2019 October OLP Magazine

OLP MAGAZINE

The Next Generation: Summer Camps at OLP

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE (AUTUMN 2019)

IN THIS ISSUE AUTUMN 2019

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REPORT ON GIVING

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SUMMER EXPERIENCES

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SUMMER CAMPS

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ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND

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THE POWER OF AN ALL-GIRLS’ E D U CAT I O N

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A DAY I N THE LIFE

MARK YOUR CALENDARS THE ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE presents

35TH ANNUAL GAL A & AUCTION

Hamlet S H O W DAT E S : Thursday, November 14 Friday, November 15 Saturday, November 16 O L P A M P H I T H E AT E R 4860 Oregon Street San Diego, CA 92116 Parking available in garage and surrounding streets JUSTIN T R A C Y, DIRECTOR TICKETS $12 adults $8 students, seniors, & military Tickets and show times will be available soon at aolp.org/drama.

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Candlelight Procession DECE M B E R 12 , 2 019 7:0 0 PM Free | RSVP required M O R E I N F O AVA I L A B L E S O O N A T A O L P. O R G We’d love to see you again for this time-honored tradition, more than 75 years running! Join us as we come together to deepen our experience of Advent and Christmas through words and music set in beautiful student tableaux that tell the story of the birth of Christ.

Beyond ABOVE &

A BOUNDLESS EXPERIENCE

S AT U R D AY , FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Dr. Lek with OLP freshmen at our OLP/Saints Frosh Picnic in July

Dear OLP Pilot Community, On April 18, 1882, four sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet arrived in San Diego to begin the county’s first high school. Not only did they come to open a school, but one for all girls. For $15 a month, they rented a house located at Second and G Street and on May 10, 1882, just a few weeks later, the school officially opened its doors.

These revolutionary leaders saw a need that still persists today. The necessity of educating girls in a school of their own. A place that empowers them, meets their needs, cultivates a spirit of sisterhood and values that ultimately prepare them as leaders to enter an ever-changing world with confidence.

In 1882, 2019, or any year in between, that conviction and need remain the same. When our young girls are provided a safe space to develop their voice and their leadership capacity, they are ready to enter diverse settings and thrive.

As I watch this new group of young women in the Class of 2023 join our community, I see within just a couple of weeks how they are flourishing. For some, it is the willingness to try a new class, audition for a role in the upcoming fall performance of Hamlet, try a new team, or join a new club. Throughout their four years, these young women will learn not only the academic skills to flourish, but the social strength to be steadfast in their values, and the leadership to carry them forth into the world.

Each year at our women’s symposium, we highlight statistics about the gender inequities that persist today. Just recently, I was reading an update from Athena, a local non-profit organization committed to empowering women in STEM industries, about the current status of women on publicly traded boards. California set their own deadline for publicly traded California general corporations to include at least one woman on their board by the end of 2019. A report just released by the California Secretary of State indicates that only 184 out of 537 publicly-traded California corporations have met this new legislative mandate as of July 1, 2019. The gap persists.

The mission-centric work that began with our four CSJ Sisters and is carried out by our lay faculty and staff is a vocation committed to ensuring that our girls leave OLP as women of faith, courage, heart, and excellence. A mission as necessary today as it was in 1882.

In this magazine edition, you will see how that mission lives out. Our educational program is centered around the best practices and research of how girls learn. You can read about the launch of the first annual OLP Hackathon or student’s work in the UCSD Molecular Biology summer course.

Another article shares how we have expanded our work in summer school to begin those learning experiences at an even younger age.

As I sit here in my office, looking out onto Lower Plaza and our 750 young women, I am joy-filled, for I know unequivocally that these women are the hope for our communities, our nation, and our world.

The work we do will change the future.

Blessings,

Lauren Lek, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

CLASS NOTES should be sent to Jeanette Handelsman at jhandelsman@aolp.org TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS, please contact Nelson Kim at nkim@aolp.org

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.”

OLP

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. Rivka Bent Chris Boyer Marlena Conroy Angela Gascho, Ed.D. Aaron Gonzalez Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Jessica (Goncalves) Occhialini ’88 Emily Pippin ’06 Toni Russo Contributors Susan Antolin ’06 Jenna Beck ’20 Rivka Bent Loren Joy de Los Sanots ’21 Becca Fink Jeanette (Prantil) Handelsman ’64 Shawn Hanley Ryan Martin-Spencer Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Lucie Kaskoun ’22 Bridgette Ouimette Annie Pehrson ’20 Emily Pippin ’06 Nicole Rayner Emma Rens ’20 Design Hollis Maloney ’07 Copy Editor Lisa Danaher Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Ed.D., Head of School Damian McKinney, Board Chair Coreen G. Petti, Board Chair Francesca Castagnola Clair (Cunningham) Kennedy ’81 Diane Koester-Byron Deacon Lane Litke Gayle McMahon Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea Carrie Sawyer Timothy Truxaw Danitza (Ramirez) Villaneuva ’98 Sister Maureen O’Connor, CSJ Provincial OLP MAGAZINE

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Our incredible cheer team put on an outstanding performance at our Welcome Back Assembly in August. The OLP Cheer team is the oldest athletic program on campus and consistently one of the largest.

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J U LY 2 0 1 8 – J U N E 2 0 1 9

REPORT ON GIVING Tuition keeps an institution running. Philanthropy transforms it.

2018-2019 TOTA L RA ISE D : $564,776

Thank You, Donors!

Each year, parents, alumnae, faculty, staff, and the greater OLP community generously invest in our remarkable OLP students through our annual fund. It is an historic time for OLP as we are synchronously raising funds to support Boundless: The Campaign for OLP. Please view the next page to see the exciting updates for Boundless as we embark on Phase II of this amazing capital construction project.

Through fundraising events, corporate giving, foundation support, special appeals, and additional sponsorships, we raised $564,776 in annual giving during the 2018-2019 school year. These funds were used to enhance OLP’s academic programs, provide scholarships to students in needs, support over 60 clubs, all of our co-curricular programs, and over 500 student-athletes spanning over 25 different athletic teams.

