Sacred Heart Greenwich Spring 2022

HORIZONS

Joyful Learning

The Magazine of Sacred Heart Greenwich › Spring 2022

Wishing the best to the Class of 2022, whose spirit of compassion and enthusiasm has brought joy and inspiration to the entire Sacred Heart Greenwich community.

Welcome to Sacred Heart

Dear Sacred Heart Greenwich community,

Thanks to the engagement and hard work of our students, faculty, staff, and families, Sacred Heart Greenwich is strong, resilient, and well positioned to navigate the future. Our campus is bursting with activity as we enthusiastically connect in classrooms, on the athletic fields, in the school pick-up line, and through our time-honored end-of-year traditions. Each day, we celebrate the mission of Sacred Heart in all the ways, big and small, that advance the Goals and Criteria upon which our school was established.

Our goals — focused on the personal, academic, and spiritual growth and development of our young women and girls — are illustrated through the achievements of Sacred Heart Greenwich students in every division. Upper School girls built apps, programmed robots, and traveled through virtual reality as part of project-based learning activities integrating technology in the curriculum. Middle Schoolers expanded their capabilities in the design thinking process and problemsolving by engaging in project-based arts and computer science initiatives. Through their capstone project work, Lower School students strengthened their skills in research and teamwork while cultivating openness to new ideas. Across the school, students grew in confidence, compassion, and faith.

Building on those achievements and creating new opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and develop is the utmost priority for our incoming president, Michael Baber. Michael is a proven school leader with 20 years of experience in Sacred Heart schools. His return to Sacred Heart Greenwich is a welcome homecoming. He brings with him both a deep personal understanding of what makes our school special and a professional perspective that will enhance teaching, learning, and community building for years to come. Michael is positioned for success thanks to the guidance and support of outgoing Head of School Meg Frazier. Meg skillfully steered us through the pandemic, enabling Sacred Heart to fulfill the promise of every girl, every day. Thank you, Meg, for all that you’ve done for Sacred Heart.

Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart, once said, “Let us leave acts, not words. Nobody will have time to read us.” I am reminded of that quote every time I see a Sacred Heart teacher in their element, inspiring a love of learning in the classroom. Every time I see a staff member celebrate and lift up a student’s achievements, building their confidence in the process. Every time I see a student demonstrate compassion for others, serving the common good in an

interdependent world. These actions speak volumes, and they are a living testament to the value of a Sacred Heart education.

Thank you for being a part of this community and for everything you do to support Sacred Heart students.

Sincerely, Kathleen O’Connor, ’89, P’20, ’21, ’22 Chair of the Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Kathleen Plunkett O’Connor ’89, P’20, ’21, ’22, Chair

Lynne Newman P’17, ’21, ’26, Vice Chair

Sandie O’Connor P’19, ’23, Secretary

Ryan Sfreddo P’24, ’25, Treasurer

Emily Bailey Berry P’28

Maureen Mara Brown ’82, P’19

Sandra Caruso P’18, ’20, ’23

Erinn Laragh Denson ’85 P’15, P’22

Michael R. Denvir P’26, ’29

Christine Di Capua P’23

Jan Dunn, RSCJ

Regina Gannon P’23, ’28

Paula Gruner, RSCJ

Karen Finneran Hamilton P’19, ’22, ’27

Carmen Edelweise Hughes P ’27, ’31

Katherine Lavin ’98

Thomas D. Lehrman P’22, ’32

Dr. Alexandra Lewis ’01

Peter A. Marshall P’22

Margot Kearney Navins ’02, Alumnae Association President

Barbara Quinn, RSCJ

Sacred Heart Greenwich, founded in 1848, is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women from kindergarten through grade 12, with a coed early childhood education program.

Sacred Heart, steeped in a solid academic tradition, educates women to have independence of judgment, personal freedom, and strength of character so that they can become leaders with broad intellectual and spiritual horizons.

The school welcomes students of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and religious beliefs. True to its international heritage, the school provides students with experiences of diversity.

Cultivating prophetic leaders is a compelling commitment of our education, and the entire school community, and as a member of the Sacred Heart Network of Schools, it is dedicated to the Goals and Criteria:

› A personal and active faith in God

› A deep respect for intellectual values

› A social awareness which impels to action

› The building of community as a Christian value

› Personal growth in an atmosphere of wide freedom.

HORIZONS SPRING 2022 The Magazine of

Inside Our Classrooms

Baber

OUR CLASSROOMS

Bishop Caggiano Installs 33 Seniors as Eucharistic Ministers

Sacred Heart Network schools across the country celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit to mark the beginning of the 2021–2022 academic year. The Mass of the Holy Spirit dates back to the 16th century and allows the entire school community to come together to celebrate the school’s mission and Catholic identity.

The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, celebrated the Mass. During the homily, Bishop Caggiano reminded students of how important it is to treat each and every person like a neighbor with respect and kindness, despite any perceived differences between one another.

During the Mass, Bishop Caggiano commissioned 33 seniors as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. In this new role, the

students will serve as Eucharistic ministers at liturgies throughout the school year and act as role models for the entire student body.

This year’s Eucharistic ministers are Sarah Augustine, Catherine Baranello, Natalie Becue, Olivia Berkery, Lucille (Lucy) Catalano, Katarina (Kat) Corroon, Isobel Cunningham, Emma Denson, Dylan Drury, Charlotte Fallon, Regina Finn, Julia Fonti, Michaela (Mimi) Greco, Erin Griffin, Annie Hamilton, Alexandra (Alex) Hannett, Mary Hawthorn-Kanos, Caroline Hisler, Kate Hong, Justine Hounsell, Grace Iannaccone, Juliette (Jules) Ingram, Elizabeth (Libby) Kaseta, Kaitlyn Langer, Gabrielle (Gabby) Lauria, Isabel Lehrman, Rachel Lherisson, Megan Maloney, Catriona Marangi, Caroline Nemec, Francoise (Franny) O’Brien, Annie O’Connor, and Georgia (Gigi) Pascal.

First Friday

On the first Friday of every month, Sacred Heart opens its doors to the community and its hearts and minds to exploring topics central to the school’s mission. The format includes guest speakers followed by a celebration of the Mass. The tradition of a First Friday has been a practice in the Catholic Church since the 1800s.

Kerry Bader, director of Community Service, reflected on First Fridays, saying, “As a school rooted in the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it was natural for us to practice this devotion through the celebration of Mass. We supplement this liturgical celebration with a reflection or education component that is rooted in mission and the love of Sacred Heart.”

This year the community was thrilled to be back in-person for these special gatherings whose topics ranged from health and wellness, to criminal justice, to the care of God’s creation. A few highlights are noted here.

In December, the presentation focused on food insecurity in Fairfield Country, with Bill Cusano, executive director of Caritas, and members of the Class of 2022 who founded a Hunger Awareness Club on campus. This event proved so inspiring that several Middle School students in attendance were motivated to begin their own hunger awareness club, with the Upper School presenters serving as their club’s mentors.

February’s First Friday showcased our very own Leah Allen ’22, who discussed significant events in Black history, as well as the challenges and opportunities that accompany being a young Black woman in today’s world. Leah organized Black History Month into three main categories: joy, remembrance, and progress. She explained that it’s important to be aware of hardships faced by Black Americans in the past and

present, but it is just as vital to celebrate moments of Black joy and progress.

Recently, Megan Maloney ’22 moderated a discussion between theology teacher John Martone, world languages teacher Souad Malih, and Alex Marshall ’23. They delved into Goal I, Criteria 4 in a conversation about how our community understands the religious and spiritual traditions of the world.

Lower School Capstone Captures Ancient History

Lower School students have been hard at work on their capstone projects, which are cross-disciplinary, in-depth studies into a special topic, culminating with a public presentation. Kindergarten students created a walkable timeline through prehistory with stops at Early Earth, the Paleozoic Era, the Mesozoic Era, the asteroid, and the Cenozoic Era along the way. Meanwhile, first graders reconstructed a dinosaur habitat complete with key physical characteristics and traits that helped dinosaurs survive in their natural habitat.

The second graders time-traveled back to ancient Egypt, where they learned about constructing pyramids through multiplication in math class, creating (and sailing!) miniature ancient Egyptian boats in science, learning how to make paper in art, and more — all of which was presented in their final showcase to the community. Third grade students took a trip to Mesoamerica where they created a video on all things Mayan, Aztec, and Incan.

Finally, the fourth graders were hard at work turning into ancient Greek playwrights. From learning about the Olympics in gym class to practicing how to write their names in ancient Greek, these students gained the background knowledge they needed to write their own original plays about and/or set in ancient Greece. Read on to hear from the students in their own words about their capstone experiences.

“We made our own mammals out of clay and we painted them to show what some of the mammals looked like back then, and mine looked like a platypus.”

—EMERY, KINDERGARTEN

“My favorite part was the Paleozoic era because I like underwater more than land.”

—HARPER, KINDERGARTEN

“Dinosaurs needed different things in their habitat. They needed food, water, shelter, and protection.”

—CAROLINE, GRADE 1

“Volcanoes were erupting in the Mesozoic era. Volcanoes were very active and there was a lot of gas, ash, and smoke.”—NINA, GRADE 1

“My favorite part was making the habitats. The plants grew in humid weather and made a good habitat for the dinosaurs.”

—ANYA, GRADE 1

Bon Voyage!

A Look Inside Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Network Exchange Program

Oh, the places you’ll go…when you’re part of the Sacred Heart Network of schools, that is! Engaging in challenging experiences that inspire intellectual curiosity, a global mindset, and a lifelong love of learning has always been a crucial part of Goal II and is exemplified through Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Network Exchange Program.

The Network Exchange Program is open to both eighth graders and sophomores. Eighth graders have the opportunity to spend one week at another Sacred Heart school in the United States, while sophomores may spend two to six weeks at another Sacred Heart school either in the United States or abroad. The students get paired up with a Sacred Heart host family and attend school with their host sister.

“The overall idea of the program is that it’s reciprocal,” explained Montserrat Garcia, an Upper School world language teacher and the Network Exchange coordinator. “You host a student, and you send a student.”

Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, and Austria are counted as some of the more popular exchange sites for Upper Schoolers, but students have gone to locations as far as Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. While the exchanges were fully virtual last year, the 2021–2022 school year was happy to welcome back in-person exchanges. Last fall, Sacred Heart Greenwich welcomed two exchange students: Charline Dequet from Nantes,

France, hosted by Julia Randolph ’24, and Leonor Pérez de Ayala from Seville, Spain, hosted by Annie Cornell ’23.

Julia says she is excited to spend four weeks in Nantes in March to “use the exchange program as an opportunity to learn about other cultures and enhance my language skills. The exchange program has provided me with a connection to another Sacred Heart student on the other side of the world and also provides me with the opportunity to learn more about the cultures around me.”

Annie, who studied in Seville during December after hosting Leonor at home, had a similar experience. “I love that I have a friend around the world,” she said. “We were able to get to know each other really well and I now consider her part of my family, like my sister. We definitely want to keep up the relationship and see each other over the summer.”

