Hello,

Thanks for reaching out and following up with the support team at BHS, we're also looking forward to a great school year.

Hope to meet you soon in person.

Best

Mahsa Tafreshi

mahsa emailed requesting extra care for Ryna at night and mentioning some issues Ryna is facing at school

teachers responded and affirmed that care and check-ins would happen

mahsa responded optimistically

Hello,

Ryna is so excited about the camp. Just I wanted to ask you please keep an eye on her as night time might be a bit challenging for her, last year in 5th grade sleep away camp she had a hard time comforting at night time. I would appreciate to keep that in mind and help her if needed.

Another thing I wanted to mention it to you both for a while, is that Ryna always is kind of upset and feels left out as the students who have been in BHS for years before ALWAYS talking about past memories and she feels that’s kind of too much and not interesting for new students as they have no idea what they’re referring to! So if it’s possible you might wanna mention it to them that they unintentionally upsetting their new classmates and it’s better to make it minimal and not to make them sensitive to this matter. At least it’s this way for Ryna. But please keep it between us as I don’t want her to know I mentioned it to you. 

Thanks for your support and consideration.

Have a great time at camp and please take lots of pictures. 

Best

Mahsa Tafreshi

Mrs. Booth responded:

Hello Mahsa, 

I appreciate you reaching out about how Ryna is feeling. When Pali Camp takes place, we will ensure that she is cared for and feels settled in the cabin. We understand that sleeping away is a challenge for many 6^th graders. 

On the topic of comfort, it is important to Ms. Magled and me that Ryna feels welcomed and part of the group. We will continue to monitor student conversations and direct them toward inclusive topics. Please let us know if Ryna is still feeling left out and if there is anything specific that would help her. 

In the interest of partnership, would it be helpful for Ms. Magled or me to check in personally with Ryna this week? What do you think?

Warmly, 

Emily booth

Mahsa responded:

Thanks for getting back to me, camp being cancelled was a bummer and Ryna like all other kids were so disappointed which I took it as a good sign meaning she’s looking forward to it, I believe everything happens for a reason, I hope they plan for a new date soon as she hasn’t unpacked yet hoping to go in a near future :)

About other subject, I think she’s not feeling left out generally but only the time that other students talk about what had happened in past years for some reason it triggers her feelings which might be nice if you talk to her (indirectly pointing to this matter) but like it’s totally normal to feel this way when you are new in an environment, and at the same time mention it to other kids to be aware of how it might makes new friends feel when they talk about past too much. 

Thanks for your support and have a great day.

Mahsa Tafreshi

Hi Krystle, 

Ms. Magled and I both had very contentious conversations with Ryna's mom, Mahsa, today. Mahsa believes that Ryna is being excluded by the other female students in our class and is not doing well socially because of it. She wants us to correct the other girls. We are not seeing any evidence of exclusion, dislike, or rude behavior from the other girls. Every day we see Ryna playing, talking, and working with the other girls. She has not told either of us about any issues during the school day. 

During my conference, I spoke with Mahsa about the differences in what we're seeing and was unable to develop a partnership plan. It came to me that if Ryna does not feel comfortable talking to us about issues and is not getting encouragement to advocate at home, she needs to check in with the wellness center weekly. We need there to be a space for Ryna to share and another adult to support and confirm what is happening at school. Mahsa does not trust our word. 

Our main priority is helping Ryna advocate for herself and giving her a safe space to share her thoughts and feelings. I feel that weekly check ins would serve this purpose and help manage Mahsa's emotions about the situation. Everyone feels strongly that Ryna needs to be supported.

If you have other ideas or ways to support the situation, we are all ears. We are also happy to meet in person to discuss.

Warmly,

Emily Booth

Dear Sixth Grade Families, 

As we move into November, Mrs. Booth and I wanted to provide you with an update on all the fun we have planned for the sixth graders.

Looking ahead in English, we will continue our character analysis unit and transition into our Literary Essay unit. Students will gather and analyze text evidence to support their claims, growing in their ability to express their thoughts in written form. Students will be creating a short book talk on a book they have recently finished and will be sharing it with the class. We are also very excited for our upcoming Publishing Party on Friday November 8^th at 2:30pm.

In History, we are currently starting unit 2. Throughout this unit, students will learn about civilizations within ancient Egypt and the Middle East. We are continuing to foster students ability to make connections between ancient history and modern society while strengthening their critical thinking and collaboration skills.