The support from our OLP community is powerful, essential, and has an immediate impact on our students’ experiences. To each and every donor, thank you for all you do to support our young women.

Lauren Lek, Ed.D. H EA D OF S CHOOL

We value and need your support.

I N VEST IN OLP STUD ENTS BY MAKI N G YO U R GI FT TO DAY. WWW. AO L P.O RG/GI V I N G 6 | OLP MAGAZINE

$27,057 | 6%

Special Programs

$23,995 | 5% Endowment

$43,860 | 9%

$120,864 | 25% Carondelet Annual Fund

$349,000 | 62%

From Special Events

Scholarships/Tuition Assistance

“Supporting women’s education and women’s issues is the most important thing this century.

This is what it’s all about. It’s about supporting our young women because they are our future leaders.”

- Paul Estrada, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, Current Parent and Alumna Parent

Boundless S U P P O R T WE NEED YOU TO S TA R T P H A S E 2 ! $1 2

MILLION

W E CA N ’ T M E ET O U R G OA L W I T H O U T YO U R H E L P $11 Million $10 Million

PHA SE 2 GOAL $12 MILLION

$9 Million $8 Million

$10.76 MILLION ACHIE V ED TO DATE

$7 Million

$6 Million

PH A SE 1 GOAL $10 MILLION ACHIE V ED

$5 Million

$4 Million

$3 Million

YO U C A N H E L P U S S TA R T P H A S E 2 ! G I F T S O F A N Y S I Z E A R E W E L C O M E A N D A P P R E C I AT E D !

T O M A K E A G I F T C O N TA C T STEPHANIE K ANASKI

$2 Million

61 9 - 7 2 5 - 9 1 3 6 O R S K A N A S K I @ A O L P. O R G

$1Million

V I S I T A O L P. O R G / B O U N D L E S S TO LEARN MORE

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OLP Graduates Earn Girl Scout Gold Award

BY BECCA FINK

Sanjana Mody ’19 and Mariana Frangos ’19 earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, reaching the pinnacle of the Girl Scout leadership experience. Gold Award Girl Scouts provide innovative solutions to significant challenges.

Sanjana is now a freshman at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, majoring in behavioral neuroscience with a minor in global engagement. For her Gold Award, she led a campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking and how to avoid it. She collaborated with two nonprofit organizations— the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC) and Project Concern International—to address one major cause of human trafficking: overly informative social media content. She hosted presentations for middle and high school students and their parents at schools, places of worship, extracurricular venues, and human trafficking conferences. St. Columba Catholic School adopted her curriculum for its Healthy Relationships class.

Sanjana Mody ‘19 Nova Southeastern University

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Mariana Frangos ‘19 Stanford University

OLP Board Co-Chair and alumna parent Coreen Petti with Sanjana Mody ’19 and Carol M Dedrich, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts San Diego.

Mariana, who was OLP’s 2019 valedictorian, is now a

Dedrich. “Our 2019 Gold Award Girl Scouts embody everything

freshman at Stanford University majoring in mathematics and

this achievement stands for.”

computational science. To earn her Gold Award, Mariana

created a self-guided tour on the San Diego Museum of Arts’

Mariana and Sanjana were among 61 Gold Award Girl Scouts

app to help children ages three to twelve explore kid-friendly

honored during a ceremony hosted by Girl Scouts San Diego.

exhibits. Her intent was to pair technology and the arts in a way

The keynote speaker was OLP Board Chair and alumna parent

that engaged children in a meaningful way. She also collected

Coreen Petti. The Girl Scout alum is a Gold Award Girl Scout,

and donated childproof tablets for the tours. Her resources

former troop leader, and member of a multi-generational

remain at the museum for continued use.

Girl Scout family. During the Gold Award event, she shared about how Girl Scout experiences like outdoor adventures and

“Gold Award Girl Scouts change the world for the better, and

becoming a camp counselor prepared her for leadership roles

change it for good!” said Girl Scouts San Diego CEO Carol M.

throughout her life.

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A LY S E S A U C E D O ’ 2 1 W I N S I N T E R N AT I O N A L TITLE AND $22,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

BY BECCA FINK

Alyse Saucedo ’21 was awarded $22,500 in scholarships and an international title after winning the 4th Annual Optimist Oratorical World Championship in St. Louis.

Alyse was among more than 25,000 students from around the world who competed in local and district Optimist Oratorical Contests before advancing to the World Championship held at Saint Louis University. More than 60 students from North America, Russia, and Pakistan competed digitally and in person, delivering a short speech on the topic, “Is there a fine line between optimism and reality?” Judges scored contestants based on their speech content, poise, and presentation.

“We’re truly in awe of Alyse, who at such a young age, has demonstrated the poise and dedication of someone well advanced in years,” said Dr. Lauren Lek, Head of School. “Alyse is a student leader whose determination is fueled by passion and a commitment to excellence. We are blessed to have her here at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace and to support her academic journey.”

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Optimist International President Rebecca Butler Mona said, “The competitors in our Oratorical World Championships are developing skills that will serve them well as leaders in business, politics, the arts, and numerous other fields. These young people exhibit the hope and positive vision that lies at the core of our mission as Optimists, and that’s why this program has endured for more than 90 years.”

Optimist International is a service club organization with thousands of clubs and members in more than 20 countries. The Optimist Oratorical Contest began in 1928 and the competition was expanded to the World level in 2016.

We are so proud of Alyse! Way to go!

