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Jonathan Zhao

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MAY 4, 2023

INSTAGRAM: @PINEWOODPERENNIAL

PINEWOOD SCHOOL, LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA

VOLUME VII, ISSUE VI

THEPERENNIAL.ORG

Responding to Tragedy: Parents, Community Commemorate the Life of Former Pinewood Student Jonathan Zhao Oscar Barnes Managing Editor

Bill and Suzanna now want Pinewood to remember Jonathan’s kindness. Suzanna said that Jonathan was kind to everyone he came across. “His first reaction [was] to make others happy, or

to make everyone thrive in a peaceful and welcoming environment. He really [was] willing to take care of other people,” Suzanna said. Bill and Suzanna said Jonathan never stopped being kind throughout his hospital treatment. “He persevere[d] through everything, and [it was] not [always] apparent to others,” Suzanna said. “You can see it through the way he react[ed] to his treatments, and when he came to America in 2014 [as he only learned English after coming here]… Every competition, every practice, and… [his] time living in the hospital… really demonstrate[d] his perseverance, even as a young child.” Jonathan’s parents commemorated his legacy through a Memorial Service at Skylawn Funeral Home on April 29. That’s where friends and family had the opportunity to celebrate the former football and soccer player. Attendees participated in a variety of events, such as a variety of quizstyle Q&As. People also listened to speeches from fellow students, friends, and faculty from Pinewood School and Challenger School, Jonathan’s elementary and middle Photo courtesy of PINEWOOD SCHOOL school.

Bill and Suzanna Zhao, Jonathan Zhao’s parents, appeared through a tiny Zoom screen as Bill told a short story about his late son. Speaking in a somber and melancholic tone, Jonathan’s parents talked about their son’s kindness and perseverance. Bill said that Jonathan’s empathy really showed one day after an experience with a homeless person near the restaurant Chef Chu’s in Los Altos. When Bill stopped at a red light, Jonathan called out to a homeless person on the side of the road. “He opened the window, and he had some food and drink prepared for that homeless guy,” Bill said. “... It’s the small things that showed his kindness.” Jonathan, a Pinewood junior, passed away March 31 after months in the hospital due complications from an illness. “On [that day], Pinewood lost Jonathan Zhao, a precious part of our school community,” Pinewood School stated in a press release distributed to the community. “Our students, families, teachers, and staff continue to grieve the loss of this young man while also seeking ways to honor his PINEWOOD ATHLETICS Besides playing on the varsity soccer team, Jonathan Zhao also participated in Pinewood’s 8-man football team. ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 memory.”

French Teacher Madame Anna Daniel Retires After 26 Years At Pinewood Samantha Hsiung Editor-in-Chief

Five years ago, I nervously walked into my first French 2 class in Room 6, greeted by a flurry of Marie Antoinette posters, French maps, miniature Eiffel Tower models, and a smile from French teacher Anna Daniel. “Bonjour! Call me Madame!” she said with a smile across her face. I knew, starting from that moment, that French would become one of my favorite classes at Pinewood. Fast forward to now, and this year marks Daniel’s 26th and last year as part of Pinewood’s faculty. She will be retiring after the 2022-2023 school year. Daniel’s journey as a teacher began long before she set foot on Pinewood soil. She had taught Spanish for 10 years in Paris before coming to the United States, enrolling both of her daughters at Pinewood. Two years after her eldest daughter had graduated from Pinewood, Daniel received a call from now retired French teacher Michael Tetzlaff, who asked if she was interested in working at Pinewood. “It was unexpected,” Daniel said. “I was in Paris on vacation when I got… [the] call. When I [came] back, I did a demo lesson, and I was hired.” Beginning her job at Pinewood in 1997, Daniel initially taught both Spanish and French for three years before becoming a full-time French teacher. She has worked with hundreds of students from both junior high and high school and experienced much change from when she first arrived. When I asked her about what changes she thought impacted her the most, she cited the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to transition to teaching online through Zoom. This heavily impeded her ability to integrate the most memorable, immersive parts of her classes, such as

Photo by SAMANTHA HSIUNG

field trips and in-person exhibitions, into her curriculum. “I really loved the field trips; [from watching] French movies [and] meeting with the director, to going to the SF Moma, to going to French restaurants… [to going to] Stanford’s Cantor Museum,” Daniel said. “COVID-19 changed this a lot.” Despite all of the change, one constant always re-

mained in Daniel’s life: her dedication to her students. Daniel prided herself on creating stimulating learning environments, aiming to generate a positive impact on her students’ lives that persists even after their high school years. “[S]he has been the heart of the French program,” said Olivia Bradley, Pinewood’s Department Head of World Languages. “Alumni come to Pinewood to visit her and have fond memories of being in her class. Her shoes will be impossible to fill.” Although Daniel is sad to leave the Pinewood community, she is excited to be spending her newfound free time on her hobbies, especially traveling. She has already booked trips to Oceania, Europe, and Africa, ready to fulfill her lifelong travel goals alongside her husband. Together, they will be cruising around the world in their Cirrus — a small, four-seat plane. “[With our Cirrus,] [w]e flew to South America, Ecuador, and Alaska, and we fly very often to Mexico,” Daniel said. “One of the things that I want to do… is to fly around the United States, to the South.” Alongside traveling, Daniel also hopes to find solace in being with her loved ones. “I want to go… on adventures with my friends [and]... see my family,” Daniel said. “One of my daughters is in Los Angeles, and the other is in Miami, and I want to see them more often.” Daniel will be missed by many at Pinewood. As a former student of Madame’s, I can attest to her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. More than a teacher, she has also served as a mentor and confidant, nurturing my growth not only as a student, but also as a person. Madame: thank you for all you’ve done for the Pinewood community, and we all wish you the very best.