In Math, students are in their third unit, Unit Rates and Percentages. Students can expect a midpoint quiz this week and a unit assessment next week. The assessment will happen on Tuesday 11/12 for X and Wednesday 11/13 for Y. All students will complete a unit review on Monday 11/11 during class and be able to study it to prepare. Students will be able to complete corrections to improve their scores on their assessments. 

In Science, students are focusing on the properties of water. We are completing experiments and diagramming our discoveries during class. As the unit ends, students will be challenged to engage in critical thinking about what they have learned. Students will analyze and apply the information they have gathered to create an experiment on a topic of their choice. 

We hope you stay warm and have a great week!

Ms. Magled and Mrs. Booth 

Today, Mrs. Booth and I had a restorative conversation with the 6th-grade girls about our core values and the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

We've noticed a few common themes among the girls, including feelings of being excluded and not being heard by one another. To address these feelings, we're focusing on developing strong communication skills, practicing kindness and respect, and taking responsibility for our actions to make sure we are fostering a sense of community in our classrooms.

By encouraging self-awareness and social awareness, we aim to empower our students to make positive choices and build strong relationships with one another. We believe that empowering our students to advocate for themselves is a crucial skill that will benefit them throughout their lives. By helping our students communicate their feelings respectfully to both other students and us teachers, we can help them build stronger relationships and resolve conflicts effectively.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these values at home. 

Ms. Magled and Mrs. Booth 

Mahsa responded

Hello,

Thank you for taking time and had this conversation with girls! I didn’t want to mention it again since we already talked about it before but recently Ryna was not so happy and felt lonely and excluded, so I’m sure talking about it among them will be helpful and hopefully the bond will form.

Thanks for your support.

Mahsa Tafreshi

During my check in with Ryna yesterday, I got the strong sense that she still has unresolved feelings about the conversations that took place on Monday with the girls during lunch. She still feels like the girls are attacking and targeting her, and although I tried to bring up alternate viewpoints, it's really difficult to bring it up and have her see the perspectives of the other girls without them being present. In addition, she said that some of the girls (Campbell and Hannah) were calling her a tattletale for bringing this up to the teachers. 

I brought up the option to her for me to lead a "follow up" check in with some of the girls in the Wellness Center on Friday, with me guiding the conversation. Ryna was open to it, but only felt that it was necessary to have her, Campbell, Hannah, and Giselle at the check-in. Just so that there are no further tattletale remarks, I was just going to pose it as a follow up to the conversation on Monday and just checking in to see how everyone is feeling. 

BUT, before I did any of the above I wanted to check in with you both to get your thoughts. If you think this is a bad idea or if you have a different way I can support please let me know. 

Thank you so so much!

Krystle

I hope you're having a great week and that your Thanksgiving break was restful and enjoyable. I just wanted to let you know that during my last two check-ins with Ryna she expressed that she may not need a weekly check-in moving forward since things are going well. Ryna shared that after our group talk a few weeks ago, things have gotten a lot better and she feels comfortable with her friendships. 

Today we discussed the options available to her, and she decided to have our check-ins on a monthly basis instead of weekly. I did let her know that she also has the option to come to the Wellness Center anytime and check-in even if we don't have a scheduled meeting time. 

I am so happy to hear that she is feeling better about her social relationships and about school. I will continue to be available for her anytime she needs support. I will also continue to keep an eye on the girls and how they're all doing. If anything comes up in your discussions at home, please feel free to reach out. 

Thank you again for your partnership and support!

Best, 

Krystle 

I hope you're doing well. As you might know, Ryna is not fully happy at Berkeley hall and we decided to have a back up plan for her for 7th grade in case she really didn't feel like coming back next year. Please fill this recommendation letter from Campbel hall school at your earliest convenience, I know it's holiday time, we will have time till January 20th (or earlier).

Thank you for your continued support and I wish you happy holidays and winter break.

Please let me know if you have any questions or you couldn't open the file.

Best

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thank you so much for making the time to meet with me today. I am sure with our continued partnership we can help boost Ryna's confidence and ensure she is set up for success. In regard to your question about the bathrooms, I went into our girl's bathroom in the intermediate building and they do actually have the individual garbage cans in each stall. 

