NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2020
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Optimism & Hope in a Time of Challenge
Education In a Time of Global Crisis
Students & Alumnae Respond to Community Needs
Optimism & Hope in a time of Challenge by Neha Jain '20, ASB President These times we are living in - this new normal of ours - is strange. However, if there is one thing I am sure of, it is that each of us in the ND community are strong enough to adapt and help each other move forward. I am so proud to see how, regardless of distance, we have been able to support one another and spread optimism and hope throughout our community. Whether through virtual assemblies, teach-in-webinars, or online mixers, we have each become leaders in our own unique way and have surrounded each other with encouragement and love. I felt at home singing the Alma Mater with my classmates virtually and laughing through our faculty edition of Two Truths and One Lie recently. I also loved seeing everyone’s incredible dance moves during our Zoom Disco Dance Party. While these events were unusual methods of bringing our community together, they were significant. They were a reminder of how, especially in times of need and chaos, it is important to reach out to those around you and that having a place of belonging can soothe even the craziest moments in life. Notre Dame has taught us to recognize our universe of obligation and expand the empathy we have for others. We have been encouraged to be active participants in our near and far communities and care for those around us. It is clear that during this time, our current students, faculty and staff, and alumnae have done just that. Through Zoom meetings, emails, and actions (like making masks for healthcare professionals), our community members have continued to make a change and have remained resilient and optimistic in the face of crisis. I definitely did not expect the last few months of our year to end this way, but I am so grateful to be a part of this school. While many of our end-of-the-year events will be very different, I know that each class will continue to soar into the next school year more tenacious than ever. To the Class of 2020, our graduation year is a unique one, but the bond we have built over the past four years is strong and will only continue to grow. If anything, this time allows us to practice keeping in touch with our peers as we move forward to different colleges. Notre Dame has always reminded us to look for a ray of light in a seemingly dark time. I have found that ray of light in the form of our community. I am thankful to be a part of ND. Let us keep doing our part to support one another and keep those around us safe and healthy so that we can meet in person again very soon.
Staying connected virtually: seniors Ria Jain, Neha Jain, Misako Ormiston, Jovanna Solomon and Ankita Reddy
Principal’s Message Notre Dame Strong I’ve been thinking about the Notre Dame classes of 1918, 1919, 1920 and 1921. I see their pictures hanging on the walls around my office and have often stared into their faces. What were their worries and concerns? They were at Notre Dame during the challenging years of the intersection of the Influenza of 1918 (Spanish Flu) and the end of World War I. In “Influenza Encyclopedia” published by the University of Michigan, the conditions in San Francisco at the time are documented to include increased hygiene, a ban on public gatherings, school and business closures, and face masks. All so familiar.
Notre Dame Class of 1920
I wondered who was principal at that time? Surely a Sister of Notre Dame who called upon her fellow Sisters to help weather the epidemic and the impact that it had on students and families. It must have been hard. Like it is today. The impact of school closure on our students is profound. The graduating seniors will be challenged for a long time to reconcile their loss of honored traditions. I tear up every time I talk to them or about them. Our teachers, too, are so challenged by the loss of class time with their students – class time, hallway time, assembly time, prayer time, walking to and from the parking lot time. All of those moments of intersection that reward teachers, counselors, coaches where they know and see, really see, the young people who are their students. They miss them deeply. But this is not the end of a sad tale. Notre Dame will meet this challenge. Teachers, counselors and program directors are finding new ways to connect with our students. Relying on educational research, scrappy bootstrapping, and creative grit, they are finding new ways to challenge and connect, and all of us are making the ND mission and tradition a priority. Working together, we will keep Notre Dame strong. In 1918, Notre Dame San Jose met the challenges they faced. Students bobbed their hair and moved forward into the roaring twenties. Our students of 2020 will do the same; they will move forward. They remain positive, resilient and continue to prepare themselves for life in this complex world. Listen to our student leaders in this issue; read about them on our website. You will be proud and comforted to know that they are preparing to lead us in this decade. Notre Dame Strong – that feels good. Thinking of you all. Stay safe. In Notre Dame, Mary Beth Riley, Principal
Caring for Our Community
Over the last several weeks our website has featured posts authored by members of Notre Dame's Administrative Team sharing area expertise as we navigate the new landscape of education shaped by the shelter-in-place restrictions. We invite you to click on the titles below to learn more.
