INSIDE:
Partnership with Loyola University benefits SHS!
FROM THE HEAD &
the Heart
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools
Sacred Heart Schools
Nat Wilburn
Head of Schools
FROM THE HEAD
Loyola University partnership a boon to SHS Read about the many ways our neighbor to the north has helped to enrich life for our students here on Sheridan Road. In particular, the workstudy/grant program has brought vibrant new members to the SHS community.
LU students at work....
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Brittany Gibson teaches a popular After School lego class.
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and the Heart
Winter 2010
he Religious of the Sacred Heart and the Jesuits share a long relationship. It is said that Louis Barat, Madeleine Sophie’s brother, would bring his lessons home from the seminary and teach his sister theology, Latin, the classics, and any other subject he thought would help her to be successful. Little did he know that the fruits of his labor of love would help to found a religious order and an entire philosophy of education! Louis was ordained into the Society of Jesus and remained a Jesuit priest until he died. There is no doubt that just as Ignatian spirituality formed her brother, it also helped to form the deep spirituality of St. Madeleine Sophie. When Philippine Duchesne landed in St. Charles, MO, from France, she quickly became friends with the Jesuit priests in the local parish. Through the years, the Jesuits literally helped her move first to Florissant, where she began the first school for Native Americans west of the Mississippi, and later to Sugar Creek, Kansas, where she fulfilled her life-long dream of working with the Native American people. Philippine’s friendship with the Jesuits through her 38 years in the United States was a place of deep nourishment for her life and ministry. Today, that nourishing connection with those who follow in the footsteps of St. Ignatius continues on Sheridan Road. I am very grateful for the presence of the Jesuits in our community and for the wonderful relationship we share with students, faculty, administration and staff from Loyola University. These relationships are symbolic of our partnerships with others in the mission of Sacred Heart education. They represent the commitments we maintain to build a community that gives witness to the love of God made present in the world. Enjoy some glimpses of those relationships in these pages of From the Head and the Heart. Thank you for your continued support of the mission of Sacred Heart education.
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools
Meghan Billadeau assists Kathy Fivelson, Director of Parent and Alumni Relations.
Stacy Gensheimer says “I’m helping the kids, but this is really something for me. This is rewarding for me.”
Brother Charles Nuwagaba of Uganda savors his interaction with SHS students.
Ugandan Brother Charles assists at SHS He is part of grant program which funds jobs for 8 Loyola students
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he smiling face of Brother Charles Nuwagaba, BSCL, has greeted students before school, and bid them adieu in After School, since the fall of 2008. Brother Charles, a favorite with the kindergartners especially, does playground supervision as part of an internship program with Loyola University, funded through an Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Grant. While earning an education degree at Loyola in Administration and Supervision during leave from his duties in Uganda, he is getting a first hand look at the Schools’ education in action. “Many things I have learned here will help me in my administration work back home,” Brother Charles said. “The structure of administration, the division of labor and the rich diversity in the school have impressed me.” He notes the Schools’ social awareness and community service programs as especially important for children’s growth. Brother Charles is not new to Sacred Heart education. His older sister attended the Sacred Heart school in his native Uganda. “My sister has been an inspiration to me, especially on how she addresses the issues of social awareness.” The Sacred Heart Primary School is in Masaka, Uganda, near Lake Victoria in
eastern Africa. “It has been a joy to work here,” said Brother Charles. “and it has had a big impact on education back home, as I pay for eight kids’ school fees from the stipend I get from SHS.” This will be Brother ‘I pay for Charles’ last semester at eight kids’ SHS, as he is returning school to Uganda this summer, fees from after his graduation May 13. It will be a bittersweet my SHS parting. “My duties at stipend.’ Sacred Heart have been simple but very enriching,” he said. “ I have especially enjoyed being with the kindergarten in the morning. Their amazing creativity and respectful nature have made a big impact on me.” Brother Charles is a member of the Catholic Order of Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga. The Order was founded in Uganda in 1927 and serves Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. The Order works as elementary and
high schools teachers, as well as social workers engaged in the rehabilitation of children. They especially serve orphans who are victims of AIDS, street children and those in severe poverty. For more than 20 years Loyola University Chicago has been in partnership with the Brothers. Members of the Order are sent here to study and obtain degrees that allow them to return to Uganda with knowledge and skill sets to better serve their communities and address the increasing educational challenges in their country. Brother Charles will engage in fundraising for the Order’s orphanages after graduation, until his flight home in July.
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The Loyola Connec
LU students assist Schools campu
Partnership a boon to students...ours and theirs! Mike demos a breakdancing move to Rose McCrudden Welch A3.
Q & A with Mike Siap Q
How long have you been at SHS? I started in the fall of 2007. So three years in the after school program, two years volunteering in the nurse’s office, one year of teaching break dancing and one semester teaching a card game class.
