13
Michael Springer ‘12
Robert Springer ‘14
Friends Of Friends (including Alumni Parents, GrandFriends, Faculty & Staff, and Trustees)
Anonymous Camilo Barrera Acosta*
Sharon & Tony Albers
Rachel Albright
Valarie Algee‣
Carol Allen
Dan Alvarez‣
Lydia Arellano
Yunit Armengol
Mary & Peter Babin in honor of the Fram family
Peggy & Thomas Badenhausen
Cedric & Dee Bainton (20)
Kate & Jay Banfield (22)
Alberto Benitez & Angelica Melo
Clara Blumenkrantz
Donna & Fred Boyer
Charles Breyer in honor of Annabel & Leo Coplan
Kira Bronston & Peter Ostrow (18)
Sabrina‣ & Andrew Brooks (15)
Wendy Buffett & Joel Kreisberg
Jon Burnett‣ & Rebecca Castelli (22)
Magdalena Cabrera in honor of Nomi & Rubi Foung
Oliver Chubb* & Daphne Li (10)
Ellen Cleary
Shannon & Doug Cogen
Omar‣ & Gloria Cotom
Sandy & Sarah Crockett (16)
Susan Cuevas
Nikcole Cunningham
Colleen Curran‣
Greg Dalton & Lucia Choi-Dalton
Kristen‣ & Jeff Daniel (19)
Jack de Vries
Kamakshi Desiraju
Sandra Donnell & Justin Faggioli
Dottie & John Eidinger in honor of Isabel & Marcus Eidinger
Charles & Diane Eisenberg
Frances Elsberry‣
John & Judith Euston
Janet & Jim Fitzgibbons
Linda & David Flippin in honor of Zamora & Zamir Jones
Janet Ford Shell
Mitch & Carolyn Forster
Donna Fortier Borden & John Borden
Robert Fram & Jeanne Blamey
ANNUAL REPORT | 2024-2025
Sustaining Friends: 2024–2025 Annual Giving
Friends Of Friends
(cont.)
Vivian Fu
Edwin Gackstetter & Nancy Albarran (14)
Sal & Louise Garcia
Suzanne Geller‣(16)
Todd & Sally Gerstein
John Gilliss
Marcia & John Goldman
Maria Gorbea Zuffanelli‣
Erin Gordon & Craig Etlin (18)
Peter & Sheila Graf
Martin & Rachel Greenstein
Marsha Greenwood
Karl & Erica Griffin
Robyn Griffler in honor of
Logan Wrobel
Mary Ann Grossman
Ruth Gupta
David & Barbara Hall
Betsy Hambrecht & Robert Eu
Frank & Ann Hardenbergh
Meg & Doug Hart
Luis Hernandez‣
Campbell Hill
Laura Hill & Marc Kunney (19)
Asiff Hirji & Sarah Wigglesworth (16)
Christine Hoang & Paul Nakada
John & Lynne Hoffman
Ernie Hsin* & Carla Oshiro (12)
Mike & Anette Janeway
Emilie Johnson
Vicki & Scott Kahn
Steve Kalish & Anita Bollt
Koof Kalkstein (17)
Heide & Martin Kamber
Stephanie Kastner‣
Veronique‣& Rod Kessler
Jin & Dol Kim
Victoria Kopelevich‣
Dr. Bruce & Marcy Landres in honor of
Asher & Sophie Levin
Nelson Lee in honor of Nathan Lee
Randy Lehrer
Bruce & Pamela Levin
Jill Levy
Rob* & Jennifer Lippincott
Michael Litter & Katie Bradley
David & Eleanor Louis
Kathryn Ma & Sanford Kingsley (11)
Maureen McAvoy & Brian Elliott (20)
Kelly & Mark McKane (17)
Charlie Meade
Paul & Deborah Meyer in honor of Tessa Meyer
Reid & Sanna Mitton
Enrique & Diana Montaño
Ana Montero
Ramiro Morales
George & Winnie Mu
Susan & Gib Myers in honor of Theo & June Myers
Alfredo & Dina Neira (13)
George & Lisa Ng
Sally Nichols
Patrice & Arnie Oji (23)
Larry & Linda Okmin in honor of Jesse Bayer (12)
Gary Orenstein & Ching-Yee Hu
Doug Peckler & Evy Pine
Caroline Pedersen in honor of the Kavanagh Kids
Diane Pincus & Tomas Berl
Jeff Porter‣ (21)
Mike Powers & Margot Golding (21)
Katherine Preston‣ (13)
Emilie Privratsky
Pat Rabidoux
Richard Ramos & Linda Kelley
Dr. & Mrs. Walker Ray
Maureen Ray‣
Ann Reder
Sarah Reid & David Gikow
Susan Ring
Alan Robin
Roy & Marianne Rocca
Deborah Rockwood‣ & William Wetherell
Nicole Rouda
Pam & Chris Rupright
Timothy & Sandra Schwartz
Sandra Sheinbein
Robert & Judy Sheridan
Marlene Sloger & Hans Hull (17)
