The Good News Magazine (Summer 2023)

Your Role in Our Legacy!

If so, you can donate some or all of your state income tax liability to Norwood-Fontbonne Academy through the SPE (Special Purpose Entity) arm of the EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program. These donations benefit NFA’s Tuition Assistance efforts and help students attend NFA!

An example of how it works: If your state income tax liability is $5,000, you can donate up to $5,000, but no more (do not overcommit; if you do, the entire donation will be void). A two-year commitment earns a 90% refund ($4,500) on the donation in the form of a tax credit against your tax obligation. You may also be able to use the remaining 10% ($500) as an itemized deduction on your federal income tax return.

2 Norwood-Fontbonne Academy

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Dear Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, From the President

As I reflect on the 2022-2023 school year, I can’t help but think of the growing legacy of our NFA community. This year, we heard endless stories of our students paving their own academic journeys, NFA alumni making a difference across the world, and our own families pulling together to serve our neighbors when they needed it most. We had many opportunities to live the mission of Sisters of Saint Joseph (SSJ) and to be “ready for any and all good work.” I feel proud to have witnessed our community's commitment to serving God and our Dear Neighbor.

In March, we hosted our signature fundraising event Soirée with the Sisters, a celebration spotlighting St. Joseph the Dreamer, a theme that mirrored much of our curriculum this year. We honored two legends in our NFA family, Sister Roseann Tribuiani and Sister Marjorie Lawless, as well as three of our 25-plus year staff: Kathleen Eiser, Betsy McGrath, and Janet Kershner. These pillars of our community not only inspire the dreamer in all of us, but this event allowed us to bring together dreamers of all generations and affiliations: current families, alumni, faculty and staff, and longtime friends of NFA. We look forward to making this celebration an annual tradition.

By the time this magazine arrives at your home, the Class of 2023 will have graduated, and we look forward to celebrating this incredible class more in the fall edition. Progress continues on fulfilling the goals of our strategic plan, Directed Toward Tomorrow. This year, the work of our Curriculum Council continued with an analysis of our Math and Spanish Curriculum in collaboration with our secondary school partners. We also made significant progress on the implementation of our campus plan with several projects on deck for summer.

When you read this issue of The Good News, my hope is that you will be encouraged by all the dreams being realized at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy and beyond. Rooted in the mission of the SSJ, these stories highlight how our vibrant community continues to build the widespread tapestry of NFA. The invitation is also always open for you to visit campus to see this vision thriving in our classrooms each and every day.

In Christ’s Peace,

Ryan Killeen, Ed.D. President

Board of Trustees

Napoleon Stephenson, Jr., Chair

Audrey Schwenger, Vice-Chair

Ryan Abramson

Beth Bailey

Riley Beetner

Sister Owen Bonner, SSJ

Sister Dorothy Bredehoft, SSJ

John Christen

Lynda Dennis

Nanci Fitzgerald

Robbie Hain

Kathryn Henry

Sister Deborah Hughes, SSJ

Sister Marjorie Keenan, SSJ

Bobbi Kelly

Dr. Ryan Killeen

Sister Marjorie Lawless, SSJ

Judy Lloyd

Christopher McDermott

Nancy Nadler

Carol Rush

John Schmidt

Editor:

Thomas McGlinchey, Director of Communications & Marketing tmcglinchey@norfon.org

Design:

Schultz & Williams

Editorial Staff:

Riley Beetner, Annmarie Greenberg, Patty Kenney, Dr. Ryan Killeen, Thomas McGlinchey, Kathleen Swain, Erin Wallin

Photography:

Riley Beetner, Andrew Fluwellen, Ryan Killeen, Ed.D., Julia Lehman, Cristina Loutfi, Regina Miller (Origin

Photo), Tom McGlinchey, Angel

Otero Films, Sabina Louise Pierce, Megan Stotz, Kathleen Swain, Frank Wojciechowski, Steve Wood, submitted photos from NFA alumni

Cover Photo by Regina Miller | Origin

Photo

NFA legends Sister Marjorie Lawless and Sister Roseann Tribuiani were awarded the Saint Joseph the Dreamer Award during a Soirée with the Sisters on March 25, 2023 in the Fontbonne Commons. The award is given to members and friends of the NFA community who encourage and facilitate the dreams of our students, staff, and families.

“Since 1990, Sister Marjorie has been gracing our campus with her wisdom, calming presence, and adoration for our NFA students and families,” said

Dreaming BIG

TWO NFA LEGENDS WERE RECOGNIZED WITH THE INAUGURAL SAINT JOSEPH THE DREAMER AWARD AT NFA’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT

Dr. Ryan Killeen, President. “From a calligraphy lesson to a science module to a loving interaction with animals, Sister Marjorie has found unparalleled ways to impact hundreds of students walking through the doors of our school.”