Maintaining Community in a Time of Social Distancing
Life-Long Learning in a Education for Justice & Leadership Spiritual Wellness: A Call Time of Challenge to Leadership in an Uncertain World
The Importance of Health & Wellness
P artnering
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R easerc HERS
At Notre Dame, students step into leadership roles every day. Through opportunities in student government and both curricular and co-curricular programs, they hone important leadership skills including communication, motivation and creativity. This year student athletes stepped into a new leadership role through a partnership with the American Cancer Society's ResearcHERS program.
Winter sports athletes kick-off assembly in February
Selling snacks to raise funds for research
"Women make invaluable contributions to cancer research, yet they’re consistently underrepresented in research leadership," shared an American Cancer Society representative. "The ResearcHERS campaign wants to change that. Together, we can sustain women-led cancer research, bolster the careers of women researchers, and support a more robust pipeline of female leaders in cancer research." Through various activities, each of Notre Dame's ten sports teams will raise awareness and funds for a specific cancer. "I am proud of our athletes for stepping up to take on a new leadership opportunity," said Principal Mary Beth Riley. "This is an issue that really requires a team approach - a team of athletics, fundraisers, medical researchers and people who care about the health and well-being of women." Introduced in February, the ResearcHERS campaign was kickedoff by basketball and soccer athletes. Basketball athletes led the efforts to raise awareness about leukemia while soccer led the fight against cervical cancer. Through lunchtime activities including a basketball 'shoot-out' and a soccer penalty kick competition, as well as the sales of healthy snacks, students engaged their ND sisters as well as faculty and staff in educational opportunities while raising funds for research. Notre Dame's Biotechnology students also got involved with the project, conducting research on the characteristics (hallmarks) of cancer. Working in groups, they studied a characteristic, created a poster depicting their findings and built a presentation to share with their classmates. The project was developed and implemented by biotechnology teaching assistant, Shreya Garg '20, who worked with science instructor Dr. Chris Kolterman.
Biotechnology students study cancer markers
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the importance of research to the forefront. Notre Dame alumnae work in various research facilities and capacities across the globe including Julia Gupta '14 and Leah Boyer '01 who currently conduct research at UCSD. Working with ResearcHERS allows students to contribute to the future success of women in the field.
Education in a Time of Global Crisis By Eran DeSilva, Director of Faculty Professional Development & Teacher What does it mean to be an educator in the midst of a global health crisis? We were able to pivot to remote learning with limited disruption because our faculty was equipped with the technology tools and skills and had already been using them in the classroom. Flipped lessons, virtual classroom sessions, discussion boards and online conversations with guest speakers were already common. But there is more to it than just being able to use technology. Our young people have the opportunity and challenge of stepping into adulthood at this inflection point in history. How will we equip them to be the engaged community members and thought leaders that our world desperately needs?
Author Carl Wilkens
In a recent article, The Pandemic is a Portal, activist Arundathi Roy wrote: Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it. Notre Dame is taking on the challenges we are currently facing in our work with students. We are caring for them as individuals and taking a holistic approach to their education. We are collectively helping them to become global citizens.
Malyna Trujillo '23's masterpiece challenge
Humanities classes are engaging students in meaningful conversation on topics like human rights, global conflict, public policy, and civic action with noteworthy individuals including the author of I'm Not Leaving, Carl Wilkens, Holocaust survivor Leon, and author of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini. Our seniors are exploring how our federal government makes policy, engages in political discourse, and how young adults can become active community members. Many religious studies courses are exploring local issues around wages, unemployment and rent assistance in the hopes of identifying ways to stand in solidarity with those hit hardest by this crisis.
