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A student-run blog highlighting the accents of the Athenian experience

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The Center for Performing Arts, commonly referred to as the CFTA, is one of the most surprising places on campus. Observed from the outside, it's towering structure and beautiful graffiti makes for an intimidating view. Its seclusion from the rest of the campus adds to this effect, and you may find yourself lost and intrigued outside its massive exterior. Once you've finally found one of the many entrances, you are greeted by a thousand different things going on, from the hammering of theater tech getting ready for the next play, or the blaring music erupting from the dance studio, to the relaxed feeling of the art room, the creativity is overwhelming. If you take your time to explore the CFTA, you will find that all of the students you encounter share the same devotion to applying their time into making their respective, imaginative schemes come to alive. This seasons production of "Into The Woods" is underway, and now is as good a time as any to discover what hidden passions can be uncovered by exploring Athenian's Center for Performing Arts.

- Isabel W '17

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One thing that the Athenian school flourishes in is a healthy, diverse sports program. There are standard sports like volleyball, soccer, and basketball, but there are also other sports and physical education like badminton, yoga, hiking, and sailing. The Athenian sailing team, though small, flourishes as one of the most successful teams on the Pacific Coast. Competing with some of the best high school teams in the country, the Athenian team holds its own and retains a position as one of the top 25 teams from all the Pacific Coast states. Practicing on weekends, it provides a reasonable alternative to students with busy weekday schedules. Additionally, students introduced to sailing are also taught the physics concepts behind sailing, blurring the line between the sports and science departments. The sailing team, along with a plethora of other interest-piquing options are available to all those who attend the Athenian School.

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Five Places to Clear Your Head on Campus: 1: The Labyrinth Personally, this is my favorite place to go when I feel stressed at school. It's a short walk up the hill between the upper school lockers and the baseball diamond, and the view is incredible. This student- made maze overlooks almost all of the Athenian campus. It is always nice and quiet, and walking through the labyrinth helps clear your head. 2: The Zen Garden Located right behind the library, the zen garden is my favorite place to do homework. Being outside while working is so refreshing, and the trees around the area make it feel really private. The table and chairs I sit in while working are cushioned, which is nice, and give a view of the small stones that get raked. It feels very authentic. 3: The Ceramics Garden This is one of the less-visited places on campus, hidden up the hill behind the Center for the Arts. This small grassy area is furnished with a few benches, and decorated with a bunch of ceramic projects done by students. When you sit up here, it is always very quiet, and you can see everyone around main hall and the science buildings, as well as the hills behind it all. The view is great, and it's a lovely place to get away for a bit. 4: The Meditation Hut The meditation hut is really cool because it's a nice distance away from all the buildings on campus, but also easy to get to. Right now, all the plants around it are really green and looking at the hills is incredible. The hike on the Tim Holm trail up to the hut is almost as relaxing as sitting in the hut itself. Although I haven't mastered meditation, I still find myself calming down when I take a break in this building. 5: The Wooden Swing The wooden swing is a fairly popular place to go on campus, even though it is almost the hardest one to get to. It's a short hike up the hill, past the labyrinth and on the top. It's a great place to go and swing because it's far from the classrooms, and you can't hear any of the hubbub below you. It's a beautiful view and sometimes you can catch sight of some deer up in the hills! I love the swing, and I find it really calming when I go up there.

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One of the coolest things about Athenian is the incredible amount of power the students have. This year, senior student Sam Katz had a brilliant idea, and he is now bringing it to help. This program is called Peer Resource, and it provides counseling by students, for students. Although our school counselor, Barbara Carlino, is an incredible resource for all the students, it is often times easier for teenagers to relate to other teenagers. Barbara is still available, of course, for any student who needs her, but the new Peer Resource program is accessible for even more support. I and 12 other students, ranging all the way from 9th to 12th grade, each applied and volunteered to become a Peer Resource. Once Barbara and Sam had reviewed our applications, we were chosen and then attended a four hour training session on a Saturday. We were taught about confidentiality laws, active listening, and mediating group discussions. During this training, there were many opportunities to role play these types of situations so we could get a feel for what it is really like.

