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Voices from the Hill
The talented students who write for the student-run news publication The Veritas Shield, capture the many stories and experiences of our community throughout the year. The following stories are articles written by our student journalists. You can keep up with the latest articles by visiting
veritasshield.fsha.org.
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SENIORS REWIND ON LAST FOUR YEARS
By Caitlin Cruz, Editor-in-Chief
Ding-dong. The doorbell rings and with nerves and excitement you rush to the door to see if the long-awaited red admissions box has come to let you know if you have been accepted to Flintridge Sacred Heart. A grin from ear to ear appears on your face as you see it on the foor. Opening it up, you start to envision the world of possibilities that high school on the Hill has to offer: compelling classes, soonto-be-best friends, overnight retreats, next-level sports, dances and so much more. You can’t wait to see how the next four years will all pan out.
This thrilling moment described took place four years ago for this year’s seniors. To say the least, the class of 2022 has gone through it all. They came in as 14-year-olds who’d never taken an AP, never driven a car and never heard of Covid. Now that they’re about to leave, they’re in a position to refect on everything that they’ve gone through. “Going in, I thought I was going to be met with this class of perfect girls that I could fnd this perfect friend group in, and the more I went to school, the more I found myself being friends with a lot of different people, and I found myself really enjoying not having one solidifed group,” Helena Locateli ‘22 said.
When talking with the current seniors, much of what they had to say about their time on the Hill had to do with the relationships formed with their fellow sisters. “I wish I was more positive and outgoing the frst three years because this year was the only year that I really came out of my shell and gave more chances to people outside
Members of the Class of 2022 take a selfe after the Candle Rose Ceremony
of my friend group, which actually turned out to be a great decision,” Lanna Megerdichian ‘22 said.
The seniors are taking their last few months to refect on the last four years and the personal growth they have made as young individuals.
“I think my attitude could have been better in high school, but I wouldn’t change anything. I’m for sure going to miss coming up here every day and seeing this group of girls. I truly don’t think there was a better ft for me,” Locateli said.
The class of 2022 had an unusual factor to get through given that they were one of the classes hit by a global pandemic. But even though Covid may have changed a lot about high school, the class of 2022 handled it with poise.
“I’m not that disappointed. Even though Covid did hit and prevented us from some traditional aspects of high school, it gave us a new perspective of our four years and gave us an experience that no other class would have,” Isabella Cao ‘22 said. “I’m just grateful that we can come together for our last year on the Hill and still be able to make new friends, try new things and of course take part in the typical senior season of prom, Disneyland and privileges.”
Out of everything Covid affected, the one thing seniors most regret missing is the grade-level retreats. “It was a bit sad that our class didn’t partake in any of the big retreats, starting with the FSHlumber party, then the sophomore and junior year retreats and now the senior retreat, because I feel our class isn’t as close as it could have been,” Megerdichian said.
While the class of 2022 defnitely had an out-of-the-ordinary high school experience, most of them would prefer the term “extraordinary.”
“Yeah sure, we had our ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything; it made me the person I am today,” Sara Park ‘22 said.
THE AUTHENTICITY OF SERVICE ON THE HILL
By Siena Urquiza, Associate Editor
An eager pack of Tologs equipped with gloves, shovels and trash bags jumps out of the FSH shuttle van after a one-hour drive to the beach. As the sea breeze hits their warm faces, they begin their trek in the sand on their hunt for trash. After a few hours of picking up litter, the club members head home exhausted from what their day of service has brought them.
Service is one of the four Dominican Pillars, which also include study, prayer and community. These Pillars are guiding principles for life at Flintridge Sacred Heart. Flintridge Sacred Heart’s approach to community service for Tologs is the school’s Dominican Service Program, which focuses on outreach service and service-learning. Outreach service is helping others through direct involvement in communities through projects like beach clean-ups, while service-learning is a more involved process that starts with researching why Tologs are helping a certain community before going into that community to put that research to work.
Service hours through both service-learning and outreach service are implemented in various ways, including through clubs, co-curriculars and afnity groups.
“We have a requirement for a grade nine [and 10] service; juniors and seniors intertwine service in religion class and in their [research projects]. All co-curriculars are required to do one service,” Director of Community Life Dr. Juli James said.
Students at FSH appreciate the service program because of the opportunities provided for Tologs to develop as people and help communities in need.
“Service has brought about a lot of transformative experi-
Students participated in Days for Girls sewing reusable feminine hygiene kits for girls in remote areas of the world who lose access to education when they begin menstruating.
ences for all of us, it gives us joy, and we met a lot of great people while doing something good for the community around us,” Faith Blea ‘22, who is the service chair of Round Square, an international club for schools that features a service component, said.
Service makes a difference in those communities, and it helps Tologs grow spiritually. It also, however, boosts their college applications.
The challenge that FSH’s program faces is making sure the service done is authentic and consistent with the values associated with the Dominican Pillars. The challenge is making sure that students are not doing service to make their college applications look good.