Our STEM department has a unique opportunity to explore the real-life application of science and math content to the current global crisis. AP Environmental Science just finished a study of human health and disease, both infectious and non-infectious. COVID-19 was one example. They looked at how vaccines work, herd immunity and how infectious diseases are transmitted. VAPA teachers adapted to the new environment with creative ways to engage students in the arts. We recognize the arts have a role to feed the soul of students and keep them connected to the beauty in our world during this uncertain time. In the visual arts, students were given the museum challenge. Students recreated beautiful pieces of fine art with found objects, family members, and settings in their own homes. Notre Dame recognizes that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to support, guide, and educate young women to “step through the portal.� We are committed to creating a generation that tears down walls and builds bridges and understanding so that a sense of collective responsibility and solidarity spreads across our globe - a generation that sees this challenge as an opportunity for innovation and imagination for a world that is more just and equitable. You can read more and view videos by clicking on the links in this article.
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Students & Alumnae Respond Notre Dame alumnae are scattered across the globe, working in myriad industries and volunteer capacities. In this COVID-19 crisis, many are serving on the front lines as first responders and as nurses, doctors and researchers. Current students, although sheltered in place, are also doing some amazing work to help the community get through this crisis. We are highlighting just a few here. Alondra Valencia '22 (top left) originally sewed masks to help keep her parents and siblings safe but was soon enlisting her sister Nathalie '20 (top right) to help. They found themselves making masks for extended family, for their brother's co-workers at the airport and for customers of their father's custom car accessories business in San Jose. "We want to make sure our community is safe," shared Nathalie, "but it is also about respecting that the priority for getting N95 masks should be medical staff." Tri-ân Phấm '22 (second from top) has been sewing masks and recently taught her little brother as well. Elena Burger '17 and her sister Melissa '23 (third from top) are making masks for the homeless shelter residents of Home First Services in Santa Clara County, pantry volunteers at Santa Maria Urban Ministry, and parish members at St. Stephen’s in-the-Field Episcopal Church. Alumna Christine Leman '99 Kacirek (bottom) has been making masks for weeks and has now expanded to provide them for farm workers. And alumna Samantha Lee '19, founder of Stitched Together, is distributing kits for volunteers to create masks for themselves or for donation. Claire Wilms '07, who serves as a hospice social worker in Boston, has been helping patients and their families navigate their final days by making teddy bears out of the patient's clothes. She hopes to give them something of their loved one to hug when they haven't been able to say goodbye in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Anika Kumar '17, founded Forget Me Not as a way to help reduce instances of isolation, loneliness and depression among older adults through weekly phone calls with students. In this time of shelterat-home, the phone calls, which continue, have been even more important in helping seniors cope with isolation.
Alumnae on the Front Lines Pictured on opposite page beginning at top left photo and moving across. View more on our website. Madison Altendorf '07 Deghi (nurse), Claudette Arguello '92 (nurse), Patty Avila (nurse), Diane Brasil '99 Fagundes (Fremont Police Department), Karyn Crawford '09 (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department), Kathryn Abel '06 Creatinine (physician), Marianne Crowder '93 Dawkins (engineer), Janice Tembrina '08 Devera (nurse), Anna Donovan '06 (nurse practitioner), Alyson Estioko '06 (hospice social worker), Alaina Estioko '07 (nurse), Alexis Estioko '12 (nurse), Diana Estrada '92 (empowerment speaker), Jackie Farrales '07 (nurse), Kriselle Farrales '08 (nurse), Clara Frisher '06 (humanitarian), Kristin Fizer '11 (nurse), Mary Keirns '74 (case manager), Teresa Leman '01 Daly (nurse), Christine Lin '06 (pharmacy manager), Angela Lumba-Brown '97 (physician), Karisma Mancias '08 (dentist), Genna Ng '09 (veterinarian), Kelly Fisher '99 Noble (dispatcher), Parampreet Sundhu '07 (nurse), Marie Plonka '98 (officer and EMT), Anne Reyes '07 (nurse manager), Corrinna Rodriquez '11 (nurse), Megan Ryall '96 (physician), Elyssa Timbol '07 (respiratory therapist), Abby Zamora '04 (surgeon), Molly Zamora '11 (nurse)