While Barbara assists and advises the program, it is mostly lead by Sam and it builds off the input of other students form inside and outside of it. Personally, I have interest in being a therapist when I grow up. Having Sam develop this program, beginning with simply an idea, has given me such a great opportunity to see what that profession is really like. I am thoroughly impressed by not only Sam’s leadership, but the dedication and enthusiasm of the other students in this program. At our monthly lunch meetings, no one is ever afraid to ask questions, and as this is the first time this program has been done, no one is afraid to offer improvements. The Peer Resource program exemplifies the support, dedication, and entrepreneurship I see in so many Athenian students, and I am so excited to be a part of it.

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Pictures here is a walkway in the Athenian Center for the Arts. This building serves as the focal point for many of the Athenian arts programs. Housed within it are the main theatre, where virtually all arts performances are conducted, along with the dance studio and several art studios including the workshop. However, there is another facet of this facility that makes it stand apart from all others on campus; it is situated far away from all the other buildings, completely isolated in a lush grove of trees and greenery. The placement of the epicenter of Athenian's arts programs in this peaceful sanctuary in nature speaks to how important both the arts and nature are to Athenian. As seen in this photo, there is an almost seamless transition from human construction to natural growth, promoting a sense of harmony to all those present in such a place. Athenian's arts are highly valued by faculty and student body alike, and the school's integration with the natural spirit of its 75-acre campus reflects the nurturing environment that exists throughout the Athenian community.

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            Athenian’s goal is to challenge students both academically, and mentally. Athenian strives to not only teach students to become better at studying and academics, it teaches students to ultimately strive in life. My personal experience with Athenian has been amazing. I have attended this school for five years, and I truly could not  have asked for a school better suited to my educational needs, both inside and outside the classroom. Athenian was not what I expected from a private school. I expected an uptight curriculum, strict teachers, and maybe even a uniform. I certainly wasn't prepared for the small class sizes, I came from thirty kids in one class, where it was perfectly acceptable for me to duck under the radar and not participate in any activities. When I was put in to a Spanish class with only 9 kids in it, it felt like I was being pushed in to the spotlight, and I didn't realize how frightening it was to be forced to participate. I hated it at first, I missed being able to depend on the sheer amount of children in the classroom to hide me from having to participate in the conversation. I learned that being put in the spotlight isn't actually that scary, especially when I realized how much trust we build up for each other at Athenian. If you mess up, or you don’t understand, you don’t feel embarrassed asking for help, in fact, it can be embarrassing not asking for help, because everyone around you is ready to jump in and explain something to you.

            These relationships I built with the people in my classes really inspired me, and I believe I am a better student, and honestly, a better person because of my experience learning how to trust those around me. Although I built tight bonds with my classmates, and I now thrive being in group projects, being in a small classroom really helps you learn how to be an individual. I could no longer hide behind the thirty something kids in my classroom, I had to find it in myself to step up and be part of the conversation. It’s relieving knowing you can speak your mind and not be judged or ridiculed, because of the trust and empathy we all have for each other. I don’t know how I would have learned how to thrive at being an individual, but also learn to build trust for others if it weren't for my experience with these small class sizes. Even though it may seem like small class sizes will trigger your stage fright, they open up your mind to a new level of trust and respect for both yourself, and those around you.

- Isabel W. ‘17

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The beauty of the Athenian campus, and Athenian ideals, is that they aim to educate the whole person. Athenian students aren't just rabid studiers; they take time to think, socialize, play in sports, create art, and so on. To sustain such an active lifestyle, Athenian students not only need a high-energy personality, but also a reliable source of fuel. The food at Athenian is, in my experience, unparalleled in it's consistent quality and taste. The main course is almost always appealing, both aromatically and aesthetically, and should that fail, a wealth of other food options are available. Every day, there is a salad bar with locally produced lettuce, jicama, peppers, carrots, and other essential toppings, complete with a full selection of dressings. Should the salad bar not be of your taste, there is a sandwich bar, allowing students to create a gourmet sandwich that is only held back by the student's imagination. 