Let me know if you have any other questions, 

Ms. Magled 

Dear Ms. Magled,

I hope you're doing well. As you might know, Ryna is not fully happy at Berkeley hall and we decided to have a back up plan for her for 7th grade in case she really didn't feel like coming back next year. Please fill this recommendation letter from Campbel hall school at your earliest convenience, I know it's holiday time, we will have time till January 20th (or earlier).

Thank you for your continued support and I wish you happy holidays and winter break.

Please let me know if you have any questions or you couldn't open the file.

Best regards

Mahsa Tafreshi

Response from Beatriz:

Dear Mahsa,

Thank you for letting us know about your wishes for Ryna. I understand and respect your decision, and I'm happy to support her in this process.

I have already completed the letter of recommendation for Ryna's application to Campbell Hall and submitted it as requested.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to assist.

Sincerely,

Ms. Magled 

Response from Mahsa:

Thank you for your prompt action, we’ll see where fate takes her :) 

Happy Holidays 🎊

Mahsa Tafreshi

Hi Mahsa, 

I hope you had a restful weekend. I checked in with Ryna today during English class about her reading book. She told me she has not finished Percy Jackson yet and would like to finish it. However, I did ask her to check out a new book from the class library and start reading that instead to see if she enjoys it. 

Let me know if you have any questions,

Ms. Magled 

Mahsa response:

Thank you for letting me know. Yes that’s a good idea, because I doubt if she’s enjoy reading Percy Jackson since it took her so long to read it. 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Mrs. Booth and I wanted to give you a quick update on what happened today with the 6th-grade girls.

Ryna came to class upset about something that happened with Giselle. After talking with all the girls, we discovered a common theme, many of them have felt excluded or unheard at some point.

While Giselle made some comments and took accountability, Ryna seemed less willing to acknowledge her role in the situation. When other girls were sharing their feelings in general terms, Ryna said that she knew they were talking about her in particular because they had said that kind of thing to her before. We talked about how just because you feel like something applies to you does not mean that person is attacking you or calling you out. Ryna also said that sometimes she says rude things because she's having a bad day or angry about something but did not acknowledge that her words still could cause harm. She doesn't see that the girls are beginning to react to her actions and words and be less friendly because of them.  

Campbell and Hannah brought up a valid point about their long-standing friendship and how it can sometimes appear exclusive to others, even if that's not the intention. We emphasized the importance of kindness, respect, and inclusivity. We also discussed the need to reflect on how our actions impact others, while still advocating for ourselves.

Let us know if you have any questions, 

Ms. Magled and Mrs. Booth 

Hope you’re doing well. Regarding Ryna’s math I know she’s really trying hard and also taking peer tutoring sessions but I think she’s not so familiar with what she’s doing in fractions and passive functions, what is your advice? Is it possible if you work with her after school or before school starts at least for couple of times for this subject? I believe it’s the basic of Algebra and it’s very important for her to completely understand the concept. 

Please advice.

Thank you 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Hi Mahsa,

I would be happy to work a little extra with Ryna during study hall and before school. 

I think it would be best to put off today’s assessment until Monday, so I can work with her more. I will make sure to check in with Ryna today and start that process. I appreciate your support in helping her practice the math at home. I completely agree that this topic is important especially for 7th grade. 

I believe that with practice and time to get comfortable with these topics, Ryna will be able to handle algebra concepts. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to support Ryna. 

Warmly,

Mrs. Booth 

Please note that there has been a change to Ryna's accommodations per parent request. Due to this change, Ryna will now be receiving the accommodations below in your classroom for WrAP testing (she will no longer be pulled out in the conference room). Please take a look at the accommodations below for Ryna and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Here are the accommodations needing to be implemented in your classroom:  

• Instructions/questions read aloud to Ryna

Best, 

Krystle

Ryna's work for advisory working on social emotional skills

I had a good quick check in with the girls yesterday. I went the route of thinking about their experience in JH and what is working this year/ what they would like for the coming year.

Is it possible to do an advisory time on Tuesday with the whole class to think about the JH experience, but it will really be me getting more data from the girls?

Then, based on that, I will talk to some of them individually?

I cc’d Michelle so she can put it on my calendar if that works, and then Krystle so can join, and Kendall so he is in the loop.

Thanks,

Teachers had students reflect using this google form link after every class to support SEL and student awareness of behaviors and their impacts.

Mrs. Booth and I understand that this has been an incredibly difficult time for many of you and we want to do our best to support both your students' learning and their well-being.