In January, Sacred Heart Greenwich welcomed Carmen de Francisco, hosted by Camila Oliva ’24, and Carmen Sánchez de Cos, hosted by Helena Randolph ’24, both hailing from Madrid, Spain.

Carmen de Francisco was interested in taking part in the Network Exchange Program for “the experience of meeting other people with a different life from yours.” The biggest difference she noticed between life in Greenwich and life in Madrid? “Everything [here] is very

suburban and every thing is so far away from everything else,” she commented. “At home we walk to school, but here we have to take a bus.”

“I’ve never been to Spain, so going there will be experiencing a new culture,” Helena added in terms of why she wanted to be part of the program. “And knowing people across the world has been really cool.”

The overall highlight of the Network Exchange Program? Just how unique and special it is to the Sacred Heart network. “It’s so special that you get to go somewhere completely different and live a completely different life but you’re still rooted in the same [Sacred Heart] goals and ideals,” Annie said. Whether you’re halfway around the world or just down the road from King Street, these students have found that you’ll always be home within the Sacred Heart network.

Leadership in Middle School

In creative, courageous (and fun!) ways, our students consistently “put themselves out there,” heartened by the encouragement of the Middle School community that believes that every girl can find her niche to lead. In September, Grace Villar ’26, a member of the Memorial Sloane Kettering Student Board, organized an MSK Kids Walk around the front circle of Salisbury Hall to raise money for pediatric cancer research. At every Friday Gathering, campus minister Chloe Hill ’26 leads the Middle School in an opening prayer that she composed herself. Freshman Hazel Carrion ’27 has created “Leaving Footprints,” a new club for Middle Schoolers to raise money and awareness for abandoned and injured animals, rallying students with games, gift basket raffles, and Civvies Days. When Hazel proposed her club idea to Middle School faculty, she wrote, “Thank you so much for giving me the chance to express my love for Sacred Heart and attempt to give back to the community that means so much to me.” Across their academics, service, and faith, these three students are just a few examples of how Sacred Heart girls embrace leadership in an atmosphere of wise freedom and feel inspired and supported to make a difference.

One of Sacred Heart’s most enduring Criteria is our commitment to educate young women to become motivational, inspiring, and transformative leaders. The work towards this ambitious mandate is challenging, but in ways both large and small, visible and invisible, each of Sacred Heart’s young women answers this call on a daily basis. In the classroom, in the theater, and on the athletic field, our students sharpen the tools necessary for leadership: confidence, compassion, wisdom, and independence.

Last year, 63 students ran for the Student Council’s nine open positions. This enormous enthusiasm to both serve the community and lead the student body speaks volumes about how the Middle School is a safe space for students to take risks. For years, foundational programming has engineered opportunities for students to work on teams, initiate class discussions, lead prayers, organize community service — or as Head of Middle School John Zwack says, “Dip their toes in the water of aspirational leadership.”

A priority for every leader is to strengthen their community, a job that has not been easy in these socially distanced times. However, the Middle School Student Council has brought creativity and joy

Any moment when a student is willing to put herself out there, that’s a step towards leadership.”

—Sam McCoy, Middle School Humanities Coordinator

to the challenge. When Friday morning gatherings can be in-person, Student Council members have organized dance contests with faculty. When these gatherings happen over Zoom, the Student Council still brings the fun with Teacher Trivia and advisory raffles. Head of Wellness and Head of Campus Ministry are two Student Council positions that are uniquely Sacred Heart and demonstrate students’ commitment to the healthy development of their whole person: mind, body, and spirit. This year, the Student Council planned a cozy “Hot Chocolate Social,” with the goal of giving students the chance to slow down and enjoy one another’s company.

In the Middle School, leadership opportunities extend beyond traditional experiences in the Student Council to allow every girl the chance to discover her voice. In lesson planning, teachers embed leadership opportunities. To do this, they design projectbased learning that requires communication, collaboration, and presentation skills. One such example is the capstone project, in which students select topics of interest for research, exploring issues such as the effects of social media on teenage mental health, the impact of ocean pollution on marine ecosystems, and changes in the minimum wage since its inception in the 1930s. Becoming experts in their subject naturally cultivates an ownership of material, which is challenged when students present their work in front of classmates. This moment of public speaking is often the first step towards taking on greater leadership roles in the future.

This fall, more than 50 students participated in the winter musical, Sister Act. Behind the curtain, a dedicated stage crew navigated the lights, sounds, and props to ensure a seamless production. Their work reflects the often unspoken reality of leadership: it can be quiet and without glory, but their teamwork and dependability support the community in becoming its personal best. Kellie Comer, director of the Middle School musical and drama teacher, says, “There’s a lot of split-second decisions that need to be made in live theatre. When things go wrong, girls need to quickly step up and make decisions so the show can go on, meaning each member of the cast and crew has the possibility to be put into a leadership role at any time.”

Interim Director of Athletics Carolina Gelbman notes, “You do not have to be the team captain to feel like a leader; rather, you have to be able to unite the entire group, regardless of the situation. Leaders are people who can boost the morale and confidence of the team while demonstrating sportsmanship throughout.”

Every day, Middle School students are learning to solve problems through challenges, listen and engage in honest conversations, and influence others with positivity and motivation. We are proud to send our students into the Upper School, and beyond, with the skills to transform their world and model courage and confidence for the next generation of leaders.

Listen Up!

It’s safe to say that podcasts are having their moment! This year Sacred Heart Greenwich debuted its own podcast, Heart to Heart, to bring listeners on a deep dive into what makes a Sacred Heart education so distinctive. Hosted by Megan Monaghan, Heart to Heart roams King Street to profile outstanding faculty, explore creative initiatives, and highlight innovations in topics ranging from curriculum to facilities. The podcast is particularly designed for those not able to be on campus each day, such as parents and alumnae, but who are curious to more fully experience life at Sacred Heart. Heart to Heart is proud to share the joyful learning with audiences around the world and has found listeners as far away as South Korea and Australia. We encourage everyone in the community to listen and subscribe — you won’t want to miss an episode!

Episode 1: Go Wild!

Meander through Sacred Heart’s 100-plus acres to explore how the great outdoors shapes teaching and learning. Hear from grounds manager Wil Smyers on SHG’s path to become an Audubon sanctuary (and the furry friend making his home by the barn!) Listen to Dr. Jessica McGibbon on the origins of the Mustard Seeds program and why spending time in nature is more vital than ever. Then cozy up with Margaret Vondermeden to learn the astonishing things that happen when we sit still and use our senses.

podcast

brings

inside Sacred Heart Greenwich

Episode 2: Awe, Wonder, Magic

Join us on a journey with our youngest learners as we travel inside Sacred Heart’s Barat Center for Early Childhood Education. Meet Preschool Director Frederica McGannon and learn the driving philosophy of Reggio Emilia education. Chat chess with Dr. McGibbon and hear why this is the perfect game for girls. Feel the warmth of Diane Flieger, beloved teacher in the Barat Center, as she reminds us that life’s greatest lessons are learned at the youngest ages.

The

that

you

to explore the people, their passions, and the programs that make our hearts beat.

How to Listen

Scan the QR code to listen on our website. Or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Search for “Heart to Heart, Sacred Heart Greenwich” in your app. Make sure you follow us to receive the latest episodes!

Episode 3: The Third Teacher

What’s the connection between the classroom environment and student learning? We chat with four faculty members who have reimagined physical space to enhance student engagement and strengthen learning outcomes. Hear from second grade teacher, Megan Wallace, on flexible furniture and Upper School English teacher Sarah Martin on how the Harkness table promotes listening and discussion. Technology teacher Deanna George reveals the possibilities of clear plastic bins and notices the value of sunlight. And Ellyn Stewart, director of Media Studies, Design, and Innovation, drops some knowledge on biophilia. After listening, you might be inspired to make some changes to your own space!

Episode 4: Welcome Home!

This summer, Michael F. Baber returns home to King Street. We recently chatted about his path towards leadership and the experiences that made him the person he is today.

Join us as we discuss the timeless mission of a Sacred Heart school, the role of faith, and why he says hello to each person he sees in the hallways. Welcome back, Mr. Baber!

Welcome New School Leaders

Kevin Bailey will join us as the director of academics. He will lead a cross-divisional, cross-disciplinary team, collaborating with all faculty and staff to ensure consistently high standards of rigor, engagement, and excellence in learning and teaching school-wide. Kevin will bring to Sacred Heart Greenwich his strong commitment to students, and his capacity for action and innovation. Supporting young women in their pursuit of STEM disciplines and expanding opportunities for more advanced coursework has been a longtime area of interest and focus for Kevin. As a graduate of Regis High School in New York, Kevin is a product of single-sex Catholic education. At Georgetown University, he studied mathematics and economics, and also holds a Master’s of Education degree in school leadership. Kevin spent the last 12 years at Riverdale Country School, an independent K–12 school in New York City. At Riverdale, Kevin served as a mathematics teacher and co-chair of the math department, a faculty advisor, coordinator of scheduling and studies, and most recently as academic dean on the school’s Senior Leadership Team.

Also this fall there will be a new face cheering from the Sacred Heart sidelines. With enthusiasm and excitement, we welcome Laurie Rousseau as our new athletic director. Laurie has more than two decades of experience at independent schools, including the past 11 years at Kent School, an independent boarding school in Connecticut. She is an experienced athletic director, has coached ice hockey, tennis, lacrosse, and field hockey, and is also a former high-level athlete, having played both lacrosse and ice hockey at Yale University. Named Ivy League Player of the Year three times, Laurie earned

ECAC All-Star and All-American Honors for hockey. She also played on the US National Select Team in 1995, serving as an alternative on the 1998 Olympic team, and later earning a silver medal at the 1999 World Championships. Laurie will bring her expertise as an athletic director, educator, athlete, and coach to Sacred Heart Greenwich. We are eager to welcome Laurie, her husband, and two daughters to our school community. Go Heart!

And while September brings new energy and fresh faces to campus, it also welcomes back several old friends, including Jenn Bensen H’15. We are thrilled with Jenn’s return to King Street, as many will remember her warmth, humor, and expertise. Jenn is a dedicated educator and leader who spent nearly 25 years with us before joining the team at Villa Walsh Academy in New Jersey as their director of curriculum. Jenn previously served in a number of roles at Sacred Heart Greenwich, including as Dean of Students, Academic Dean of the Upper School, and Head of Upper School. She is also an honorary alumna and a former parent whose daughter, Tory, graduated from Sacred Heart Greenwich in 2010. Deeply knowledgeable of and committed to the mission of Sacred Heart Greenwich, Jenn will bring passion as she assumes the role of director of Student Leadership and Wellness. This new position has been created specifically to elevate the importance of cultivating leadership qualities and supporting the personal growth and overall well-being of our students from Barat through grade 12. Sacred Heart’s commitment to supporting girls, developing women of purpose, and redefining the power of women to change our world is an essential expression of our Goals and Criteria.