“The fact that we have required service does make it a little bit fake for some people. I think it’s good that they’re doing the service, obviously,” Cassie Huston ’23 said. “But we could still work on why we’re doing the service [and ensure] it comes from the right place.” Sometimes service is done to put on college applications, and because of this, some Tologs see the motivations for volunteering as less than genuine.
“I was talking with my college counselor and he said that, apparently, if [college admissions] just see you start doing service junior year, it’s obvious that you’re just doing it for college,” Huston said.
Administrators on the Hill are attempting to address the challenge of inauthentic motivations to complete service. They want to push students to seek service opportunities they care about so that they are fully invested in the cause and want to help others rather than do service for completion and academic reward.
“Service should be from heart and head. You’re giving because you want to; it changes you in some way. You are learning something about the world, about the community by doing service,” Dr. James said.
One method to encourage investment in service at FSH is
through research that allows students to understand the signifcance of their service.
“We see the most value in what is called service-learning, which is a little bit different from service work. It’s a combination of what we think traditionally of service work combined with learning about the root causes of the service need,” Director of Library Services and Research Program Ms. Nora Murphy said. “When you’re just doing service work without having investigated the need, the community, the root cause, it doesn’t create a lasting desire to continue with that level of service.”
At FSH, every senior takes a class with a research component, such as Engineering for Social Good or Faith and Media. In these classes, Tologs research the root cause of an issue that affects our world. Researching solutions to problems in the real world in the classroom through research is considered its own form of service-learning. “In the [class research projects], you’re learning about a social issue, a problem facing our world, and then your service is how can I help fx it or meet the needs of that community I’m learning about?” religious studies teacher Ms. Kristina Ortega said.
Whether service is done through research or out in communities, it is supposed to help people in need. FSH’s service program that has been integrated throughout the classes, co-curricular and clubs has one goal in mind, to help as many people and causes as possible.
YOUR SUPPORT SPARKED HER PASSION
Alumnae support of the Flintridge Fund has continued the tradition of an independent Catholic, Dominican education where young women are encouraged to be courageous and embrace their passions. We are blessed and inspired by the legacy of support
from our alumnae community as we empower young women to find their voice and embrace their passions.
NICOLE CHARKYCHAMI ‘06
My name is Nicole CharkyChami and I graduated from Flintridge Sacred Heart in 2006. In Fall 2022, I returned to the Hill as Communications Manager and Cross Country Assistant Coach. In many ways, it can be surreal to see teachers and staff that I knew as a student, and also see how the school has expanded. Although times have changed, the TOLOG spirit and mission is stronger than ever.
I’ve spent the last decade working in newsrooms, startups and higher education. My education at Flintridge Sacred Heart inspired me to pursue truth as a journalist, producer and educator. The commitment to equity and social
justice that started in the classroom infuenced my career decisions and every move I’ve made as a working professional.
This community completely changed the course of my life and gave me the courage to seek my passions. It sent me on a path to pursue truth in my professional life as a journalist and gave me the confdence to grow. As a teenager, Flintridge Sacred Heart was a source of stability, support and kindness. Even when my home life was rocky,
this school community, my classmates and teachers were always there for me.
The news business can be a tough industry. And my determination to keep going started because I was inspired
as a young woman to value dedication and resilience.
Flintridge Sacred Heart is a special place and without my teachers and mentors — without their dedication — I would not have found my spark or persevered through challenging times. My curiosity and dreams all stemmed from fnding my passions at Flintridge Sacred Heart. It’s why I returned to the Hill. It’s why I support the Flintridge Fund wholeheartedly.
In Veritas,
Nicole Charky-Chami ‘06
FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART
QWHY DOES YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT THE FLINTRIDGE FUND?
Teresa & Carlos Alpuerto (Aideen ‘23)
“We choose to support Flintridge Fund because we believe in the various goals that the Fund attempts to meet. One of the primary reasons we support the fund is our desire to see families who may not have the fnancial
resources, but have smart, and motivated
daughters, the opportunity to enroll their daughter in one of the best schools in the Los Angeles area.”
Leilani McHugh (Caitlin ‘04)
“I have always held a frm belief in the mission of Flintridge Sacred Heart and I want to do what I can to make sure the school can carry on its mission from year to year. Graduates of Flintridge Sacred Heart have gone on to become outspoken advocates for social issues like women’s rights, poverty, healthcare and diversity. It’s imperative that this school
continues the important work of preparing graduates of Flintridge Sacred Heart to be
effective leaders in their communities.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart empowers girls to fnd their voice, embrace their passions, align their goals with their true selves, and pursue their goals with determination. Alumnae support of the Flintridge Fund ensures that students can explore their interests from the arts, athletics, STEM and more.
DID YOU KNOW?
Alumnae support not only has an immediate impact on current students but also underwrites the Alumnae Association events and opportunities that keep you connected to your classmates.