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T he C enter
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The Center for Women’s Leadership will provide expanded opportunities for young women, preparing them for engagement and leadership roles in careers and fields where they have been under-represented. Six months into the construction, it has already provided experiential learning opportunities in new fields. In early spring, groups of journalism and engineering students were able to tour the building site and learn, first-hand, about what goes into the design, and the construction, of a commercial building. Introduction to Engineering students toured the site and met with members of Devcon's engineering and construction departments who spoke about the importance of engineering for structural integrity in case of an earthquake and the importance of drainage. They also explained concepts of green construction. "We learned about the process of seismic isolation," said Jessica Portera '20. "It ensures that the building is able to absorb the seismic energy of an earthquake." "One takeaway I had was that engineering can be used in many ways and definitely shapes and forms our everyday life," shared Brynn McGee '22. Ria Jain '20, toured the site with her fellow journalism students. "Rick Pollock, superintendent of the construction project, told us that every day brings new challenges that can include material problems, building code problems, inspection problems and more. He explained that the most significant challenges include working with the city to make sure everything is in order, working with the logistics of the site being located on a corner, and coordinating everything to make sure inspections line up with the work that needs to be completed that day. He also shared that inspections are one of the most important parts of a construction project. They currently happen four to five a week but can go up to three or four a day in the last two weeks of the project. Everything the workers engage in, whether it is framing, putting in screws, or installing drywall, has to be checked by city inspectors, special inspectors, offsite PG&E inspectors, and so forth. These are things we just never considered when watching the building go up." As Notre Dame begins to work on a comprehensive plan for returning to campus for instruction in the fall, the completion of the Center for Women's Leadership takes on new significance. The additional physical space provided by the building will allow for additional flexibility in adhering to state and county regulations that may be required as the new school year begins.
Your Support is Critical in this Time of Crisis Although no one can accurately predict the long-term effects on the economy, there is wide-spread agreement that the COVID-19 crisis will pose financial hardship for many in our community. Those expected to be hardest hit are also those families who are more likely to rely on tuition assistance. Currently approximately 24% of our students receive some level of financial aid. We are already seeing that number grow as we re-enroll students for the 2020-2021 school year. After careful consideration, we decided to postpone our auction event to 2021. This is a decision we did not make lightly as we rely on the income from this event to support financial aid for families who struggle to afford tuition. If you find yourself in a position to help, please consider donating to our tuition assistance fund or joining one of our giving circles to support full tuition through a four year pledge to ThirtyOne Women, ImpactND or Sister Circles. Through these giving circles, resources of many are pooled together to make a bigger impact. All gifts to tuition assistance are 100% taxdeductible and every dollar you give will directly support students. If you typically attend the auction, please consider donating what you would normally spend to support a student instead. Every gift will help. To ensure the diversity that creates the environment for education and leadership development from a broader perspective for which we are nationally recognized, we need your help. “Notre Dame is a place where young women thrive and have unique opportunities for leadership both inside and outside the classroom,” shared Cindy Pond, ND alumna and former board member. “We support Notre Dame to expand access and opportunity for talented young women regardless of their financial circumstances. In this time of crisis, that is more important than ever.” Please contact our development department or donate online now at www.ndsj.org/supportND. In advance, thank you.