Laurie Rousseau

Jenn Bensen

Kevin Bailey

Lights, camera,

Sacred Heart students and staff were able to make a triumphant return to the stage this school year after a series of virtual performances. From the Upper School Theatre’s fall performance of Aeshylus’ Greek tragedy, “The Eumenides” to the Middle School’s rendition of “Sister Act,” to a plethora of incredible Christmas concerts across all divisions, the de Csepel Theatre is once again a place of collaboration, artistic expression, and joy.

heart!

“Human connection is at the heart of theater as an art form, and this return to our space was such a poignant reminder of the strength of our theater community,” Upper School drama teacher and Director of Drama Productions Michaela Gorman commented. Senior Heidi McGannon echoed Ms. Gorman’s sentiments. “While returning to the stage this year, I have come to realize the profound importance and impact of performance within our community. Coming together to rehearse each day has been such a meaningful experience, especially after performing last year’s musical over Zoom,” she reflected.

What drew you to the field?

My earliest aspirations were tied to being a leader in the church and education. From the fifth grade on, I began to hear the call to work within the church as a teacher. The turning point of what actually drew me to the field of education was my experience as a student including outstanding teachers whose passion was palpable in the classroom each and every day — they brought their best performance and their whole hearts, and I have spent my life trying to offer the same.

Sister Ann Conroy, RSCJ, was an inspiration to me. She was chair of the theology department when I first arrived at Greenwich and she had a vision of theology curriculum that was innovative and cutting edge. She was keenly aware of the intersection of the church in the modern world and contemporary culture. Rooted in the mission to her core, she mentored me and countless others at Greenwich.

How old were you when you decided to go into education?

Who is a teacher or mentor who made a difference in your life?

What positive lessons or innovations from the pandemic will you carry forward into a post-pandemic school environment?

That moments of trauma can be experiences of transformation; that pivoting can be invitations to renewal and recalibration!

How has your approach to education evolved?

My approach to education has evolved inasmuch as the infinite amount of information that we are inundated with requires us now more than ever to continue to inspire learners who think deeply, consistently, and judiciously. But as much as the curriculum or lessons or materials may evolve, it’s essential that our approach to education stays rooted in a bedrock of values.

You’ve spent 20 years in Sacred Heart schools but have leadership experience in other school communities as well.

What makes Sacred Heart unique? Our outcomes! We have great expectations for our alumnae. They will be demonstrable in their field, they will speak with conviction, and they will transform the world, because they have a moral compass that not only guides them but inspires others, too!

What are your favorite Sacred Heart traditions?

The regular and faithful expressions of prayer and spirituality and the all-school celebration of the Eucharist. I would be remiss if I did not also say Congé and Goûter. And most of all, I cherish the encounters between student and teacher in the class that is summed up when the student says, at the conclusion of the class, “Thank you!”

What are you most excited about for your return to Sacred Heart Greenwich?

I am most excited for the opportunity to make a return to a school community that has given so much to me, to my wife as an alumna, and consequently to our entire family. I am keenly aware of this great responsibility and it is my greatest joy, as a capstone experience of my vocation, to have this opportunity to strengthen and grow the mission of a Sacred Heart education at Greenwich.

Sacred Heart is about to launch a new strategic plan. What are your hopes for the process?

I pledge to help design a process that is inclusive and bold. My hope is that strategic planning will cause people to take notice of and to reinforce the reality that we are the best Catholic school for girls in the state!

What can students and families expect from your leadership?

As the incoming president, my goal is to foster joyful and consistent engagement

with students and the families that partner with us to give the gift of Sacred Heart education to their daughters. By working together, we can ensure that our mission is stronger than ever. We have been given a great gift through this school community, and it is our duty to ensure it thrives for many generations to come.

On a personal level, share with us what you’re most looking forward to now that your family is relocating back to Connecticut. Simply put: coming home. The strength of our school is that we are rooted in relationship. My wife and I are connected to decades of alumnae and Sacred Heart families. These relationships, plus the many new partnerships I look forward to building, will make our work together even more successful!

I am keenly aware of this great responsibility and it is my greatest joy, as a capstone experience of my vocation, to have this opportunity to strengthen and grow the mission of a Sacred Heart education at Greenwich.”

SACRED HEART ATHLETICS

Fall Season Highlights

Congratulations to our Middle School, junior varsity, and varsity teams as they navigated and excelled in more normal post-COVID athletics competitions. Our student-athletes and coaches rose to the occasion and made the most out of every practice opportunity, games, white-outs and green-outs this fall, and showed their determination, grit, self-awareness, and school spirit day in and day out.

CROSS COUNTRY

» With a very challenging season and races, the US XC team finished second in the Wilton Invitational and second in the Canterbury Invitational.

» They also earned second place in the regular FAA season and second place at the Championship Meet in Sherwood Island, Connecticut.

FIELD HOCKEY VARSITY A

» The Varsity A team was nationally ranked in the Top 25 Teams in the Country-Max Field Hockey and was named the Western New England Class A undefeated Champion, the Fairchester Athletic Association Season Champion, Fairchester Athletic Association Post-Season Tournament Champion.

» NEPSAC Field Hockey Class A Tournament-runner-up, 2021. WNEPSFHA Class A Championship, 2021

FIELD HOCKEY VARSITY B

» The Varsity B field hockey team continued its winning ways this season. In the previous five seasons, they have posted undefeated records, with their only loss this season to a strong opponent; Oak Knoll. Congratulations on this outstanding field hockey history!

JV FIELD HOCKEY

» The JV field hockey team played exceptionally well this season, earning a record of 8–2 and overall second place in the FAA JV Tournament that was held at Sacred Heart.

ROWING

» The Varsity 8+ boat got a bid for the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston and rowed their hearts out! We got 61st out of 84 boats.

» Our team looks forward to a great NEIRA season this upcoming spring.

SOCCER

» The Varsity soccer team scored 40 goals on the way to an overall season record of 8–8–2 and an FAA record of 6–2–2.

» Season highlights were a pre-season trip to the Adirondacks, qualification for the FAA playoffs, and a 2–1 win over the #1 ranked team in New England, Miss Porters.

JV SOCCER

» The JV soccer team brought home a record of 10–4–2 and got fifth place overall in the FAA JV Soccer Tournament this season

VOLLEYBALL

» The Varsity volleyball team finished with a 5–3 record in the FAA league earning a fourth-place finish and FAA playoff tournament entry.

» In the NEPSAC Class A division, they finished in ninth place out of 17 teams.

JV VOLLEYBALL

» The JV A volleyball team finished with a record of 3–6, playing with honor in each game.

» Due to the large number of studentathletes trying out, we decided to make two JV teams this season.

» For the FAA JV Tournament that was held at Sacred Heart, we came in seventh place and played with Heart!

Fall Awards

Field Hockey FAA Win

Congratulations to the Varsity A field hockey team for keeping the

Championship trophy on King Street! In an exciting matchup,

players defeated Greenwich Academy 2–0 to clinch the win. This victory rounds out a highly successful season for our players, as they were also named FAA regular season champions,

post season champions, WNEPSFHA Class A champions, and NEPSAC runner-up. Go Heart, go!

College-Bound Alumnae

Ten members of the Class of 2022 intend to continue their athletic careers after they depart King Street:

» Isabella Adams

Iona College, Water Polo

» Erin Griffin

William & Mary, Field Hockey

» Lauren Guiriceo

Middlebury College, Lacrosse

» Libby Kaseta

Bucknell University, Rowing

» Justine Hounsell

Cornell University, Track & Field

» Kate Hong College of the Holy Cross, Golf

» Chelsea Hyland

Washington & Lee University, Soccer

» Caroline Nemec

University of Virginia, Field Hockey

» Franny O’Brien

University of Notre Dame, Lacrosse

» Annie O’Connor

Brown University, Lacrosse

Middle School

Fall & Winter Sports

Under the direction of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s varsity level coaching staff, attendees will take advantage of Sacred Heart’s state-of-the-art athletic facilities in a fun and safe environment. The focus will be on individual skill development in a team context. In addition to honing their skills, attendees will learn important lessons about teamwork, leadership, and more throughout the week.

www.shgreenwich.org/athletics/summer-sports-clinic

Winter Season Highlights

VARSITY BASKETBALL

» Varsity basketball had their best season finish of all time, earning a place in the top four at the New England Class A West Championships.

JV BASKETBALL

» JV basketball went undefeated for the first time in Sacred Heart Greenwich history!

SWIMMING & DIVING

» The team placed seventh overall at the New England Division I championships, which is their best finish in 12 years.

VARSITY SQUASH

» Varsity squash placed second at the Class A New English Championships. Caroline Fouts earned first place as an individual champion.

» The team also placed third at the Division I High School Team nationals, which is the program’s most successful finish ever.

» Caroline Fouts was named Squash Player of the Year, an award voted on and given by all the coaches in Division I.

ICE HOCKEY

» Ice hockey began its inaugural season as a club, starting with 36 athletes and two scrimmages scheduled.

Winter Awards

VARSITY BASKETBALL

FAA All-League 1st Team: Sarah Augustine

FAA All-League 2nd Team: Peyton Sfreddo Madison Hart

FAA Honorable Mention: Francoise O’Brien

All-NEPSAC Class A: Sarah Augustine

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Class A: Madison Hart Peyton Sfreddo

Varsity Basketball Highest Scorer: Peyton Sfreddo

VARSITY SQUASH

FAA All-League: Caroline Fouts

Sabrina Schwarz

FAA Honorable Mention: Madeline Schwarz

ALL-NEPSAC: Caroline Fouts Sabrina Schwarz

NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Madeline Schwarz Annie O’Connor

NEPSAC Player of the Year: Caroline Fouts

DIVING

FAA All-League: Emma Beatty

ALL-NEPSAC: Emma Beatty

SWIMMING

FAA All-League: Jane Cary Lauren McCauley

Emma Robredo Victoria Mordaunt

FAA Honorable Mention: Irene Robredo

ALL-NEPSAC: Lauren McCauley (200IM and 100 Butterfly) Jane Cary (50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle) Victoria Mordaunt (100 Butterfly)

Irene Robredo (500 Freestyle)

Worth Noting

Taking a look back at highlights from the spring 2021 season:

» A return to full-time training on the water was the highlight for the rowing team! There is nothing like the feeling of rowing, racing, and training on the water with teammates after time away from the boathouse. The season included competitive, multi-piece racing with Greenwich Academy and Greenwich Country Day School, and an away race with tight racing against Farmington High School.

» Varsity golf got right back into the swing of things, finishing with an overall season record of 6–2. The team made use of every training opportunity, whether it was chipping on campus, on the range, or on the course at Tamarack, Fairview, or the Griff. A season highlight was the 18-hole, first-ever Hamden Hall Invitational Tournament, where Sacred Heart demonstrated team and individual strength, finishing first as a team and claiming all three top individual finishing spots.

» The Varsity A lacrosse team finished with a season record of 9–4 and went undefeated in FAA play to clinch the FAA Championship! The season also included some highly competitive games against nationally ranked teams from New Jersey and Pennsylvania — showing our program is one to watch on a national level. The team continued its season at the first-ever, invitation-only HS National Girls Lacrosse Championship at the end of June 2021. Our Varsity B/JV team also had a busy, competitive season, finishing with an impressive overall record of 8–2–2.

