Sacred Heart Schools
Trading Places
SHS students exchange with West Coast cohorts
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hile Middle School Head Chris- a school dance and did all the homework tine Elliott had been contemrequired of her counterpart. plating last spring how to imple- Madison said that the Convent of the ment a“mini-exchange,” she was contacted Sacred Heart had similar values to Sacred by Bill Jennings from Convent of the Sacred Heart Schools. Heart in San Francisco, who was hoping to “They follow the same five goals, do the same thing. honor Mater Admirabilis, St. Philippine Madison Behm A8 (l) and Maddy Murname They devised a two-week exchange Duchesne and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in which 8th graders from the two schools and are involved in a lot of community sertive way. I highly recommend traveling there would trade places. Interested students vice,” Madison said. “The Convent also folfilled out an application answering questions lows many of the same traditions as we do in at one point or another.” Madison said her favorite memory about why they wanted Chicago, like from the trip was watching the 8th grade the opportunity and how Congé.” ‘They will really see what other girls practice for Congé. Unlike Sacred they could represent their The Sacred Heart schools are like, and Heart Schools, the Convent allows the 8th schools. Schools of the how we are all connected.’ grade students to organize the special day. “I was thrilled that Sacred Heart “Every year, the 8th graders perform a our students would get are divided variety show for the rest of the school, full of to experience a week in the life of another into four schools that separate the boys and student from within our Network,” Elliott girls – Stuart Hall, Stuart Hall High School, funny skits, silly songs, delightful dances and much more!” said. “They will really see what other Sacred Convent of the Sacred Heart Elementary Madison said there is a possibility of Heart schools are like, similarities and differ- School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart traveling back to San Francisco this May or ences and how we are all connected.” High School. Even though the boys and The first exchange saw Madison Behm girls schools are located near each other, they next year. “The best part of the experience was becoming friends with Maddy and now A8 go to San Francisco and Maddy Murfollow completely separate curriculums and we talk all the time!” name come to Chicago in March. Maddy have different teachers. Working with former SHS Campus stayed with the Favia family during the two Madison said one difference between weeks she was here. Chicago and San Francisco is that the weath- Minister Dennis Phillips, now at Stuart Hall, San Francisco’s boy’s school, Elliott Madison’s host family in California, er is much warmer there. sent Robert Bettuzzi to Stuart Hall April the Murnames, made sure she was able “The city is beautiful and of course, a to visit Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, lot smaller than Chicago,” Madison said. “It 2-16, while his counterpart, Benzi, will atJapantown and Chinatown. She attended definitely had a different vibe, but in a posi- tend Sheridan Road April 25 to May 6.
Gym renovation to highlight summer construction
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The nearly-50 year old gymnasium in the Campbell Building is undergoing a major facelift this summer. One of the most noticeable additions will be two new retractable basketball backboards on the north and south ends of the gym, making full court play possible for the first time. These will have electrified lift controls. There will also be a new SHS medallion (left) painted at center court at ch o ol the same time the full court striping goes on the gym floor. Topping it off, the entire ceiling will have new acoustical panels installed in the existing ceiling structure. Stage productions will benefit from the purchase of new stage lighting. The double metal doors and the single door on the east side of the gym will also be replaced. All was made possible, in part, by the $190,000 raised through “Fund-a-Need” at L’Esprit de Sacré Coeur Feb. 12. More than 180 guests pledged toward this $300,000 much-needed project. ed He cr
On Board! A newsletter published for Trustees, Leaders & Lifelong Friends of SHS Editor
Diane Fallon
6250 N. Sheridan Rd Chicago, IL 60660 773-262-4446 www.shschicago.org
On Board! A Newsletter for Trustees, Leaders, & Lifelong Friends of SHS April 2011
SHS welcomes new sister school