Training Up Our Cultural Intelligence

BY RIVKA BENT

Over a year ago, Dr. Lauren Lek and Rivka Bent attended a discussion focused on inclusive practices at the organizational level. There they were introduced to Dr. Steven Jones of Jones & Associates. Dr. Jones is an expert on

and staff, where the learning continued at our new academic year

diversity who founded Jones & Associates with the goal of making

retreat. Dr. Jones shared that inclusive practices are about ensuring a

a widespread positive impact in the world of diversity, inclusion,

variety of voices are brought to the proverbial table with intentionality

and organizational excellence. The topic of discussion that day has

to value the differences among us. Dr. Jones illuminated the idea of

special significance for OLP, as our Sisters of St. Joseph teach us to

“culturally curious,” a practice that guides each person to consider

work under the charism of “unifying love” through John’s gospel

the cultural influences of others. As he noted, “cultural curiosity

message “that all may be one.” Thus diversity, equity, and inclusion

allows us to see beyond the surface of the individual, beyond the

(DEI) are not new ideas to our CSJ and OLP community. In fact,

10%.” We also learned that embracing our differences overrides the

it was the CSJ Provincial Leadership who challenged us to take a

unconscious bias of a “you have to be like me to belong” mentality.

deeper dive into the subject this year.

Every OLP student learns, as part of her OLP experience, to look through the “diversity lens” of another. This year, the administration,

In looking for a partner to guide our DEI professional development,

faculty, and staff are ensuring that the same philosophy is present at

we found that Dr. Jones and his team come highly recommended

the organizational level. The work of diversity, equity, and inclusion

across the nation. Their work with academic institutions stood out

becomes about the “we” of unifying love.

as a reputable resource for understanding the cross-departmental culture of our campus. According to the Jones & Associates

Under the direction of Dr. Jones, our year will include several more

website, “inclusion must happen in an organization’s strategies,

professional development sessions for all employees, where we

systems, processes, and practices...so society views the organization

will continue to “skill-up” our diversity lens, intentional inclusive

as one it can support.”

practices, and ensuring equity in the processes and systems within our organization. The underlying message of DEI, honoring one

Training with Dr. Jones began in a two-day intensive session with OLP

another, brings us ever closer to our Christian goals, while we hone

administration in July. Dr. Jones then spent the day with all faculty

our diversity, equity, and inclusive skills.

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Bridging Generations through Summer Enrichment Camps

BY SUSAN ANTOLIN ’06

OLP’s Summer Enrichment Camp Program serves as a bridge connecting a generation of women to a generation of young girls eager to explore their passions and reach new heights in areas ranging from STEM to the Arts.

Rooted in our mission, our summer enrichment camps empower young girls to engage, collaborate, and create in an innovative learning environment. At the heart of the program lies the spirit of giving back. OLP alumnae, such as Dani Magat ‘18 (currently at UCSD), find themselves returning home to OLP to serve as professionally trained camp counselors who mentor fourth through seventh grade girls and witness “in real time the values and skills that OLP has cultivated in [them] and the real-life impact [they] can make in the community,”

Recently graduated alumnae serve as Summer Camp Counselors for Future Pilots.

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said Magat ‘18. OLP alumna Kira Lukasik ‘19, currently attending NYU’s Tisch Drama, reflected on her experience as OLP’s Broadway Camp counselor, “It was so rewarding to teach something I am passionate about to a new generation of girls. I was amazed by their constant curiosity and determination for learning. Watching them progress made my love for theatre grow even more something I didn’t even know was possible!” OLP’s Video Production Camp counselor, Penélope Cruz Rabago ‘18, who recently attended UCLA’s Summer Institute for Film Production, stated, “Teaching the campers something that I’m already passionate about is gratifying in itself, however, seeing that very passion reflected in the campers makes the experience a hundred times better.”

While providing campers the opportunity to build critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and leadership skills is a core element of our program, the confidence that is gained as a result of participating in our summer enrichment camps is truly immeasurable. For more information about our summer programs, please visit our website www.aolp.org.

Vivian Mateos Zuniga ‘18 returned for her second summer serving as a camp counselor. Vivian is pictured here with campers including our Assistant Head of School’s daughter, Clare Hooper (far right).

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Students from the Class of 2019 gathered to share their excitement for college

The Power of an All-Girls’ Education

BY BECCA FINK AND BRIDGETTE OUIMETTE

The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) said it best. “We believe a school for girls is better than a school with girls.” At OLP, we recognize the value an all-girls’ education has in supporting and empowering girls.

At a time when women are actively pursuing leadership roles-five percent of c-suite are women and women now make up 23.4% of Congress--it is essential to create supportive environments for girls. Countless studies have shown the immense benefits of all-girls’ education during their education

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“In a single-sex school, a girl can comprehend her value and her capabilities in ways that have nothing to do with how she looks or whom she dates. She can be free to experiment and explore, trying out new things and trying on new roles. She can follow her ambitions without wasting a second thought or a backward glance on how her male counterparts might perceive her.”

- National Coalition of Girls’ Schools

and beyond. All-girls’ schools provide an environment that gives every girl an opportunity to showcase her emerging intellect and talents. Graduates of all-girls’ schools are more likely to take on leadership roles, study subjects like math and science, and pursue higher education (Riggers-Piehl et al., 2018).

At OLP, we encourage our girls to be leaders and innovators.

One way of helping girls to become leaders is to help them build confidence. Girls who develop confidence are more likely to thrive in leadership roles because they are comfortable with public speaking, have had opportunities to practice conflict resolution, and are not concerned about appearing “bossy.”

Girls are more likely to adopt stereotypical behaviors (e.g., timid, unassertive) when in the presence of boys, as leadership traits are traditionally considered masculine. In all-girls’ schools, girls develop confidence in the absence of boys and the gender roles that would have them believe they cannot lead. Ninety-three percent of all-girls’ school graduates say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than peers at co-ed schools. In co-ed settings, girls often participate in extracurricular activities, but are underrepresented in the leadership of those activities.

All-girls’ education removes barriers to girls’ seeing themselves as leaders and actually taking on leadership roles.

In co-ed environments, gender constructs push girls to avoid subjects that are viewed as “masculine,” like math and science.

In all-girls’ schools, these gender constructs do not exist.

Our female educators in STEM, where women are commonly underrepresented, are role models for our girls. We encourage our girls to explore subjects like science, robotics, and math.

Compared to their co-ed peers, graduates of all-girls’ high schools have greater academic self-confidence, particularly in their math and science abilities. All-girls’ school graduates are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology compared to girls who attended co-ed schools.