» The Varsity tennis season was highlighted by wins over Kingswood-Oxford, Holy Child, Greenwich Country Day, and a great win on the last day of the season over a strong team from Rye Country Day School. JV tennis demonstrated our program depth and that the future is bright on the courts, finishing with a season record of 4–5.

» The Upper School track and field team had a season for the books — setting five new all-time school records, countless individual personal best performances at every track meet, and finishing undefeated as a team. The track and field team returned to New England competition in the Fall 2021 as a Division I program after formerly competing at the DII level.

» The small but mighty Varsity water polo team made the most of every competition opportunity, despite the schedule looking different due to no NEPSAC in spring 2021. The season was highlighted by strong team wins and a highly competitive game against Greenwich Academy.

“Be humble, be simple, & BRING JOY TO OTHERS.”

Each year, Sacred Heart Greenwich chooses to focus on one of the five goals that grounds us in our mission. This year our focus was on Goal II: A deep respect for intellectual values that nourishes lifelong learning. Joyful learning is rooted in the spirit of our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, who once said, “Be humble, be simple, and bring joy to others.”

At Sacred Heart, this joy is palpable and visible in every space; from classrooms to playgrounds, from the stage to the fields. For a Sacred Heart student, joyful learning looks like connection, imagination, collaboration, and curiosity.

IN THE WORDS OF HEAD OF SCHOOL MEG FRAZIER,

“Joyful learning at Sacred Heart Greenwich is learning that feels exciting; it looks active; it integrates many topics, and it gives room to each student to pursue her own passions.”

Joyful learning is fueled by the 2021–2022 Fund for Sacred Heart, and we are grateful to our dedicated community for their generous commitment to the fund. Furthermore, we are grateful to Mrs. Frazier for her compassionate and stalwart leadership during an unprecedented time. Thanks to her tremendous effort and creativity, Sacred Heart was able to honor its commitment to “every girl, every day.” Mrs. Frazier successfully steered the school through a pandemic and managed to infuse classrooms, curriculum, and community with her signature wisdom, grace, and ingenuity. An optimist who understands that kindness and empathy sit quietly at the heart of all relationships, Mrs. Frazier’s spiritual leadership consistently prioritized that “We are a learning community, and we are always learning in community.” In a challenging time, again and again, her lofty words inspired us to find bright spots through mission-centered, interactive community celebrations that embraced hope and resilience.

“I experienced joyful learning when I was in music class, and we used rhythm sticks and got to beat out Beethoven. It was a lot of teamwork and concentration. But we got through it.”

—SHANNON, 4TH GRADE

“I experienced joyful learning when we did the marshmallow challenge in English class. The goal was to make the tallest tower possible. We were laughing the whole time!” —RILEY, 7TH GRADE

Always seeking to improve the student experience, Mrs. Frazier used her joyful learning approach as she planned and led professional workshops in cultivating imagination, innovation, inspiration, interdisciplinary, and interdivisional connections. In words and deeds, she conveyed her passion for relational teaching and learning. Her faculty and staff cherished the beautiful handwritten notes of thanks and gratitude, the giant sunflower in her cottage garden, the bud vases filled with zinnias and lavender, the shared children’s books and scholarly articles. No surprise that Mrs. Frazier loves knitting and gardening, long trail hikes on and off campus, ocean swimming, and adventures in the natural world. Gardening and weaving are apt metaphors for Mrs. Frazier’s stewardship because landscapes, like young girls and women, are dynamic and ever evolving, requiring watchful care, autonomy, and love. And seeds that are nurtured in the rich soil of a Sacred Heart education are the “roots that give us wings.”

Under Mrs. Frazier’s leadership, the school enjoyed a renewed emphasis on the arts, evidenced by the newly hung student artwork visible throughout all corridors, the front hall, and parlor. She supported the expansion of the Broadcast Journalism program into a Media Studies, Design, and Innovation program, which benefits students and faculty alike. In addition, she reinvigorated professional learning among faculty and strengthened cross-cohort collaboration.

Finally, Mrs. Frazier has championed Sacred Heart’s sustainable future, establishing partnerships with the Audubon Society and moving our campus towards becoming a certified sanctuary, as well as making efficient facility upgrades that support our stewardship of the environment. Thank you, Mrs. Frazier, for sharing your bountiful gifts with our community and inspiring Sacred Heart Greenwich to vigorously and joyfully live out its mission.

“I experienced joyful learning around the Harkness table with my 10th grade honors English class. These wonderful girls are so passionate about literature and so passionate about talking about literature together. The girls are excited to share their ideas, build on each other’s ideas, to challenge each other. They are not afraid to take risks.”

—SARAH MARTIN, UPPER

SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. Repeat

Innovation and collaboration are the name of the game when it comes to implementing and promoting Sacred Heart Greenwich’s school-wide theme of joyful learning for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Taken directly from Goal II of the Sacred Heart Goals & Criteria: “The School curricular and co-curricular programs integrate innovation and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving, the exploration of emerging technologies and critical evaluation of information.” So what exactly does this mean for faculty, staff, and students on a daily basis?

Here at Sacred Heart Greenwich, innovation manifests itself in a variety of ways, from design thinking strategies implemented by faculty and staff, to the use of physical campus space such as the newly opened Innovation Lab, to the opportunity to learn from speakers outside of the community from the likes of IBM, NASA, and more.

This year’s emphasis on innovation through joyful learning began before the school doors were even open to students, with the participation of faculty and staff in multiple design thinking workshops led by educator and innovator don buckley. The workshops covered topics such as finding inspiration, mind mapping, and using the classroom experience as a means for solving problems. “Design thinking is a symphony performance for Sacred Heart,” Head of School Meg Frazier commented. “Reflection, real-world problem-solving, and innovation have always been a part of our philosophy. Taking risks — good ones — and thinking about how we make the world a better place are inherent in forming leaders for our future.”

Just one of the ways in which faculty members have brought this design thinking methodology into their own classrooms is through the use of the Harkness table. Also known as the Socratic Seminar, this method of teaching encourages students to make discoveries on their own and promotes deep engagement of materials by having the students sit in a circle and conduct a conversation about the material without hand-raising and little to no teacher interruption. In a professional development presentation led by faculty members Matthew Blake, Holly Marvin, Sam McCoy, and Marissa Nieporte, these teachers across disciplines and divisions exemplified how this style of innovative and dynamic teaching can be applied in math, foreign language, English, and history classes.

Meanwhile, Director of Media Studies, Design & Innovation Ellyn Stewart brings this design thinking to life through the newly minted Innovation Lab and Makerspace. Earlier this school year, Ms. Stewart, along with Director of Educational Technology Karl Haeseler and Middle School Director of Technology and Innovation Deanna George, hosted an Innovation Lab Mixer in which faculty and staff were invited into the space to explore VR technology and educational apps.

“Mrs. Frazier charged us as educators to imagine how we might cultivate connections across divisions and departments,” Ms. Stewart reflected. “I was thrilled to see more than 30 faculty members from all three divisions gather to explore curricular collaborations and to practice media literacy and Makerspace activities that will drive imaginative and innovative student learning.” The Innovation Lab Mixer proved that the lab isn’t only a place for Sacred Heart students to transform into creators, media makers, digital citizens, critical thinkers, and transformational leaders, but also somewhere that Sacred Heart educators can get a piece of the action. We are grateful to donors whose generosity to Shine Our Light enabled the creation of the lab. Because of our community’s commitment, the lab’s flexible furniture, colorful paint, whiteboards, and blackout blinds helped transform student learning and creativity. Indeed, students in each division report feeling more imaginative, joyful, creative, and collaborative! The celebration of Computer Science Week is another example of the important roles innovation and collaboration play in joyful learning. For a very special final presentation, Upper Schoolers got the chance to hear from Nancy Greco, an engineer and director of research for Next Generation Computing at IBM. The best part? Ms. Greco didn’t come alone — she brought along SPOT, a mobile robot dog that walked across the stage, performed a dance, and tilted its head to the side all while Ms. Greco explained the robotics and technology that made SPOT possible. When it comes to innovation at Sacred Heart Greenwich, there really is something for everyone.

ART FROM THE HEART:

Innovation Style

Upper School art teachers Paula Westcott and Marnie McLaughlin came back from the New York State Art Teachers Association Sagamore Summer Institute with an ambitious idea. After a weeklong woodblock printing workshop, they set out to create a woodblock design and print as a tribute to Sacred Heart. Both teachers agree that the project was an incredible opportunity to strengthen their printmaking skills and to demonstrate for their students a printmaking method that has been used for thousands of years. Mrs. McLaughlin reflected on the collaborative creative process, saying, “It was an important example for students to see their teachers collaborate as artists on a work for our community that celebrates our love for the School.” Talk about bringing innovation and collaboration to the art classroom!

happenings

COME HOME for Christmas

On December 5, Sacred Heart Greenwich gathered as a community for our annual Come Home for Christmas event — our first in-person since 2019!

From Family Mass to shopping at the holiday boutiques and Santa’s Secret Shop to gingerbread houses to-go, King Street was full of holiday spirit. Thank you to everyone who attended to make this special day so joyful!

FATHER-DAUGHTER Dinner Dances

One of our most beloved traditions, the Upper School and Middle School Father-Daughter Dinner dances, returned this year with gusto! Celebrating under the theme of “The Roaring Twenties,” close to 500 guests danced the nights away in a beautifully decorated Athletic Center. To everyone’s delight, Upper School fathers performed their famous “Dadrigal” songs. With fun, friends, and family, these were certainly nights to remember!

Sacred Heart DAY OF SERVICE

The Sacred Heart community gathered on November 20 for the all-school Day of Service. This year’s event was a baby shower, collecting items for imprisoned mothers of children at the Bedford Women’s Correctional Facility. Nearly 100 community members took part to sort and wrap gifts. Bedford has the longest-running prison nursery nationwide. Opened in 1901, it has allowed hundreds of women who have started their sentences while pregnant to bond with their babies while behind bars.

ALUMNAE news

Dear Alumnae and Sacred Heart Community,

This will be my last letter as your president and I would like to thank the inspiring Alumnae Board and Young Alumnae Council members for their leadership and creativity over the last three years. Together, we would like to once again thank our incredible and resilient alumnae community. This fall, we were able to celebrate in person after much time apart and continue to connect both in person and virtually with each other and the students at our alma mater.

Through celebrating together at Homecoming & Reunion, participating in book club discussions with students, serving our community, raising money for financial aid, coordinating Christmas cheer for our children, and reuniting on the fields and courts, the alumnae community has proven once again that the values instilled at Sacred Heart truly do last a lifetime.

I hope you enjoy the alumnae stories in this issue of Horizons. I encourage you to read the monthly issues of Alumnae Au Courant that are shared over email and reach out to me directly if you’re interested in getting more involved with the alumnae community.

