OLP MAGAZINE Spring 2017
A Tra d i t i o n of E xc e l l e n c e : I N N O VAT I V E L E A R N I N G AT O L P ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE (SPRING 2017)
IN THIS ISSUE SPRING 2017
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FROM ANGLES TO A PA RT M E N TS : Applying Geometry in the Real World
CAN YOU HELP US R E N OVAT E T H E C H A P E L?
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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE: Innovative Learning at OLP
OLP W E LCOM ES Z S PAC E VIRTUAL REALITY
L’A RT D’INSPIRE 32nd Annual Gala and Auction inspires record fundraising
P I LOTS TA K E FLIGHT Read the latest news about your fellow Pilots in our alumnae section.
O U R M I S S I O N STAT E M E N T Founded and rooted in the Gospel values of the Catholic church and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace empowers young women in an innovative learning environment that honors the individual while fostering community, and develops faith-filled leaders dedicated to the “love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.”
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Dear OLP Family and Friends, Oh how I wish you could have heard the buzz on campus recently, when close to 400 girls were practicing their songs, choreographing dance scenes, directing, acting, manufacturing costumes and overseeing a tight budget, all in preparation for the time-honored 47-year tradition called Spring Sing! It is a musical extravaganza in its simplest description, but at its core, it is a hallmark of sisterhood and an example of leadership in action. It is in all of the complexity of Spring Sing that I see our girls soaring in unique and diverse ways. That is part of the magic of OLP: helping our young girls develop their passions, find their voices and be ready to take on, what could be to some, the seemingly insurmountable challenges in life. Dr. Lek featured with CSJ Sisters: Sr. Jill Our students today will be facing obstacles that in our Napier, Sr. Suzanne Jabro and Sr. Angela lifetime as parents we have rarely seen. In a world where the Faustino at the OLP gala.
once tantamount industries are being pressed to redefine themselves while on the brink of extinction, to now the internet of everything, our precious girls will need to be courageous women of faith and extraordinary scholars. They are the hope for our world! In this edition, you will see how we are preparing our girls to address the complexities of college and life through our innovative research-based practices rooted in how girls learn best. We are also thrilled to announce the growing partnership with the University of San Diego as they continue to look for ways to create a pathway for K-16 Catholic education for students in San Diego. Additionally, this month we hosted our second Architects of Change at School Live conversation series where our girls interviewed author, Navy flight surgeon, doctor, and mother of five, Cyndi Peterson, MD. An Architect of Change is someone who “challenges what is, imagines what can be, and moves humanity forward.” We were honored to have Dr. Peterson share her journey of faith and hope, allowing us to learn and gain our own inspiration from her experience. Also in March, we welcome the third annual Women’s Symposium. This year we are honored to have celebrity chef and alumna, Marcela Valladolid ’96, as our keynote speaker and alumnae parent and NuttZo founder, Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi, as our closing speaker. The day is filled with remarkable female panelists, including returnee Anne Sweeney, former Disney-ABC President; fashion designer Alexia Maria, Forbes ’30 Under 30’ Listee; Corina Antal, researcher with The Salk Institute, and so many more amazing women! This event is fully underwritten by a team of extraordinary corporate partners, and OLP is privileged to serve as the hub for women’s thought leadership in San Diego. As we wrap up National Catholic Sisters Week, where we sponsored a series of events that instructed, enlightened and brought greater focus to the lives of our incredible Catholic Sisters, I am blessed each day to see and experience the spirit of the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet throughout these pages, our educational programs, and the students themselves.
God Bless,
Lauren Lek, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL
CLASS NOTES should be sent to Alexis Rodriguez at arodriguez@aolp.org TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS, please contact Nelson Kim at nkim@aolp.org
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MAGAZINE
Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace Head of School Lauren Lek, Ed.D. Assistant Head of School Jessica Hooper Leadership Team George Battistel, Ph.D. Melinda Blade, Ed.D. Chris Boyer Marlena Conroy Aaron Gonzalez Jeanette (Prantil) Handelsman ’64 Jessica (Goncalves) Occhialini ’88 Emily Pippin ’06 Toni Russo Kristin Wiggins Contributors Dana Adcock ’18 Rivka Bent Sarah Blackbourn Johnathan Chittuluru, Ph.D. Allison Grygar ’18 Samantha League Lily Lucero ’18 Tim Paluso Alexis Rodriguez Katie Turner Kristin Wiggins Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Ed.D., Head of School Coreen G. Petti, Board Chair Alison (Priske) Adema ’82 Patricia (Mulcahy) Boer ’55 Mike Coughlin Michael Guerrero Susan Hause Terry Kalfayan Clair (Cunningham) Kennedy ’81 Diane Koester-Byron Damian McKinney Gayle McMahon Martha McRoskey Sister Jill Marie Napier, CSJ Dr. Mary O’Connor, DDS Barbara Picco Sister Virginia Rodee ’53, RSCJ Nina R. Sciuto-Morales ’76 Peg Stehly OLP MAGAZINE
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Chapel Renovation Can you help?
When the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet purchased the Van Druff Estate in 1924, they quickly realized something was missing: a Chapel. With the help of architect I.E. Loveless and contracting firm Lowerison and Wolstencroft, our beloved Chapel was completed in 1927. The Chapel is OLP’s crown jewel and has served our community well as the site of innumerable masses, student liturgies, and alumnae weddings and memorials. The Chapel has seen very little change over the past 90 years and with your help, we are hoping to give it some love and attention with a renovation this summer. The Chapel’s beautiful Carrera marble altar, which was hand-carved in Italy, is in need of restoration as the marble has discolored over time and is disintegrating in areas. The solid mahogany pews and kneelers are in need of repair and refinishing. The pipe organ located in the choir loft no longer works and needs to be repaired, as do the original stained
CAN YOU HELP US R E N OVAT E O U R BELOVED CHAPEL? • HVAC
$15,000
• Repair Pews
$15,000
• Interior Paint
$10,000
• Restore Marble Altar
$10,000
• Upgrade Lighting and Electrical
$15,000
• Enhance Chapel Garden
$20,000
• Repair Windows
$10,000
• Replace Carpet
$5,000
Total Estimated Project Cost
$100,000
glass windows. We would also like to upgrade the lighting, electrical and HVAC, replace the carpet and paint the interior walls. In addition, we hope to enhance the Chapel Garden with additional plantings, stone pavers and seating for quiet reflection.
W E VA LU E A N D N E E D YO U R S U P P O RT. The chapel renovation must be funded solely by donations from our community, as tuition dollars are already designated toward other needs on campus. Gifts of all sizes are needed and greatly appreciated. Please send in your donation today, or give online at aolp.org/giving.
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As seen above, the Chapel has fallen into disrepair. We need your help to restore it to its original beauty.
AT H L E T I C S ARCH ERY
The OLP archery team began its second season on February 8. The girls have been competing against other high schools and are getting ready to shoot in the San Diego Conference, State and National Championships in March and April. “The core team is solid, but it will take a team effort to meet this year’s challenge,” Coach Edward Lucero said. Archery is a great fit for OLP girls because it requires focus, skill and determination. These attributes are also found in the curriculum of an academically-focused school such as OLP. Archery is currently supported by the Easton Foundations Olympic Archery in Schools (OAS) program. OAS builds discipline, character, self-esteem and confidence through the challenges of archery, all while improving health, fitness, concentration, motor control and focus.