Honor an Important Woman in Your Life The quiet phase of a capital campaign to construct the Center for Women's Leadership on Notre Dame's Campus successfully secured the funds needed to complete construction of the building. It has been exciting to watch the building take shape over the past few months. However, during Santa Clara County's shelter-in-place order, construction has been on hold but will be resuming Monday The good news is that there is still time for you to include your name or the name of another inspiring woman on the Women of Impact Plaza. Reaffirming Notre Dame’s commitment to developing and recognizing women of impact, we invite you to honor your daughter, mother, grandmother, mentor or any woman who has influenced you by purchasing an engraved brick in her name. Your contribution will pave the way for future generations of women leaders and leave a lasting legacy alongside the Center for Women’s Leadership. An 8" x 8" brick can be engraved with up to six lines of 23 characters each and costs $2,500. A 4" x 8" can include up to three lines of 23 characters each and is available for $1,000. You can order online or download the forms to send in by visiting our website at www.ndsj.org/bricks. SPRING 2020
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Building Sisterhood Virtually in a New Reality This global crisis has turned a challenge into an opportunity for alumnae relations. Using technology and Zoom, we have been able to offer virtual gatherings for alumnae all around the world. From planning a 30-year reunion, to organizing a 60-year reunion, to just doing an online happy hour, our Notre Dame alumnae have proven that regardless of location, their bond is strong and Notre Dame is their link to a life-long network. Recently 45 alumnae joined us for a happy hour. They represented classes from the 1950’s to 2019, from San Jose and the Bay Area, to Fresno, Boston, Virginia, Oregon, and even Mexico and the U.K. Principal Mary Beth Riley joined us and was elated with emotion when many alumnae expressed how she inspired and motivated them and how they credit ND for changing their lives. While changes are taking place, we are adapting and exploring new opportunities to engage our alumnae. We look forward to expanding our regional meet ups in a virtual way and using this new reality to build the network locally and beyond. In true Notre Dame spirit, the network creates a legacy built on a foundation that is resilient and gets stronger, even during a pandemic. To contact alumnae relations, please email alumnae@ndsj.org.
Nominations Now Open! Do you know an alumna doing good work in her community and/or career? We are compiling a list of Notre Dame alumnae in various industries to honor and highlight as part of our Women of Impact activities. These are women of all ages building successful careers and/or working to make a real difference — serving the underserved, protecting the environment, or improving quality of life for those around them. Please take the time to nominate a Notre Dame alumna for this special honor. Nominations are now open online HERE and due June 22.
Circles of Support - The Power of Pooled Resources The idea of pooling, or grouping together, resources for the purpose of maximizing advantage is a common concept in finance and computing. In the world of IT (information technology), users benefit from reduced individual cost because resources can be shared. At Notre Dame, the power of pooled resources is currently funding the cost of full tuition for eleven students through three programs: ThirtyOne Women, Sister Circles and IMPACT Notre Dame. Three of these students will be graduating from Notre Dame this year, even as our first ThirtyOne Women recipient, Michelle Ramirez '16, graduates from Scripps College with a dual degree in Chicanx/Latinx studies and psychology. If you would like to join us virtually as we celebrate our ThirtyOne Women graduates, please contact Shannon Chastaine at schastaine@ndsj.org.
ThirtyOne Women
Thirty women committed to giving $60 each month for four years to provide a Notre Dame Catholic education for one young woman from Our Lady of Grace Nativity School.
Sister Circles
Alumnae interested in forming a circle to support a young woman with tuition assistance are encouraged to join together. This opportunity can be customized for each group. Contact Monica Gomez '90 at mgomez@ndsj.org or 408-294-1113 extension 2153.
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CLASS NOTES Inspired by a visit to the Julia Morgandesigned Berkeley City Club in 1986,
Barbara Ramos '62 Westover (1)
decided to pivot from her nursing career and pursue her passion for architecture. She earned a Masters of Architecture from UC Berkeley, her architect's license in 2000, and has a long list of notable buildings to her credit. Barbara is leading the campaign to raise $10 million for the restoration of the Berkeley City Club which will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. Barbara regards Julia Morgan as a quintessential STEaM mentor who studied architecture in Paris after earning her degree in Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1901, and became California's first female architect.
Lynn O’Brien '73 Patterson welcomed her first grandchild, Bodhi Mateo Patterson, in July.