With Heart, Margot Kearney Navins ’02 President, Greenwich-Maplehurst Alumnae Association alumnae@cshct.org

2021–2022

Greenwich-Maplehurst Alumnae Association Board Members

Executive Committee

Margot Kearney Navins ’02, President

Margot Dolce Sturz ’99, Vice-President

Elise Byrnes ’06, Treasurer

Jane Chapman Lodge ’04, Secretary

Megan Cincotta ’11, Nominating Chair

Alessandra Badioli ’11, Young Alumnae Council

Board Members

Kristina Benza ’07

Caitlyn Harrington Bertoncin ’03

Michelle Vittoria Gelinas Buford ’88, P’27

Alice Burlinson ’73

Meghan McGuinn Chew ’05

Kristin Carey Connors ’09

Jenna Hascher ’13

Shannon Cooney Johnston ’88

Gabrielle Kelleher ’96 (91st Street), P’28

Mary Lou Curran Kingsbery ’75

Alessandra Knight ’09

Debbie Busby Kunces ’73

Alexandra Lewis ’01

Claire Lorentzen ’06

Margot McCloskey ’14

Anne Gorman Randell ’86

Mary Kate Rosato ’98

Cathleen Sullivan Stack ’74

Andréa Stanford ’07

2021–2022

Young Alumnae Council

Alessandra Badioli ’11 *

Francesca Libassi ’12

Alli Sciarretta ’12

Jenna Hascher ’13 *

Emma Molloy ’13

Meggie Purcell ’13

Catherine Cunningham ’14

Margot McCloskey ’14*

Claire O’Neill ’15

Grace Campbell ’16

Lizzie Considine ’16

Juliette Guice ’17

Helen Rail ’17

Abigail Shea ’17

Katie McCabe ’18

Nathalie Perreault ’18

Kate Ruberti ’18

Daisy Steinthal ’19

Meredith Wilson ’19

Kara Hodge ’20

Nicole Mellert ’20

Delaney Coleman ’21

Annabelle Hartch ’21

Lauren Mirando ’21

Micaela Rivera ’21

*Alumnae Board liaisons

Class of 1970

The Class of 2014 was honored with the Young Alumnae Spirit Award. Catherine Cunningham ’14 and Margot McCloskey ’14 accepted on behalf of their classmates.

Katherine Colihan Scott ’06 and Ellyn Stewart, director of Media Studies, Design & Innovation

Mary Bohan ’06, Joyce Khandji ’06, Katherine Colihan Scott ’06, and Elise Byrnes ’06

Class of 1971 50th Reunion

Class of 2001

Outstanding Alumna Award winner Cathy Finnegan Nix ’71, P’97, ’06 with Peter Nix, Nora Finnegan Dolce ’70, P’99, ’05 and Don Dolce

Members of the class of 2011

Class of 1976

Mary Frisbee MacDonald ’01, Laura Antonacci ’01, Jane Chapman Lodge ’04, and Colby Gargano Summers ’01

PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE:

Q+A with 2022 Commencement Speaker

Emily Leitner ’08

We are thrilled to welcome back Emily Leitner, Class of 2008, to Sacred Heart Greenwich to deliver the Commencement Address during the Class of 2022 graduation on June 3. The Leitners are a Sacred Heart Greenwich family, with older sister Sarah graduating in 2007 and younger sister Maureen graduating in 2016. Emily was involved in a number of sports and activities while at Sacred Heart Greenwich before committing to the University of Pennsylvania to play lacrosse.

As a producer at NFL Films, Emily edits, writes, and directs various shows and specials, most recently working on the 2021 Hard Knocks In Season: Indianapolis Colts. Emily, along with the rest of her team, has won three Emmy Awards for her work on Hard Knocks and Game Day All Access. Her work has aired on HBO, YouTube, Showtime, Amazon, ESPN+, and the NFL Network. We caught up with Emily virtually to learn more about her path from Sacred Heart Greenwich to NFL Films and the many triumphs and tribulations along the way.

In what way did Sacred Heart impact your college experience?

The two Goals and Criteria that I felt most connected to while at Sacred Heart were Goal II and Goal V: a deep respect for intellectual values and educating to personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

At Sacred Heart, I was inspired to learn anything and everything and I took that [approach] into my college experience. I didn’t declare a major until later in college so I could have the opportunity to take many different courses that sounded interesting to me. This gave me the freedom to figure out how I learn best and what I like to learn best, which I was able to do based on the passion for learning that Sacred Heart cultivates.

What was the process of taking your passions and combining them into a career?

I knew that I always loved sports — I loved that I could play three year-round at Sacred Heart and then focus on one [lacrosse] once I got to college. Meanwhile, I took an

anthropology and cinema course on a whim as a freshman that was about mythology in movies and I really liked it. When it came time to declare [my major], I thought about how I enjoyed taking cinema classes and decided I should major in Cinema Studies and see where it goes. During this time, my older sister had an internship in New York at the NFL league office, and during her internship took a tour of NFL Films and told me, “Emily, this is the job you need.”

I applied during college for a summer internship [at NFL Films] but I didn’t get it. Then, the summer after I graduated I applied again for a fall internship and fortunately, I got that internship and everything went from there.

How did your Sacred Heart education motivate you to take risks in college and your career?

Both Sacred Heart and Penn created an environment in which it was okay to take risks and let people try things even if they don’t work or go exactly as planned. From that, I learned that you can have the confidence to learn from those mistakes. It’s a very special experience to have at two schools and now in a career. [At my job], my first cut is never 100 percent correct, ever. Sometimes just getting something on the timeline so you have a starting point to work from is important, and I think there’s bravery in just starting and trying something out. Even if it doesn’t work out perfectly, it’s okay as long as you learn from it.

How did your all-girls education at Sacred Heart prepare you for your career as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field?

The smaller class sizes and more intimate learning environment at Sacred Heart allowed me to be comfortable “being me” both in and out of the classroom. Taking that baseline confidence into college and then into my career has been so beneficial, as it’s allowed me to have trust in myself to follow my instincts and do things my way while simultaneously not losing the ability to collaborate and work well with others.

As an alumna, do you still have a core group of Sacred Heart friends with whom you stay in touch?

Yes! There’s a group of us who still see each other regularly and keep in touch. Most of them live in New York — we all met up a few weeks ago. I actually only played sports with one of them, but even though they weren’t my teammates they still remain my best friends.

How did Sacred Heart’s emphasis on service influence you in college and/or your career?

Sacred Heart’s emphasis on service to others taught me the importance of listening to and being aware of other people’s perspectives. It also grounded me by making me realize how lucky I’ve been, which has made me into a more empathetic person. This idea of serving others is something I will continue to learn about and work on in my career and life, but having that foundation through Sacred Heart has allowed me to take a step back and listen to other experiences and perspectives both in and out of the workplace, which in turn has allowed my personal perspective on both work and life to evolve.

SALUTING Our Service Alumnae

While Sacred Heart Greenwich students eventually have to move on from King Street, that doesn’t mean that becoming an alumnae means leaving our Goals and Criteria behind. These highlighted alumnae in particular chose school and career paths that expanded on the mission-based and service-oriented approach of a Sacred Heart education. The common thread? These women all serve our country — whether it be through attending the Naval Academy right out of high school, working as an army physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, flying out of Andrews Airfield as a helicopter pilot for the Navy, and more.

Midshipman Athena Corroon ’19 is currently a student-athlete at the United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy’s rigorous course load and regimented schedule are reminiscent of her time at Sacred Heart Greenwich, which helped make her transition into the Academy easier after being commissioned directly from high school.

Another major similarity between the Academy and Sacred Heart? “Sacred Heart is amazing — the hominess and everyone being so loving is very similar to how it is at the Naval Academy,” Midshipman Corroon explained. “There’s always someone looking out for you, so going from [Sacred Heart] to [the Naval Academy] was a great transition, and even though it was an adjustment at first, I’m super thankful to have come from here.”

Despite graduating a few decades earlier, Dr. Elizabeth Kassapidis ’81 echoed Midshipman Corroon’s sentiment about the welcoming nature of Sacred Heart and the sense of service instilled in her from a young age due to her Sacred Heart education, both of which ultimately led to her career as an army physician.

Dr. Kassapidis chose to do her mandatory community service hours while at Sacred Heart as a candy striper at Greenwich Hospital, where she was able to move up the ranks from volunteering at the coffee shop to aiding nurses through hands-on work with patients.

“It may sound a little corny, but it is because of that experience and because of Sacred Heart instilling that community service in us that had me pursue a career as a doctor,” Dr. Kassapidis explained.

Midshipman Athena Corroon ’19 speaks to students at Sacred Heart Greenwich

Dr. Elizabeth Kassapidis ’81

“So I was 16 years old and I knew at that point that that’s what I wanted to do.”

Dr. Kassapidis got her undergraduate degree with a major in biology and a minor in English literature and voice studies at Manhattanville College. After a few years and other experiences, she eventually went to medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine on an academic army scholarship. After completing her residency on the civilian side, Dr. Kassapidis served active duty as a military physician.

She was stationed at Dewitt Army Hospital, which was part of Walter Reed in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as well as Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to 101st Airborne Division as their emergency medicine physician in their mobile hospital. After her active duty was over, Dr. Kassapidis enjoyed a robust emergency medicine career and is currently an attending ER physician through the Yale-New Haven Health System.

Lieutenant Commander Katie McGurty Hutter ’01 credits Sacred Heart with two major things: character development and time management, both of which served her well as a ROTC student at the University of Notre Dame and currently as a Navy helicopter pilot with plans to begin flying out of Andrews Airfield in the spring.

“The biggest thing that I will forever be grateful to Sacred Heart for is the character development I experienced during my time there,” LCDR Hutter said. “I credit the exceptional teachers that I had who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself at the time. I’m extremely grateful for gaining my own self-confidence and seeing hard work pay off and teaching me what leadership is by treating everyone with dignity and respect.

“My family set the foundation of the tradition and importance of military service, but the call to service that is embedded in

a Sacred Heart education in the Goals and Criteria certainly helped cement that this was my calling,” she added.

While Ensign Chrissy McCabe ’12 had a more circuitous route to joining the United States Navy, she also found inspiration in Sacred Heart’s Goals and Criteria. After studying geology both stateside and internationally, Ensign McCabe volunteered as a math and science teacher at Yap Catholic High School in the Federated States of Micronesia. It was here that she became acquainted with a group of Marines; after talking with them, her lifelong interest in the military was piqued and she returned to the United States to complete officer candidate school and get commissioned as an officer in the Navy.

“Sacred Heart instilled a sense of needing to serve others,” Ensign McCabe explained.

“For all of my research I was doing as a geologist, I found it interesting but I never found it fulfilling. I felt so filled by the act of service that I realized the path I chose academically was not the path that I wanted to follow in life. So I kept being drawn back to the idea of serving others.”

Her advice to current Sacred Heart students looking to continue serviceoriented work in the future? “Sometimes it doesn’t seem that glamorous — there’s a lot of the day-to-day grind which doesn’t necessarily amount to much in financial terms,” Ensign McCabe said. “But the sense of fulfillment it gives you can far outweigh the financial gains.”