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What do you like about your job? I am really amazed by the diversity in Sacred Heart. There are families from every race, creed, religion, and socioeconomic status. I feel I can catch a glimpse of the world through Sacred Heart ‘s diversity. This is best reflected in International Night. But what I like most about Sacred Heart is that the community has helped me to grow into a more mature and aware individual. In order to be a role-model for the students, I myself must be a mature individual that they can look up to. I am very grateful for the faculty and staff’s role in this maturation. They have provided me with guidance, companionship and in some cases sanity.
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What do you find challenging? Finding out how to work with each student individually to enable them to realize their full potential is a challenge. This includes discovering what motivates them to do their homework, thinking of ways to answer questions and knowing each student’s limits. Aside from all that, learning each student’s name is pretty challenging!
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Any funny anecdotes? Well, not really, but I did learn in the nurse’s office that a small cup or bag of ice is a fine cure about 90% of the time!
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cago from places around the world,” said “How long has your head been hurting?” Dr. Sally Sharp, Head of Student Life. asked Mike Siap, as he took a temperature The federal program reimburses the in Nurse Callahan’s office. “My, when did Schools 75% of pay for all students and this happen?” he asked as he cleaned a cut 100% if they are tutoring. Nat Wilburn, and applied a bandage… and got a hug in Head of Schools, was instrumental in return. spearheading this cooperative venture, Mike, a volunteer for the past two along with Loyola’s Dr. Patrick Green, years in the Nurse’s office, is a Loyola Director of the Center for Experiential University student working in various Learning. capacities at SHS. His wages are funded through an Illinois Board of Higher Educa- Collegians get taste of teaching tion (IBHE) Grant. While his primary Their collaboration made it possible, job is tutoring students in the After School for instance, for SHS 8th graders to have program and providing playground supera college student as a Teaching Assistant vision, he also helps out in the prep class selling snacks, supervisfor high school ing computer usage entrance exams. and even calling out Loyola junior John students’ names during Weatherly assisted dismissal. Mrs. Sarah Pikcilin This multi-talented gis in getting 8th youth is a 4th year pregraders in tip-top med student who also shape for this teaches popular After all-important test. School classes in break Mike Siap takes a temperature in the nurse’s This was in addition dancing and card games. office. to his usual tutoring He is just one of more duties. than 30 Loyola University students who “I was surprised by how different work at SHS as part of a Communityteaching a group is compared to the oneBased Federal Work-Study or under the on-one setting I normally work in,” noted auspices of the IBHE grant program. John. “It definitely elevated my respect for School Nurse Joan Callahan is a fan teachers.” of Mike’s and the program. Having Mike His supervising teacher returns that do “triage” for her – sort out more serious respect. “John was extremely helpful to me cases by asking some basic questions – frees and to the students,” her to work on projects. His first aid prow- said Mrs. Pikcilingis. ess has also come in handy in After School, “He has a calm about where he is able to administer aid in emer- him that was essengencies. “It has been a great experience for tial to these students us both,” Callahan affirms. as they headed toFederal reimbursement is key ward their test date.” “Not only have these students saved us She added that the a fortune on salaries via the Federal work students felt very study and grants, but more importantly, comfortable around our students are able to interact with and him and appreciated John Weatherly works on learn from young adults coming to Chithe individual help Heekin H8.
ction
us-wide
Ashley McKinley, assisting MS Head Christine Elliott, says “Everyone always seems so happy.”