To help families stay organized, we are compiling a document of all the asynchronous work assigned to 6th graders on Cooper's Cave and Google Classroom. This document will be updated regularly and will serve as a resource for students and parents to track assignments. Here is the LINK.

We recognize that the evacuations and power/internet outages have presented significant challenges. When we return to school, we will be checking in with students to ensure they are caught up on their work and provide any necessary support.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Ms. Magled and Mrs. Booth

Mahsa response:

Hello

Can someone ACTUALLY explain to me why can’t you extend the zoom hours and actually teach them rather than just assigning homework?! Other private schools even Paul Revere having actual zoom till 1 or 2pm.

That’s really unacceptable 

Mahsa Tafreshi

We were looking to all come together to check in about the 6th grade girls. We would all love to be on the same page around the supports we have provided and ensure a unified plan for continued support.

Thank you and have a great spring break!

Kendall

Please allow me to virtually introduce myself. I am Ms. Krystle Villanueva, the Learning Support Specialist at Berkeley Hall. I have received and thoroughly reviewed Ryna’s IEP report and would love to set up a time for us to have a Zoom check-in meeting or phone call just to go over Ryna’s accommodations and discuss what they will look like within our classroom setup. 

The current times I’m available are next Monday 8/5 anytime between 4-5PM or next Thursday 8/8 also between 4-5PM. Please let me know if either of these days work for you and if so which time and communication method you’d prefer (Zoom or phone call). 

I look forward to connecting soon in order to set Ryna up for success for this school year and beyond!

Thanks so much! 

Krystle Villanueva

Mahsa Tafreshi<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​ Krystle Villanueva​

Thu 8/1/2024 4:05 PM

Hello 

Thanks for reaching out. Next Monday will be fine for a phone call.

Thanks,
Mahsa Tafreshi 

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Thu 8/1/2024 4:35 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

That sounds great. I will plan on giving you a call on Monday around 4PM if that works. I look forward to speaking with you then! 

Hi Mahsa, 

It was wonderful speaking with you today regarding Ryna's accommodations based on her most recent IEP report. Thank you so much for sharing information on how Ryna learns best and for reviewing her accommodations with me. Below I have outlined her accommodations for this year based on our discussion. Please feel free to let me know if I missed anything or if you have any follow-up questions. 

Here are the accommodations we discussed during our phone call today: 

Classroom Accommodations: 

• Preferential seating- close to teacher and distraction-free when possible

• Small group work and partner work is encouraged when possible within the structure of the classroom

• Peer buddy/modeling (Ryna will connect with peers about in-class notes and ask for help if needed)

• Peer tutoring (as offered in January-April if needed)

• Ryna will receive cues to refocus as needed (all-class/small group cues are sufficient)

• Ryna will go over directions and new information as the class reviews information together or in small groups/partners (as classroom structure allows)

• Ryna may need help breaking down information into steps for problems/assignments 

• Teachers will check in for understanding as they periodically check in with the rest of the class

• Ryna may need extra processing time for thinking and responding to questions

• Information is more helpful when verbal instructions are paired with written directions

• Audio versions of texts as available and provided by parents*

• Visual aids, graphic organizers for writing as provided to the class

• Use of speech to text as needed*

• Verbal praise/encouragement

• Classroom tests (ELA/Math) in separate/smaller setting when available (otherwise distraction-free setting works as well for tests as long as teacher is available to clarify directions when needed)

Formal (District & State) Testing Accommodations: 

ELA & MATH: 

• Test in a separate/smaller setting 

• Instructions read aloud by adult/computer in English (for math, ELA, and reading passages)* 

• Text to speech (for math, ELA items, and reading passages)*

SCIENCE: 

• Test in a separate/smaller setting

• Instructions read aloud by adult or computer *

*Note: Ryna may not want to use headphones in class for audiobooks or speech to text/text to speech if the whole class is not using them (this is fine with mom; it is optional for her based on her comfort level). Ryna may feel more comfortable using them for more formal District/State testing since she will be in a smaller/separate setting. 

In addition to the accommodations above, I also made note that Ryna prefers not to be singled out regarding her accommodations and that she succeeds academically when she is happy socially with her peers. Thank you so much for sharing that extra information with me. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions at all. We look forward to setting Ryna up for a successful school year! 