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ongratulations to the Josephi- of Schools. We are proud to join a num Academy community community that is respected for its on full membership in the academic excellence and shared comNetwork of Sacred Heart Schools! mitment to the mission of Sacred “I was privileged to be able to Heart education.” cast our vote from Sacred Heart on In 1990, the Religious of the SaSheridan Road, and cred Heart anlook forward to celswered the call ebrating our deepenof the Sisters ing relationship with of Christian the Jo in the future,” Charity (SCC) said Nat Wilburn, to assume the Head of Schools. educational On April 11, direction for 2011, the schools Josephinum of the Sacred Heart Academy, a Network voted struggling inunanimously to ner city school welcome Josephiwith a rich hisNat Wilburn (r) congratulates Michael num Academy into tory of serving Dougherty on Josephinum Academy’s full full membership. young women membership in the Network at a recent Over the past three in Chicago. Josephinum luncheon at Michigan Shores years, the JosephiSince then, the Country Club. num community has school has been engaged in a rigorous process of prepa- revitalized under the leadership of ration and reflection, culminating in three RSCJ principals and the strong a five-day visit from the Sacred Heart support of the Sacred Heart commuCommission on Goals last November. nity in Chicago. Josephinum President Michael The results of Sacred Heart Dougherty said, “We are thrilled by education at Josephinum are inspirJosephinum’s recognition as a full ing. Since 2007, 100% of Josephinum member of the Sacred Heart Network graduates have been accepted into
INSIDE: Trips to conferences bolster Network ties Dreihaus Center party fetes 12 Network schools Annual Fund on record pace Students trade places with Sacred Heart in CA
college, most of them being the first generation in their families to attend. This year’s senior class of 30 students has already been awarded more than $1.4 million dollars in college scholarships. More inspiring, the values of Sacred Heart education are finding a home in the hearts of the students. When asked what Sacred Heart education means to her, senior Corina Perez answered with a word, “Everything,” then explained, “It has meant my life, my friends, my teachers, my values, who I am as a woman and who I am called to be.”
All around the SHS Network
Faculty/staff travel to embrace Network offerings Kathy Fivelson, Director of Parent and Alumni Relations
Parent, alum participation growing
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he annual Spring Ring on April 4 added another $8,425 in gifts and pledges to the Annual Fund totals. Eleven energetic and dedicated volunteers attempted 214 calls! Funds raised were consistent with Spring Rings in previous years. To date, the Annual Fund has raised $717,121 in gifts and pledges from nearly 740 donors. The Schools are on track to meet – or perhaps surpass – last year’s record of $770,000. Currently, 82% of school families, 6% of alums and 10% of past parents have participated in the campaign. “Sacred Heart is extremely grateful for your help in achieving this wonderful milestone in the campaign,” said Lindsey Lopez, Development Director. Steps are being taken to ensure that all pledge commitments are received in order to definitively achieve the Schools’ goal. “With approximately 83% of funds in hand to date, we are confident that pledge fulfillment will be successful,” said Lopez. The Annual Fund is the Schools’ primary means of securing philanthropic aid to meet annual operating costs. Gifts support scholarship, faculty compensation and professional development, and capital improvements to the campus.
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iami calls! Kathy Fivelson, Director action was great too,” said Kathy. “There is a of Parent and Alumni Relations, little more of a relaxed feeling than at Sheriattended the AASH (Associated dan Road, but that is probably due more to Alumni of the Sacred Heart) National Conthe climate than anything else!” ference: Living Sophie & Philippine’s Vision The school welcomed 270 conference Into Tomorrow from April 6-10. The weekend attendees, including 45 RSCJ. One of the activities included a keynote address: “Sophie highlights was seeing our own Chicago-area 2.0 – Communicating in the Age of Technology.” Barat College alum Maureen Ryan elected The speaker, Patricia President of the naSanchez Abril, Cartional AASH. rollton ’93, compared The theme – Celtoday’s use of technology ebrate Cor Unum in communications and – encouraged team wondered “what would building among the Madeleine Sophie do participants. The with such things?” opening address, pre Kathy had the sented tag-team style opportunity to meet and by Suzanne Cooke, mingle with representaRSCJ and Maureen tives from AMASC – the Glavin, RSCJ, was international alumni Kathy Fivelson (second from r), Chip Dawson Contemplatives in and Sr. Gail O’Donnell RSCJ, congratulate network – and with Action for the 21st Maureen Ryan (r), new President of the AASH. colleagues from around Century: A Dialogue the US. “Having alumni with Sophie and Philipthere from around the world brought a special pine. Nat Wilburn, who was in Miami for global feeling to the group,” noted Kathy. the Head of Schools meetings April 9-12, The conference was hosted by Carjoined the camaraderie-building at the Tropirollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, cal Night Under the Stars – Noche Tropical Bajo Florida, educating 700 girls in Pre-K –12. las Estrellas reception on Saturday. It featured Their high school is located on 10 acres a Latin edge, including Cuban coffee and even fronting Biscayne Bay, while the Montessori, cigars! “I met hundreds of new people,” said primary and junior high schools are on the Kathy, “Getting to know the Alum Direcnearby 6.25-acre Duchesne campus, formerly tors and alumni from all over the country the Hughes Estate. was amazing. Also meeting the newly elected “Seeing a different Network School in AASH Board was great.”