Lonie Mae Berg ’50 poses with her bow and arrow in the 1948 yearbook.
WATER POLO
OLP has its first ever Water Polo team! Our newest program is due in large part to one of our student’s love of the game. Samantha Tyssee ’19 spearheaded the effort to make water polo at OLP a reality. This is a great example of how students can affect real change in our school.
LAC ROS S E
This spring marks OLP’s third year fielding a lacrosse team. Like most new sports programs, lacrosse began as a club sport. This is our second official season as a CIF team. LAX is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and the Pilots have quickly taken to this unique and challenging game. The program grew from 30 players in its inaugural season, only playing a handful of games, to 44 players last season with an extremely difficult schedule. This season, the program fields three teams with over 60 student-athletes who have already made some noise in the LAX community. While Lacrosse is exciting to watch, it takes focus, speed, agility, determination and many hours of practice to become a skilled player. After all, it is known to be the “fastest game to be played on two feet.”
S OCC E R
To say that this year’s soccer season is historic is the understatement of the year. The year began with back-to-back tournament champion honors in the Vaqueros’ and Barons’ tournaments. The team continued on an impressive 16-game winning streak and collectively scored over 100 goals. Coach Kevin Soares’ and Assistant Coach Tim Paluso’s steady leadership helped keep the team focused during the long season with the mantra of “it’s not about who we play - it’s about how we play.” Not even rain storms and field closures prevented the team from practicing as a new partnership with San Diego Indoor Soccer (affectionately referred to as the Water Tower) provided an all-weather practice facility. The Pilots finished the season with a 23-1-1 record and won the Eastern League Championship for the first time since 1993. They continued their dominance in the CIF San Diego Section playoffs, outscoring their opponents 15-3 in the three games they played in the championship tournament. History was made on Saturday, March 4, when the Varsity Soccer Team defeated Otay Ranch High School 5-1, winning the CIF Division III San Diego Section Championship. Our girls made it to the CIF Southern Section Championship, beating Bishop Amat (La Puente, CA) in the quarterfinals, but falling short 3-2 to Claremont High (Claremont, CA) in the semifinals. 2016-17 VARSITY SOCCER TEAM CONSISTS OF: Natalia Castellanos Gonzalez ’17, Jessica Lugo ’17, Caroline Scott ’17, Paige Virissimo ’17, Maris Amsberry ’18, Samantha Carranza ’18, Jenna Chandler ’18, Sidney Crecy ’18, Elise Garcia ’18, Ashlin Healy ’18, Ashley Northrup ’18, Taylor Virissimo ’18, Miranda Colero ’19, Rylie Curran ’19, Sophia Dent ’19, Ella Diamond ’19, Erin Healy ’19, Grace Kotnik ’19, Liliana Morales ’19, Sabrina Comana ’20
The team was comprised of almost all beginners to the sport. The Pilot’s first game was against La Jolla High School where the they scored the first two goals in OLP history. There was tremendous improvement by the players throughout the season as they learned the sport by leaps and bounds. This was evident in their first ever tournament in which two of the matches had to be decided by tie-breakers. The team scored an impressive 26 goals, all scored against six very experienced teams.
EQU EST RIA N C LU B
In its second year at OLP, the Equestrian Club is garnering more attention from our student body and producing impressive results. Karina Gladnick ’17 earned top honors as the Champion Rider of the 1.1 and 1.3 meter jumpers among her division. We are looking forward to growing the program with more student-athletes joining the club and competing.
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FINDING GOD
Nicaragua
in
B Y L I LY L U C E R O ’ 1 8 In our social media centered, future-driven, busy world, it is far too easy to lose sight of simplicity and pure happiness. In Nicaragua, this is not an issue. On the recent service immersion trip to Chinandega, Nicaragua, 15 OLP students experienced the true meaning of loving and serving one’s dear neighbor. We worked alongside the native Nicaraguans through Amigos for Christ, an organization that promotes the maintenance of human dignity through water and sanitation, healthcare, education and nutrition, and economic development projects. We learned to embrace the relaxed lifestyle of Nicaragua and to live for a week as the natives do in order to fully appreciate the colorful culture of the country. We began our community work in the small town of La Chuscada, where Amigos for Christ is working alongside the locals to build an elementary and middle school. The preschool and kindergarten were opened in 2016, and as we pick-axed the trenches for the foundation walls of the new school, we watched the young children play outside, spraying water on each other and laughing uncontrollably. We had been told upon arrival that our labor was important, but what matters most is that we engage with the people and form relationships. That day, we all had the privilege of meeting the kids and visiting their homes, where we were embraced with open arms. To many of us, the trust and hospitality the Nicaraguans showed was unfamiliar, as American culture is much different. Throughout the week we met some amazing people who continued to show us an abundance of hospitality as we continued work in another community, working alongside families to construct bathrooms consisting of flushing toilets and running showers. This trip was a truly life changing experience where we not only learned more about ourselves but also became more devoted to the service of our dear neighbor. Working with the Nicaraguans provided all of us, students and teachers alike, with a new perspective. I returned home with the determination to continue the pursuit of my passion for social justice and the upholding of human dignity. There is a distinct difference between working for someone and working with someone. This trip fostered solidarity and bridged divides that were based on the socioeconomic differences and cultural variations of our two countries. As I settle back into my routine in San Diego, I constantly remind myself of the people I met and how they changed me. I will never forget them, and they have made a lasting impact on my life and those of my fellow Pilots. Photos courtesy of Katie Wilson, Director of Servie Learning and Retreats
ORCHESTRA MOVES TO THE SPOTLIGHT BY SAMANTHA LEAGUE MUSIC H A S GR ACED OLP ’S H A LLS FOR MOR E
than a
century. Yet, while singing and playing the piano have always been central to an OLP education, teaching other instruments didn’t become commonplace until the spring of 1957 when Mr. Bernard Morzinski, former band director at St. Augustine High School, organized OLP’s “newly-formed” orchestra. This “Academy Orchestra” practiced weekly, performing performing in operettas, drama productions and graduation. Music has remained a constant in one form or another through the years, however it is now time to provide the present day OLP girl the UC-approved pathway needed as she looks to build her college application résumé. Although tremendous strides have been made in expanding the STEM program, Dr. Lek is equally passionate to ensure the “A” in STEAM is not lost. Partnerships with the visual arts have flourished and with the launch of Orchestra and Choir, the Visual and Performing Arts program is really growing. “It’s like a baby, you know, we’re just starting out and it depends on the strength of the girls,” Tamara Paige, our new Orchestra and Choral teacher, said. A couple of her Orchestra students hadn’t even touched the instrument they’re now playing before August. But it’s hard to tell just how new our program is. OLP’s Orchestra has already performed at Open House, Beauty & the Beast, the L’art d’inspire Gala, multiple school assemblies and masses. Tamara’s approach to music education is exposing students to a wide range of musical styles. “I like to do things that excite the students while giving them the foundation they need, which is definitely rooted in classical music,” Tamara said. Songs range from classics like “Rondo” by Mozart and Romanian Folk Dances by Bella Bartok, to “Kasmir” by Led Zeppelin and a jazz piece called “Pocketmaster,” written by a former student of Tamara’s. The extraordinary talent of our students, under the direction of Ms. Paige, shows an orchestra perceived to be expert collaboraters rather than the newly formed partnership that they are. While the program is just starting out, Tamara has big plans for the future. “I would love to see an OLP jazz ensemble,” she said. Despite all the changes in the orchestra program over the years, one thing is for sure: OLP is invested in ensuring the Arts continue to flourish on campus for decades to come. Pictured above: The OLP Orchestra class of 1961 posing with their instruements.