Krystle Villanueva

Mahsa Tafreshi<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​

Krystle Villanueva​

Cc:​

Kendall Shoemake​

Mon 8/5/2024 5:27 PM

It was nice talking to you as well. Thanks for listening to my concerns and taking notes, I think that’s all we discussed today.

Best Regards 

Mahsa Tafreshi

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Mon 8/5/2024 5:29 PM

Thank you so much, Mahsa! Feel free to let me know if anything else comes up. I'm happy to help in any way I can. 

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Thu 10/17/2024 2:57 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

I hope you are doing well. Mrs. Booth and Ms. Magled asked me to follow up with you about the possibility of Ryna having regularly scheduled check-ins with me in the Wellness Center. My interactions with Ryna around campus have been positive, and I really want to help her in any way I can. I know when you and I spoke in the summer, we both shared that we have the same goals in mind, which is for Ryna to have a smooth transition into Berkeley Hall, both academically and socially. 

I'm so sorry that Ryna has been having some difficulties socially. But, I'd love to check in with her regularly to see how we can help navigate the intricacies of socializing with peers. Our check-ins would take place during study hall once a week. There are several other students who leave during study hall for a variety of reasons (academic, athletic, other appointments etc.), so our goal for scheduling check-ins during this time is so that Ryna feels comfortable and not singled out. We also don't want her to miss instruction time nor time with peers (such as during muncho and lunch). 

I'd love to start checking in with Ryna starting this upcoming week if that's alright with you. If you'd like to schedule a phone call sometime early next week before I check in with her, please feel free to let me know and we can set it up. I look forward to supporting Ryna and helping in any way possible. 

Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention and for your continued partnership! 

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 10/17/2024 4:47 PM

Hello,

Thank you so much for reaching out, yes I mentioned some issues that Ryna’s having to other teachers seeking for help and we thought it’s good to ask you also for extra observation and support. That would be a great idea and I really like that, it’s nice if we can have a phone call next week, please let me know your availability.

Best regards 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Mon 10/21/2024 7:57 AM

Hi Mahsa, 

Thank you so much for your email. I do have planned 6th grade observations scheduled this week during structured and unstructured times so that I have more information before my check-ins with Ryna. I'd love to speak to you before then as well just to make sure I have as much information as possible. 

I'm available to speak tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9:30 or 11. I can also speak on Wednesday at 8 or 8:30. Please feel free to let me know what works best for you. 

I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​

Krystle Villanueva​

Mon 10/21/2024 8:31 AM

Ok, that sounds good, Tuesday @11 works for me, my cell is +1 (818) 324-3877 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Mon 10/21/2024 9:13 AM

Perfect! Thank you, Mahsa. I will put it in my calendar and give you a call tomorrow at 11.

Looking forward to speaking with you then. 

Best, 

Krystle 

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Wed 12/4/2024 3:36 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

I hope you're having a great week and that your Thanksgiving break was restful and enjoyable. I just wanted to let you know that during my last two check-ins with Ryna she expressed that she may not need a weekly check-in moving forward since things are going well. Ryna shared that after our group talk a few weeks ago, things have gotten a lot better and she feels comfortable with her friendships. 

Today we discussed the options available to her, and she decided to have our check-ins on a monthly basis instead of weekly. I did let her know that she also has the option to come to the Wellness Center anytime and check-in even if we don't have a scheduled meeting time. 

I am so happy to hear that she is feeling better about her social relationships and about school. I will continue to be available for her anytime she needs support. I will also continue to keep an eye on the girls and how they're all doing. If anything comes up in your discussions at home, please feel free to reach out. 

Thank you again for your partnership and support!

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Wed 12/4/2024 4:34 PM

Hello,

Thanks for your update, but I am surprised about your conversation! She is telling me opposite, she even asked me on Monday to start applying for other schools since she’s not sure if she wanna continue 7th grade at BH! So I am so confused, she probably wanted to show everything is ok, that’s my guess. Even I asked her if she wants a playdate on Friday minimum day and she said no! 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 12/5/2024 8:13 AM

Hi Mahsa, 

Thank you so much for this information. Before Thanksgiving break, Ryna had asked me if we needed to still check in weekly if things are going better socially with the girls. I explained that we can check in at the rate that she feels works best for her, but suggested that we check in the week after Thanksgiving break to see if she still felt the same way (which led us to yesterday's conversation). I'm so sorry to hear that she is sharing something different at home. 

