13 minute read
School News
Magnificat Recognized for Work to Further Gender Equity in Computer Science
For the second year in a row, Magnificat received the AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award. Magnificat is one of 20 Ohio high schools and 1,119 schools nationwide that earned the award this year, which acknowledges schools’ work toward equal gender representation in the field of computer science. Currently, only 19 percent of AP Computer Science test-takers are women, and women make up only 20 percent of computer science professionals. While Magnificat has offered coding courses since 2015, the Computer Science & Innovation department was established in 2018 and has expanded to include nine unique course offerings, including three AP courses. Over the last three years, interest in these courses has increased significantly, and there will be more Magnificat students enrolled in STEM classes than ever before during the 2021-2022 school year. Department Chair Colleen Greller says, “We are proud of the growing computer science offerings we provide, and this award highlights Magnificat’s commitment to giving young women the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the STEM fields as we work to close the gender gap.” A key element of Magnificat’s Computer Science & Innovation curriculum is partnerships with organizations like NASA, Hyland Software, and Motogo Cleveland, who offer students a multitude of experiential learning opportunities to accompany classroom learning. In her remarks regarding this year’s recipients, College Board chief of global policy and external relations Stefanie Sanford says, “Young women deserve an equal opportunity to become the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers and tech leaders. Closing the gap in computer science education empowers young women to build the future they want.” As Magnificat works to build a future in which women are equally represented in computer science and innovation professions, immediate plans include the addition of a course on Blockchain cryptocurrency for the 2022-2023 school year.
Three Magnificat Students Qualify as National Merit Finalists
This year, three Magnificat seniors, Maya Daw, Lana Haddad, and Megan Miller, qualified as National Merit Finalists. These students scored in the top one percent of test takers on the PSAT in their junior year, which qualified them as National Merit Semifinalists and allowed them to submit the National Merit Finalist application as seniors. Students are evaluated on academic achievement, extracurriculars and community service, and a personal essay, and less than one half of one percent of applicants are named National Merit Finalists. Congratulations, Maya, Lana, and Megan!
Three Students Earn Girl Scout Gold Award
The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, with only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earning the award each year. According to the Girl Scouts, “Gold Award Girl Scouts are the dreamers and the doers who take ‘make the world a better place’ to the next level. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable—proof that not only can she make a difference, but that she already has.” This year, Magnificat is proud to have three Gold Award Girl Scouts whose creative and thoughtful projects earned them this high honor—Paige King ’21, Madelyn Low ’22, and Lauren Shearer ’22. Paige King has been a Girl Scout for 12 years. For her Gold Award project, she painted a mural of a tree in the community space at her home parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Strongsville, Ohio. “The trunk represents God, a pillar of strength, guidance, and love. Like branches, the faithful extend to reach new territory and to make changes in our community. The new buds (the younger members of the community) continue the tree's story and life.” Reflecting back on her experience, Paige says, “Painting the mural was both an artistic and spiritual experience, which allowed me to dive deeper into the message I hoped to convey.” During her time at Magnificat, Paige was a member of Rowing Team and Student Council, and this fall she will attend the University of Dayton Honors Program to study pre-medicine. For Lauren Shearer’s Gold Award project, she researched the impact of social media on teenagers and developed a variety of mediums to help students within the Magnificat community develop healthy relationships with social media, reduce stress levels, and improve mental health and wellness. Under the mentorship of School Psychologist Megan Stroh Rutkowski ’98, Intervention Specialist Erin Hertvik, and Assistant Director of Enrollment Hannah Summerville-Miller, Lauren conducted a survey of Magnificat students to
Paige King '21 (left) painted a mural at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Strongsville. assess relationships with social media, stress levels, and overall wellness. In March, she presented her findings and tips during Magnificat’s annual Health & Wellness Week sponsored by the Wellness Club, which Lauren leads as Club President. “Through my Gold Award, I learned that if I am truly passionate about something, I will be willing to take risks to achieve my goals...I am so grateful that my Gold Award experience has brought forth new challenges, opportunities, and connections!” Madelyn Low earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by establishing Magnificat’s Shakespeare Club in 2019. Focused on educating students on the language of Shakespeare, the club engages in a variety of activities including fencing and monologue workshops, attending local Shakespearean productions, participating in the English Speaking Union Shakespeare Monologue Competition, and acting out abridged versions of famous Shakespearean plays such as Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. As the club continues to grow, Madelyn hopes to blend even more elements of theatre and literacy into the group’s ventures moving forward. Upon Continued on page 4.