and have learned a lot from working with teachers such as Mrs. DePalma. She is really great with students!” Brittany affirms. “Working here is definitely preparing me for when I become a teacher.” She adds, “I enjoy working at Sacred Heart because everyone here is so welcoming and kind.” The Division Heads have also been able to take advantage of the services of the WorkStudy students. Ashley ‘Not only have these students saved us quite McKinley serves as a sort a bit on salaries, but more importantly, our of “student secretary” students are able to learn from young adults to both Meg Steele, Prifrom around the world!’ mary School Head, and - Dr. Sally Sharp, Head of Student Life Christine Elliott, Middle School Head. Ashley notes her favorite thing about SHS as: “the job,” he said. people that I work with at Sacred Heart. These Loyola students can be found Everyone always seems so happy to be all over the SHS campus – day and night. there, which makes me happy to be there They may begin the day at 7 am supervisas well.” She goes on to name the most ing before-school on the playground and challenging aspect of her job is having to end it at 8 pm at a basketball game in the gym. “The officials working our basketball leave the building! games have specifically asked if we have More than just a job Loyola students keeping the clocks and Another multi-tasking college helper scoreboard because they do such a great is Meghan Billadeau, who works morning job,” noted Ron Schwartz, Athletic Director. supervision with kindergarten and second Rave reviews on SHS graders, assists in the Business office and One of the Loyola students, Brittany helps with athletics. Gibson, has segued from an assistant coach “I especially love working with the for Cross Country to a “do-all” assistant children,” she said. “They are all so enterfor Dr. Sharp and the After School. Her taining and so intelligent that I feel I have computer skills have streamlined data entry learned a lot from them.” and registrations She voices the view of many of her for After School, Loyola cohorts when she says, “I want the Schools Rock, children to be able to look up to me as Biddy sports and someone they can come to and not just so on. someone who is there because it is my job.” As an aspiring The Center for Experiential Learnteacher, Brittany ing at Loyola provides many of these appreciates all “hands-on” learning opportunities for their her contact with students both in the neighborhood and SHS faculty. “I worldwide. The Center “strives to build am majoring in the knowledge, skills and values that stune-on-one with George special education dents need for lifelong success.” he offered. John has been tutoring at SHS since October of 2008. He cites the favorite part of his work as seeing the students make progress. “It’s great when a student who was struggling in a subject shows me a test he or she got an A on. It gives meaning to my
Girl photo coming:
A win-win situation Mollie Murnane, Human Resources Director at SHS, would agree with this goal. She hires and places all of the Loyola students, currently numbering 34. She calls it a “win-win” situation. “The LU students earn an hourly wage, while earning much more in a ‘real life’ work experience. They are interviewed, they become an employee of SHS, they manage their schedules and they gain an actual skill set be it tutoring, event planning, clerical or supervisory,” she explained. “Our students, on the other hand, get help with their homework and guidance from mentors other than teachers/parents. A LU student is not quite their peer, but close enough so that they relate so well.” Murnane, who hires from posted positions on Ramblerlink, sums up the entire program as turning challenges into triumphs. She quotes an email she received from a faculty member the day after one of his students met with an LU tutor “ you did it again… the student left the tutor session ‘skipping’ down the hall.” As these benefits became clear, the role of the Loyola helpers has grown exponentially. The work study and grant students started out in tutoring and clerical jobs, then morning and after school supervisory, then Athletics as assistant coaches and game management. This year, the Schools also have a Loyola accounting major working in the Business Office and Loyola students helping out with the flu shot clinic and even serving at the Wine Auction last fall. They were manning registration and auction tables at L’Esprit de Sacré Coeur February 20 at the Fairmont Hotel. And much, much more...
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The beginnings...
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools, spearheaded the partnership with Loyola University that has put more than 30 Loyola students on the SHS campus over the past several years...at minimal or no cost to the Schools. How did this come about? It began with a bit of serendipity and a chance meeting with Dr. Patrick Green of Loyola. How did you meet Dr. Green? I first met Dr. Green at a neighborhood function hosted by Loyola University. A mutual friend said “This is someone you and Sacred Heart should know.” Patrick then came over to visit me here at the school to learn ‘Our children more about Sacred Heart and introduce benefit from me to the Experiential Learning Center programs at Loyola. energetic college What challenges did you find in students willing starting this new initiative? to support Really, Loyola made things very easy them in their for us. Since work study is a federal program there is a lot of paperwork and learning – there could be quite a bit of bureaucracy whether that in engaging the program. However Dr. be math, Green worked directly with Mollie Murhopscotch or nane, our Human Resource Director, and made things relatively simple. Work lay-ups.’ study is a great example of a program that benefits university students, the service site and society as a whole. Our own students are great beneficiaries!
What particular advantages have accrued for SHS in partnering with Loyola on this? There are countless advantages to the program. We have been able to rely on up to 30 students to help with tutoring, supervision of students and clerical office work. For Loyola students, it is chance to work among a Sacred Heart learning community and be introduced to the values of the Goals and Criteria. Finally, our children benefit from energetic college students willing to support them in their learning,-- whether that be math, hopscotch or lay-ups. Having the Loyola students as part of Sacred Heart is a tangible expression of our reciprocal relationship with the University. In what other ways have you seen our partnership with Loyola growing? Sacred Heart and Loyola University continue to deepen our relationship. For the last six years, as a member of our Board of Trustees, Jennifer Clark, Director of Community Relations, has helped us to make connections to both people and programs at the university. Faculty members from the School of Education have been an outstanding resource for us, and staff both of the university and of Sacred Heart work on plans to keep the neighborhood prosperous and safe.
A good neighbor
Loyola University shares its campus facilities with SHS, from Red & White Rally in the Gentile Center (photos at left), to Field Day (below) in Assembly Hall.
FROM THE HEAD &
the Heart
Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools
This publication is emailed and posted online, saving trees and following Goal 3, Criteria 5: The school teaches respect for creation and prepares students to be stewards of the earth’s resources. Editor: Asst. Editor:
Diane Fallon Kathleen Morton
6250 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL www.shschicago.org
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