All-girls’ schools allow girls to be themselves and provide an environment where students feel safe to express themselves and engage in an open and safe exchange of ideas. In co-ed environments, girls are often overlooked in the classroom, and their academic abilities are underdeveloped because there is a high value placed on girls demonstrating obedience and passivity.

100 percent of our graduates go on to higher education. All-girls’ school graduates are more than twice as likely to earn doctoral degrees compared to girls who attended co-ed schools.

Article References: Riggers-Pieh, T. , Lim, G., & King, K. (2018). Fostering Academic and Social Engagement: An Investigation into the Effects of All-Girls Education in the Transition to University (pp. 1–8). Los Angeles, CA: Higher Education Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles.

All-girls’ schools show girls that no career opportunity or leadership role is off-limits. Girls can be anything they want to be!

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OLP Presence at NCGS Conference B Y E M I LY PI PPI N ’ 0 6

OLP faculty, staff, and students recently attended and presented at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools’ (NCGS) Dream, Dare, Do Conference at Westridge School in Pasadena which brought together educators from all-girls’ schools around the world....

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As experts in girls’ education, these incredible OLP educators shared ideas and best practices for helping girls achieve in

Wessley Edmonds ‘20 presented at NCGS with OLP staff on the Architects of Change: A Conversation Series. Left to right: Jessica Hooper, Rivka Bent, Wessley Edmonds ‘20, Carolyn Williams, and Dr. Lauren Lek.

and outside the classroom. Faculty members who attended were able to gain valuable insights to bring back to their classrooms to support the next generation of women leaders and innovators we work to educate each day.

Head of School Dr. Lek; Chief of Staff, Rivka Bent; Assistant Head of School, Mrs. Hooper; and current OLP student, Wessley Edmonds ‘20, shared the success of the first-ever Architects of Change @ School program in a special breakout session. The session included information on how to create a platform in schools that brings such names as Maria Shriver, Bethany Hamilton, and so many more that allows girls to engage with dynamic leaders, forge relationships that benefit their resume, and create pathways to enact change in our world.

Taking advantage of the insights we’ve gained through the Boundless Campaign and our work to build the campus of the

OLP educators also presented on topics relating to

future, Dr. Lek presented on the topic Making Space for

curriculum, communication, and risk-taking. OLP’s new

Entrepreneurs: Classroom Design for Risk-Taking, Mistake-

interim Assistant Principal of Instruction, Dr. Angie

Making, and Ideas. She helped participants explore student

Gascho, presented HERSTORY: Disrupting and Diversifying

attitudes toward maker spaces and entrepreneur labs, consider

Curriculum to Empower the Female Voice, which highlighted

research that supports best practices, and examine how the

how to develop curriculum that empowers diverse female

designed environment enriches entrepreneurial learning

voices, gives girls the autonomy to discover and develop

including how to envision spaces for students to create and

their own voices, and disrupts language that perpetuates

launch everything from products to business plans to dreams.

patriarchal ideals. Student Activities Director Susan Antolin ’06 shared Connecting Through Communication where attendees learned how OLP’s speech and debate courses are designed to break down walls by providing a platform for students from different backgrounds to share their stories genuinely, express their opinions confidently, and engage in healthy discourse courageously. OLP’s Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships, Bridgette Ouimette, who formerly taught social studies at OLP provided training on Inviting Imperfection: Strategies to Promote Academic Risk-Taking in Girls. This training featured research on why girls avoid risk-taking and how we innocently reinforce that behavior. Attendees discussed research-based classroom strategies that promote and normalize risk-taking while modeling vulnerability and self-compassion.

As a testament to an OLP education, current OLP student Jacqueline Rahimzadeh ’20 was invited to participate in a panel discussion with GenHERation founder Katlyn Grasso, whom she met while participating in a GenHERation Discovery Days tour. GenHERation’s Discovery Days 2018 tour consisted of 12 trips across 10 cities with 500 female executives that provided young women with the opportunity to visit the most innovative

NCGS Global Action Research Team, for which Bridgette Ouimette is on the founding team. Left to right: Amy Icke of Girls Day School Trust, Bridgette Ouimette, Natalie Demers of NCGS, Megan Murphy of NCGS, Gloria Gratacos of Villanueva Centro Universitario, Julian Dutnall of Frances Bardsley Academy in the UK

companies in America. The Discovery Days tour was recognized as the largest career exploration trip for young women in the United States with an audience reach of more than 10 million people.

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H A C K AT H O N 2 0 1 9 :

An EPIC Journey

BY EMMA RENS ’20

On Saturday, September 7, 79 teenage girls spent 8.5 hours working together to solve global issues of environmental sustainability!

When you give a mouse a cookie, she’s going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give 79 teenage girls 8.5 hours to solve global issues, they create some extraordinary real-world solutions that might just save the planet!

How, you ask? The answer is simple. It happens during the competitive yet collaborative environment of a hackathon. OLP hosted its inaugural hackathon on September 7, 2019. While the soft patter of keystrokes and hushed voices might have appeared quieter than some of OLP’s other spirited events from the sidelines, this year-long-in-the-making event was truly groundbreaking.

The inspiration for the event emerged two and a half years ago when I founded the EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) Club with peers who shared my passion for solving global problems.

One of our first major projects was an XPRIZE global competition centered around fighting for women’s safety, an issue that affected us all personally. We worked for months over our freshman summer engineering a respiratory safety device while learning how to conduct business with professional companies and organizations. It was then we realized we could make a difference in the world starting now.

Our efforts mattered, and we needed to bring this realization to other young women our age. And so began the hackathon project. We wanted to condense our summer of engineering, problem solving, and design thinking into one day for girls all over San Diego.

