Tag archives: Crane School

Step Right Up to Cirque du Crane… The Greatest School Fundraiser on Earth!
By Ann Pieramici   |   May 16, 2023

The Big Top came to Montecito on May 6, when Crane Country Day School hosted its annual fundraiser, “Cirque du Crane.” It was a spectacle befitting for the school’s first gala back on campus since 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions forced many events to virtual or smaller formats. “We are thrilled to be back […]

Our Town’s 20th Annual Graduation Issue: Part 2
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 21, 2022

Our town’s schools held their 2022 graduation ceremonies from May 29 through June 10. The eight school graduations are covered in order of occurrence with part one in the previous issue (Vol. 28, Iss. 23, June 9) and this issue including El Montecito Early School with 20 grads, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School with […]

It All Started at Crane…
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 11, 2022

Opera soprano Jana McIntyre’s first public performance as a singer came at age five right here in Montecito. Except she wasn’t supposed to be singing.  “We had to recite poems at our graduation at Crane,” said McIntyre, recalling her first year at Crane Country Day School, the K-8 school where academic challenge is balanced with […]

Our Town’s 19th Annual Schools Holiday Concerts (Part 2 of 2)
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 28, 2021

Here is a look at four more holiday concerts that provided plenty of holiday cheer as we inch toward the new year: Crane Country Day School The school had a wonderful evening outdoor concert planned for Thursday, December 16 for families only, but as the much-needed rain continued that day, the school made the tough […]

UNICEF Leader Receives Crane’s Alumni Award
By Ann Pieramici   |   October 19, 2021

Henrietta Holsman Fore, a 1963 graduate of Crane Country Day School, recently received the 2021 Cronshaw Family Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor bestowed to a former student who has made a significant accomplishment in the field of their endeavor, to include career, special interest, community leadership, or volunteer service. Fore currently serves as the executive […]

Crane Brings Boston to Montecito
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 24, 2021

Facing the second year of not being able to offer their students a yearly springtime trip to Boston, Crane Country Day School fifth-grade teachers Carrie Althoff and Ryan Long set out to “bring Boston to Montecito,” allowing their students the opportunity to have unique learning experiences.  The Boston trip has been a rite of passage […]

Latest on School Reopening
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 18, 2021

In addition to the majority of the business sector permitted to reopen indoors with modifications earlier this week, most county public schools – bolstered by happy and tired parents and caregivers – reopened in early March. Montecito public schools, Montecito Union School and Cold Spring School, have been open for in-person learning since late September, […]

Dear Montecito: Shelagh Morphy
By Stella Haffner   |   February 18, 2021

The letters in this column often remind me how young we are when we’re asked to make big decisions. We’ve heard from so many people who had chosen their path before they even reached legal autonomy. Evidently, a third of students change their major at least once and as many as one in ten change […]

Dear Montecito: Maxx Christal
By Stella Haffner   |   February 4, 2021

Today’s letter is a guided tour of Santa Barbara from Maxx Christal. Maxx is a Crane and Laguna Blanca alum who was known as something of an adrenaline junkie back in our high school days – almost certainly a reputation he earned after volunteering to go first on every climb and zip line during class […]

Dear Montecito: KiSea Katikka
By Stella Haffner   |   November 19, 2020

I’ve written and rewritten this introduction so many times. I keep revising because I want to get it right. Most importantly, I want to get it right without any of the self-congratulatory nonsense that often accompanies social justice grandstanding. I first met KiSea Katikka on my visit day to Crane Country Day School. A shared […]

Crane School’s Traditional Year-End Events Go Virtual
By Ann Pieramici   |   June 11, 2020

The theater at Crane Country Day School is dark, but that hasn’t stopped production of its annual Upper School musical. In fact, the school has barely missed a beat as it continues with nearly all of the spring traditions that have come to define the K-8 school. “Our spring culminations are still happening, just not […]

Crane Country Fair
By Ann Pieramici   |   October 24, 2019

Crane Country Day School’s annual Country Fair has ushered in the fall season for more than 25 years by providing a festive day for the whole community to enjoy. This year’s event is no different, taking place on Sunday, October 27 from 10 am to 3 pm on the school’s spacious fields at 1795 San […]

Crane Country Day School Eighth Grade Graduation
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 27, 2019

The Crane Country Day School (CCDS) 2019 eighth grade graduation was held on Wednesday, June 19 at 10 am in the school center courtyard. Opening the ceremony was headmaster Joel J. Weiss. He talked about the educational standards at the school, and how well these 8th grade students will excel in academic, athletic and the […]

Crane Says Goodbye
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 13, 2019

At an assembly last Wednesday, June 5, the entire student body at Crane Country Day School gathered to bid adieu to two longtime fixtures on campus: teacher Pat Bixler, who is retiring, and employee Anne Perkins, who is moving on to her next chapter.  Crane staff and students spoke about both Bixler and Perkins, sharing […]

Crane Celebrates 90 Years
By Ann Pieramici   |   May 16, 2019

Crane Country Day School’s strong sense of community was palpable at the aptly named “Crane Coming Home” 90th anniversary celebration, which felt like a huge family gathering on the school’s beautifully transformed fields. Those in attendance included current and past teachers, four Heads of School, parents and alumni of all generations, and even one alumnus […]

Crane Coming Home
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 28, 2019

Crane Country Day School on San Leandro Lane celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and celebration organizers are seeking as many alumni and past parents as possible to attend two events scheduled for May 3 and May 4, 2019.  Friday, May 3 is the Decades Party, which will welcome alumni and their parents and families […]

Joel Weiss: Head of School
By Sigrid Toye   |   February 28, 2019

On a recent sunny day, I stopped by Crane Country Day School for a visit. It was one of those special days when the entire school was out on the quad being served a potpourri of luncheon delights. Food stands, tended by kids and parent-volunteers, burgeoned with a huge variety of offerings: everything from salads, […]

Crane Country Fair
By Elizabeth Karlsberg   |   October 25, 2018

A familiar scene will soon be on full display at the Crane Country Day School campus. This coming Sunday, October 28, golden hay bales will dot the athletic fields, students in burlap sacks will bob and hobble toward a finish line, and the heady smell of barbecue will waft through the autumn air.  Welcome to […]

Crane Country Day School Eighth Grade Graduation
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 21, 2018

The Crane Country Day School (CCDS) 2018 eighth-grade graduation was held June 15 in the school center courtyard. Headmaster Joel Weiss welcomed the guests, honored the grandparents and parents. In this, the 90th year of the school, his speech poignantly and succinctly pointed out the key facets of an education at CCDS, among which include […]

Crane’s Respond-A-Thon
By Elizabeth Karlsberg   |   May 10, 2018

The Crane students who filled Cate Hall on May 7, had waited a long time to hear some news – good news, they hoped – about their recent Respond-A-Thon benefit efforts.  More than a month ago, these same students had asked friends, relatives, and strangers to sponsor them in Crane’s school-wide jog-a-thon (officially, Crane’s Respond-A-Thon […]