Board of Trustees
Attend a ‘Chat with Nat’
SHS welcomes new Board members
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he Schools welcome four new members to the Board of Trustees for the 2013-14 school year.
Dustin Beier is Senior Managing Director and
Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Guggenheim Partners. He works with resource allocation, strategic planning and financial and cash planning. He holds an MBA from University of Chicago and a BS in Accounting from Illinois State University. His daughter, Emma, is in Academy 6. His hopes for his time on the Board of Trustees: “I would like to help the school continue to build itself into the premier independent school in Chicago.” Aric Cleland is Vice President, Private Wealth
Management, at Goldman Sachs & Co. He holds a BS in Business Administration from Kansas University. He is the father of Tommy, H5, and two alums, Michael H’13, Jack H’11. He is currently a Co-Chair of the Annual Fund, and has worked on the Athletic Advisory Board and the past Capital Campaign. “My wife KK and I feel blessed to be a part of the Sacred Heart community. It is an honor and privilege to be nominated to the Board of Trustees. I look forward to giving back to thew school through my experience in fund raising and financial services.”
New Board members (from l): Dustin Beier, Lisa Tiemann, Aric Cleland, Eric Hansen. Eric Hansen is Managing Director for GE
Capital, head of new business development - Chicago, Southeastern/Southwestern U.S. He works with Private Equity Firms to finance buyouts and recapitalizations of middle market businesses. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in Accounting from University of Illinois. His sons, Parker and Jack, are in Hardey 6. “I want to make Sacred Heart in Chicago the example to which all independent schools aspire. I would also like to find ways to continue diversifying our student body.” Lisa Tiemann is President of the Parents of the
Heart. She is a graduate of Valparaiso University, with a BS in Business Administration/Marketing. She is the mother of two current students, Max H7 and Lauren A5, and recent alum Lexi A’13. “I am looking forward to my role as President of Parents of the Heart this year and am excited to serve on the SH Board. I hope to share ideas and perspective from my experiences at SH to help make an impact.”
s the Schools begin their 137th year, I am humbled and privileged to step into my new role as Chair of the Board of Trustees. My thanks and admiration to Liz Connelly, our former Chair and current Chair Emeritus. The school continued to strengthen under her leadership and numerous important initiatives were accomplished. The most significant of those was the formation of the school’s new Five Year Strategic Plan. This culmination of two years of intense introspection and outside evaluation can be read as a flipbook on the Schools’ website at shschicago.org/strategicplan. To learn more about the plan, and see where its vision will lead the Schools, I urge everyone to attend one of the “Chats with Nat” planned for the next two months. A schedule is posted on the Strategic Jeff Jozwiak Plan webpage. While most of the “Chats” take place at school, I would point out that there are two downtown scheduled for your convenience. On Oct. 22, Elizabeth and Michael Cole are sponsoring a reception at Madison Dearborn Partners; on Nov. 5 Michael Hussman H’89 is sponsoring a luncheon at the Union League Club. RSVP information is on the webpage.
Schools lose two wonderful past Board members he Schools mourn the loss of two past members of the Board of Trustees, Bill Campbell and John Ahearne. “Sacred Heart is in a better place because of their contributions,” said Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools. “We honor them, and miss them.”
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sons he learned at Hardey Prep were “Duty to God. Duty to country. Duty to fellow human beings.”
William Campbell H’62 served as Trustee from 1987-94, and as
John Ahearne served on the William Campbell
‘Genuine love always takes the form of service.’ Life at the Sacred Heart
Board Chair from 1990-93. He was the recipient of the Catherine Seiker Alumni Award for outstanding dedication in 2004. Bill passed away on September 6 after a long battle with cancer. His law firm, DLA Piper, said of him, “Bill was recognized not only in our firm but around the world in matters of professional responsibility and ethical considerations in the practice of law. He represented what is good about our legal profession. He recognized that personal relationships, ethical and moral behavior and mentoring of associates and staff are what allow us all to thrive.” He also had a distinguished career with the U.S. Military, Judge Advocate General’s Corps and was an officer in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. Bill said once in an interview with SHS that the essential les-
Sacred Heart Schools
From the Chair of the Board:
On Board!