I'm wondering if she just doesn't want to check in since it is making her feel different than her classmates. The class does have time to check in with each other as a small group during closing circle at the end of each day with their teachers, so I'm wondering if she would prefer those group check-ins to individual ones. 

I'm also curious if Ryna would share with you an adult on campus that she feels more comfortable sharing her feelings of discomfort with. It's okay if she has a different trusted adult than me (I think she trusts me generally, but may be holding back based on what you're sharing). Perhaps she'd feel more comfortable sharing how she feels with Ms. Magled, Mrs. Booth, Coach Lezama, or one of her other teachers. I just want Ryna to feel comfortable sharing her true feelings. 

Has Ryna shared with you the classes or times of day when she's feeling like things are going poorly? When I observe her during her break times and in transition, she appears to be smiling and talking with the girls in her class. So, if we can pinpoint when she's feeling uncomfortable that would help us with supporting her even more. I'm also open to you sharing with me when things come up and I can work with her teachers to troubleshoot. 

I'm also happy to brainstorm with you other ideas that could be helpful for Ryna. Individual check-ins in the Wellness Center can always be utilized, but aren't a "one size fits all", so I want to make sure we are supporting Ryna in a way that fits her best. 

Thank you again for all of your feedback and support!

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 12/5/2024 3:38 PM

Thank you for caring about Ryna, I really appreciate it, But maybe at this point you should focus on other girls instead and find out what their actual problem is with Ryna? Why can’t they get along and be nice to her? Where’s the problem? 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 12/5/2024 4:23 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

Thank you so much for your email and for sharing your concerns. During the restorative circle that I facilitated with the 6^th grade girls back on 11/15 that you and I spoke about a few weeks ago, the girls had shared directly with Ryna that they do like her and they want to be friends; and leaving the conversation it seemed like as a group they all found a way to move forward positively. But I'm so sorry to hear that Ryna is still feeling like things are going poorly and I agree there seems to be a disconnect based on the information we are receiving. 

I am looping in Mr. Shoemake, our Assistant Head of School for Middle School, here to get his thoughts and suggestions on how to move forward. Mr. Shoemake is currently out of town for a professional development conference, but he will return on Monday, and I will be sure to check in with him about next steps. We want Ryna to feel supported and we definitely want harmony among the class as a whole. 

Again, I appreciate your feedback and partnership. 

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 12/5/2024 4:33 PM

I see, yes sure,  thank you again for your support 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Mon 12/9/2024 12:51 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

I have connected with Mr. Shoemake, and we will continue to support Ryna in any ways she needs. We will also continue to support all students in their interactions. As a school practice, we don't share specific conversations we have with other students (other than with that particular student's parents). But, we can assure you that we are working to support the students in building a community where everyone feels included. 

In the meantime, if there's anything else I can do to support Ryna please let me know. 

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​ Krystle Villanueva​

Mon 12/9/2024 1:10 PM

Thank you, I am sure you are trying your best. I just hope she feels happy at school and can deal with situations like this.

Mahsa Tafreshi

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Mon 12/9/2024 1:16 PM

Thank you, Mahsa. We want that for Ryna as well. 

Krystle 

To:​3947171@gmail.com;​3243877@gmail.com​

Mon 3/17/2025 2:28 PM

Hello Saeed and Mahsa, 

As you may already know, ERB WrAP testing is coming up during the week of April 14th. Ryna will be offered testing accommodations to help make the testing process equitable and more comfortable. The list of accommodations for Ryna are as follows: 

• Instructions/Questions read aloud 

• Testing in a separate/distraction-free setting

I encourage you to please take this time to review with Ryna the above accommodations to make sure everyone is on the same page going into testing week. If there are any accommodations listed above that you would like to remove, please let me know as soon as possible. In addition, please let me know how you would like us to proceed if your child refuses to use any of the above accommodations on the day of testing. 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to support in any way possible. 

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 3/20/2025 2:43 PM

Hello

Thanks for your email, Ryna doesn’t want to be separated from other students, only if she can get extra help on instructions and extra time if necessary that would be great.

In another topic, I just want to express my disappointment to you as you never followed up with Ryna or me to see how things are going or how is she feeling? but in case you might be curious to know, nothing is good, she’s under a lot of stress and pressure , never felt belonged and gets teased by same girls, we already expressed our concerns to Dr. Colmaire. Hopefully these last few months go on more smoothly for our daughter. 