Martha Snider
Andrea Snyder‣
Dan Springer
Anne Stanton & Rik Malone
Fran Sternberg
Willow Stokes ‘24, Espie Venturina & Jay Stokes (10)
Jason Stone‣& Adra Valentine (13)
Sachleben Sullivan Family Fund (21)
Phyllis & Harold Sumner in honor of Olivia Goldberg
Prameela Tadavarthy
Almario & Luvenia Tantoco
Tom & Lisa Teliska
Tom & Susan Thurlow
Normina Torres
Emily Von Scheven & Mark Shostak
Kusum & Uday Wagle
Patrice Wakeley‣
Peggy Walls in memory of Edward L. Walls
Alex & Barbara Weems
Shirley & Arthur Weiss
Barry Wendell
Eleanor Wendell in honor of Penn Watters (16)
Barbara Whitten
Yoshiko Williams
Nancy Wong
Hui Wu & Wei Zhang
Stefani Wulkan‣
Greg Wyser-Pratte‣
Samson Yu & Samantha Guan
Corporate Matching And Foundations
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Apple
The Aria Foundation
BlackRock
Cisco
Credit Karma
Deloitte
DocuSign
Dodge & Cox
Exelixis
Genentech
Good Eggs
Google Matching Gift Program
The Mimi and Peter Haas Fund
Levi Strauss & Co
Paypal Giving Fund
Sobrato Philanthropies
The Salesforce Foundation
The Sports Basement
Visa, Inc
Walt Disney Company Foundation
Great care was taken to ensure the accuracy of this list, and we would appreciate you sharing with us any errors or omissions.
‣ Faculty & Staff
* Denotes a member of the Board of Trustees for 2024-2025
( ) Indicates (10) or more years of current consecutive giving
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Darrah Fox Bach, Class of 2012
Restoring the Coast, Connecting Communities
For San Francisco Friends School alumna Darrah Fox Bach, caring for both people and the planet has always been intertwined. As the Restoration Programs Senior Manager at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), she leads community-based projects that rebuild oyster reefs, plant native grasses, and strengthen the connection between people and their environment.
at the school’s first campus on Diamond Street.
Through CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program, Darrah and her team collect discarded shells from restaurants in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Volunteers return those shells to the coast, creating “living shorelines” that protect against erosion and nurture marine life. The work also supports Indigenous communities by helping safeguard sacred coastal sites like Lemon Tree Mound, a project Darrah calls “a humbling reminder that restoration means listening to those who have always cared for the land.”
Darrah traces her community-centered values back to her days at San Francisco Friends School, where the SPICES of community and stewardship took root early. She fondly remembers tending gardens, foraging for dinner on overnight trips, and feeling a sense of responsibility to care for shared spaces. “Friends planted the seed of stewardship for me,” she reflects. “It taught me that caring for your environment is inseparable from caring for the people around you.”
Equally formative was the school’s Meeting for Worship, where she learned the power of stillness. “Being comfortable with silence helps me stay grounded in my work,” she says. “It allows space for reflection, humility, and deep listening—essential in community-driven environmental work.”
Today, Darrah’s calm presence and collaborative spirit guide efforts that unite chefs, students, fishers, and tribes around a shared goal: restoring the coast, one oyster shell at a time.