T Tim Reed and Palie Cantu look down the mountain at Seattle from a Forest Ridge deck.
Stephen Puricelli, Academy 8 Humanities teacher tephen Puricelli attended his third Keepers of the Flame conference at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles, MO, last November. At the conference, delegates from Sacred Heart schools all around the United States converge to learn methods to understand and communicate the mission of Sacred Heart education, including the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools and its history and legacy. Approximately 70 representatives focused on Formation to Mission and best practices for all constituencies to pass on the mission of Sacred Heart education. Special attention was paid to the role of the Head of School as the “primary mover” in Formation to Mission. The weekend included conferences, liturgies and meals together, “It was a unique opportunity to bond with colleagues from other network schools,” said Puricelli. The name Keepers of the Flame, is the literal translation of the word Potawatomi, the name of the tribe of Native Americans to whom St. Philippine Duchesne ministered in Sugar Creek, Kansas. Academy of the Sacred
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Heart in St. Charles, MO
Tim Reed, A2 Teaching Assistant im Reed visited Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA, in March. He spent a day at the school while on a trip to see family in Seattle. “I had the chance to tour their entire middle school and high school arts classes, eat lunch in their dining hall, and spend over an hour with Kisha Palmer, the Women as Global Leaders Program Director,” he said. He, Palmer and MS teacher Palie Cantu discussed the work Forest Ridge has done to make their mission explicit with regard to diversity in admissions and hiring, global education and the role of young women as community leaders. “This conversation was of special interest to me as a member of Sheridan Road’s ISACS Committee on Equity and Justice,” he explained. “I came away from my morning at Forest Ridge challenged and encouraged.”
Nat Wilburn welcomes administrators from Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT, and 91st Street in NY to the gathering at the Driehaus Center.
Madeleine Ortman, Director of the Network of Sacred Heart, joins staff and alums of New York and San Francisco at the Driehaus Center.
Reception welcomes US Network schools
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he Network of Sacred Heart Schools celebrated its togetherness at a cocktail reception at the Driehaus Center at the R.F. Conway House on January 24, 2011. More than 70 alumni, RSCJ and staff from Network schools across the US enjoyed an evening of sharing at the historic Conway mansion. In fact, advancement staff from nearly a dozen Network schools, many of whom were in town for the joint Council for Advancement of Education/National Association of Independent Schools conference in downtown Chicago, attended. They mingled with alums from not only Sheridan Road, but also Barat, Woodlands, Manhattanville and Maryville. Last year, when the CASE/NAIS conference was held in New York, the Network joined with convent of the Sacred Heart, 91st Street, to host a similar reception. “We were thrilled to connect with our colleagues from across the country and at the same time share our beautiful, newly restored facility with them,” said Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools. Network schools represented at the party included those from Greenwich, CT; San Francisco, CA; 91st Street, NY; New Orleans, LA; St. Charles, MO; Atherton, CA; Bellevue, WA; Grosse Point, MI; and Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, IL. “We are grateful to the Network and to the AASH for their assistance in making this gathering possible. In the midst of the Chicago winter, it was wonderful to pause for a moment and enjoy the warmth and friendship of the national Sacred Heart community,” said Judy Corrin, Institutional Advancement Director.
Teacher meets two SHS families in the shadow of Spanish Steps in Rome When Lower School Religion teacher Kathleen Edwards learned that two of her student’s families were going to be in Rome while she was there over Spring Break, she planned to meet them on the Spanish Steps in front of the Trinita dei Monti, home of Mater Admirablis. Patrick and Ryan Lanser (left) and Christian and Charlotte Sparks visit the Mater fresco with Edwards on March 22.