Regards

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thu 3/20/2025 10:13 PM

Hi Mahsa, 

Thank you so much for reaching out. Regarding the accommodations I will ask Ryna's teachers to read the instructions to her in class and we will not have her test in a separate space for WrAP testing. Please keep in mind that she will have this option again for CTP-5 testing in May, so I will reach out closer to that time to see if she'd like a separate setting for that test. Currently, based on Ryna's testing documentation and reports, we are not able to offer her extended time as an accommodation. 

Thank you also for checking in with me about how Ryna is feeling. I also appreciate you sharing your feelings with Dr. Colmaire, as I know she has a shared compassion for our students and wants them to feel supported. I have checked in with Ryna more informally at school to touch base because I know she has requested in the past not to get pulled away from her peers, but I'm so sorry to hear that she is sharing that things are going poorly. From my observations and informal check-ins Ryna had shared that things felt better and she felt like she is getting along well with the girls in her class. She and I even spent some time talking about the Variety Show (both before and after the show took place), and she shared a lot of positive interactions. It was also so great to see her performing with the girls in her class. But, all that matters is what Ryna is truly feeling, and we want to make sure she feels supported and loved. 

I am currently away on bereavement leave, as I am in the midst of funeral arrangements for my Dad who passed away earlier this month. But please be assured that during my absence, Ryna's teachers have continued to keep an eye on her. In our return to campus after Spring Break, I will be checking in with Dr. Colmaire, Mr. Shoemake, and the 6^th grade team to see how we can best support Ryna in how she is feeling. I would also like to speak with you over the phone to gather more information on what Ryna is sharing at home so that we can develop a plan on how to help her moving forward. 

Thank you again for your feedback and partnership! 

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Mirfakhraei<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​ Krystle Villanueva​

Thu 3/20/2025 10:25 PM

Thank you for getting back to me and I’m so sorry for your dad! 

I appreciate your continues support. 

Best

Mahsa

Sent from my iPhone

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Mirfakhraei <3243877@gmail.com>​

Thu 3/20/2025 11:14 PM

Thank you so much, Mahsa. I look forward to connecting after the break. 

With gratitude, 

Krystle

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Tue 4/8/2025 8:00 AM

Hi Mahsa, 

I hope you and Ryna had a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break. I just wanted to follow up on our email correspondence from before Spring Break to let you know that the 6^th grade team of teachers in addition to Mr. Shoemake and Dr. Colmaire met yesterday to discuss a game plan to help support our 6^th grade girls. Dr. Colmaire and I will be meeting with the girls as a group and then individually to discuss goals, observations, and how they are feeling over the next few weeks. Please note that while we are only able to discuss Ryna-specific details with you, we are dedicated to supporting and speaking with all of the 6^th grade girls to help support the situation in any way we can. 

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if anything comes up at home that we should be aware of. 

Thank you so much for your partnership and communication!

Best, 

Krystle 

Mahsa Tafreshi<3243877@gmail.com>

To:​ Krystle Villanueva​

Tue 4/8/2025 8:20 AM

Thanks for update. I stay optimistic that you can solve the problems. 

Mahsa Tafreshi

Krystle Villanueva

To:​Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>​

Tue 4/8/2025 8:57 AM

Thank you so much, Mahsa. I appreciate your vote of confidence. Please feel free to continue to stay in touch as anything comes up. We want to make sure that what we're seeing/hearing at school is reflective of the information you receive at home. We will be in communication about anything that comes up at school as well. 

Thank you again! 

Krystle 

Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 at 3:46 PM

To: Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

Subject: Re: Middle School Electives Choices

Hello, I hope you’re doing well,

Ryna told me that she got into drama for elective but unfortunately, all other girls that she

already knows are in Art. Is there anyway she can get Art as elective instead ? I appreciate

if you Consider that. Also, she can’t attend probably Tuesday after school since she has

Tennis but if Art is on Tuesdays ,then I possibly can switch her tennis. but I need to know

which days are the art classes.

Have a great long weekend.

Best regards

Mahsa Tafreshi

On Fri, Aug 30, 2024 at 4:47 PM Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

wrote:

Dear Mahsa,

These electives are during the school day with the Fall play being the only one that meets after

school later in the trimester. I have made the shift for Ryna to be in the sculpture workshop since

she has after school commitments. The sculpture workshop does not require after school practice.