CLASS NOTES
Emmy Etlin, Class of 2017 • University High School, UCLA, UCLA School of Law
This fall, Emmy started her first year at UCLA School of Law after graduating summa cum laude from UCLA in spring 2025 with a degree in Art History and minors in Spanish and Professional Writing. She is pursuing legal education to become an art lawyer and advocate for the return of stolen art to its rightful owners. Emmy traces many of her most important values and goals, particularly her passion for protecting the arts, to her SFFS education.
Avi Katzman, Class of 2022 • Urban School of San Francisco
At summer camp this year, Avi was a counselor in training (CIT) at Camp Moshava in Maryland. Part of being a CIT is taking over camp for 24 hours and organizing a story day for the campers where they create and act out a story. Ari helped the kids turn camp into an Italian pizzeria that turned out to be the mafia. Ari played the role of a retired grandpa.
Darrah (center) poses with solar panels
This Year’s Testimony: INTEGRITY
One of the traditions we have at San Francisco Friends is to focus on one of our Quaker testimonies (aka: the SPICES) for the year. Our testimony for the 2025–2026 year is Integrity. We created three queries to help guide us in personal reflection and frame what we wish to explore within ourselves, our school, and our greater community. We post these simple questions in our classrooms, read queries to center reflection at Meeting for Worship and throughout the school year, and use them to guide discourse in our discernment of a difficult issue.
Integrity Queries:
What helps me to be brave to act with integrity?
How can I act with integrity when taking care of places, spaces, people, and things? How might integrity change the world?
Q&A with Lisa McEachron, Director of Quaker Life & Education
Q: You’ve taught at Friends for over 16 years, first as our K-3rd Grade PE teacher and now as our Director of Quaker Life & Education. Tell us what drew you to Friends.
A: There were so many things that drew me to Friends. I was very impressed with the dynamic curriculum and the clear dedication of the faculty. Initially touring the school, I was struck by how engaged and relaxed the students were. There was a strong sense of community, and it felt like a village where people supported each other and were eager to bring out the best in others. And, the Quaker philosophy resonated with me immediately.
Q: As you step into your new role, what are you most excited about?
A: I am excited to focus on the Quaker life of our school and to further the growth of the school’s
identity as a Quaker school. I have found myself thinking about and reflecting upon the Quaker philosophy since I started at SFFS, and it has guided my work throughout my years here. So, it feels natural to continue to think about the Quaker way. I hope to continue to create meaningful experiences for students.
Q: How is this year’s testimony of Integrity shaping your work?
A: I continue to work on being aligned with who I am and who I want to be. I am guided by the Quaker lens, and strive to do the right thing for the school, support Quaker life at Friends, and contribute in positive ways.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I am inspired by others who strive to live a life of integrity, treat everyone with dignity, and believe in the good in others. Many of our students continue to amaze and inspire me in this way, and often at a very young age.
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Rockin’ the Night Away for Blue Party 2025
By Colleen Curran
The San Francisco Friends School community rocked the night away at Blue Party 2025, raising an incredible $351,328 to support the school’s Adjustable Tuition program. This year’s event was held at The Chapel, a historic music venue in the Mission District, and featured live performances from SFFS parents, faculty, and staff.
Guests embraced the rock-and-roll theme in style, from leather jackets to sequined jumpsuits. While the music and lights made for an unforgettable night, the true headliner was the collective spirit that powers the Friends School community. All funds raised through the Blue Party and 48 Hours for Friends directly support Adjustable Tuition, ensuring that every child can thrive at Friends and that our community continues to reflect the diversity, inclusivity, and connection at the heart of our mission.
250 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.565.0400
sffriendsschool.org Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid San Francisco, CA Permit # 1734
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is a cornerstone of a Friends education, impacting every student, every day.
Inspired by our Quaker testimonies of stewardship and community, we believe that the financial health of Friends is a shared responsibility.
The Annual Fund touches every part of our school, including our exceptional teachers, learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, and the adjustable tuition programs that are central to our mission.
Join us in supporting the Annual Fund by scanning the QR code or visiting sffriendsschool.org/give.