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Left: Students at Mission Fed JA Finance Park going over their budgets. Below: Two students evaluate if a new car purchase fits into their budget.
Seniors Learn
HOW TO TAKE MONEY SERIOUSLY
Through Economics BY SAMANTHA LEAGUE
On December 1, seniors in economics courses young adults. Recent studies have found that participated in a financial management workshop at Mission Fed JA Finance Park in Downtown San Diego. In just five hours, students learned how to manage a family budget, pay bills and make financial decisions. This workshop was a culmination of a semester-long budget project that aims to show students what life is really like after college. In Ms. Shawn Hanley’s class, students must navigate real life scenarios of searching for housing, grocery shopping, paying bills and managing student loan debt using their hypothetical net income. “I feel the budget project is probably the most important thing they learn in economics,” Ms. Hanley said. “Our students need real world applications to help them navigate a very complex financial world we live in.” Not learning basic financial skills can have devastating long-term consequences for
54 percent of college students had overdrawn their bank account while 81 percent underestimated the amount of time it would take to pay off a credit card balance. Further, only 59 percent of young adults (ages 18-29) pay their bills on time every month. Still, financial literacy is often overlooked in modern education – unless you go to OLP. According to Maria Ximena Fimbres-Santillan ’17, one of the most valuable parts of the workshop was being given a “profile” for the day. These profiles listed an age, occupation, whether or not you were married and whether or not you had children. Although Ximena was a single, 32-year-old engineer with a good income, some of her friends were single mothers who had to balance work and child care. “This made me realize that we have to be responsible with our money because we never know what our future lives will be like for us,” Ximena said.
Like many of our students, Ximena doesn’t work. Her dad was the first to talk about money with her, but Finance Park introduced her to taxes, credit scores and savings accounts. Finance Park also gave her the opportunity to “shop” with “her own” credit card – something she has never done before. Nevertheless, Ximena believes the timing was right to start seriously learning about money. “I think senior year is the best time to learn about financial management because it is our last year before going to college, and we start to realize we are becoming independent women,” Ximena said. Graduating responsible young women who are educated to the needs of society requires us to foster the whole individual, whether it be spiritual growth or financial skills. Mrs. Hanley’s innovative budget project, in collaboration with Mission Fed JA Finance Park, gives our girls the confidence they need to tackle financial decisions in the future.
US D ’S N E W TO R E R O P R O M I S E P R O G R A M R E WA R DS LO C A L C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L G R A D UAT E S In January, Mr. Stephen Pultz, the Assistant Vice Principal of Enrollment at the University of San Diego (USD), shared a groundbreaking admissions announcement for the first time to a room filled with OLP parents.
USD has created the Torero Promise program, which is a guaranteed Pultz broke the news to OLP parents during a Coffee With Counselors admissions program for students in the five high schools session on January 11, a few weeks in advance of their formal of the Diocese of San Diego. To be eligible, a student announcement. These bi-monthly meetings give OLP must achieve a 3.7 weighted GPA, recalculated by parents the opportunity to get to know our USD’s standards. USD will also prepare a special counselors, learn more about the programs we In the past five years, financial aid award for accepted students upon offer and stay up-to-date with college news. USD has extended 102 offers of submission of the Free Application for Federal We were delighted to be the first group he admission to OLP students Student Aid (FAFSA). shared the Torero Promise news with! According to Pultz, this program grew out of the university’s efforts to provide a “very clear pathway to USD” for Catholic high school graduates in the area.
According to the National Catholic College Admission Association (CCAA), 92% of Catholic college and university alumni believe their higher education was a good investment
The Torero Promise is effective for incoming fall 2017 students. We can’t wait to see how many students take advantage of this incredible program. OLP MAGAZINE
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A Tradition of Excellence:
Innovative Learning at OLP By Dr. Lauren Lek
“
The status quo is not an option. It’s not should we change, it’s how do we change.
”
A. G. Sulzberger deputy publisher, the New York Times.
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O D AY, E D U C AT I O N I S
as challenged as it has ever been to prepare its students for a rapidly changing, globally competitive world. The jobs of the future are shifting at the same rate of change as all other things, and the speed of change only seems to be increasing. Our girls will be required to enter careers that demand problem solving, critical thinking, inventive reasoning, effective communications, and a moral compass to guide them. Rigor and collegiate preparation today looks different for our girls. Memorization has become the lowest denominator for success, with synthesis and evaluation becoming the expectation. No longer do the instructional strategies once touted in a classroom work to help students master these highly complex thinking skills. As the skills have shifted, so too have the practices in the classroom. Guided by research from the top institutions along with best practices in all girls’ education, OLP is pushing boundaries to challenge learners in new ways. Authentic learning based in critical thinking is hard, messy, and sometimes even discouraging. Teaching skills related to grit, resiliency and a growth mindset have become essential alongside these higher order thinking skills. We have seen that as we are challenging our students to develop original ideas and solve complex problems based on their content-based understanding, that they consistently exceed our expectations. As teachers move to facilitate learning and coaching, our OLP girls soar! Methodologies such as Design Thinking and Project-Based Learning challenge students beyond the traditional “drill and kill” practices. Although they have been used in industry for over two decades, K-12 classrooms are now incorporating them across disciplines. In our new Engineering course, adopted from Purdue University, the curriculum focuses on Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS). Students are required to apply their engineering conceptual learning in real world applications that solve problems in our local society. As we reflect upon the plethora of changes facing our world today, none is more obvious than the shift in journalism. The New York Times was once a juggernaut in the publishing industry, but as the current Deputy Publisher, A. G. Sulzberger, states, “The status quo is not an option. It’s not should we change, it’s how do we change.” The same must be said in education as we prepare our students for a world where innovation is paramount to sustainability. Over the next eight pages, you will see unique examples of how OLP is striving to educate our girls’ today in preparation for a rapidly changing tomorrow.
PIctured left: OLP alum Kilee Seifert ’16 is attending University of Indianapolis. Photo courtesy of Robyn Scherer.
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Design Thinking in Education By Katie Turner, English Department
“Design Thinking is a collection of techniques and mindsets that enable people to identify underlying needs through empathy, to harness and develop their ability to generate ideas, and to actively seek feedback. By flaring and focusing, people discover a path through complex, difficult problems, which transforms them into fearless and effective Changemakers. Collaboration and a bias towards action help blast through intricate situations, particularly those areas that do not have one right answer; Design Thinking helps people jump into ambiguous challenges with energy and excitement.” - Kim Saxe, Director, Innovation Lab at Nueva School
What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking is a transferable philosophy in which,
According to Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, otherwise
regardless of the subject area, students are engaged in
known as the Stanford d.school, design thinking “draws on
the following 21st Century skill-based process:
methods from engineering and design, and combines them with ideas from the arts, tools from the social sciences, and
1. Discover a conflict (a problem, a need, or an issue);
insights from the business world. The process provides a
2. Use empathic skills to understand the origins and
glue that brings teammates together around a common
goal: make the lives of the people they’re designing for
3. Experiment with possible solutions to the conflict;
better.” This mission immediately attracted k-12 educators,
4. Test the solution and get feedback.
the outcomes of the conflict;
especially those of us who work at a school founded by CSJ Sisters with a very similar educational mission.