It’s a great day to be a bobcat,

Kendall Shoemake

From: Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>

Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 at 4:49 PM

To: Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

Subject: Re: Middle School Electives Choices

Thanks for getting back to me, is this sculpture workshop is the same as art that girls like

Alara, Hannah.... Are in it? She wants to be with them.

Mahsa Tafreshi

On Fri, Aug 30, 2024 at 4:57 PM Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org> wrote:

Hello Mahsa,

Although the purpose of Electives is to explore individual interests and passions, and not to take

classes because of friends choosing those classes, I can confirm that is the class with the other 6th

grade girls you have mentioned.

It’s a great day to be a bobcat,

Kendall Shoemake

From: Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>

Date: Friday, August 30, 2024 at 4:59 PM

To: Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

Subject: Re: Middle School Electives Choices

I totally understand and can’t be more agree! Just since it was in her list of interests she’s

asking if she can be in her 2nd choice. I really appreciate it.

Mahsa Tafreshi

Thank you so much. You too :)

Mahsa Tafreshi

On Fri, Aug 30, 2024 at 5:03 PM Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org> wrote:

Thank you for your understanding. I think due to her afterschool commitments that would conflict with

afterschool play practices, it makes total sense to shift her to her second choice, Sculpture Workshop,

which just happens to be the course that many of her 6th grade peers are taking. Sounds like a win-win.

Hope you and Ryna have a great weekend!

It’s a great day to be a bobcat,

Kendall Shoemake

awaiting our return to school and hopefully a sense of “normalcy”. In the meantime, all the best to

you and your family and I hope the remote school goes smoothly for Ryna.

Take care,

Kendall Shoemake | M.Ed. | He/Him/His

Assistant Head of School, Middle School

310-476-6421 x 268

www.berkeleyhall.org

16000 Mulholland Drive | Los Angeles, CA 90049

Respect | Responsibility | Honesty | Compassion

Fearless scholars. Conscientious citizens.

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From: From:Mahsa Tafreshi <3243877@gmail.com>

Date: Date:Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11:35 AM

To: To:Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

Subject: Subject: Subject: Re: Checkin in

Hello

Thank you for reaching out, I really appreciate it. We are fine, thankfully our home and

neighborhood is also safe, the only issue is that we don’t have power since Friday night and

still we don’t know when it will be restored, so we can’t go home and are staying in our

place in Tarzana. But no complains :)

Hopefully we all recover from this tragedy soon.

Mahsa Tafreshi

2 of 2

On Mon, Jan 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM Kendall Shoemake <kshoemake@berkeleyhall.org>

wrote:

Dear Masha and Saeed,

I’ve been thinking about our families near and inside of the evacuation zones. I hope that

you and your family are safe, and that your home is protected. As we start the week with

remote learning, please don’t hesitate to let me know if Ryna needs anything. I am here

for any needed support.

In community,

Kendall Shoemake

• Asked about her Friendship responses on the 6th grade survey. 

  • For favorite things about friendships during her sixth grade year, the response written was “My friends do fun stuff with me and are helpful”

  • In response to the question of some things she would change about sixth grade year regarding friendships, the written response was “To make new friends who I get along with”. 

• When Ryna was shown these responses and asked the question by Dr. Colmaire to share more about the friends she does fun stuff with that are helpful, Ryna responded with “I don’t know”. Ryna was then asked if she remembered what examples she was thinking about when she wrote that response, and she said “I wrote that? It’s not true”. 

• Ryna was asked if there was anything positive about friendships in 6th grade at Berkeley Hall, and she said “no”. 

  • Ryna was then asked if she was perhaps referring to positive friendships outside of school on her survey, and she said “yeah, probably friendships outside of school”. 

• The discussion then moved on to a solution of how to make new friends that she gets along with so that she could finish out the current school year feeling better about friendships at Berkeley Hall in general. Ryna was asked if there was anyone in any grade that she got along with and she responded with “Brekyn and Lael” (8th graders). 

• Ryna was asked if she would be willing to take more initiative to interact with the 8th grade friends she does get along with. Suggestions were given to Ryna such as sitting with them at lunch or during elective times. Ryna was asked if she’d be willing to try out sitting with her 8th grade friends tomorrow (Thursday 4/17). Ryna said “I don’t know”. Ryna was then asked, “what about Monday, could you try sitting with the 8th graders that you feel comfortable with on Monday?”. Ryna responded with “I’ll try”. 

This seems to be another instance where Ryna is not self-aware or able to reflect on the same type of incident that previously bothered her.