Angela LumbaBrown, M.D. '97 (2) was promoted
to clinical associate professor at Stanford University. She also serves as co-director of the Stanford Brain Performance Center and director of research for Stanford's Brain Trauma EvidenceBased Consortium.
Britney Maracchini '98 Negron (3) married Mauriel Negron in August, 2018.
Cara Cavigliano '00 Borromei (4) welcomed her
second child, Flinn Stephen Borromei, in December. His first name comes from the Wheel of Time book series as does his big sister's, Arinelle.
Emily Dilling '00 (5) released
“My Paris Market Cookbook” which features the amazing people who make up the Paris culinary scene and personal recipes.
Kelly Gerula '02 Starr (6)
and husband Chad welcomed a baby girl, Everly Carroll Starr, on November 21, 2018.
Laura Seaman '03 (7) started a new position in January as chief executive officer for the League of California Community Foundations.
Ali Bueno '06 (8)
welcomed a baby boy, Isaac Alexander Bueno Ochoa on July 1.
Annamarie Kepple '07 Stoddard (9)
married Scott Stoddard last summer and started a new job as integration lead at Sitetracker, a local startup that specializes in project management for critical infrastructure.
Karina Khan '07
moved to Virginia last summer to pursue her MBA at Darden and will graduate with the Class of 2021.
Carmen Barba '10 (10) married
Hector Sanchez in July in Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico.
Caitlin Sims '11 (11) currently lives
in San Francisco with fiance Robert Dean and serves as a product marketing manager for Google.
Sophia Barba '12
is attending Tulane Law School in New Orleans. Last summer, she worked with migrant children at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies in San Francisco.
Emily Gremett '17 (14) received funding from Delta Gamma Fraternity and Foundation to attend a selective leadership program at Ohio Wesleyan University. She represented her Delta Epsilon chapter (University of the Pacific).
Clara Matlack '19 (15) spent three
Rebecca Lynch '12 became engaged to her partner of five years, Kyle, at the Museo Nationale di Roma in Italy. They will tie the knot in August.
months in Europe where she worked on farms in England and Germany and as a nanny in Spain. She is currently in Washington DC interning with the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian. She will start at Colorado College in August 2020.
Sonia Gupta '14 (12) graduated with
Varsha Nekkanti '19 (16) was
a degree in computer science from UC Davis and is now working as a software engineer at Workday, Inc.
awarded a Claes Nobel Women of Tomorrow Leadership Award by the National Society of High School Scholars.
Vayl Sorenson '15 (13) completed a
(17, 18) One day
summer internship at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia studying radio astronomy and developing possible undergraduate research projects using one of the local telescopes.
in December, two games, and several alumnae testing their athletic skills against our ND basketball and soccer students.
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CLASS NOTES continued
The Class of 1969 (19) celebrated 50 years of Notre Dame sisterhood last fall. They kicked off their weekend with a trip down memory lane and campus tour with Principal Mary Beth Riley. They also had lunch at the San Jose Country Club with Sr. Virginia Unger. The Class of 1974 (20) Pirates held their annual event and celebrated 45 years of friendship. They gathered at alumna Patty Hayes ‘74 Stuart’s home in Willow Glen with food, drinks, and a lot of memories. Celebrating their 30-year reunion last fall, the Class of 1989 Penguins (21) reconnected and reminisced. The Class of 99 Party Bombs (22) held their 20-year reunion in style at Maggiano’s with dinner. The Class of 2014 Phoenixes (23), celebrated their five-year reunion in December. They opened their time capsule and read letters they had written to themselves as seniors.
(24) Alumnae from the 50's to the 90's attended
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the annual Sacramento Regional Luncheon in October.
(25) In January, we celebrated 170 years of
tradition with a Notre Dame family mass followed by a legacy lunch honoring families who have multiple generations of ND alumnae. Kathy O’Shea ‘65 Muller, former ND Board Chair and grandmother of two ND students and sister to alumnae gave an inspirational talk about her personal legacy and continued involvement with Notre Dame.
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