As part of Lauren Shearer's '22 (right) Gold Award project, she presented her findings on social media and mental health to Magnificat students.
Students engage in a fencing lesson at a meeting of the Shakespeare Club, established by Madelyn Low '22 (right). achieving the Girl Scout Gold Award, Madelyn said, “Being a leader means that you must think of the needs of all people and your organization, be creative and resourceful, and have as much fun as possible. But most importantly, it means that you must show strength, kindness, and confidence to accomplish your goals.” Along with serving as the leader of Shakespeare Club, Madelyn enjoys participating in Magnificat’s theatre productions, Show Choir, Outreach, Wellness Club, and Pro-Life Club. She plans to study English and Music at the college level. Congratulations to each of our 2020-2021 Gold Award Girl Scouts!
Anti-Racism Advisory Task Force Begins Work
As we continue our work toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Magnificat community, we are happy to share news from the recently-formed Anti-Racism Advisory Task Force. The Task Force is composed of alumnae, current and past parents, community members, and school faculty and staff members. Since February, it has met monthly to fulfill its charge to advance anti-racism efforts at Magnificat. The Task Force will work throughout the summer, seeking ways to advance anti-racism efforts at the school and make the school community more diverse and welcoming to all students and families.
At the conclusion of its work, which we expect will take about one year, the Task Force will provide recommendations to the school leadership on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion strategies. There are six areas that the Task Force is focusing on: alumnae experience; parent/guardian engagement; professional development and anti-racism training; racial dialogues; recruitment and retention; and school policies and procedures.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS INCLUDE
Russmea (Russi)
AbuZahrieh ’97 Caitlin Blake ’06 Giovanna Bremke ’07 Sharon Byrnes ’84 Barbara Byrnes-Lenarcic ’69 Megan Cantrell ’99 Sandra Gay Chapman (community member) Emily Clark ’92 (employee) Phillis Fuller Clipps and Phillip Clipps (community members) Tanya Coughlin (current parent) Syma Dar, M.D. ’97 Anne Dayton, Ph.D ’91 Lisa Eland (current parent) Jessie Frank ’13 Maura Garven ’05 Micaela Gonzalez Kail ’02 Linn Grenert (employee) Peggy Kranyak ’71 (current parent) Devon Lynch-Huggins-
Szep ’02 (employee) Kathy Matthews (past parent) LeAnne Moore ’04 Jim Napier (community member) Maria Rose Reynolds ’05 Laila Smith (current parent) Maureen Stanton ’92 (current parent) Andrew Strada (past parent, Board member) Rachael Toth ’02 Megan Traum (current parent) Christine Vacha ’05 Dale Van Niel (employee) Daenera Vazquez ’14
This spring, Magnificat welcomed a new Vice President of Advancement and Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Deborah Durbin ’81 has returned to Magnificat as the school’s Vice President of Advancement, and she joins Magnificat most recently from the Prayers from Maria Childhood Cancer Foundation, where she served as Vice President of Development. During her tenure at the foundation, she helped to increase revenue by building the strategic major gifts and grants programs and helped to grow the many other fundraising programs there. “We are excited to welcome Debbie back to Magnificat,” said Magnificat President Moira Clark ’77. “Her expertise in growing fundraising programs and cultivating donors and corporate partners will be critical as the school moves into a new strategic planning phase and as we continue to expand the academic, athletic, co-curricular, and faith-formation opportunities available to Magnificat students.” As Vice President of Advancement at Magnificat, Durbin will be an active member of the Leadership Team and will lead the school’s major gifts program, annual appeal fundraising through The Magnificat Fund, and special events, such as the the annual Reunion and Gala.