Isabella Magana ’17 and Luisana Gonzalez’s ’17 design thinking project on violence in Mexico.
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Paulina Halley’s ’17 sample app for accessing serious and truthful global journalism in today’s world.
Design Thinking in Action In AP Literature and Composition for example, students used
The following are a few comments made by design thinkers in AP Literature and Composition:
design thinking while reading Macbeth and Hamlet in the fall semester. Not only were they applying analytical skills in
“The intellectual and creative freedom you give us is
close reading, Socratic discourse, and AP-level composition,
very helpful and the idea of not feeling pressured to
they were identifying and solving problems in the plays that still persist today. Caroline Llanes ’17 and Grace Newton ’17 looked at the issues of masculinity in the play and in today’s world. They created a developmental approach to improving boys’ empathy, compassion and communication skills through handmade products, including children’s books, adolescent journals and an app for adults. In “Macbeth Goes to College,” Katie La Costa ’17 and Meagan Macavinta ’17 looked at Macbeth’s issues with social
be perfect is so helpful. I love the different projects you challenge us with, and the design thinking project has truly changed my life more than any other project I have ever done. Everything [we] do is with purpose, which makes every class amazing!” “Literature is so relevant to our everyday lives, as well as the world around us.” “I have found literary and creative abilities that I didn’t know I had.”
pressure and envy. Their analysis led them to argue that “each year, high school seniors enter the college application
“I’ve learned about the importance of empathy.
process. Pressured by society, family members, peers, etc.,
Furthermore, [the class] is globally and culturally aware,
many students feel the need to present themselves and act
which shows through the selection of literature and
in ways that are not completely accurate to who they truly
poetry that we analyze in and out of class.”
are for the sake of the acceptance by both colleges and by society.” In response, they developed a completely new
“...we recognize that we are members of a global
college application process.
community, and we recognize that we are all interconnected. This awareness and love for our world
Other notable solutions include Gemma Carretta ’17 and
drives [our] passion for literature and change.”
Makena Huey ’17, who created their own nonprofit and website; Daniella Gomez-Ochoa ’17, who wrote public policy;
“I have learned so much in this semester alone, and
Claire Egan ’17, who started an online resource; Celia Beth
really appreciate the diverse methods of instruction.”
Martinez ’17, who looked at health care and economic policy; Paulina Halley ’17, who made an app for journalists - and on and on! As their teacher, I am profoundly impressed by their motivated and engaged attention to using literature as a tool for solving real and persistent human problems. Design thinking gives students an education in process-oriented learning with a focus on social justice, which speaks to OLP’s mission of empowering young women in an innovative learning environment that honors the individual while fostering community. With design thinking, the classroom walls become a little less solid and little more transparent - with that comes a connection between what they are learning and why it matters to their own future and the future of our world. This is what makes design thinking a truly innovative learning practice.
Rocio del Carmen Flores-Villa’s design thinking project on Complete Bereavement Disorder
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The Flipped Math Classroom Model By Tim Paluso The flipped classroom is a teaching strategy that is, in essence, the reverse of a traditional in-class lecture followed by independent practice at home. Under the traditional model, many students become frustrated completing the independent work at home because they lack the ability to get feedback if they become confused or stuck on a problem. Since I began using the pedagogical model of the flipped classroom a few years ago, I have watched my students become more engaged in class and achieve greater mastery of the material. The flipped classroom uses time outside of class to cover key concepts via online lectures so that class time is available for interactive, hands-on learning. The ability to watch lectures at home allows student to learn at their own pace, and if necessary, view lectures multiple times. The best part of the flipped classroom instructional model is that the class period can be used to give the students more instructional support during the in-class assignment. This model enables students to get immediate feedback and have the support of not only myself, but also their classmates, to make necessary corrections and master key concepts. There is no single model for the flipped classroom, but through conversations with my students, I found a formula that works best for them. To support the learning in our math class, I discovered it was very important to start each class with a short period of direct instruction and a quick assessment to reinforce the main ideas from the online lectures, as well as answer broad questions on the topics that the class may have. The flipped model puts more of the responsibility for learning on the shoulders of students and promotes student-centered learning. It also gives the student greater incentive to experiment. In my opinion, one thing the flipped classroom does particularly well is teach the student about priorities: it’s not just about covering the material, but rather mastering the material.
The Provoking Business By Dana Adcock ’18 and Allison Grygar ’18 “I’m not here to tell you what to think,” said Ruben Navarrette, nationally renowned columnist, to a theater packed with aspiring OLP writers. “I’m in the provoking business. It’s my job to simply get you to think.” This is not something one might expect to hear from someone who, as Navarrette puts it, is “paid to express his or her opinion” on politics and other controversial, divisive topics. But Navarrette is not your typical columnist. He has his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Harvard, writes a syndicated column for the Washington Post, appears on numerous radio talk shows, is a published author, and on Monday, January 20, he was in our OLP Theatre as a special AP Language and Composition guest. The appearance of such an acclaimed writer was no coincidence. This semester, AP Language and Composition students were asked to select a nationally syndicated columnist, follow his or her publications, and provide an in-depth analysis of that columnist’s writing style and persuasive approach. While the project itself is a unique opportunity for students to make real-world connections to their learning, this recent visit from Ruben Navarrette took it a step further. Mr. Navarrette was no longer just a name and face on a screen; he was right there before the girls, moving energetically around the stage as he answered questions and imparted advice. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that reminded students how far their budding writing prowess could take them. In a world that puts an ever-increasing value on communication skills, OLP’s AP Language and Composition students are poised to step into it with a unique skillset and background, one that has taught them not only how to abide by the time-tested rules of grammar and composition, but also how to push these rules and mold them for one’s own style and voice. These students are not learning what to think, but how to think. As they are constantly reminded in class, these girls are the voices of the next generation, voices that have the potential to follow in Navarrette’s footsteps-reaching beyond their homes, beyond their social circles, beyond their communities-to touch an entire nation. Pictured above: Ruben Navarrette. Below: Ruben with the AP Language and Composition students.
How the OLP Pilots Won a State Football Championship A Case Study in Project-Based Learning By Dr. Johnathan Chittuluru
(by name and direction, e.g. Zone [run] Right) called by the Saint Mary’s Offense during Cathedral’s final three defensive possessions of the state championship game. Saint Mary’s was held scoreless on those possessions and was stopped at the 1-yard line on its last offensive play of the overtime period.
When you think of football champions, you might think of
Cathedral Head Coach Sean Doyle described our efforts as
Tom Brady’s Patriots or, even better, Joe Montana’s 49ers.
“invaluable.” Indeed, it is unlikely that the Dons would have
Regardless, you’re probably not thinking about a group
won the championship (by a field goal in overtime) had it not
of teenage girls. Yet at OLP, four Pilots made essential
been for tremendous efforts by everyone involved, including
contributions to the Cathedral Catholic Dons’ 2016 California
those of the Pilots. The best thing about the experience was
Division 1-AA State Football Championship. The Pilots’ work is
the fact that the girls had a great time while learning.
an example of project-based learning (PBL), a pedagogy that allows students to learn by doing.