    But as any good chef knows, the food is only good if the atmosphere follows suit. And proudly, I can say, the Athenian school lunch atmosphere can be summarized by one word: freedom. Students are able to take lunches to anywhere on campus, whether it be to the biweekly Interweave club meetings or the infamous "Swing Hill", a monster of an uphill trail that rewards those who endure with a pleasant view of the surrounding region and an enchanting wooden swing. Portions and quantity is virtually unlimited as well, and although the kitchen staff might poke fun at you if they notice you are on your seventh serving of pasta with meatballs, it is all in fun. And if you are lucky and wait around near the end of lunch, you may be blessed with the presence of head chef Miguel Aguilar, who will greet you with his customary, "¡Hola, Amigo!" and give you a hearty pat on the back!

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Athenian is a tight knit community based around the foundation of democracy, and equality. Our small community is made up of teachers, students, and faculty. The learning experience at Athenian is unique to any other, primarily because of our teachers. Our teachers challenge our students to learn, not through lectures, but through discussions and one on one conversations. It is hard to find educators with as much passion for learning and teaching, so how does Athenian do it? I interviewed two new teachers at Athenian discussing with them their experience at Athenian, and how it has differed from other schools, both academically, and socially. Ka Shing Chan, a new math teacher at Athenian, commented on the student to teacher relationships at Athenian, stating that the students at Athenian stood out to him because of their respect, friendliness and politeness. He also shared his thoughts on what appealed to him about Athenian before he applied. He noticed that all of our programs at Athenian, including arts, sports, and community service are inclusive to all people regardless of previous experience, which is a trait uncommon in schools similar to Athenian. Marta Grajeda, a new humanities teacher, immediately noticed the strong sense of community and freedom when she first came to campus. She describes the freedom that all Athenian students experience, and the perfect balance of arts, sports, and academics Athenian has to offer.

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The Athenian Main gym has been a part of the campus since the school began (50th anniversary next year!). At the end of this past summer, and into the school year, the gym was out of use for several weeks because they were building a new floor. On October 16th, the gym was re-opened, and the JV/ Varsity volleyball teams finally got to play in their home gym again. After about a month of playing in the Dase center multipurpose room, both teams came out killed their games against Holy Names. The girls were pumped, and so were the stands.

At Athenian, we have a great group of supporters who come out to all the sports games. AKA: The Nest. Members of The Nest vary from time to time, but they always bring an incredible energy to the athletes, and they have a great time in the bleachers. It’s no coincidence that Athenian sports team often play better when The Nest is cheering them on! Having this incredible support system not only gets the athletes energized, but it intimidates the other teams as well. In fact, The Nest’s slogan is “The Nest is in your head!” Any student who wants to can attend a game and be a part of The Nest. Our Nest leaders know all the traditions, and they work hard to keep Athenians school spirit alive. The Main Gym is back, better than ever, and The Nest is right there with it.

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Volumes can (and most likely have) been written about the many extraordinary facets of the Athenian education experience. The flourishing arts programs, the painstakingly crafted STEM courses designed around student comprehension and ability development, and a humanities department that charges students to take on the greater philosophical questions that plague our species. However, amid all of these wonderfully unique aspects that define the academic lives of Athenian students, it is more than easy to overlook one of the most truly beautiful aspects about Athenian: the campus itself.

Situated on a 75-acre plot of land within the Mt. Diablo’s foothills, with the mountain directly overlooking the school itself, the Athenian School campus is truly a sight to behold, especially when held in comparison to the mundane environments that are a definitive aspect of the majority of schools across the country. Instead of dull hallways and massive classroom complexes, constructions so reminiscent of the Industrial Era in their gutted, graceless architecture that they seem only to allude to an obvious desire for spacial efficiency, any student of the Athenian School will find that they are surrounded by the serene presence of Nature itself. Not only does it serve to provide fresh air and picturesque views of the trees and hills surrounding the school, but also to create a relaxed space in which students can feel at peace. In short, the Athenian School has succeeded, through weaving nature into every part of the campus, in allowing students to be relaxed and free of stress while present at school, a state of being that is doubtfully obtainable by attendees of schools with campuses of asphalt and concrete.