“And Sister Roseann, it’s truly impossible to imagine Norwood-Fontbonne Academy without her presence,” continued Killeen. “She is the much beloved Maria Montessori of our community, and she continues to bless our NFA family following her retirement.”

Sister Marjorie retired following the 2017–18 school year and Sister Roseann retired from teaching following the 2021–22 school year. Despite being retired, both still play a very active role in the NFA community. Sister Marjorie serves on NFA’s Advisory Board and oversees the children’s garden, while Sister Roseann serves as a mentor in Montessori education as well as an ambassador for all of NFA’s Montessori partnerships.

The evening featured over 200 guests, live music from Annette Williams McCann, French inspired treats, and raised more than $25,000 for NFA.

6 Norwood-Fontbonne Academy

25-YEAR HONOREES

READY FOR ANY GOOD WORK

Many Sisters of Saint Joseph were in attendance to celebrate with the NFA community. Sisters in attendance:

Front row (left to right): Sisters

Marjorie Lawless, Mary Skopal, Sheila Murphy, Barbara Winnals, and Roseann Tribuiani

Back row (left to right): Sisters Sharon McCarthy, Marjorie Keenan, Madeline Franze, Terri Shaw, Mary McFadden, Rita Kehoe, Kathy McShane, Owen Patricia Bonner, Maureen Fichner, Karen Dietrich, Mary Louise Gentillini, and Jean Laurich.

30-YEAR HONOREE

The NFA community also honored three faculty members for their 25+ years of service to the school. Left to right: Janet Kershner (music teacher, 25 years), Betsy McGrath (Montessori teacher, 27 years), and Kathleen Eiser (student development, 29 years).

NFA also had the opportunity to raise funds for our Circle the Hill with Love campaign, which raised money to support our dear neighbors at Our Mother of Consolation, which sustained serious damage to its property following a fire in March. Thanks to the generosity of the NFA community, $8,500 was raised for the OMC community!

Christina Carnevale Kaufmann '94, Denise Carnevale, Pam Bailey, and Donahue Bailey

Alumni Parents Tom Schwenger, Tim Woolley, Dave Forti, and Dave Comerford

Alumni parents Frances Trainor and Ed Trainor '81 with Jennifer Forti

We celebrated Pam Ingram, Executive Assistant to the President, during the annual faculty and staff barbecue in May. Pam just completed her 30th year here at NFA.

Seventh Grade Stands Out at S.T.E.M. Competition

Seventh grade students in Ryan Saul’s S.T.E.M. class were the recipients of the Larry French Educational Excellence Award for their presentation at the Future City S.T.E.M. Competition at Delaware Valley Community College in January 2023.

To participate in the Future City Competition, students worked in groups to create a city that combats climate change and the various effects of climate change. Students were challenged to select a climate change impact and design one innovative and futuristic adaptation and one mitigation strategy to keep residents healthy and safe.

To complete this project, students learned about climate change and the various components that are affecting it. Students did their own research to find ways to combat climate change

and incorporated what they have discovered into the designs of their cities. For their cities, they needed to determine its location, sources of revenue, how it receives its energy, how it is combating climate change through adaptation and mitigation strategies, how its people get around, and other challenges of creating a functioning city. Once they determined all this information, they went on to create a scale model of their city using recycled materials. They also needed to incorporate a moving piece within the city. It was quite the challenge!

“The students demonstrated their ability to explain their scale model of the city with great confidence,” said Saul. “They answered every question from the judges knowledgeably, and all the feedback they were given was always very positive, complimenting

“They (the students) answered every question from the judges knowledgeably, and all the feedback they were given was always very positive, complimenting their skills and ideas. It was a very proud moment for me as a teacher and for NFA in general ”

—Ryan Saul, S.T.E.M. Teacher

Fontbonne Vestibule Opening

Following the Legacy Week Prayer Service on February 3, 2023, members of the NFA community along with many members of the Sisters of Saint Joseph party of 1960, dedicated and blessed the new Fontbonne Vestibule. The Sisters in attendance were the first group of Sisters to enter as postulants in the Fontbonne building when it was constructed. This beautiful light-filled space has been dedicated to the Legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph and provides significant enhancement of safety and security on NFA’s campus.

their skills and ideas. It was a very proud moment for me as a teacher and for NFA in general.”

The competition also featured a 1,500-word essay and seven minute presentation. Judges made up of S.T.E.M. professionals asked the team various questions about their city. Petey Quin ’24, Maddie Kolb ’24, Jonah Cohen ’24, and Gabe Carlson ’24 of 7A represented NFA at the competition.

“Each team came up with very clever approaches on how to adapt to and mitigate climate change,” said Mr.