Prior to her work at Prayers from Maria, Durbin spent nearly 20 years in a number of development and marketing roles at the Cleveland Clinic. She led the Neurological Institute philanthropy program where she developed and executed a strategic plan to increase principal and major gifts. Earlier in her career, Durbin was in medical device sales, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University. “I am thrilled to return to Magnificat," Durbin said. “Magnificat provided me with the foundation to be successful both personally and professionally. I look forward to advancing the strategic goals for the school so that many more young women have the tremendous opportunity for a Magnificat education.” Janetta Hammock has joined Magnificat as the school’s Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where she most recently served as Director of Diversity and Strategic Initiatives.
“We are thrilled to welcome Janetta to Magnificat,” said Magnificat President Moira Clark ’77. “The breadth and depth of her expertise in developing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and fostering inclusive communities will serve our students and our community well.” As Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Magnificat, Hammock will partner with the Leadership Team to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion across departments. She will lead the school’s Anti-Racism Advisory Task Force, lead the Equity and Inclusion Committee for faculty and staff; develop student leadership in matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; engage in the development and planning of an annual Equity Summit; use an equity lens to review and update school policies and procedures; and identify and engage strategic partners that will advance the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion vision. Prior to her work at CWRU, Hammock served in a number of capacities at John Carroll University and in the Office of Government and Public Affairs at the American Council on Education. A certified diversity professional, Hammock earned master’s degrees in philosophy with an emphasis in diversity management from Cleveland State University and in cultural studies/African American history from Morgan State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Michigan State University. “I am excited to join the Magnificat community and work with others in the critically important work of cultivating more inclusive and equitable learning and working environments," Hammock said. “Magnificat is committed to taking bold steps to bring about sustainable change that will positively impact students, staff, alumnae and local communities. I am grateful to be part of these efforts.”
Big-Little Challenge Cup Competition Returns to Magnificat’s Backyard
Since 2001, the Big-Little Challenge Cup Competition has been a “Day of Mirth” to celebrate school spirit through friendly inter-class competition to kick off the Nightin-Blue season each fall. Due to COVID-19 precautions, this year’s field day was postponed to May 21, and thus became a festive way to celebrate the end of the school year. Each year, seniors and sophomores join forces to make up the “Semore” Team and juniors and freshmen come together as the “Junfres”. Beginning with a dramatic opening ceremony that draws on themes from Greek mythology, once the Big-Little Challenge Cup flame is lit, teams rotate through six different games that take place on Karnatz Family Field and Coyne Courts. This year, once the Semores were announced as the winners of the day, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed lunch from three local food trucks.
When asked what she thought of her first Big-Little experience, Cara Heisterkamp ’24 replied, “What can I say? From the food trucks to the wild competition, brightly colored tutus and sparkles, it was the ultimate high school experience that I will never forget. Thanks to everyone whose hard work, talent, and enthusiasm made it all possible!” For the senior class, this year’s competition was their final Magnificat event before Baccalaureate & Graduation which took place just three days later. When Big-Little was postponed in the fall, Maia Scharff ’21 and her fellow senior classmates were not sure whether they would get the chance to have one more Big-Little competition before graduating. On the day of the event, she said, “It was so nice to be able to have Big-Little despite everything that has been going on this school year. It was a great way to wrap up the end of my time at Magnificat with all of my friends!” It was a joyous occasion indeed, and will be a great final memory of a school year unlike any one before it.
National Honor Society Inducts New Members
The Magnificat chapter of National Honor Society inducted 77 new members on March 24 in a ceremony that also recognized the 65 members who were inducted in 2020, whose ceremony could not be held due to the pandemic. The ceremony, which was held in the Performing Arts Center, was live streamed for family members. National Honor Society members are recognized for character, scholarship, leadership, and service.
New Members Inducted into World Language Honor Societies
More than 100 students were inducted into Magnificat’s four World Language Honor Societies on March 30. Students who demonstrate achievement in world languages were inducted into the Arabic Language Honor Society, the Chinese Language Honor Society, Société Honoraire de Français, and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. The ceremony, which took place in the Performing Arts Center, was live streamed for family members to watch.
Twenty Inducted into National Art Honor Society
Magnifat’s chapter of National Art Honor Society, which started in 2019, inducted 20 juniors and seniors on May 6 at a ceremony which took place in the LGI in conjunction with the annual Art Show and was live streamed for families to watch. National Art Honor Society recognizes achievement in art scholarship, character, and service.