A Newsletter for Trustees, Leaders, & Lifelong Friends of SHS
Test scores, HS placements strong for SHS
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HS received confirmation of its continued commitment to an exceptional academic program in the IOWA standardized test scores. Taken last spring, these results underscored the strength of the curriculum. “The core totals for grades 6, 7 and 8 are excellent, yielding a core average of 92% for the middle school,” said Stephen Puricelli Middle School THE IOWA TESTS Head. He further explained, Grade 8 Core Average: 92% “This is the National PerGrade 7 Core Average: 93% centile Ranking, meaning Grade 6 Core Average: 91% our students performed Grade 5 92% above all Core Average: 93% other students
INSIDE:
vate and independent A new ‘look’ for the schools. (see Finance Department list on page 3) Puricelli Cor Unum fetes donors recalls an at Driehaus Center admissions Board of Trustees weldirector comes new members saying, “We have been hoping to attract one of your girls for years, and now we finally have!” A great factor in placement success is having an individualized process to meet each student’s needs. Sue Heybach, High School Placement Counselor, meets with families throughout the year, in order to help them find the best fit for high school. “She has done a phenomenal job,” said Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools.
One:One iPad program begins in Grade 8
John Ahearne
Board from 2003-09. Both of his daughters attended the Academy K-8. Marion graduated in 2009 and Caroline in 2012. John passed away unexpectedly on August 5 at the age of 52. “John was the consummate gentleman,” reflected a colleague Baird & Co., where he was a Director. “He always was willing to drop everything for any philanthropic activity, and had the grace to treat people the way they would want to be treated.” John was affectionately nicknamed “Gentleman John” and “The Mayor” by his colleagues for his care and concern for all, his involvement in the community, and his ability to know everyone. He served on the Boards of Josephinum Academy, University Club of Chicago and Saddle and Cycle Club. He was a graduate of St. Norbert College. Adieu and Godspeed
taking the same tests.” The Lower School achieved similar results, with a Core Total Average of 90%. Math is an area with dramatic results. “Our current 8th graders scored a minimum of 4 ½ grade levels above their own grade and up to 6+ levels above grade,” Puricelli noted. Current 7th graders mirrored those results, with a minimum of 4 ½ to 6 grade levels above their own grade. Current 6th grade students scored from 3 to 5 grade levels above grade. The Schools are also proud of the high school placements of our graduates. This past year the 8th graders received 100% acceptance to 14 area high schools. And, while more than half of our students attend one of two Jesuit Catholic high schools, this past year saw a rise in diverse placements. Students were accepted to a wider variety of public, pri-
Fall 2013
Members of the 7th and 8th grade volunteer iHelp team unpack iPads and fit them in plastic sleeves for the new program.
The new One:One iPad pilot initiative with 8th grade students rolls out in early October. This program allows each 8th grade student to have an iPad throughout the day for use in the classrooms. They are then stored at the end of the day. Our plan in subsequent years is to extend the program to the entire Middle School. “We are very grateful to the generous, anonymous donor whose funding made this initiative possible,” said Stephen Puricelli, Head of the Middle School. The iPads were blessed in the Sacred Heart chapel on September 30, and prayer cards to the patron saint of the internet, St. Isidore of Seville, were distributed. A new team of student helpers – iHelp – was formed to assist with logistics such as packing and storage of the iPads. They will help with tech support throughout the year.
Donors honored at Cor Unum gala
Summer remodel meets unique challenges while Finance staff transitions
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The “before” and “after” of the common space in the Finance Department.
High Schools our 2013 grads attend: St. Ignatius College Prep Loyola Academy The Latin School of Chicago Walter Payton College Prep Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Northside College Prep Jones College Prep Whitney Young High School Lane Tech College Prep St. Patrick High School Evanston Township High School Notre Dame High School Trinity High School Chicago High School for the Arts
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
Finance Office sports new faces and new spaces Arona Puttrich and Mel Vargas served a combined 57 years at SHS