Lieutenant Commander Katie McGurty Hutter ’01

Ensign Chrissy McCabe ’12

SACRED HEART gatherings

Career Morning

On October 1, alumnae Tara Hammonds ’14, Shelby Holland ’14, and Jennifer Esposito ’15 joined Upper School students at career morning by participating in conversation filled with advice, stories, and question and answer sessions.

1. Jennifer Esposito ’15, mechanical designer for Water Technology Inc., joined from Madison, Wisconsin.

2. Shelby Holland ’14, content strategy and analysis associate on Netflix’s Original Independent Film Team, speaks with Upper School students.

3. Tara Hammonds ’14, an international development professional, joined from Gaza where she is currently working with Catholic Relief Services.

Alumnae Care Packages

Parents of CollegeAge Alumnae Care Package Stuffing party in October.

Sports Reunions

(below) Alumnae (and some parents of alumnae, too!) returned to the volleyball court on November 27. (right) Alumnae with current players and coaches.

Halloween Playdate

1. Alumnae gathered in the Barat Center and on our new playground for the annual Alumnae Halloween playdate! 2. Meghan Mara Ryan ’01, Katherine Colihan Scott ’06, and their children.

Children of alumnae dressed up in Halloween costumes and decorated pumpkins. 4. Daughter of Vance Hynes Scott ’01 explores the Barat Center.

1

Florida Receptions

1. On March 18 alumnae, parents, students and members of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Community gathered at The Beach Club in Palm Beach.

2. Michael Baber with Bill and Pat Phelan P’94, ’95, GP’27,’27,’28 in Naples on March 8.

3. Jackie Grose ’13 and Christie Huchro ’14 in Vero Beach on March 16.

4. Students at the Palm Beach reception on March 18.

5. On March 8, alumnae and members of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Community gathered in Naples at Club Pelican Bay, hosted by Barbara and Steve Sweeny P’97.

6. On March 16 alumnae and members of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Community gathered in Vero Beach co-hosted by Janice Major Battle ’75 and Bea and Frank Dinger P’88, ’89, ’93.

Virtual Connections

VIRTUAL MAGICIAN

1. On February 2, alumnae and their family members of all ages joined virtually to participate in magic tricks with Johnny Wu! The night was filled with card games, tic-tac-toe, and more.

WOMEN’S HEALTH PANEL

ALUMNAE ZOOM AROUND THE GALAXY

3. On March 8 alumnae and their family members of all ages Zoomed in to explore the Mother Aloysia Hardey, RSCJ Observatory and were given a live view of space.

YOUNG ALUMNAE TRIVIA NIGHT

4. On

Sacred Heart Greenwich

2. Sacred Heart Greenwich welcomed alumnae Dr. Helen W. Boucher ’82, Dr. Julen Harris ’04, and Dr. Nicole Seagriff ’03 with Dr. Sten Vermund to share their expertise in female and pediatric health with the community.

January 31, young alumnae were joined by surprise guest, Upper School Dean of Students Karen Panarella, for a fun night of Sacred Heart trivia. Congratulations to our winner, Lauren Mirando ’21!

A Tribute to Pamela Juan Hayes ’64

“…A Heart That Holds Nothing Back…”

BY MANDY DAWSON MURPHY ’85, P’17, ’23

Mandy Dawson Murphy’s roots at Sacred Heart Greenwich run deep. A alumna herself, Mandy is also the mother of Marion Murphy ’17 and Robin Murphy ’23. In the past, Mandy has served as both president of the Alumnae Board and a member of the Board of Trustees. In her many roles within the school community, Mandy was fortunate to enjoy a long relationship with Pamela Juan Hayes ’64. We are grateful that when asked, Mandy kindly agreed to write this heartfelt tribute. Our sincere thanks to Mandy for honoring our beloved Pam.

There are so many of us, across many years and Sacred Heart schools, who are blessed with personal memories of Pam and reasons to thank God for her life, leadership, and friendship. It is hard to find the best words to express that gratitude. There is no one account that could be complete. So I will highlight the three most important things I know about my friend, my teacher, and my fellow alumna. I can think of no better assistance in this than calling on the words of our own Sacred Heart Foundresses, which have been a source of help and inspiration very often for so many of us.

1. “Go on advancing, you are on the true road…remember God has placed you there…may nothing in the world be able to dishearten you. Give others your joy and the gifts you have received, give as a gift.”

—ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE BARAT

First and foremost, Pam was all about the girls — or as she often said, her girls. Pam was herself a Sacred Heart “lifer,” hence it is fitting that Pam’s ultimate post as a Sacred Heart educator was to return home to be the first lay Head of Sacred Heart Greenwich. She was perfectly placed to shepherd the School at a crucial time in leadership, transition, and transformation. Her life was dedicated to trying each day to make the most and the best for her girls — never about getting for herself — all about giving to her girls.

2. “We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds nothing back.”

—ST. PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE

Second, Pam found energy and inspiration in the students. There was nothing she enjoyed more than seeing their joy, their commitment, their efforts. It gave her strength and encouragement to rededicate her own devotion to the Mission. Two memories come to mind. The first was Pam’s love of the Barat Center Christmas Pageant. She adored seeing all our youngest students, dressed as sheep, shepherds, angels, the Magi, and, of course, Mary and Joseph with the baby doll Jesus. She loved the children’s excitement, their poise, and the care and hard work they would put into their performance — which was always executed flawlessly. Pam once told me that Christmas only really began for her when she saw that play. A happy event ushering in the happiest of seasons.

My second memory: the day Sacred Heart won the FAA Field Hockey Championship for the first time in a long while. We were at

a rival school and there had been so many years that the outcome was presumed to be in their favor, not ours. Pam understood that for our community this was more than just getting a win. This was about drive, pride, and a capacity for excellence. Pam understood that the girls were hungry for and capable of the ultimate success. She read their energy and fed off their determination. Years earlier, she had committed to build a field hockey program that could not only win the day but, just as importantly, serve as a standard for all students of courage, confidence, and an expectation of achievement. I was with her that day when we won the first big title in many a season — on the competition’s turf. It was very special to watch all the members of our community who had come out to cheer and to witness this event gleefully rush the field to be part of the moment together. It was just as wonderful to see how their energetic joy was reflected in the delight on Pam’s face and in her lively, smiling eyes.

3. “All systems converge to this — to give personal worth to each child, worth of character, strength of principles, and anchorage in faith. Those that educate the students to something higher…must believe in the possibility of every mind and character to be lifted up to something better than it has already attained; they must themselves be striving for some higher excellence and must believe and care deeply for the things they teach.”

—JANET ERSKINE STUART, RSCJ

Third, Pam’s combination of a deep personal faith and her faith in others made her a uniquely uplifting spirit. Pam’s warmth and empathy mixed with a foundational strength enabled her to graciously meet many challenges

confronting a Head of School while also realizing many wonderful possibilities for Sacred Heart’s students. As a Trustee serving with her for eight years, I saw firsthand the multiple times she would guide us through complex situations to the best outcome. Because of her commitment to the Sacred Heart mission and the spiritual development of the students, there are countless things she made possible, known and unknown, to make Sacred Heart a better and stronger community — to help us rise. Pam’s true calling and desire were to give to Sacred Heart all she felt she had received from it. Success for Sacred Heart and the girls in her care was her passion and her legacy.

And on that point, I will end with a memory that I will always hold on to. On a beautiful day last fall in the late afternoon, a fellow alumna and I were sitting at one of the picnic tables by the fields catching up on life. We began to talk about Pam, how her retirement was going, how we heard she was having a nice time in Florida, and how we hoped to see her at one of the alumnae receptions in the spring. The starlings were dashing and swooping against a blue sky that was turning a golden pink. A pretty day was becoming a lovely evening. We started to head back up the hill. We walked up the new path of steps that Pam so thoughtfully planned with the alumna benefactrix who was inspired to give them. As we made our way, the starlings were flying all around us — rising, soaring, leading the way as we began to ascend. The setting was exquisite, inspiring, and peaceful. As my friend and I discussed just a short while later, when she called to give me the sad, startling news of Pam’s death, it was around the very time that we were climbing up the hill that Pam was making her own ascent into Heaven. It is, I think, no accident. Once again, Pam’s guiding spirit was surrounding Sacred Heart and uplifting those in her presence.

How I shall always miss my friend and keep her memory and beautiful, bright spirit close to my heart. Requiesce in pace, dear Pam.

class notes

1948

1 Louise Meiere Dunn has closed and retired from her framing business, The Stone Studio, at the age of 91 and after 40 years. Her shop has been turned into an office for the International Hildreth Meière Association (hildrethmeiere.org), which continues to keep Louise busy. During the last five years she has been blessed with five greatgrandchildren and continues to see

1955

two new great-granddaughters to her family. She felt blessed to be able to see so many family members that she hadn’t seen in many months at Christmastime and looks forward to seeing classmates at their 70th reunion in 2025.

1956

Margaret Brown Gregory is in a Bible Study group that meets at her home in western Pennsylvania each week. They are reading about the Dead Sea Scrolls and are very eclectic in readings from the Gospel of John to C.S. Lewis. Her five children are healthy and working, which is a blessing. Margi’s oldest son, Jim, and wife Cathy, live outside Detroit with two children graduating this year, one in college and one starting next year. Her youngest daughter, Betsy, lives in

Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her husband, Pete Tseronis, and four very active children ages 9–16, with lots of sports in their lives. Betsy counsels couples and loves her full life. Kate (and Tripp) are empty nesters with two grandchildren who live nearby. David (and Sharon) are close by as well; he manages the family’s marina on the Allegheny River. Sharon has a few enterprises, one of which is making a delicious vegan product, “Notcho No Cheese.” It is sold mostly in the Eastern U.S., but is expanding its market. Daughter Maggie (and Robert) live nearby and are working, their children are grown, and their oldest daughter is bringing a baby boy into this world in the spring in New Jersey Margi’s youngest son is recently married. Margi feels blessed to have had a Sacred Heart education and can’t believe it has been 66 years since graduation.

TO SUBMIT INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLASS AGENT OR MEGHAN MARA RYAN ’01 AT CLASSNOTES@CSHCT.ORG.

Virginia “Ginny” Beach Coudert. The two were roommates at Greenwich junior year and have been friends ever since. The two dined together on October 8 at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club.

Judith Ollinger Depontes spent most of 2020 and 2021 working in her gardens and recently welcomed

1 Virginia Beach Coudert ’48 (left) and Louise Meiere Dunn ’48 (right) Members of the class of 1955

1958

2 Pat Joyce Figge celebrated her birthday with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at The Greenbrier; the group was only missing five family members!

1959

3 In May, Kathie Wall Healey, June Dolce Heffernan, DeDe Mannix Burke, and Barbie Bertrand Saxe, were happy to get together in person for lunch!

1962

4 Pam Wall Madden dined with Jackie Paterno Kirby and Libby King in September for an outside lunch. Many members of the class of 1962 were sad to hear of the passing of Pam Juan Hayes and arranged for funds to be donated to the school on her behalf. Pam Madden looks forward to the class’s 60th reunion in October!

1965

5 Susie Craig Conroy, Patty Powers Woodlock, Kalo Hirshberg Heldt, and Kate Graham had a

mini reunion at Kate’s beautiful home in Westerly, Rhode Island, on October 10–11. The group had lots of time to catch up and share wonderful memories!