Saul. “All the projects were unique and great builds all around.”

“This was a project that was highly motivating!” said Shannon Craige, Director of Curriculum & Innovation. “Our students were engaged in a dynamic learning experience as they collaborated on the planning of a sustainable city. As the date for the competition neared, it was so exciting to see our students step up their effort and come together as a team. They took passionate ownership of their work and took pride in the finished product. Mr. Saul

supported our students through the planning stages, design process, and the presentation. This was a memorable experience for all involved as they lived out the vision statement in an active learning experience!”

Following the Delaware Valley Community College event, the four NFA groups presented their projects to their peers and faculty. Teachers were encouraged to share their thoughts for the best overall group for their build and explanation, awarding 7A as the winner of the in-house pizza party.

Calling All Bears

Generations of NFA fans came out to support the Bears and catch up during the 2022 Homecoming on October 22 at Mount Saint Joseph Academy and La Salle College High School.

Field House Restoration

NFA celebrated another milestone as students and faculty cut the ribbon on the re-opening of the school’s Field House on the Norwood Campus. The Field House, which supports fall and spring sports, was remodeled, painted, and topped off with a new banner. Go Bears!

Soccer Champs

LEAGUE CHAMPS! The varsity co-ed soccer team won the 2022 Catholic Academies League title by defeating Waldron Mercy Academy, 3–1, before a huge crowd at the Water Tower Recreation Center on November 7.

Kings of Snowball

BACK-TO-BACK! The varsity A boys basketball team won the NFA Snowball Tournament for the second consecutive year! This year’s event was held Thursday, February 23 through Sunday, February 26, 2023. Next year, we will celebrate the 50th Annual Snowball Tournament!

(Photo courtesy of Angel Otero Films)

National Essay Contest Winner

An essay written by Costanza Akkor ’23 was selected as the winner of the 2022 American Freedom Essay Contest, a prominent, national writing contest, in the middle school category.

“NFA had so many wonderful submissions,” said Judy Riviezzo, English Language teacher. “However, Costanza’s essay took a unique approach to the privilege of voting. Her writing pieces are always amazing; I am thrilled that she received this recognition. It is so well deserved!”

By winning the middle school category, Akkor, who started at NFA in preschool, also won her classmates a free field trip with The Constitutional Walking Tour

of Philadelphia. Akkor’s essay was entitled “The Voice on a Piece of Paper” and it looked at the power of voting in the United States.

“Through the writing in Costanza’s essay, she uses her voice to advocate for the right to vote,” said Kathryn Henry, Principal. “Costanza’s

Anne Porter Honored

Longtime coach and physical education teacher Anne Porter was honored during NFA’s Homecoming festivities at La Salle College High School on October 22, 2022.

Porter began teaching and coaching at NFA in 1977. In total, she has coached field hockey for 45 years, with only one season missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and led her teams to 15 championships.

On the basketball court, Porter has led her teams (varsity and JV) to 13 league titles. She also coached softball for 18 years and won eight championships.

Porter also organized “volleyball play days” as well as cross country and track meets.

Many student-athletes that played for Porter went on to shine at local high school programs, and

powerful words empower us all to appreciate the value of voting and the importance of our votes in impacting the future. Costanza is a positive leader in our NFA community, and I am so happy she was recognized for her talent and dedication to writing!”

quite a few went on to play a sport on the Division I level.

THANK YOU Coach Porter for all that you have done over the years for NFA and our student-athletes!

Introducing NFA’s Mission Advancement Office Corner: Dollars and Sense

It has been an exciting year in the Mission Advancement Office at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy. We have welcomed three new members of our team, Riley Beetner, Kathleen Swain, and Patty Kenney, who faithfully join Tom McGlinchey and Annmarie Greenberg in our community-wide Advancement efforts. As a mostly new team, some of our favorite moments included meeting lots of alumni over Homecoming weekend, learning what the excitement behind Legacy Week and the Snowball Tournament is all about, and having the opportunity to honor Sister Marjorie Lawless and Sister Roseann Tribuiani at our first-ever Soirée with the Sisters, our signature fundraising event that took place this spring.

Looking ahead as we close out this school year and look forward to the next:

• Please keep in mind the importance of The NFA Fund as we continue to make improvements to our campus. The NFA Fund makes up the difference between tuition and operating expenses, and is your opportunity to make a direct impact on critical enhancements like safety and security improvements, student Performing Arts programs, and faculty professional development.

• “The Bear Den” is coming! Thanks to the Class of 2023, we’ll be officially opening our first-ever school store on our Norwood campus, which our students lovingly named The Bear Den. Please keep an eye out for updates to snag some one-of-a-kind NFA gear!