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We had heard of hackathons at the collegiate level involving two to three days filled with computer scientists ‘hacking’ for hours on end, but we had also heard of some hackathons centered around ‘hacking’ a major global issue. This less common version sounded perfectly aligned with our goal. In December of 2018, when we felt we had finally completed enough research on the structure of hackathons, our team proposed the idea to the OLP administration. Once it was approved, we tackled one of our biggest concerns: the cost. We were extremely fortunate to have the support of OLP’s Advancement team working with us to petition sponsorships from OLP alumnae, local businesses, and large corporations. After many invaluable lessons about finances, our team was able to raise a total of $6,500!

Meanwhile, the countdown to September 7th was quickly growing closer and there were many other details to address.

We selected a theme of environmental sustainability but decided to give our hackathon a unique twist by assigning each team a different geographic location with its own unique problems.

EPICS Club with Keynote Speaker, Cody Hooven, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of San Diego

We marketed to all San Diego high schools and middle schools, secured our keynote speaker, San Diego’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Cody Hooven, and collected a panel of judges from all different backgrounds.

On the day of the event, we had 79 girls from over 20 different schools ready to change the world promptly at 7:45 am. Once girls became acquainted with their fellow changemakers, all were able to witness truly amazing development of products to save the planet. From writing their own additions to the Paris 2020 Climate Change Agreement, to the winning design of a ‘frog’ boat to clean up oil-filled lakes in Russia using the properties of nitric oxide. The participant groups went above and beyond anything we could have expected!

“

This process taught our team so much--from public outreach, to social media management, to how to plan an event, ask for sponsorships, and ultimately implement the design process. We could not have asked for a better experience and are extremely excited to begin work on next year’s hackathon!

”

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Her

SUMMER SUMMER EXPERIENCES WITH OUR S T U D E N T S & FA C U LT Y

Nathalia Velasco ’20 traveled to Paris this summer, spending hours at the Louvre with her family. Nathalia is photographed here at the Louvre.

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STUDENTS ¡ SUMMER EXPERIENCES

Living as a Journalist in Boston

BY LOREN JOY DE LOS SANTOS ’21 This summer, I participated in the 2019 Boston University Summer Journalism Institute. I had the opportunity to get my feet wet in the field of journalism through lectures presented by working journalists, reporting on current events in Boston, interviewing people, and visiting several places of interests in the city such as Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boston Public Garden.

During the two weeks that the program took place, I was able to get a taste of what it is like to live like a college student by living in the dorms and working in college classrooms, all while on the other side of the country! Having never been to the East Coast before, I was fortunate to have my first trip include an immersive and lengthy exploration of one of the oldest cities in the country, one that is rich in history and where culture is a prominent aspect of what makes the city so enjoyable to traverse in. Despite the short tenure, I made several friends from different parts of the country who made the trip full of laughs, joy, and countless memories I will never forget.

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Robyn Scherer Photography

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STUDENTS · SUMMER EXPERIENCES

Training for the National Junior Olympics

BY LUCIE KASKOUN ’22 Summer of 2019 was spent in the pool for me. Whether practicing with my team at San Diego Shores Water or on my own, my summer was spent playing the sport I love, water polo. Practice was held almost every day as we prepared for the National Junior Olympics and played games weekly. Swim sets got harder, yet our team’s bond grew stronger.

As we persevered through what felt like endless drills and leg workouts, we saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and we were all finally able to catch our breath.

Through playing water polo this past summer, I have gained close friendships and exciting skills I hope to bring with me into the upcoming season during winter. I cannot wait to see what my sophomore year at OLP has in store for me. Go Pilots!

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Robyn Scherer Photography

STUDENTS · SUMMER EXPERIENCES

Growth through Volunteering

BY JENNA BECK ‘20 This past summer (and the summer before that), I traveled to Center Point, Texas (right outside of San Antonio) and volunteered at a camp called CAMP Camp, or Children’s Association for Maximum Potential Camp. At this camp, volunteers are assigned a camper with a physical, developmental, or mental disability and assume the role of primary care-giver for a week in an effort to give these children a summer camp experience they normally wouldn’t be able to have. Throughout the week, you form a bond with a camper and provide care such as personal hygiene, using the restroom, eating, and various other activities. My camper this past year was the sweetest, most beautiful girl whose energy positively affected all those around her. Our favorite activities included swinging in hammocks and splashing around the pool.

In the short span of a week, she changed my perspective on life and, every day, inspires me to be grateful, appreciate the little things, and advocate for those who are isolated. Despite people defining them as a string of medical diagnoses, the genuine joy and happiness these kids have emulates from their being. The world is a more beautiful place because of them.

OLP MAGAZINE

Robyn Scherer Photography

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STUDENTS · SUMMER EXPERIENCES

Molecular Biology Research Immersion Program’s First Cohort

BY ANNIE PEHRSON ‘20 For six weeks, seven OLP students and I had the privilege of working with Goran Bozinovic, Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, and UCSD Extension as a part of the Molecular Biology Research Immersion Program. Besides meeting new friends from a variety of schools, we learned valuable life experiences that have already proved useful in the classroom. The goal of the program was to learn skills that could be used in college or job interviews.

We were given the opportunity to work on aging and protein aggregation in worms, biodiversity and molecular phylogenetics, or gender-specific gene activity in fruit flies as the focus of our experiments and presentations. I chose to work on the fruit fly experiment, which included maintaining fly cultures, identifying gender differentiation, the extraction of RNA, and qRT-PCR. Using a microscope and tweezers, we removed the heads of each individual fly and added them to a series of buffers in order to extract RNA. Although we ran out of time to use our own buffer and actually carry out qRT-PCR, which monitors the amplification of a specific RNA molecule, we were able to analyze the results of the experiments.

I am beyond blessed to have been a part of the first ever group of students to work with the Boz Institute and learn techniques and tips to help me further my education and my future career!

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Robyn Scherer Photography

STUDENTS · SUMMER EXPERIENCES

In the Research Lab

BY EMMA RENS ‘20 This summer I had the amazing opportunity to do a two-month internship at the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (CC-TDI), a nonprofit biotech lab in Beaverton, Oregon. While the FDA approves an average of 12 drugs for adult cancers every year, there have only been 6 approved drugs for pediatric cancers in the past 41 years! CC-TDI is a group of biologists, biomedical engineers, data analyzers, and computer scientists dedicated to researching specifically the underfunded pediatric cancers.