“We are looking forward to seeing further how analytics can come into play for our OLP Pilot student athletes and teams,”
To provide a PBL opportunity for a group of students at OLP,
said Aaron Gonzalez, Assistant Principal for Athletics.
I invited them to assist me on the varsity football staff at Cathedral Catholic High School.
The data team’s experience illustrates project-based learning’s potential to shape young lives. All of the students plan to
I’ve been coaching at Cathedral Catholic since before I joined
continue with football analysis next season. Further, Bella plans
OLP, and my role is to analyze film and statistics to help the
to major in data analysis in college, and the experience with
defense evaluate its performance and predict the other team’s
statistics will help Hailie better understand technical literature
offensive plays. When several of my students decided to watch
when she pursues a medical degree after college. Additionally,
film with me, I assumed they were humoring their teacher,
the rush of winning a state championship has been indelibly
but after they emailed me with a request to help out on the
linked to the students’ hard work as statisticians. The Pilots’
sidelines, I knew this was a great opportunity for PBL.
analytical skills, teamwork, and willingness to sacrifice personal time earned them status as integral members of a
Over the remainder of the season, Bella Amigable ’18, Crystal
championship football team. Project-based learning allowed
Butcher ’18, Hailie Burton ’18 and Kaiya Alvarez ’18 redefined
the students to understand and reap real-world value from
the role of young women on the high school football field.
their professional contributions. As Bella exclaimed after the
Each Thursday, our data team gathered during lunch to watch
title game, “Oh my gosh, I’m in shock! I still can’t believe we
game film, review statistics and make predictions. On Friday
won. This was the experience of a lifetime!”
nights, we would accomplish three tasks: keeping in-game statistics on the opposing
As with all innovative learning practices,
offense, using live game film (downloaded
it is an evolving pedagogy, and as such,
to our iPads on the sideline) to analyze
we remain open to partnerships with
our defense and help the players make
additional schools to continually broaden
adjustments, and monitoring any tells (clues
the program involvement.
regarding strategy) that we might glean coaches.
Pictured above from left: Crystal Butcher ’18, Dr. Chittuluru (Dr. J), and Bella Amigable ’18.
By the end of the season, we comprised
Pictured left: Bella Amigable ’18 holding her notes and analytics from the game.
from observing the other team’s players or
a well-rehearsed staff that was able to successfully predict every offensive play
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F R OM A N G L ES TO A PA RT M E N TS : Applying Geometry in the Real World By Samantha League
Last semester, our Geometry and Geometry Honors classes
equality for women and girls. Funds from the grant were used
used their new knowledge to design a hypothetical apartment
to supply materials for the girls.
complex for their final project. Finally, each group presented their 3D models to a panel of
“I wanted to show my students one way geometry was used in the real world,” Mrs. Jennifer Rodriguez says. “They may not become an architect, but it was worth it for them to see application (of geometry in the real world).”
real architects and engineers, who had to select one apartment complex to “build.” Gianna Mazzei ’19, Alexandria Seifert ’19 and Emily Rivera ’19 won for their outstanding complex, pictured below.
Girls started designing in Homestyler, which is a free online home design software. They created the overall floorplan of the apartment complex as well as model floorplans for one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. These “furnished units” were required to have paint, flooring, appropriate furniture and appliances. The overall apartment complex also needed outdoor features, such as landscaping and common areas. Afterwards, girls started building 3D replica models out of foamboard at a scale of 1:96. This part of the project was made possible by a community action grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). According to their website, community action grants provide funds for innovative programs or research projects that promote education and
14 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
Gianna Mazzei ’19, Alexandria Seifert ’19 and Emily Rivera ’19 pose with their final product, which was chosen by the judges’ panel of professional architects and engineers.
As Ms. Molly Cunningham puts it, all of the final projects were beautiful. “They worked so hard to make them exact and perfect,” she elaborates. “I was very impressed with everything they pulled off.” The girls’ experience didn’t end with the semester, however. Students have been attending AAUW conferences and luncheons to present their projects to AAUW members. Mariela Lopez-Oviedo ’19 was one of the students who presented her team’s apartment complex at a recent luncheon. Her team was one of the few who went above minimum requirements to furnish their 3D model with landscaping.
“My mom’s an architect, so she shows me (her models) all the time,” Mariela says. “I’m really into art – I like being creative with everything.” Her team’s project is pictured below.
Girls began planning their apartment complex in Homestyler, an online home design program and maximized our new writeable surface desks for brainstorming.
Sofia Esparza-Chavez ’19, Samantha Weinzimer ’19 and Mariela Lopez-Oviedo ’19 pose with their final product.
Whether or not our girls pursue a career in architecture or engineering, we can guarantee they won’t be asking, “When will I ever use this?” in a geometry course again. They also had the unique opportunity to meet and receive feedback from real STEM professionals.
“I think it was a really cool experience for them to see geometry outside of the classroom, and to have direct interactions with professionals who are currently using these concepts in everyday life,” Ms. Cunningham says.
Teams then use the Homestyler program, along with their new desks, to build a 3D model. We were able to outfit all of our new classrooms with these innovative and adjustable desks and chairs with the funds raised from our All in For OLP 2016 annual fund campaign.
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OLP WELCOMES
zSpace Virtual Reality BY E M I LY P I P P I N ’ 0 6
Only a few short months ago, room 103 in Aquinas Hall was a designated faculty workspace. Today, the space is home to our brand new zSpace Learning Lab, a dedicated space for students to deepen their knowledge and learn using virtual reality (VR). As the first all girls’ school in Southern California and the first school in San Diego County to embrace this new technology, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and staying on the cutting edge of innovation in education. This state-of-the-art VR technology has limitless applications in the classroom, allowing students to learn visually and interact with a vast catalog of 3-D course material ranging from anatomy, botany, ecosystems, physics, earth science and biochemistry to geography and history modules. “Today, students are challenged to compete on a global scale and be adept at leveraging rapidly changing technologies. At OLP, we are thrilled to place these new tools in the hands of our remarkable students,” Dr. Lek, Head of School, said. “Being one of the first all girls’ schools to bring this technology speaks to our trailblazing history of educating the next generation of women leaders and innovators.” Unlike other VR devices, zSpace offers a 3-D interactive learning experience across a variety of disciplines, allowing students to go in-depth with learning in a way never before possible with traditional teaching methods. The system allows students to manipulate realistic 3-D images relating to the human body, animals and even mechanics. Wearing special glasses and using a stylus to manipulate 3-D graphics on the screen, students are afforded the ability to learn visually. This summer, OLP will be making this incredible tool available to 5th-8th graders through the OLP Summer Program. Find out more at aolp.org/ admission/summer-enrichment-camps. 16 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
BIG IDEAS, T I N Y I N N OVAT I O N S By Samantha League L A ST SE M E ST E R , I N T RO TO A RCH I T ECT U R E students jumped on the tiny living bandwagon and designed their own Tiny Houses for their final project. If you haven’t seen the hit TV series Tiny House Nation, Jessica Lindgren ’18 sums it up in one sentence: “Tiny living allows a homeowner to scale down and find the joys of living simply in a home that is
to OLP on December 1. Mr. Weisbarth talked about the tiny house craze, his role in helping the trend take off, and surprised everyone when he admitted to attending a Miss OLP Ball while he was a student at Coronado High! As Lindgren ’19 recalls, “The class enjoyed themselves immensely.” After soaking in all of this tiny house
less than 500 square feet.”
knowledge, the girls had to present
As many of you might recall from your
perspectives and a scaled-down model
first apartments and living spaces, simply organizing a 500-square-foot home is hard enough! “I decided on the tiny house idea because it is so inspiring. They use many organizational and design tricks to maximize space,” Mrs. Diane (La Costa) Lehman ’08 explained. “This is an awesome skill to have as the girls
their design plans, sections, elevations, to an established architect: LA-based
· Watch episodes of Tiny House Nation
Chris Smith. Both Mrs. Lehman and Mr.
to observe the design process and
Smith were impressed with the girls’
brainstorm ideas
new and innovative ideas.