• In February 2024, we’ll be celebrating the 50th Annual Snowball Tournament, a basketball tournament that has now been a thread in our community for five decades. We have some fun surprises planned and would love to welcome all of our Bears fans back on campus for this unforgettable event. Please mark your calendars for February 22–25, 2024.

• We love to include our NFA alum, friends and families in our events on campus! If you’d like to help decorate the Big House for the holidays or be a part of our signature fundraising event, we would love for you to join us. We have opportunities big and small. Please contact Kathleen Swain at mao@norfon.org.

The Fund

Supporting The NFA Fund helps our school to make up the difference between tuition and operating expenses. Your support enhances our student experience by providing challenging academics, spiritual formation, and exciting co-curricular activities. In addition, staff development, technology resources, and capital improvements impacting the safety and security of our campus continue to improve because of The NFA Fund.

Norwood -Fontbonne Academy

Celebrating Peter DePaul, Sr.

It is with great fondness that we celebrate the life of Peter DePaul, Sr., one of Norwood-Fontbonne Academy’s greatest supporters. Mr. DePaul passed away in December 2022, and he leaves behind a loving family of 11 children, 27 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren — many of whom have walked the halls of NFA since their family first arrived on campus in the 1970s.

Sister Roseann Tribuiani has always been one of Mr. DePaul’s biggest fans. She loves to reflect on the tremendous ways Mr. DePaul supported NFA and the greater Philadelphia community.

Mr. DePaul’s grandson, Nello Naticchione, passed away in 1990, and had been a student in Sister Roseann’s class for the last three years of his life. Sister Roseann had the privilege of walking with the family through that challenging time, and we still honor Nello today by enjoying Nello’s Garden, located on our Fontbonne campus.

“In all my time spent with Mr. DePaul and his family, I was deeply touched by their sheer generosity. There could be a hundred people in a room with Mr. DePaul and he was still intentional with every

person he spoke to. His offering of his quality time, thoughtfulness, and compassion were truly unmatched,” shared Sister Roseann. Thank you, Mr. DePaul, for the countless ways you impacted NFA.

Thanks to your generous support, the following advancements were made this school year:

• Enhanced Campus-wide Security System

• Field House Renovations

• Student Performing Arts Programs

• Faculty Professional Development

Sister Roseann Tribuiani poses with Peter DePaul, Sr. at NFA’s annual Christmas in the Big House event.

Class Notes Graduate Greatness

Fr. Bill Waters, OSA ’57 is Pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Philadelphia. He reports that the parish, at 4th and Vine at the Ben Franklin Bridge, was founded in 1796. It is the first foundation of the Augustinian Community in this country. Villanova University has its origins at St. Augustine Parish.

Terrence Donnelly ’60 reports that he is happily retired after over 30 years with the Veterans Health Administration and also happily retired after 25 years with the 157th New Hampshire ANG Medical Squadron. He would be happy to hear from any classmates!

John Hilgner '81 reports that he is currently the executive chef at a five-star assisted living residence.

Dr. Kathleen Walls ’85 has published her third children’s book in her “Froggy-T and Bunnie A Hip Hop Tale” series!

Eric Griffin-Shelley ’97 was the keynote speaker for the Fall 2022 graduating class of the Founder Institute. Eric is the co-founder of Mobile Outfitters and stalwart supporter of the Philadelphia startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Eric has co-founded a number of companies, including: Mobile Outfitters, PAW5, and GSW Real Estate in Philadelphia. He’s a board member of the Philly chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a non-profit network exclusively for entrepreneurs, and serves as a council member for Back on My Feet.

Ysabel Ilagan-Ying ’06 graduated from Yale University and is currently in residency at Yale hospital specializing in G.I.

Kiko Ilagan (former student) has graduated from Stanford University and currently lives in the Bay Area in San Francisco. He is employed as an engineer at Google.

Maya Ilagan (former student) graduated from Georgetown University and is currently residing in New York where she is employed in the Manhattan Theater Company specializing in the production and developmental aspect of the performances.

’89 and Jeannine Giordano ’89 cheered on the Eagles.

Elizabeth Tucker ’06 received her PhD in Biology focusing on biomechanics from Temple University. Congratulations to Dr. Tucker!

There was an NFA presence at this year’s Super Bowl as Chris Convey

Alumni Career Day

Tommy Egan ’12 is enjoying his work at the Miami Seaquarium with beloved animal friend, Cali the seal!

Kara Kniezewski ’15 delivered an Astrophysics presentation to the American Astronomical Society.

We’re putting together another edition of The Good News magazine and want to feature YOUR GOOD NEWS as well! Visit www.norfon.org/classnotes to submit YOUR good news!

NFA students were absolutely thrilled to hear from five NFA graduates during our Alumni Career Day on March 29, 2023! Special thanks to (front row, left to right) Marguerite Adzick ’02 (Founder and CEO of Addison Bay), Theresa Maida ’97 (Senior Director in Product Management at Comcast), Jessica Teson ‘05 (Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Media at the Philadelphia Eagles), (back row, left to right), Joe DeCamara ’92 (Sports Talk Show Host on 94.1 WIP), and Kailey Hyman ’10 (actress who most recently starred in the movie “A Man Called Otto” alongside Tom Hanks) for inspiring our students!

Members of the Mission Advancement Office had a great time catching up with graduates during NFA’s big Alumni Night Out bash, which took place on October 22, 2022, at MaGerk’s in Fort Washington.

Meg Kane ’95 Lands FIFA World Cup 2026 for Philly

By glancing at her resume, one might assume that Meg Kane ’95 was at one point in her life zipping up and down soccer pitches, but she’s quick to tell you that she does not, in fact, have a background in playing the “beautiful game.”

“I do not. In fact, I’m in the top one percent of ‘least athletic humans’ on the planet and you can confirm that with Ms. Porter,” joked Kane. “But I am a massive sports fan and I have incredible respect for the power of sports to unite people around the world and in the city of Philadelphia, especially soccer.”

It’s with that keen foresight and fiery passion in mind that Kane, a brilliant storyteller, told and successfully sold the story of Philadelphia to FIFA (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association), soccer’s governing

body. Kane worked tirelessly for 30 months as the manager of bid coordination and external affairs for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the civic committee that oversaw the region’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2026. She was fruitfully rewarded, along with the entire Delaware Valley, on June 16, 2022, when Philadelphia was finally selected as one of 11 American cities to host the 2026 World Cup.

“[It was] a mix of euphoria and relief,” said Kane. “Finding out the news live on national television at a public pep rally of 2,000-plus people in LOVE Park certainly was nerve-racking, but it was such an incredible moment to hear the roar of the crowd as the city’s name was called. I will never forget it.”

Going into decision day, 16 American cities were competing

to host the North American tournament, which is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Predictions ran the gamut, but in the end, Kane and her team made up of local well-known movers and shakers were able to secure the world’s biggest party for the City of Brotherly Love.

To put into perspective on how massive the World Cup is, an average match during a tournament draws more than 191 million viewers worldwide, which is nearly twice that of the Super Bowl. The 23rd FIFA World Cup will be extra special as it is the first edition to feature 48 total teams and three host countries.

“The potential to have Philadelphia be on the global stage for this sporting event was an unprecedented opportunity

Meg Kane ’95 addresses soccer fans during a pep rally in Love Park. (Photo courtesy of Andre Fluwellen)

and one that I was excited and honored to be part of,” said Kane, who now serves as the Host City Executive. “We had a small but mighty team, which was initially assembled by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and David L. Cohen, before he was appointed Ambassador to Canada. There were ebbs and flows, but we always focused on delivering a professional, passionate, and technically excellent bid. We also had the support of the city of Philadelphia, the Eagles, the Union, and the entire business community, led by our Chair, Dan Hilferty. We proved to FIFA at every turn that we wanted to be a host city and that authenticity, which is a hallmark of Philadelphia, made the difference.”

Big events are nothing new for Kane. She quickly climbed her way up the marketing and public relations world, from being a “onewoman” shop at Mount Saint Joseph Academy to serving as an account manager at Vault Communications to becoming senior vice president at Brian Communications. All that experience led to Kane creating up her own firm, Signature 57.

“I have always been blessed to have great mentors who gave me incredible professional opportunities that allowed me to share my love for Philadelphia — from Tastykake to the visit of Pope Francis in 2015,” said Kane. “Now, with Signature 57, which launched in 2021, I can build upon those experiences with a fantastic and growing team of public relations pros. That said, it was never my intention to launch an agency and like much in life, it just evolved into this new

adventure. To say that I am blessed would be an understatement.”

Some of Kane’s clients include Visit Philadelphia, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Please Touch Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Broad Street Ministry, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and Heights Philadelphia. For her efforts, Kane has won numerous awards, including the 2015 La Salle University Shining Star Award, the Benemerenti Medal (Papal honor), the 2023 City & State Above and Beyond Award, and the 2023 Starfinder Foundation Visionary Leadership Award.

After graduating from NFA, Kane went on to Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova. She later earned the Christian Brothers' Scholarship to La Salle University, where she was a member of the school’s honors program and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. In 2005, she received a Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations, Political Rhetoric, and Crisis Communications at the University of Maryland as a part of the Full Fellowship.

Back here at NFA, Kane feels like she’s never quite left. She came to campus in fall of 1991 as a third grade primary student, but with two lifers in her family — former faculty member Elizabeth Wood McCabe ’99 and current middle school teacher Steve Wood ’03 — and the tenure of her mom, Debbie Wood, as principal until 2015, NFA has consistently been a part of her life.

Like many alumni, her love of sports started here at NFA and one of her favorite school traditions is the Snowball Tournament.

“I’m a major sports fan and I was lucky that my sister, Liz, was a rockstar player for NFA and the Mount,” said Kane. “I spent a lot of time in gyms cheering her on, including NFA’s Snowball Tournament. There were always great players and teams that came through and it’s always a fun and memorable weekend!”

In the classroom, Kane remembers Mr. Clements and his enthusiastic approach to English classes.

“He had that booming voice, but his passion for literature was so true,” recalled Kane. “I was a voracious reader when I was at NFA, and I still remember the conversations that Mr. Clements helped us to have about Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and John Knowles’ A Separate Peace. The nuance he helped us to understand… the freedom to ask questions and process such important lessons in these books of fiction… it was something I didn’t realize how special it was until I was older. He was, without a doubt, the best.”

(Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)

Engagements

Wedding Bells

Christa Schmidt ’00 was married on December 10, 2022 to Jim Perry of Vermont. Regina Schmidt Slavy ’02 and Dona Ann Schmidt ’11 served as the maids of honors. In attendance at the wedding were 11 guests who either graduated or affiliated with NFA. The wedding was a celebration of love and the couple honeymooned in Venice, Italy.

John Sczepanski ’06 and his beautiful bride, Emma, tied the knot in December 2022.

Ryan Flynn ’07 and his beautiful bride, Stephanie, tied the knot in September 2022.

Adriana

’09 to Brandon Treviño in March 2023. Fellow classmate Lauren Stabler ’09 was a member of the wedding party.

Norwood-Fontbonne Academy

Kara Kniezewski ’15 to Bert Fletcher.

Sarah Hansell ’12 to Daniel Caldwell.

Tadhg Ferry ’02 to Alexa Wagner.

Tripp McKeon ’06 to Katie Lynn Reddington.

Julia Kelly ’10 married Harold Keyser in October 2022.

Maggie McDermott ’07 to Connor Eonta in November 2022.

Ongay

Kevin Nolen ’93 and his wife, Lindsay, welcomed Harper James in March 2023.

New Arrivals

Nora Powell Rodgers ’01, her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Dot, welcomed baby Maeve to the family in September of 2022.

Missy Donnalley ’99, her husband, Andrew, and daughter, Hannah, welcomed baby Hazel to the family in November 2022.

Branden Shane ’00, his wife, Allie, and daughter, Emmy, welcomed baby Liam Patrick in the fall of 2022.

Courtney Hain ’01 and her husband, Christopher Coyle, welcomed baby Christopher Brennan Coyle in mid-January.

Colleen Caldwell

Hogh ’06 and her husband, Joe, welcomed baby Joseph Richard in February 2023.

Joe Bailey ’04 and his wife, Kim, welcomed baby Adrienne to the family in March.

Sarah Collier

Villaume ’04 and her husband, Matthew, welcomed baby Josephine Ryan in the fall of 2022. Josie is getting lots of love from big brother Orin!

Sarah Weyand May ’03 and her husband, Tony, welcomed baby Malcolm in early October. He joins big brothers Maxwell, Anthony, and Abraham.

Please email the Mission Advancement Office at mao@norfon.org if you’d like your newest arrival to represent NFA in one of our adorable (and free) onesies!

Peter DePaul, Sr. • S. Denise Clifford, SSJ • Brian O'Neill ’91

Joe DeCamara ’92: The Voice of Philadelphia Mornings

As Joe DeCamara ’92 walked through the open Montessori spaces in the Fontbonne Building, a flood of memories poured out.

“I used to hide over there,” joked DeCamara, who was on campus for Alumni Career Day on March 29, 2023.

“We always knew where you were,” responded Sister Jean Laurich with a smile.

A stroll down memory lane brought up sweet memories for the popular Philadelphia sports radio talk show host, who left NFA after second grade. While DeCamara may have left NFA at an early age, NFA never left him.

“I have tremendous love for Norwood,” said DeCamara. “It’s hard for me to fully articulate Norwood’s role in my life because I was so young when at NFA, so it’s hard for me to grasp it all in hindsight. But clearly Norwood played an enormous role in my life. There was so much nurturing in those kindergarten, first grade, and second grade years. Sister Karen Washabagh and Sister Jean and many others were so wonderful to me. My father passed away while I was in kindergarten, so that year and subsequent years were very difficult for me personally and for my family. But we were bolstered through our grief by incredible love and support from the NFA community. There also was an incredible amount of learning in those early years for me, obviously. I feel such gratitude to so many that helped me at Norwood. I have nothing but absolute love for Norwood to this day. It’ll always be that way for me.”

DeCamara went on to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and Fairfield University before climbing his way up the ultra-competitive sports entertainment industry.

A sports fanatic growing up, DeCamara spent countless hours in his basement broadcasting games to himself on a tape recorder or a drumstick, according to a February 2023 Philadelphia Inquirer article. He started his career off in the financial sector, but eventually decided to pursue his dream of working in sports. He

landed an internship at WBCM-AM (1490) in Bucks County with the help of Eagles broadcaster Merrill Reese. That internship evolved into a call-in show from 10pm to midnight on Mondays and Thursdays, which featured his mother, Terese, as his producer and calls from his four older siblings — Phil, Andrew, Matt, Nancy — and uncle, George Wolf. DeCamara did that gig for 3 ½ years while making $5.15 an hour.

His hard work over the years at WBCM-AM (1490), WIP-AM (610), WPEN-FM (950), 97.5 (FM) The Fanatic, ESPN Radio, the Philadelphia Soul, and WYSP-FM (94.1) paid off in a big way. On February 20, 2023, DeCamara was named the new voice of Philadelphia sports talk radio as the drive-time morning host at 94.1, arguably the biggest gig in town.

“It’s very gratifying,” said DeCamara. “It’s been a long road. There were some very tough years while trying to make it in this profession. But I feel eternally grateful to many people who helped me along the way. I’m glad I stuck it out. I’m very happy to be at this point in my career. It’s a lot of fun.”

Catching Up with Theresa Maida ’97

Like a true Montessori student, Theresa Maida ’97, isn’t afraid to try something new and go in a different direction.

Maida was an Arts History major and Spanish and Literature minor at Tulane University before pursuing a career in interior design in the greater New York City area. She even earned a certificate in interior design from the Parsons School of Design – The New School.

Then, she made a soft left in her career.

“I realized quickly that I enjoyed managing and executing projects more than the design part of the job,” said Maida, who transitioned to a project manager of web designers at Anthropologie.

Then, Maida made yet another change in the trajectory of her career.

“After a while, I again realized that I was most interested in how the software was being built,” said Maida. “So I combined both of those interests into the career I have today.”

Maida is currently the Senior Director in Product Management at Comcast.

“I own the customer onboarding experience in the Xfinity app focused on the self-activation of the Xfinity internet service,” said Maida. “I combine the business and customer needs to determine what we should build and improve upon, then work with our engineering team to make it happen.”

Maida started out at NFA in the Carriage House and participated in a number of clubs and athletic teams along the way, including the oratory club, drama club, field hockey, and softball. One memory that stands out for Maida is Wrangler Ranch, a fun drama show she participated in during eighth grade.

“It was so silly and Mr. Clements, our leader, was amazing,” said Maida. “He cared, he was kind, and he was fun. He treated us exactly how

we hoped to be treated — like kids who were close to adulthood, but not quite there yet.”

Per the school’s Student Vision Statement, the NFA student is one who enjoys learning, treasures self, others, and the Earth, lives gospel values, and makes reflective choices as a self-directed person.

“It resonates loudly with me!” noted Maida. “One of my favorite memories is being in Sister Joan’s Montessori class and realizing that I could read almost as much as I wanted every day. We were afforded that liberty and I took full advantage. My love of learning started there. Norwood taught me, and is still in my head reminding me, to be a good person and think of others, and the Earth, and how they would want to be treated. My empathy was cultivated at Norwood.

“NFA is and was my entire foundation for how to be a good person, how to care for others, and how to create lasting friendships that I have to this day,” added Maida.

Angela Henkels Dale ’81: Writing Her Own Story

Angela Henkels Dale ’81 learned a lot about perseverance from her father, Paul M. Henkels ’38, over the years. Her father would often tell a story about learning the word ‘perseverance’ from the Sisters of Saint Joseph when he was a student at Norwood Academy – School for Boys, which later became NFA. It was that same perseverance that allowed Dale to reach a milestone achievement in her literary career when her debut picture book, Bus Stop, hit stands in the fall of 2022.

“I’d been writing picture books for about ten years before Bus Stop, my debut, was published,” said Dale, who worked for a literary agent in Washington, DC, and a book publisher in New York City before moving around the world with her family when her husband was in the Navy. “This is not an atypical timeline, but there are many ‘no’s’ along the way, and that can feel discouraging.”

Connecting with a literary agent was key for Dale’s progress.

“Most publishing houses do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so having a literary agent is critical to getting your work into editors’ hands,” said Dale. “After scores of direct submissions to agents, and a few editors, starting in 2012, I signed with my first agent in 2019, and she submitted manuscripts to dozens of editors, resulting in an offer in January 2020 for Bus

Stop. However when the pandemic hit, the offer was tabled, but my agent stayed on top of things and completed the deal for Bus Stop that September, after which we parted ways amicably. The following year I continued to submit work to editors and agents, but racked up over 100 rejections with nary a yes. In early 2022, I received an offer for my second book and am now working with a wonderful agent who handled that contract and is sending out new work.”

Inspired by a new bus stop in her neighborhood, Dale sought to capture the energy in her debut book.

Dale started here at NFA at age 4 in the Montessori Preschool program. She has many wonderful memories of her time at NFA and one, not surprisingly, given her career choice, involved a book marathon during Lent in which she read a book a day.

Dale also fondly remembers “Mrs. Moy, Miss Liz, Sister Joan Rosaire and Mrs. Carney in Montessori, Mrs. Siegl for art and Sister Rose Phillipine for French (always with bonbons for Snoopy), and Mrs. Miller in grades 4–6. In 7th and 8th grade I loved to walk from the Fontbonne Campus up to the Big House to take math with George Aspen and social studies with Chuck Seaton. The uniform shoes were perfect for sliding down Caryl Lane on snowy days.”

As an enthusiastic Montessori student, she distinctly remembers

learning to read and write in preschool Montessori.

“I was hooked — though the word ‘picnic’ was a little tricky,” recalls Dale. “In Sister Joan Rosaire’s primary class, I remember writing long stories in my composition book, often going back to add more details in the margins. I loved doing Mrs. Miller’s book reports — the artistic covers were always a big deal.

“The independent, exploratory learning method of Montessori had a big influence on how I see the world. I’m led by curiosity and find joy in learning new things whether it’s how to execute something in the moment or how to master a subject or skill over years. So much of writing for publication is learned by doing, often without much external encouragement or even feedback. My Montessori teachers taught me to love the learning process as much as the outcome.”

Dale’s next book, Goodbye, Hello, will be published in 2024. It was inspired by her time traveling with her children from the United States to Japan and back again when her husband was in the Navy.

(Photo courtesy of Julia Lehman Photography)

Congratulations to the NFA Class of 2023!

Norwood-Fontbonne Academy honored, celebrated, and welcomed the remarkable Class of 2023 into the school's illustrious alumni body during a special commencement ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023 in Fontbonne Commons.

Costanza Maria Akkor: Germantown Friends School

Finnian James Canally: St. Joseph's Preparatory School

Odette Maria Christy: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Tara Meehan Ciolko: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Luke Robert Cirelli: La Salle College High School

Brayden Gianni Cunningham: Archbishop Wood High School

Emilia Mary Dezzi: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Casey James Doerzbacher: St. Joseph's Preparatory School

Marra Craige Fitzgerald: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

Jack David Forti: La Salle College High School

Claire Maureen Furletti: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Jake Lloyd Gambone: La Salle College High School

Cara Donna Gordon: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Emma Maureen Guertin: Merion Mercy Academy

Halo Kamilah Hall: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Rylee Claire Howard: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Lily Rouli Hutapea: Germantown Academy

Gabriel David Jackson: La Salle College High School

Viktor Bohdan Jutkofsky: La Salle College High School

Riley Anna Malloy: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Susan Win-Yee Mark: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Caitlin Rose Meehan: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

Robert Moon Mullen: La Salle College High School

Kenton Thomas Reilly: La Salle College High School

Jocelyn Rose Rizzi: Germantown Academy

Brandon Korey Ross: St. Joseph's Preparatory School

Charli Schoen: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Olivia Rose Simola: Upper Dublin High School

Thalia Sala Springs: Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Meredith Agnes Tilley: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

Gabriel Joseph Tornetta: La Salle College High School

Francesca Caroline Trainor: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

Joaquin Fernandez Valls: La Salle College High School

Emma Jane Watson: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Grace Elizabeth Wolpert: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

8891 Germantown Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19118

www.norfon.org

mao@norfon.org

215-247-3811

/norwoodfontbonneacademy

@norwoodfontbonneacademy

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NFA Community:

We don’t want you to miss any of the exciting programming we have planned for the 2023–24 school year, so please update your contact information today if you have moved, changed your email address, and/or changed your phone number.

To update your information, please visit www.norfon.org/contactinformation.

Re-Discover the Power of an NFA Education!

Visit www.norfon.org/openhouse to register for an upcoming open house.

July 12 • September 20 • October 18 •

November 11 • November 14 (Montessori Morning) • December 5

@NFA1920 Save

Families can also schedule a tour by contacting Erin Wallin, Director of Admission, at ewallin@norfon.org or 215-403-7310.

50 Years of Snowball

February 22–25, 2024