At CC-TDI, I worked on a project regarding osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bone that primarily targets teenagers. When osteosarcoma spreads from its initial site, its survival rate plunges to a mere 30%.

Osteosarcoma is such a difficult cancer to treat because almost every case is considered its own subcategory. I studied various osteosarcoma cell lines to find larger groupings, called endotypes, and to sort them through an agglomerative hierarchical figure, known as a dendrogram.

Since Portland’s a tough commute from San Diego, this summer I stayed with a host family, the Days. The Days tragically lost their fifteen-year-old son, Sam Day, to Ewing’s sarcoma (a cancer very similar to osteosarcoma) two years ago. They created the Sam Day Foundation in his name to help raise money to fund research for Ewing’s sarcoma and other orphan cancers at CC-TDI. While there were many ups and downs being so far away from my family and friends for the first time, I have grown so much from both the experience of living with a host family and working in a research lab. I will always remember Sam Day’s story and continue the fight against cancer with him. #iamsam

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FA C U LT Y · S U M M E R E X P E R I E N C E S

Spirituality & Inclusion: The Mission of a CSJ Institution B Y N I C O L E R AY N E R , W O R L D L A N G U A G E S D E PA R T M E N T In June, faculty members Donna Allen ’85, Ilene Nagem ’70, and Nicole Rayner attended the national gathering of the Association of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ), hosted by Regis College in Weston, MA. In addition to OLP’s presence, nine CSJ-sponsored institutions of higher learning were represented at the three-day conference. On the beautiful, verdant campus, participants enjoyed collaboration, fellowship, and scholarship in large-group lectures that included the topics of CSJ history, spirituality, and inclusion. Attendees had the opportunity to reflect and share in both the large-group venue and in smaller breakaway groups, facilitated by participating university faculty.

Presenters Juliana Mosley, Ph.D., and OLP graduate Cara McMahon ’95, both of Chestnut College in Philadelphia, conducted a dynamic workshop entitled “The Spirituality of Inclusion.” The talk allowed for much reflection on our own desire to belong and the call of CSJ legacy educators to make others feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. This spirituality of inclusion dovetails beautifully with the work that inclusion expert, Dr. Steven Jones, is planning for professional development with OLP faculty and staff during this school year.

The OLP cohort was pleased to report at the first faculty meeting of the new school year that one tremendous takeaway from these enriching three days was how alive the story of our CSJ sisters is in our own school community. It was noted that not all attendees were aware of the sisters’ story.

Our three faculty members proudly shared that OLP not only knows the CSJ “language,” but that there is community-wide awareness of the awesome responsibility we have to be the legacy of the Sisters.

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Robyn Scherer Photography

FA C U LT Y ¡ S U M M E R E X P E R I E N C E S

The Supreme Court Summer Institute B Y S H A W N H A N L E Y, S O C I A L S T U D I E S D E PA R T M E N T Every summer, Street Law Inc. and the Supreme Court Historical Society host the Supreme Court Institute program to give teachers an up close view of how the Supreme Court works, how justices get chosen to be nominated, and why certain cases are chosen to be heard by the Supreme Court, while others are not. The main sponsor of the program, Street Law Inc., is a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in 1974 to deepen teachers’ understanding of the Supreme Court and advance justice by empowering teachers (thus students) with the legal and civic knowledge, skills, and confidence to bring about positive change in our communities. The Summer Institute has been in operation since 1995.

It was an honor to have been chosen as one of the 30 teachers to attend the first session of this institute. Our days were spent at Georgetown University Law Center in D.C. where we had an impressive and stellar group of experts on the Supreme Court who came to speak to us each day. Every speaker that presented to us had a connection to the Supreme Court either with a case pending, as a clerk (or former clerk) to one of the justices, or as a political consultant or lawyer who had argued before the court, filed a brief for the court, or worked in the White House.

The main focus of the institute was why the court may grant certiorari (a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court) to some cases and not others. Approximately 8,000 cases are referred to the Supreme Court per year; however only about 1% (80-85), cases will be heard by the Court. We examined why particular cases are granted cert while others are not.

We also had Gregg Nunziata, former Senate Judiciary Committee General Council for Senator Spector and Susan Davies, former Associate White House Council in the Obama Administration walk us through the process and politics of judicial nominations, and the vetting process once a candidate is chosen to possibly be a nominee.

The highlight of the week, however, was getting to go and see the Supreme Court rule on three cases that we had been following, and listen to the majority opinion written and read by Justice Ginsberg. That same evening, we also got a surprise when the Institute held a private reception for us at the Supreme Court West Reception Room and Justice John Roberts came and spoke to us and posed for a picture.

Attending this institute was an amazing opportunity and one I will be forever grateful for having attended, and the knowledge and teaching strategies I bring back with me will be of benefit to both my students and myself as we study U.S. Government this year!

OLP MAGAZINE

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ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND

A W H I R LW I ND O F E V E N T S

BY JEANETTE (PRANTIL) HANDELSMAN ’64 It was a wonderful weekend, jam packed with events that were enjoyed by all members of the OLP community—from alumnae to the parents of our Class of 2023, from a family mass to an adult only event under the stars on North Terrace—they all came together to celebrate, to honor, to express gratitude and play, and to pray! It was magical!

ALUMNAE FAMILY MASS AND BBQ With a beautiful view all the way to the Pacific, our alumnae and their families celebrated Mass on Vista Point on Thursday afternoon.

Father Patrick Mulcahy, pastor of Stella Maris in La Jolla, led us in our liturgical celebration, which continued as all adjourned to North Terrace for a family BBQ and fun activities—yummy hamburgers and hot dogs, hula hoops, a bouncy house, and games of corn hole. As the sun set, our alumnae found time to sit and share memorieqs and updates as they watched the children enjoy the evening outdoors.