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ll it takes is a walk up to the 4th dedication over the years. floor of the Rosemont Building, “We have been lucky to have a seamless the decades-old bastion of the Fi- transition of key personnel in the Finance Denance offices, to see that something is dra- partment. I am most grateful for both Arona’s matically different. No longer are you greeted and Mel’s years of contribution, and so very by a long narrow corridor, with mysterious thankful to them for helping ensure continudoors opening into odd-shaped cubicles, ity in the department,” said Brian McGuin(originally built in 1965 as housing for the ness, Chief Financial Officer of the Schools. nuns). Instead, a bright open space welcomes That transition included Maggie Nass, visitors into the newly reconfigured SHS Fi- who came on board in April as the new Connance Department. troller. She spent about a month with Arona Not only new spaces, but also new transitioning institutional knowledge. Alex faces greet guests. Last Cahue was year saw the departure ‘I am most grateful for both Arona’s and Mel’s recruited to of two long-time emjoin the Fiyears of contribution, and so very thankful ployees: Arona Putnance Team trich, after 26 dedicat- to them for helping ensure continuity in the in student ed years as the Schools’ department.’ ...Brian McGuinness, CFO billing and Business Manager, collections. moved on to become Business Manager for “Alex and Mel had a period of overlap as well the Baker Demonstration School in Evan- that was a tremendous benefit to us,” addston. Her years at SHS saw the building of ed McGuinness. Rounding out the team is the South Wing, reconfiguring of much of Chris Ferek, staff accountant, who has been the campus and the dramatic expansion of doing an outstanding job for Sacred Heart the elementary school. “We will always be for a little over a year. grateful for Arona’s commitment and devo- They are all enjoying the open, airy tion as she ushered us through the last 26 office space developed over the summer. It years,” said Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools. did not happen overnight. A thorough in Arona’s daughter, Alysse, carries the spection of the area, especially the unique torch forward as she works part-time in the plumbing configuration, revealed challenges Finance Office while she attends North Park to achieving the ideal layout. University. “The new design is intended to en Also leaving after 31 years as the hance communication and workflow, ultiSchools’ bookkeeper was Mel Vargas. She mately providing the best service possible to was feted at a summer luncheon, attended by our community,” explained McGuinness. the entire Leadership Team, and Arona, who John Ptak, Facilities Director, manreturned to bid adieu to Mel and honor her aged the entire project, including selecting
all the furniture, surfaces, layout and color schemes. Assisted by Henry Muhrer, Plant Engineer, and the maintenance team, the project was tackled with speed and creativity. “The remodel was tricky because the Finance offices are located in the middle floor of the 8-story Rosemont Building and while we were terminating a significant amount of plumbing we still needed to maintain and supply the floors above and below,” Ptak noted. Because the floor had been built originally as living quarters for the RSCJ, there were 7 sinks, 4 bathtubs and showers, washer/dryer hookups and 5 toilets to be removed, all while continuing service to the rest of the floors. The project was not only completed on time, but also at a significant savings. Ptak estimates that doing the entire project in-house saved the Schools an estimated 5060% over the cost of hiring an outside construction company to modify the space. “John, Henry, Ruben, Renee, Octavio, Cirilo, and Brad went above and beyond the call in every way to deliver an outstanding result for Sacred Heart. We are beyond grateful for their efforts,” attested McGuinness. To make matters more complicated, the Finance department relocated to the foreign language rooms for the summer. There, they worked on the annual summer audit, which the Schools passed with flying colors. “Sacred Heart received a clean audit opinion from our auditors, the firm of Plante & Morgan, PLLC,” McGuinness was happy to announce.
he festive atmosphere at the Cor Unum – One Heart – reception held September 11 in the Driehaus Center, was an appropriate beginning for the year of Goal 4 - the building of community. The guests enjoyed animated conversations at the catered party recognizing those who made a Leadership contribution to the 2012-13 Annual Fund. This included current families with Annual Fund commitments beginning at $3,000 and alumni, parents of alumni and friends who made gifts of $1,000 or more. Approximately 22 percent of last year’s donors made a gift at the Leadership level. Nat Wilburn used the occasion to release the 2012-13 Annual Report, featuring members of the Sacred Heart community who personified last year’s Goal focus, Goal 3, “A social awareness which impels to action.” Read about them online at shschicago. org/annualreport. The event is also the unofficial kickoff for the 2013-14 Annual Fund campaign. “The campaign is off to a great start, hav-
Julie Hesse (r), one of the Annual Fund Chairs, greets Paul and Stephanie Hart. These couples enjoy connecting at the Cor Unum fete: (from l) Michael and Christine Corwin, Colleen and Eric Mansell, Stacey and Tim Cavanagh.
2012-13 by the numbers... • a record $956,900 raised • 762 total donors • average parent gift: $2,222 • 98% faculty/staff participation • 9% parents of alumni participation • $56,000 in employee matching gifts • gift range: $3 - $35,000 ing raised $337,500 in gifts and pledges to date,” said Lindsey Lopez, Development Director. “Our second Phonathon is October 16 and we ask everyone to ‘answer the call!’” Leadership gifts are essential, as funds are allocated immediately to current programs, curriculum enhancements, scholarships and preserving the Schools’ historic properties. In the spirit of Cor Unum, the Sacred Heart community comes together to support the Schools’ mission. Contact Lindsey Lopez, Development Director, at 773681-8410 or via email at lindsey.lopez@ shschicago.org to be a “Part of the Heart” and make your gift or pledge today.