· Sketch ideas for the space It’s worth noting that Architecture was a brand new class in the fall. The girls went from designing the interior of the newly-finished 168-square-foot loft in Carondelet’s attic to designing an entire
will be moving into dorm rooms soon!”
500-square-foot living space in just
Mrs. Lehman also wanted to give them
will have the opportunity to continue
a real-life scenario project: to use their design skills to please a client. So she chose a real Tiny House Nation client at the time: NFL star Deion Sanders and his girlfriend, “Extra” host Tracey Edmonds. To help them navigate their tiny house adventure, Mrs. Lehman invited Tiny House Nation host, John Weisbarth,
THE TIN Y HOUSE P ROC ESS
one short semester. Next fall, students onto Architecture II, where the design process will shift from a singular client with individual needs to large public spaces with communal expectations.
· Divide the space into separate program areas: eating, sleeping, cooking and bathing · Find dimensions for the home, taking into account that it has to be mobile · Use Google Sketch Up to bring drawings to life · Build a scale model · Present the Tiny House Project –
We can’t wait to see what our girls
including plans, sections, elevations,
design next. In the meantime, if
perspectives and the scale model – to
you’re looking for a tiny house living
Chris Smith, an LA-based architect
consultant, you know who to call.
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135 YEARS!
O L P IS C E L E B R AT I N G O UR 13 5TH A N N I V E R SA RY T HI S Y EA R! We’d love for you to join us at our
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017 FROM 5:30-7:30 P.M. ON OLP’S CAMPUS
a DAY in the LIFE
We recently hosted a service immersion group from our sister school in the bay area, Carondelet High School. They visited Chicano Park (seen above), Border Patrol Headquarters, USD and Friendship Park during their stay. #sisterschool #servicetrip #ourhouseisyourhouse
This event will feature delicious appetizers from The French Gourmet and a beautiful exhibits showcasing our history, showing the impact of the CSJ Sisters across California and a multimedia timeline from 1882 to present. Join with us to celebrate our 135-year history of educating the next generation of women leaders and innovators! There’s no cost to attend, but space is limited. More info at aolp.org. Students and teachers attended MOPA’s Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2017 and saw the film “What Tomorrow Brings.” This film follows one year in the life of the first all-girls school in a remote, conservative Afghan village. #girlseducation #allofwhichwomaniscapable
Juniors in Social Justice class this semester visited the Ohr Shalom Synagogue and learned about the Torah with Rabbi Meltzer. Religious tolerance is such an important cornerstone of society and we strive to include this in our curriculum wherever possible. #likeanOLPgirl 18 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
How cool is this? Two of our students, Anitza Velazquez ’18 and Lorena Ramirez ’18, were chosen to attend Nobel Week in Stockholm, which culminated in the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony! What an amazing experience. #likeagirl #learningabroad
OLP was honored as “Woman of the Year” at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dr. Lek, Mrs. Hooper and Delia Garland ’17 rode in the honorary corvette! #OLPpride #StPatrick’sDayParade #womeningreen
Olivia Lewis ’18 was selected to be on the Royal Court for the 37th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Her float won first place, and Olivia Levya’s ’18 dance troop also won a prize! Congratulations, ladies! #likeanOLPgirl
Way to go Pilots! The Archery team won their first match of the season against High Tech High Chula Vista! #Archery #Katniss
Our incredible Mock Trial team got the wild card and, for the 2nd consecutive year, will compete at the Constitutional Rights Foundation 36th Annual California Mock Trial Finals in Riverside. #likeanOLPgirl #welovethelaw
Congratulations to Elisa Litke ’17 for winning the San Diego ESU National Shakespeare Competition! She performed the Nurse’s monologue from Romeo and Juliet and will compete in New York. Break a leg! #likeanOLPgirl #Shakespeareisgoodforthesoul
Mrs. Winslow’s AP Environmental Science class took their own “field trip” to the faculty parking lot to help a construction crew take soil samples. #geologyisfun #likeagirl
Spring Sing
Our annual Renaissance Fair was held recently. Students dressed up in Renaissance attire while teaching us everything about the time period right down to what kind of toilet was created in that era. #creativitycomesalive #genius
The OLP MicroChicks Robotics Team recently competed in the final FIRSTRobotic League tournament. #robotics #stronglikeagirl #girlsbuildingrobots
Our 47th Annual Spring Sing took us through “Landmarks” including Easter Island, Chichen Itza, Buckingham Palace and the Eiffel Tower. Congrats to the Sophomores for winning the overall award! #schoolspirit OLP MAGAZINE | 19
THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM Modeled after speaker panels at leading universities, this annual event brings together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success.
Friday, March 31, 2017, 8:45 am - 1:00 pm. Register at aolp.org/OLPWS Thank You to Our Sponsors!
THIS INNOVATIVE EVENT WILL FEATURE: » Keynote Speaker:
» Emcee:
» Closing Speaker:
Marcela Valladolid ’96,
Katia Lopez-
Danielle Dietz-
Chef, author, and
Hodoyan ’98,
LiVolsi, founder &
co-host of the Food
Award-winning
CEO of NuttZo and
Network television
Bilingual Journalist
alumnae parent
series The Kitchen
at NBC 7 San Diego
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PANEL » Facilitator Anne Sweeney Member of the Board of Directors at Netflix and former President of Disney-ABC Television Group
20 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
Brenda
Priscilla Guido ’00
Chapman
Client Development at Christie’s Mexico City
American Writer, Animation Story Artist and Director (Brave, The Lion King)
Carol Lazier
Alexia Maria
Pamela Kay-Davis
President, San Diego Opera Board of Directors
Esquer
Segment producer at KUSI San Diego
Fashion Designer/ CEO at Alexia Maria
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL » Facilitator
Mary Ann
Jamie Moraga
McGarry
President and CEO of intelliSolutions, Inc.
President and CEO, Partner at Guild Mortgage Company
Felena Hanson Founder at Hera Hub: Collaborative Workspace for Women
Michele Comtois Principal, Executive Liability Practice at Barney & Barney
HEALTHCARE PANEL » Facilitator
Patricia Robinson, R.N.
World-renowned Interventional Cardiologist
Co-Founder and Executive Board for Mercy Outreach Surgical Team (M.O.S.T.)
Priscilla Ibarra, M.D. ’98 Renowned Dermatologist
STEM PANEL » Facilitator Cheryl Goodman Executive Director at Athena
Owner of Mrs. Parker’s Charm School
VP & Associate Publisher at San Diego Business Journal
Patricia Aubanel, M.D.
Diane Perez, M.D. Internationally recognized physician, medical journalist, author, news anchor and television host
Kymberli Parker
Amy Wimer
Laura Van’t veer Ph.D. World-renowned Molecular Biologist, Leader of the Breast Oncology Program and Associate Director Applied Genomics
Ilkay Altintas,
Kristi Jaska
Ph.D.
Vice President, Engineering at ViaSat Inc.
Chief Data Science Officer at San Diego Supercomputer Center
Corina Antal Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Saura Naderi Staff, Government Affairs Analyst at Qualcomm Inc.
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ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Teresa A. Hubka ’74 By Alexis Rodriguez
Teresa A. Hubka ’74 and her family have been part of OLP’s tradition of excellence since the early 1970s. With seven members of her family who have either graduated from Villa Montemar or are currently attending, the Hubka family has a long legacy with OLP. Teresa has had an amazing journey since graduating from OLP. After earning her B.S. from the University of California, Davis and M.S. from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, she received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from the University of Osteopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, Des Moines, Iowa, and did postdoctoral work at Midwestern University. Teresa is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology. She is the Owner, Founder and Medical Director of Comprehensive Wellness Care, LLC, her private practice in Chicago, Illinois, and holds academic positions such as Clinical Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Director of Student Core & Elective Clerkships at Midwestern University - Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Chicago.
“I am very appreciative of the education and leadership training I received from OLP and will be ever grateful for my parents sending me and my sisters, Cheri Hubka-Sparhawk ’73 and Marija Hubka-Santos ’82, to OLP,” Teresa said. Teresa’s sister-in-law, Janet Wilsee-Hubka ’76, and three of her nieces, Kelsea Hubka ’05, Corinna Sparhawk-Wydr ’07 and Marin Hubka ’08, are all alumnae. Shae Hubka ’20, another one of Teresa’s nieces, just started as a freshman.
22 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
Teresa decided to become a doctor because science and the natural healing process of the body always fascinated her. “I felt compelled to help others by educating and empowering them to optimize their health and wellbeing,” she said. “I enjoy working with my hands and using my mental capacity to solve the challenges of a patient’s health concerns. As an OBGYN, I love delivering new life and watching families grow and develop. I am passionate about performing surgery and working with the anatomy of the body. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to fix something that is broken.” She enjoys being a professor just as much as being a physician due to her strong desire to educate others. “Doctor means teacher, and
I love to teach!” Teresa said. “Life is a continuous lesson. You must always push yourself to learn something new. If you are not learning something new, you are not living. I enjoy seeing when the ’light goes on’ in the face of a student who gets a new concept – the ’aha’ moment!”
While the academic rigor pushed her to develop strong study habits that helped her pursue her career, OLP’s co-curricular and social activities taught her the skills necessary to develop strong relationships. “The sisterhood bonds and friendships forged while studying at OLP are still very much a part of my life,” she said.
In addition to the multitude of professional titles, Teresa has many important roles in her personal life. She is a Catholic, wife, mom, sister, friend and colleague. She said that the secret to successfully managing many responsibilities “is to learn how to multitask and prioritize your work and projects. Have a passion for what you do, but never place your work above your family and relationships, and always keep your faith in God.”
“strong foundation on which to build (her) commitment to and compassion for helping others less fortunate or in need.” Teresa recently took a trip to India to voluntarily teach physicians about Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO). She had the opportunity to educate physicians and those involved in providing care to pregnant women about obstetrical emergency care, which she considers a great privilege. Teresa believes that OLP continues to foster an environment of innovative learning for the next generation of women, which includes her nieces. She credits the facilities, curriculum and OLP’s commitment to faith-based education for nurturing the “skills necessary to become successful young women in a culturally
Teresa’s experience as a student at OLP had a lasting impact on her. “I was always
diverse world.”
shy and OLP taught me to go beyond my comfort zone, enabling me to pursue
For those who wish to pursue a career in healthcare, she has the following advice:
leadership roles that I might not otherwise have considered,” she said. She also
OLP’s focus on personal growth also had a lasting impact that prepared her for life
“Medicine and healthcare continue to be in need of women who have a passion
fondly remembers Sister Fay Hagen believing in her and always pushing her to
after high school. “Core values such as love, honor and faith in God have, and
for medicine while providing excellent care with confidence and dedication.
do her very best.
always will, resonate with me… I learned to be strong and proud of who I am as a
For the young women currently at OLP, I would advise them to develop strong
Teresa remembers having an innovative learning experience during her time at
Catholic, as a person, and as a woman,” Teresa said.
study habits early, always be willing to learn something new, and have a passion
OLP. One of the most important things she learned was to “respect the delicate
In fact, Teresa credits the “giving and
for what you want to do as a career but always have a zest for life!”
balance between learning and playing.”
sharing spirit” at OLP for giving her a
SISTER CLARE DUNN, CSJ On March 23, 2017, Sister Clare Dunn, CSJ (1934-1981), was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame in Tempe, Arizona. Sister Clare was the first woman Religious to be elected to public office in Arizona. She served four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives and championed the causes of social, environmental and human rights. She also championed women’s rights and children’s rights. Sister Clare supported the Farm Workers of America, their leader Cesar Chavez and the boycotts instituted by the movement. “Sister Clare was a voice for those who could not defend themselves,” according to the official biography in her induction introduction. The induction ceremony was held on March 23 at the Arizona Historical Society-Papgo Park in Temple. Sister Clare and her administrative assistant, Sister Judith Lovchik, were killed in a car accident on July 10, 1981. Her colleagues in the House eulogized Sister Clare as, “the conscience of the legislature.” OLP MAGAZINE
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L’art d'inspire
32ND ANNUAL GALA AND AUCTION INSPIRES RECORD FUNDRAISING More than 300 guests attended OLP’s 32nd Annual Gala and Auction, L’art d’inspire, held on campus February 11, 2017. Our community of alumnae, parents, board of directors, donors, students and volunteers celebrated together, raising more than $225,000 in support of the Carondelet Annual Fund! Student artists were present throughout the evening to impress and inspire our guests. Famous female artists such as Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo and Coco Chanel greeted guests as they arrived on Circle Drive. Performances included OLP’s honors choir, orchestra, ballet folklorico, Irish dancers, ballet dancers and soloists. In addition, three AP Art students created art live as guests enjoyed a gourmet meal catered by our partners at The French Gourmet. On behalf of of each OLP student, thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s L’art d’inspire Gala a big success!
Save the Date for next year: March 10, 2018!
24 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
Frida Kahlo Sponsor
georgia o’keefe Sponsor
Ann Navarra ’63
Mary Cassatt Sponsors
Annie Leibovitz Sponsor Terry (Sorgi) Camarata ’77 and David Camarata
Coco Chanel Sponsors Sarita (Lemus) Flaming ’78 and Scott Flaming Marathon Construction Corporation Mary M. O’Connor, DDS, Inc. McMahon Steel Zoraida and Gary Payne Rick & Toni Russo/Russo Marble University of San Diego
Fred and Ginger Sponsors Tobi and Ron de Frates Elizabeth and Michael Guerrero Lauren and John Lek
Event Underwriting Cocktail Reception Mary (Caratan) Sloper ’58 and Don Sloper
Program Carla (da Luz) Boren ’87 and Sean Boren
Faculty Table Anonymous Donor Irma and Francisco Anguiano
Signature Cocktail Kennedy and Souza Law Firm Henebery Whiskey
CSJ Table and Invitations Margaret Stehly
Valet Mary M. O’Connor, DDS, Inc.
Photography Core Consulting Group, Inc. ML Clark Construction & Consulting
Wine Chandon Raquel and Ernesto Dominguez PARO Wines
Printing Neyenesch Printing
Clockwise from top left: • • • • • • • •
Carolyn (Camarata) Gallagher ’00 holds up her bidder number for the Fund-A-Pilot portion of the evening. Gala Honorary Chair, Ann Navarra ’63 enjoying the evening. Emily Rivera ’19 leading a performance of “Oceans.” OLP parents Robert and Rosemary Hanczor. Current student Tatiana Sallins ’18 played the piano during the cocktail hour. OLP’s Ballet Folklorico group performed before dinner. OLP Board Chair Coreen Petti and board member and alumna parent Gayle McMahon pose for the camera. Back row from left: NAME, Sr. Jill Napier, Dr. Lek, NAME. Front row from left: NAME, NAME, Sr. Suzanne Jabro and Sr. Angela Faustino
Thank you to the more than 100 donors to our silent and live auction. Check out our website at www.aolp.org/gala O L P M A G A Z I Nfor E |a 2 5 complete list of donors.
PILOTS
TA K E F L I G H T M a rc h
ANDREA (CLIFT) GALLAGHER ’04
K IRBY MCCU RT IS ’01
Andrea (Clift) Gallagher recently married Colin Gallagher at the Founder’s Chapel at USD. Andrea was joined by her sisters and OLP alums Sofia (Clift) Putrino ’06 and Jacquelyn (Flaming) Ackman ’06 and her mom Sarita (Lemus) Flaming ’78. Congrats, Andrea!
Kirby McCurtis ’01 will serve as a member on the John Newbery Award Committee. She has been a librarian since 2008, and is currently a Youth Librarian for the Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon. Nationally recognized as a Mover & Shaker in 2013, she is an active member of the American Library Association and the author of a chapter in the recently released book Libraries, Literacy and African American Youth.
LAU RA G UA DIA N A ’76 S O FIA (CL I FT ) P UT R I N O ’ 08 Sofia (Clift) Putrino ’08 recently married Anthony Putrino at the La Jolla Woman’s Club. Sofia was joined by her sisters and OLP alums, Andrea (Clift) Gallagher ’04 and Jacquelyn (Flaming) Ackman ’06, and her mom, Sarita (Lemus) Flaming ’78. Congrats, Sofia!
Laura Guadiana ’76 is currently the principal at iExplore Elementary School in Tijuana, Baja California, where she is helping children discover their potential and develop the skills necessary to be transforming leaders.
ALEXANDRA ESPINOSA OSUNA ’09 Alexandra Espinosa Osuna ’09, daughter of Claudine Mattos Espinosa ’85, was married to her kindergarten crush Christopher Osuna at a Mass at Founders Chapel at USD. Her sister, Julia Espinosa ’18, was her Maid of Honor. The wedding party also consisted of Devoney Kodad and Gelena Correia, Class of 2009 and Jamie Mattos ’12. The eucharistic minister was Lena Vessel-King ’85 and her daughter, Madeleine ’17, was the guest book attendant.
26 | O L P M A G A Z I N E
MEGAN BAUMGARTEN ’05 Megan Baumgarten ’05 is starting Barefoot Acres Sanctuary, a regenerative agriculture organic farm in Portland, Oregon.
JEA NIN E ( HA I K E R ) T R USTY ’0 6
G A BRIE LA H ILLS ’0 6
Jeanine (Haiker) Trusty ’06 and her husband Cory Trusty welcomed their first child, son Logan Gault Trusty, on February 8, 2017. The family is happy and healthy and even their dog, Lincoln, loves the new addition. Congrats, Jeanine!
Gabriela Hills ’06 recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Jason Lehr while on a trip to Chicago. Wedding plans are underway. Gabriela currently works as a Distribution Specialist at Green Flash Brewing.
JU L I A N NE (SHE LTON ) HAML I N ’0 6 Julianne (Shelton) Hamlin ’06 and her husband, Billy Hamlin recently welcomed their first child, son William Robert Hamlin IV, on November 19, 2016. Congrats, Julie!
JACQ U ELY N ( F L AMI NG ) AC K MA N ’0 6
Jacquelyn (Flaming) Ackman ’06 and her husband Jeff Ackman recently welcomed their first child, son Mason Scott Ackman on December 30, 2016. Congrats, Jacquelyn!
KARA JOHNSON ’13 N ATA L I E KA PP ’1 3 Kara Johnson ’13 and Natalie Kapp ’13 will be commissioned in the U.S. Navy as Ensigns after they graduate from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Villanova University. Kara will be a nurse at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia, and Natalie will be a surface warfare officer on a ship.
LILY N G UY E N VU ’0 6 Lily Nguyen Vu ’06 works as a teacher for the San Diego Unified School District. She recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Greg Brown.
YOVAN A M E N DOZA ’0 7 Yovana Mendoza ’07, known for her Rawvana brand, is close to one million followers on YouTube! She blogs and vlogs about eating raw foods in both Spanish and English.
IN Memoriam
We remember our beloved alumnae who have gone to their eternal rest. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
THE RESE MURP HY-TU C KE R ’ 44 OLP MAGAZINE | 27 BRITTA NY LANE ’ 04
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POS TAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, C A PERMIT NO. 1592
4 8 6 0 O R E G O N S T, S A N DI E G O, C A 92 1 16
ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND
Reconnect at OLP’s 2nd Annual ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND AUGUST 11-12, 2017
FRIDAY , AUGUST 11 Hosted Reception with Members of the Class of 2018
Join with the OLP community at the 4th Annual Endless Summer Event
Free! | 11:00 am | Carondelet Library and North Terrace
$35/$50/$750 VIP Tickets | 5:30 pm | North Terrace
» Welcome Remarks by Head of School Lauren Lek » Continental Breakfast
» Live Band, Beer and Wine Bar, and Delicious Food! » 21+ Only
Campus Tours by Carondelet Circle Student Ambassadors 12:00 pm | Campus
SATURDAY , AUGUST 12
Alumnae Mass 10:00 am | OLP Chapel » Special Honoring for Alumnae Who Have Passed Away
Another Chance For Campus Tours
Ladies Champagne Brunch
12:30 pm | Campus
$30 Tickets | 11:00 am | North Terrace » Alumna of the Year Award Recognition & Class Pictures » Open to alumna moms and current students as well!
Individual class-specific celebrations taking place off campus that evening
WEEKEND DETAILS All classes and alumnae are welcome to attend the festivities. Special classes celebrating reunions are: 1942–75th 1947–70th 1952–65th 1957–60th 1962–55th
1967–50th 1972–45th 1977–40th 1982–35th 1987–30th
1992–25th 1997–20th 2002–15th 2007–10th 2012–5th
Purchase tickets and find information at aolp.org/alumnae-reunion-weekend
SEE YOU THERE!