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SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST For the second year, the Friday of Alumnae Reunion Weekend provided the OLP community with an opportunity to express its gratitude to the benefactors who provide support to our current students in the form of academic scholarships.

The occasion also provided an opportunity for our benefactors to meet the recipients of their generosity. Twenty-one student recipients and twelve benefactors shared a lovely breakfast in the Pilot Cafe, where the tables were filled with lively conversation. Rose Sheehan represented the Dr. Tim Sheehan Memorial Scholarship, named for her late husband and legendary speech instructor at OLP. She expressed her gratitude to OLP for the occasion, where she was able to connect with this year’s recipient of the scholarship, Sophia Gaxiola ‘21. Together with Lauren Mathews Alcoser ‘94, representing the Larissa Eklund Dethlefs Memorial Scholarship, and Elaina Haisha ‘20, this year’s recipient, they shared conversation ranging from the breadth of careers open to STEM students to the latest in OLP uniform fashion.

Daniela Miranda ‘19, a 2018 scholarship recipient, presented a heartfelt reflection to the attendees on the power of philanthropy in her life, how the support she was given has inspired her to grow and find her own ways to give back. Both recipients and benefactors were enriched by their morning together.

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION CEREMONY Beginning with a luncheon reception in Carondelet Library, OLP bestowed a posthumous recognition to our 2019 Alumna of the Year, Nina Sciuto Morales ‘76. Nina’s husband Ed, daughter Mia Morales ‘08, family members and friends, board members, and previous Alumna of the Year were present to honor Nina.

Tributes to Nina were delivered by Head of School, Dr. Lauren Lek, and Alumnae Relations Coordinator, Mrs. Jeanette Handelsman ‘64. The Alumna of the Year award, a framed piece of Le Puy lace, was received by Ed and Mia. It was a very special and touching moment as Mia herself delivered her own tribute to her dear mother to conclude the ceremony.

ENDLESS SUMMER Our Alumnae Reunion Weekend concluded with an evening under the stars at Endless Summer on North Terrace. Attended by over 250 members of our OLP community, alumnae, parents, and friends, all enjoyed the music of the Baja Bugs and a delicious dinner provided by The French Gourmet. North Terrace, highlighted by strings of outdoor lights, provided a magical atmosphere for the conversation groups scattered across the lawn. Many of these groups took advantage of the Pixter Photo Booth on Circle Drive, using many of the props provided to create a permanent memory of the evening. The OLP Golf Committee and OLP’s own Aaron Gonzalez ran our golf simulator, where participants had the opportunity to challenge themselves to hit long drives...all in promotion of the annual Golf Tournament taking place on September 13 at Maderas Country Club. We are so grateful to our sponsors: Urban Lighting, Novo Brazil Brewing Company, the San Diego Medical Group, KnB Bistro, Bar, Bottle Shop and Brewery and Piper. Again, it was a fun-filled evening that was enjoyed by all.

We are looking forward to Alumnae Reunion Weekend 2020 ON AUGUST 13-14, 2020.

Mark your calendars and start making plans to celebrate this special occasion with the OLP community!

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The Voice for Change Starts at OLP

BY JEANETTE (PRANTIL) HANDELSMAN ’64

OLP ALUMNA CONTINUES T H E WO R K S H E STA RT E D AT O L P T O E M P OW E R WOMEN TO PURSUE H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N .

Marlèn Miranda ‘16 was recently named the recipient of the prestigious 1823 Scholarship at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. This scholarship is the brainchild of Trinity College Vice President Angel Pérez and is awarded to students who understand what is special about studying the liberal arts in an urban setting and, in his words, “possess the characteristics that predict success in college: grit, persistence, curiosity, and a love of learning.” Marlén is just that type of student.

President Pérez cited her accomplishments at OLP where she founded Girls 4 Change, which empowers young Latina women to pursue higher education and leadership positions, as well as her continued volunteer

In her junior year at Trinity, she was invited

work with this emphasis at Trinity, where she

Her mother, Maria Elena Hernandez ’90,

to join the Honors program at the School for

mentors first-generation college students and

proudly shares Marlèn’s accomplishments

International Training and visited Chile, Nepal,

serves on an advisory board that offers them

with their alma mater: “Thank you, OLP, for

and Jordan, conducting research on gender-

support. Marlén shares: “Last year, I lived in

helping Marlèn make a big difference in the

based violence. In the spring semester, she

a first-year dorm to provide support for first

world!” Her sister Daniela ‘19, who just began

studied at Trinity’s program at Universitat

year students who come from traditionally

her freshman year at Barnard College in New

Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.

York, is also very proud of her big sister! And

underrepresented backgrounds.”

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so, of course, is her alma mater, OLP.

SAVE THE DATE

J O I N U S F O R O LP ’ S

Sixth Annual Women’s Symposium, to be held on campus on Friday, March 13, 2020. Modeled after the speaker panels at leading universities, this annual event brings together top women leaders to share with OLP students and the community their insights and pathways to success.

OLP is excited to host this unique event that serves as an epicenter for women’s thought leadership. Plan ahead to join us for a day of reciprocal learning and inspiration.

Academy of Our Lady of Peace March 13, 2020 TICKETS ON SALE SOON! FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION, CONTACT STEPHANIE KANASKI ‘99 AT SKANASKI@AOLP.ORG.

Photographed: Keynote speakers from our 5th annual Women’s O L P Symposium, M A G A Z I NDistrict E | 31 Attorney Summer Stephan and owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes, Mara Fortin, alongside our line-up of amazing panelists.

Lessons from Mother St. John Fontbonne in France

BY STEPHANIE KANASKI ’99

At OLP, we have dutifully adopted our founding sisters’ charism of unifying love and their mission that all may be one. The Sisters of St. Joseph’s charism and mission are very much alive in our OLP community of students, parents, alumnae, faculty, and staff. In an effort to fully embody our charism, Katie Wilson, Director of Service Learning and Retreats, twentyfive “pilgrims” from CSJ institutions across the nation, and I traversed to France this past June to deepen our understanding of our CSJ roots.