1967

6 Mary Francina Golden has been busy during COVID doing Zoom productions with daughter Kolbe. Kolbe, an actress like her mother, has worked on three audiobooks. Mary Francina’s eldest daughter, Brianne, is in her third year of anesthesiology residency at NYU Langone and ran the NYC Marathon last November in 3 1/2 hours! Husband Ken has been retired for a while now and keeps busy consulting on legal matters and leading Zoom discussions on current events for a group

of his University of Chicago Law School classmates.

1968

The class of 1968 cherishes the memory of three classmates who passed away in 2021, Joanie Mouakad Penniman, Debbie Sanford Knight, and Alexis Finlay will be remembered in prayer. After two wonderful grandsons, Natica del Valle von Althann has welcomed her first granddaughter, named Alice, to the family. Kathy Teichgraeber Merrill has welcomed her first granddaughter, Evelyn, who is called Evie. Lynne McGowan Wheat has welcomed two new grandsons: Barrett and Max! Adele O’Grady Botticelli has had two short stories published in Heartland,

an online literary magazine. We all remember Adele as a wonderful writer and the stories are excellent!

Adele O’Grady Botticelli, Alexis Finlay, Kathy Teichgraeber Merrill, Lynne McGowan Wheat, Natica del Valle von Althann, Louise Parent, and Shelaghmichael Brown had been keeping company on Zoom during the pandemic and were able to have a mini-reunion in person on Nantucket in October.

Adele’s younger sister Marion (Dee) ’69 joined as well. The weather was wonderful, and they enjoyed walks on the beach and lovely meals together, recollecting many memorable Sacred Heart days, which had them laughing like teenagers. Cashie Joyce Egan continues to volunteer at San Miguel Academy in Newburgh, trying to break the cycle of poverty

5 Susie Craig Conroy ’65, Patty Powers Woodlock ’65, Kalo Hirshberg Heldt ’65 and Kate Graham ’65 enjoy Westerly, Rhode Island

6 Mary Francina Golden ’67 with husband Ken Handal and daughters Brianne and Kolbe at Brianne’s engagement party

4 Pam Wall Madden ’62 and husband Tom

3 1959 classmates June Dolce Heffernan, Kathie Wall Healey, Barbie Bertrand Saxe, and DeDe Mannix Burke

2 Pat Joyce Figge ’58 and family celebrate her birthday at The Greenbrier

and despair through education, it is her happy place. They celebrate birthdays each month, prepare for high school interviews, and build confidence in their students. Three proud graduates from Canterbury and enjoying the college experience.

7 Kerry Mahoney Brown and her husband, Tom, are spending their winters at their home in Jupiter, Florida. They were thrilled to have their four children and 10 grandchildren together in New York at Christmas for the first time in over two years.

1969

8 Peggy O’Neal Shepard and husband Rocky have six wonderful grandchildren: Berkeley, Keeley, Olivia and Rhys Brooks, and Isla and Lulu Shepard.

1970

Joyce Gorman, Priscilla Campo Press, Erinmaura Condon, and Nora Finnegan Dolce enjoyed seeing each other and friends from other classes at the reunion in Greenwich in October. It was

especially fun for Joyce to reconnect with Head of School Meg Frazier, whom she knew from Georgetown Prep where Joyce’s son, Peter Fanone, was a student. 9 Lisa Gowdey Pritchard is running for reelection to the County Commission for Clarksville,Tennessee, named the most desirable zip code to live in the nation, which is a real tribute to its county commissioner! She’s also on the board of the Red Cross, which has been involved in a series of

major disasters in the Southeast. Her oldest great-granddaughter, Novah, is turning five and is attending preschool, and her youngest greatgranddaughter Annalise is one. Priscilla Campo Press continues to enjoy her job and her two children and four grandchildren. You may have seen Joyce Gorman’s stepson Michael Fanone in the news. He is one of the DC Metropolitan Police officers who were injured on January 6, and he recently resigned from the Metropolitan Police to accept several roles with CNN.

1971

Anne E. McCormick is fully involved with 2-D ART & DESIGN. In addition to her

ongoing graphic design, she is working on some new drawings that are leading her in a unique creative direction. She has been teaching fine art at art centers and museums for over a decade which may morph into something electronic. She loves walking, organic gardens, nature, museums, galleries, cafes, theater and travel (domestic and international).

1973

10 Susan Mara McDonnell celebrated the wedding of her daughter, Mary Catherine ’09, in August in Rye, New York.

Barbara Byrne Schnauss is a Master Gardener with the Pima County Cooperative Extension in Tucson, Arizona, where she has lived since

7 Kerry Mahoney Brown ’68 with husband Tom and their grandchildren

8 Grandchildren of Peggy O’Neal Shepard ’69

9 Youngest great-grandchild of Lisa Gowdey Pritchard ’70, Annalise, recently celebrated her first birthday

10 Susan Mara McDonnell ’73, Mary McDonnell Casavant ’09 and the McDonnell family

Aloysia Hardey, RSCJ PLANNED GIVING SOCIETY

Leave a legacy

By including Sacred Heart Greenwich in your estate plans, you can ensure that the school you know and love remains vibrant for future generations.

There are a number of ways to leave your legacy:

› Bequests

› Charitable remainder or lead trusts

› Rolling over an IRA (for those 70½ and older)

› Beneficiaries of retirement fund

› Beneficiaries of Donor Advised Fund

“My education helped to form who I am today and prepared me well for college, law school, and a life of public service. My faith, my education, and my sense of self were all strengthened during the formative years of my high school. I still cherish friendships from those days and look forward to reconnecting with classmates at reunions. Giving back was always a part of my life plan. To remember Sacred Heart in my will seems like a natural thing to do.”

—Testimonial from an Aloysia Hardey, RSCJ Planned Giving Society Member

For more information contact Lauren Fredette, Director of Advancement, at 203.532.3160 or fredettel@cshct.org.

1985. For 12 years she worked in the Demonstration Gardens, given tours, and educated the public about best desert gardening practices and water conservation. And in 2019 her own property was selected to be part of the MG Home Garden Tour. She has loved every minute of it. Barbara has also volunteered in a thrift store that benefits the local Humane Society for about seven years. She is still married to Jerry after 43 years; they have no children, but are on cat number six. Barbara writes that there are many wonderful things to see and do in and around Tucson and asks classmates headed her way to please contact her and she will be happy to be your hostess and tour guide!!

1975

For Andrea Hawkins Stuart, 2021 was special with a second daughterin-law joining the Stuart clan. Andy’s son, Tim, and his wife, Elizabeth,

were wed on an April day in New Jersey. Andy feels so fortunate to have two amazing women as daughters-in-law. Her granddaughter approaches two years old and the whole family is chasing after her. Golf (and her husband, Steve) keeps Andy busy in these crazy times. She had a fun visit with Nancy Oakes in Virginia in January 2020 and can’t wait for life to seem more normal again. She sends cheer and healthy wishes to all! 11 Joy Pine Thomas is busy with her consulting business and living happily in North Carolina! 12 Candy Miele Verrilli is grateful to her classmates who reached out during the recent very difficult time for her and her family. Candy and Mark have three sons and now have five grandchildren (three girls and two boys). Candy shared a photo, missing is their oldest son and oldest granddaughter, who is now 19 years old. The family were all so very grateful that they got to celebrate together in September.

13 Mary Lou Curran Kingsbery and family were hunkered down but able to celebrate their only daughter’s wedding in June in Rumson, New Jersey, and Christmas with all five children, four spouses, and six grandchildren! Mary Lou looks forward to when the class can all get together again! 14 Mary McGowan continues her work in the nonprofit world. She accepted

a new position last October as the first ever CEO of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. Mary sold her home in Alexandria, Virginia, and moved to West Virginia full time to finally live together with her husband, Blaine. After only two months of living together, Blaine suddenly passed away. They had been together almost 10 years, but Mary had been working in the D.C. area. Mary is busy finishing the extensive renovation of her historic building in Thomas, West Virginia, built in the 1890s. Riverfront Wood Fired Pizza just opened a restaurant on the first floor of the building this past September and is thriving. Alaska, Mary’s new golden retriever puppy, is keeping her very busy. She was thrilled to visit in person with both Josie and Diane D. this past year. Mary Beth Lynch is semiretired, reading, and watching a lot of international shows while waiting

to fly again. Through Facebook pictures, her friends witnessed her wonderful extended visit to Ireland!

15 Michelle Dubuque Vallely is working at the New Canaan elementary school, and in her off hours she is at the Charter Oak Brewery in Danbury, working with her husband, Scott. They celebrated

11 Joy Pine Thomas ’75

12 Candy Miele Verrilli ’75 and family

13 Children of Mary Lou Curran Kingsbery ’75 at her daughter Caroline’s wedding

Mary

’75 and Alaska

the 10th anniversary of the brewery this year and were presented with a certificate of recognition from the Connecticut General Assembly for their contribution to the community. (How special is that!) They had two grandchildren added

to the family this year, with their ninth grandchild, Christopher Patrick Vallely Jr., being born in December. After spending 30 years in Cody, Wyoming, where Maureen Harris Kewitt raised her two children and established herself

in Big Sky Country, she decided to try something different, so she and her dog moved to Bend, Oregon, where she spent the last eight years. It was a wonderful chapter in her life with great friends, lots of skiing and hiking and a challenging new career in hospitality sales. Last August, Maureen’s daughter’s wife had a baby girl, Ocean, and she fell in love with her. Needless to say, Maureen packed everything up and moved to Minneapolis where was able to take her job with her, so she is starting another chapter yet again.

All is going well with Priscilla Jennings Pultz, who is excited to become a grandparent in June!

16 Josie Kaufmann is still on the Cape, working a few days of the week and playing golf a couple of days too. Her family had a fabulous reunion in Orleans this July, she and the family were glad they were able to have it!

1976

17 18 Members of the class of 1976 were happy to celebrate their 45th reunion both on and off campus this fall!

1977

19 Elizabeth Nevin is still living in Maine, with occasional forays into NYC. She ventured out to Sonoma County, California, for her beloved godson’s wedding (Samuel Bruce and Misia Valeri), it was a wonderful (and safe!) celebration in the midst of uncertain times.

1979

20 Margaret Rodgers Chadwick has been very busy as the regional Jostens Yearbook representative the past two years. She is amazed at how many students and teachers have come up with creative ways to design a beautiful and meaningful yearbook despite the challenges of canceled events and remote learning. She hopes to see her classmates in 2022!

1983

21 Michele McNulty Finnegan was selected to participate in the #Over50Outside campaign in order to help increase the representation of women over the age of 50 who are active in the outdoors. Oboz, Osprey, and Outdoor Research, in collaboration with 52 Hike Challenge and In Solidarity, decided to celebrate the benefits of hiking by launching a new initiative called Over 50 Outside. They selected 150 women from all across the U.S. who are over the age of 50 and passionate about the outdoors, motivating and empowering them to hit the trails

15 Christopher Patrick Vallely, grandson of Michelle Dubuque Vallely ’75 16 Josie Kaufmann ’75 and family

17 Members of the Class of 1976 celebrating reunion

18 Kathy Grainger Hobbins ’76, Laura Fox ’76, and Lisa Roman ’76 at Reunion

19 Elizabeth Nevin '77 and Wendy Slusser Bruce

21 Michele McNulty Finnegan ’83

20 Margaret Rodgers Chadwick ’79 with Gerry, Clara, and Winnie Chadwick at Christmas 2021

weekly. Michele feels privileged to be part of a group that is helping to change perceptions of what older women can accomplish in the outdoors and hopes to empower other women to hit the trails as well. For those interested, they can follow her adventures on Instagram @granolamum

1984

22 23 Katie Keogh has moved back to Connecticut after 31 years in the Philadelphia area. She is the new director of major gifts at the Mystic Seaport Museum and loves living near old friends and family again. All three of her children (Jake 28, William 26, and Caroline 23) graduated from Penn State University and live in Pennsylvania. Katie encourages all to come visit and say hello if you are in the Mystic or Stonington area!

1985

24 Barbara Linsenmeyer Malone recently visited Rome and was excited to visit the original Mater painting in person.

25 Kirsten Meskill celebrated a recent job transition to Bed Bath Beyond Inc. as enterprise VP, Safety, Security & Loss Prevention.

1986

Nicole Peluso is the clinical director for Aeroflow Healthcare’s national telemedicine program that specializes in lactation and perinatal education. After helping local moms in this field for 25 years, it’s been exciting for Nicole to grow a national program that has such wide outreach and impact.

1987

26 Elizabeth Hawthorn is proud of her daughter Mary Hawthorn who is a senior at Sacred Heart Greenwich. Lizzy’s sisters Annie Hawthorn Connelly ’89 and Mary Hawthorn Kmetz ’91 and their children see each other often, including skating at Bryant Park at Christmas time.

27 Heather Parrott Diver lives in Farmington with her family. Their son, Gavin, is a junior at Farmington High school and is on the football team. Their daughter, Ellie, is a freshman at Villanova University majoring in computer engineering. Still a resident of NYC and enjoying a career as an actor, Kate Grimes spent a good deal of the past two years exploring life outside the city due to COVID. Back in the fall, she had a wonderful visit with Erin Plunkett Niehaus, who was doing an East Coast tour, dropping her kids off at college. Kate’s sons are both at Regis High School in NYC where, while judging

forensics competitions, she occasionally sees fellow alum Melissa Dinger Gibbons ’88. She hopes to see more Sacred Heart friends in 2022!

1994

28 Jennifer Bentley Rivera’s daughter, Micaela graduated from Sacred Heart Greenwich in June 2021 and her daughter Caitlyn will graduate in the class of 2022.

22 Children of Katie Keogh ’84

23 Katie Keogh ’84 with her mother, Eden Hall ’52

24 Barbara Linsenmeyer Malone ’85 with the original Mater in Rome

25 Kirsten Meskill ’85 with daughter Béa (15) and husband Giancarlo Tanas at the Bed Bath & Beyond flagship store, Chelsea NYC

26 Children of Elizabeth Hawthorn ’87, Annie Hawthorn Connelly ’89 and Mary Hawthorn Kmetz ’91

27 Daughter and husband of Heather Parrott Diver ’87

28 Jennifer Bentley Rivera ’94, Micaela Rivera ’21, Caitlyn Rose Rivera ’22 and family

1997

29 30 Sarah Kane Grogan, was married to Patrick Benjamin Ferrell at the Church of the Good Shepherd Beverly Hills, California, by her Loyola University of Maryland classmate Patrick Nolan, SJ. Her sisters, Katy Grogan Garry ’95, and Meg Grogan ’04, were her attendants. Samantha Geary and Erin Hartigan O’Rourke, were in attendance. The Ferrells reside in Los Angeles. 31 Samantha Geary spent the first week of 2022 in Tanzania hiking 19,341 feet to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world!

2001

32 Katie McGurty Hutter and Meghan Mara Ryan met up at the Army-Navy game in December. Their children had a blast getting to know each other!

2002

After a number of rewarding years in academia, Jennifer Raymond Dresden is now a policy advocate with the nonprofit organization Protect Democracy. She and her family have recently relocated to Illinois.

2003

33 Jennifer Einersen welcomed a baby boy, Henry Peter Fernandez, with husband David on December 19, 2020. Jen also joined Meltzer Lippe, a New York law firm, that recently expanded to South Florida. She is a member of the Trusts & Estates and Private Wealth & Taxation practice groups.

2005

34 Ursina Beerli married her husband, Dominic, in Germany in September. Jessica Falco, M.S., CCC-SLP opened her private practice, Roaring Brook

33 Jennifer Einersen ’03 with husband David and son Henry in Fort Myers in July 2021

34 Ursina Beerli ’05 and husband Dominic

32 Katie McGurty Hutter ’01 and Meghan Mara Ryan ’01 at the Army-Navy football game with their children

29 Sarah Kane Grogan ’97 and husband Patrick Benjamin Ferrell

30 Jack O’Connell, former middle school teacher, Meg Grogan ’04, Sarah Grogan Ferrell ’97, Katy Grogan Garry ’95 and family

31 Samantha Geary ’97 atop Mt. Kilimanjaro

Calling all Alumnae!

Speech-Language Pathology, PLLC in Chappaqua, New York. She specializes in the diagnostic evaluation and intervention of pediatric patients with a variety of communication disorders. Louise Chapman Levin and husband Denys Levin welcomed their second daughter, Beatrice Gardner Levin, on September 14. Their older daughter, Georgie, turned two on December 20. Kaitlin Rayner recently started a new job as senior media relations specialist for Eversource Energy. She is also busy raising her two young daughters Caroline, 4, and Georgia, 2, with her husband, John, in West Hartford, Connecticut. 35 Kristin Uhmeyer and her husband, Robert Lasko, welcomed a baby girl, Marta Brynn Lasko, in mid-October. The family lives in Melrose, Massachusetts.

2006

36

December 6.

2007

37 Laura Douglas married Steven Wynocker on June 26, 2021, at Sacred Heart Greenwich.

38 Kaitlyn Blayney Forester married Harrison Wilson Waddill on October 16 in Rye, New York, at Rye Presbyterian Church. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Belle Haven Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. The two met while living and working in Manhattan, and they now reside in the West Village. Kaitlyn’s sister, Morgan Forester Chocheles ’09, served as maid of honor. Other alumni in attendance included Bridget Murphy and Tara Korinek ’09. Kerry Morrison, M.D., married William Bertrand Whiston on June 19, 2021. After their original 2020 wedding plans were delayed a year due to COVID, Kerry and Will were married by Cardinal Timothy Dolan at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye, New York, and they had the most joyous, long-anticipated celebration

35 Kristin Uhmeyer ’05 with husband Robert Lasko and daughter Marta Brynn Lasko

36 Shea Mullen Moriarty, daughter of Katie Mullen Moriarty ’06

37 Laura Douglas ’07 and husband Steven Wynocker

38 Kaitlyn Forester ’07 married Harrison Waddill in Rye, New York, on October 16

Do you know any students who might be a great fit for Sacred Heart Greenwich?

We value personal recommendations from our graduates who know and have experienced the Sacred Heart community firsthand. The Admissions Office is always available to welcome these prospective students and families to campus.

Shea Mullen Moriarty was born to Katie Mullen Moriarty on

after at American Yacht Club in Rye with bridesmaids Jacqueline Nesi and Joyce Khandji, MD ’06.

2009

39 Mary McDonnell married Tom Casavant on August 27, 2021, in Rye, New York.

40 Alessandra Knight met Meg Grogan ’04 for the first time by chance in Truckee, California! 41 Kirsty Sievwright

and her husband, Gery, welcomed their daughter, Ella Linda-Ann Brownholtz, on March 26, 2021.

2010

42 Juliana Anduckia and husband Nate welcomed their first baby, Nora Vega, on October 25.

2011

43 Clare Finnegan, Kelsey Mara Stillwagon, Audrey Finnegan, and Elizabeth Rooney attended the VFoundation event at the New York Public Library in December. Elizabeth Rooney is in her second year as an assistant district attorney in Bronx county. Grace McMorrow has taken her passion for education with her from Connecticut to New Jersey where she is pursuing a Master of Information at Rutgers University, with a concentration in Library & Information Sciences. She will be celebrating one year at Rutgers University Foundation this May, where she works in Advancement Services for Rutgers Biomedical & Health Services.

2013

44 Camilla Kummen and Rebecca Quirke are happy to be working together as colleagues at American Express. The two have remained close friends since graduating Sacred Heart and recently became co-workers. Both Camilla and Rebecca work in the Global

Commercial Services sector on the Digital Experiences & Platforms team. Rebecca is a chief of staff for the group’s VP and Camilla is a product owner working to improve AMEX’s Expense Management offerings. Working together is pretty much a dream come true — you can imagine countless Slacks and Webexs, as well as some fun travels together. Rebecca writes, “It’s certainly a blast getting to work alongside a fellow Sacred Heart alum & friend!”

39 Mary McDonnell ’09 and husband Tom Casavant

40 Alessandra Knight ’09 and Meg Grogan ’04

42 Nora Vega, daughter of Juliana Anduckia ’10

43 Audrey Finnegan ’11, Elizabeth Rooney ’11 , Clare Finnegan ’11 and Kelsey Mara Stillwagon ’11

41 Daughter of Kirsty Sievwright ’09

44 Camilla Kummen ’13 (left) and Rebecca Quirke ’13 (right) in Mt. Rainier National Park

2014

45 Tara Hammonds recently moved to the Gaza Strip for a management position with Catholic Relief Services across Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank, and she has been loving the opportunity to experience the Holy Land! 46 Christina Monaco has joined the class of 2023 of the NYU Silver School of Social Work. She is currently interning as a social worker at an afterschool program, the Police Athletic League, at MS 118 in the Bronx and has also joined the Junior Board of Directors for The Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut.

2015

47 Claren Hesburgh and Anthony Smyth were married on August 28 in Greenwich. They met while attending the University of Notre Dame and now reside in Denver.

2017

Mackenzie Jordan graduated from Holy Cross in 2021 with Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors and bachelor degrees in biology and Chinese. She was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and earned varsity letters on the cross country and track and field teams. She is currently working at Mass. General Hospital in Boston. Christina Weiler graduated from Colgate University in 2021. Upon graduation she was named a Fulbright scholar and received a Clinton Global Initiative Research Grant. Over the summer she worked with local Westchester Municipalities to help them achieve their Climate Smart Community status and is currently in Spain for the year teaching English in a high school in Galicia, Spain.

2018

Kate Ruberti was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Elon University. It is the nation’s oldest and most selective alldiscipline collegiate honor society.

Tell us your news!

College-age alumnae returned to campus for a visit this Fall

46 Christina Monaco ’14

47 Anthony Smyth and Claren Hesburgh ’15

45 The birthplace of Jesus Christ at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, submitted by Tara Hammonds ’14.