We started our pilgrimage in Annecy to learn of the kindness and humility of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. Their devotion to the pursuit of holiness had a profound impact on the spirituality of the early Sisters of St. Joseph. We then made our way to Le Puy-en-Velay, the site of the original foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1650. Our founding sisters are venerated as the “Little Design,” a secret association dedicated to “love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.” One of the most remarkable experiences on the pilgrimage was tracing the journey of Mother St. John Fontbonne who regathered the Sisters of St. Joseph after the French Revolution.

It is because of her that our CSJ sisters landed in America and eventually opened the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. She led with the spirit of joy, compassion, and love-- gifts that are so prevalent on the faces of all of our OLP students.

From our early roots in France to present day San Diego, our CSJ foundation continues to support and empower our OLP community to be transformative leaders, stepping forward with courage, heart, and faith.

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Loving Our Dear Neighbors in Poway

BY RYA N MA RT I N -S P E N C E R , R E L I G I O US ST U D I ES D E PA RT M E N T

The heartbreaking shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in April deeply affected and moved students, faculty, staff, and administrators alike at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. The Sisters of St. Joseph of

Abigail South ’19, a student in the Liturgical Planning class, arranged to deliver the poster to Chabad of Poway through a family friend who is a member. Abigail also helped compose a letter to the Chabad of Poway community, on behalf of the OLP community, explaining the poster and expressing

Carondelet’s call to love and serve

OLP’s loving and prayerful support of

the dear neighbor without distinction

and solidarity with them during their

animates much of what happens on a

time of loss, mourning, and recovery.

daily basis at OLP. The suffering of our

Along with one of her classmates,

Jewish sisters and brothers in Poway

Abigail delivered the poster and letter

brought forth a desire from the OLP

to Chabad of Poway and met with representatives of the community,

community to embody the Sisters’

who expressed their sincere gratitude

call in a genuine and visible manner

for the gesture from the OLP

in response to hatred and violence.

community. They explained to Abigail

Students in a Religious Studies

and her classmate that the long

department Liturgical Planning class

poster would be wrapped around one

began discussing possible ways to

of the pillars inside the synagogue,

show OLP’s prayerful support for and

along with other posters and letters

solidarity with the Chabad of Poway

they had received as a testimony to

community, and decided to create

the overwhelming love and support

a long poster that the entire OLP

shown to them from the greater San

community could sign with messages

Diego area and far beyond.

of love, encouragement, and support.

Loving and serving the dear neighbor In a collaborative effort, the student

without distinction is an invitation that

government leadership team helped

we all sometimes can overlook or take

make the poster, and the Liturgical

for granted, but in the spring of 2019,

Planning students included a special

the OLP community came together

prayer for the Chabad of Poway

with a simple, but heartfelt gesture

community in OLP’s annual Community

to lift up our neighbors at Chabad

Day “Mass on the Grass” in early May.

of Poway and to join with our Jewish

At the end of Mass, Liturgical Planning

sisters and brothers in proclaiming

students described the poster to the

that God’s unifying love knows no

OLP community and explained that

boundaries and is more powerful than

the poster would be available for

any hatred or violence. The inspired

the rest of the day in the Chapel for

way that our neighbors in the Chabad of Poway community came together

everyone in the OLP community to

and responded to the tragedy that

sign. By the end of Community Day,

they suffered with love, hope, and

there were hardly any blank spaces

strength sets a remarkable example

left, as handwritten heartfelt messages

for people of all faiths and good will

and prayers for our dear neighbors in

to learn from and follow.

Poway saturated the long poster.

A special letter to OLP from Rabbi Yisroel and Devorie Goldstein of Chabad of Poway

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Our OLP Dance Team kicked off this years’ Welcome Back Assembly with a performance.

Great job, ladies!

a DAY i n the LIFE Boundless Ambassadors joined our New Parents Coffee to inform frosh and transfer student parents about our Boundless Campaign.

We had a blast welcoming our girls’ fathers and father figures to campus for our annual Bring Your Dad to Lunch event!

Freshman Paulette Vazquez ‘23 received a Dance Scholarship and Junior Simona Ruderman ‘21 received a Standout Dancer Award and All-Star Award!

OLP gathered for Mass of the Assumption of Mary, our first all school mass of the year.

Our OLP/Johnson and Jennings student interns got hands-on experience learning the process of removing | OLP MAGAZINE and34reinstalling ceiling joist hangers.

Mrs. Krystle Cabrera exploring Israel and discovering a culturally diverse country.

OLP showed support for our athletes at our first pep rally of the year in August!

OLP’s Robotics team represented girls in STEM at a One San Diego outreach event at Webster Elementary.

Students explored the many club options available to them during our Club Expo week in September!

Congratulations to the OLP students who completed 25 hours of service in our community this summer.

Mrs. Rodriguez challenged her students to build the tallest freestanding tower they could in 20 minutes using 20 strands of spaghetti, one yard of yarn, one yard of tape, and a marshmallow!

These OLP students spent the summer creating programs and products to address the social challenges of food insecurity, the OLP MAGAZINE | 35 plastic-free movement, restorative justice, and alcohol and drug prevention.

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

Join Us for Open House OLP community members are encouraged to bring friends and family members to learn about the OLP Difference. Open to all!

S U N D AY, N O V E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 9

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1:00-4:00 PM

Come See Us, Your School Awaits You! The Academy of Our Lady of Peace admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

I n a c l a s s o f 1 8 3 s t u d e n ts, 74% re ce i ve d a t l e a s t o n e m e r i t - b ase d sch o l arsh i p.

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$24 MILLION i n m e r i t - b a s e d c o l l e ge sch o l arsh i ps

The oldest all-girls’ high school in San Diego

600+

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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33

AT H L ET I C T EAMS

Advanced Placement &

41%

Honors Courses offered

OF THE CLASS OF 2019 PLAN TO PURSUE STEM MAJORS IN COLLEGE

OLP graduates are the next women leaders and innovators in our world!

A Catholic all-girls’ school in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet