Sacred Heart Magazine, Winter 2017

Winter 2017

Winter 2017

Feature NO CRISIS OF FAITH

p. 26

In an era where Catholic identity in schools is blurred and Catholic school enrollment continues in national decline, SHS bucks the trend, thanks to the RSCJ legacy, a clear mission, and a strong curriulum.

Departments • From the Director of Schools

p. 2

• Around Atherton

p. 4

• Arts-in-Action

p. 10

• Gator Sports

p. 18

• Alumni News

p. 30

On the cover: Under the direction of Lower & Middle Schools art teacher Ciara Bedingfield, thirdgrade artists created a mural of St. Francis, featuring depictions of animals found at the SHS Farm.

View the complete mural on p. 26.

Pictured left: Joining an all-school effort last fall, preschooler Preston Cornelius and his Room 3 classmates helped Dr. Stewart Slafter harvest fruit to make SHS Olive Oil, which was bottled

by SHS alumni on National Philanthropy Day and sold at the annual Holiday Boutique.

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Sacred Heart Magazine Winter 2017

Dear Sacred Heart Community,

Designer & Co-Editor Diana A. Chamorro (SHP ’04)

One of the most interesting questions I field as Director of Schools, has to be, “Is our school Catholic enough?”

Managing Editor Dana A.S. Rakoczy Contributing Writers James Everitt Shannon Melinauskas Christine O’Neal (SJS ’93, SHP ’97) Contributing Photographers Jeff Cable/USA Water Polo Cathy DeCock FIVB Peggy O’Leary SHS Parents Abel Sanchez/Golden Images USAV/Bill Kauffman Printing Dual Graphics

Catholic enough.

What exactly might that mean, and where (and what) is an appropriate benchmark for “Catholic enough”? Well, for some, it may have to do with the number of Masses we conduct during the school year (it’s about 10). For others, it could be connected to the number of religious classes we offer (several), how much we emphasize social justice and service (it’s ingrained in both our curriculur and experiential education), or Catholic imagery we exhibit around the campus and in the classrooms (which is significant).

For the traditionalists, it might be linked to the number of RSCJ still active on our campus (for the record, it’s two in the classroom, three on the Board of Trustees, and 52 retired, residing at Oakwood).

And to still others, that threshold of “Catholic enough” might correspond with our ongoing percentage of “self-identified” enrolled Catholic families, faculty, and staff (about 65% overall).

Digital Copy shschools.org/publications

But these are all just outward signs and symbols, and perhaps a misleading measure of our Catholicity as a school and faith community.

We encourage all comments, suggestions and questions; email SHMagazine@shschools.org.

Please note, submissions may appear in a future issue and may be shortened for length or clarity.

As a School of the Sacred Heart, we have the good fortune to be richly steeped in Catholic tradition and heritage, founded by a woman of immeasurable faith, with the courage and strength to act upon that faith.

In her Order and for her schools, her message and mandate was simple: to teach and nurture students in the love of God and the attitudes of the Heart of Christ. At its core, this means delivering an education and providing an environment that reflects Christ’s divine teachings of love, respect, forgiveness, compassion, and generosity. This was the vision of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat as she established her schools more than two centuries ago, and still today it remains our solemn obligation and underpins our every decision—from curricular to operational, financial to communal—under the guidance of our Goals and Criteria and counsel of her enduring Order.

2016-17 Board of Trustees Maryan Ackley, Chair Peter Bell Sandra Bergeron Devon Briger David Burke Ed Cluss David Crawford Barbara Dawson, RSCJ Richard A. Dioli Elizabeth Dunlevie Mary-Louise Flick, RSCJ Diane Flynn Cathy Friedman Duane Catherine Harvey Mary Henry Kristina Homer Armstrong Beth Kawasaki John Kerrigan Gary Kirkham Eric Lamb Casey Lynch Sandy McNamara Amity Millhiser Mike Mohrman Clare Pratt, RSCJ (SH Stone Ridge ’57, Manhatanville College ’61, Newton College ’67) Shami Ravi (SJS ’87) Mindy Rogers Paul Rydberg Paul Sallaberry Jeff Wachtel Trustee Emeritus John N. Hunter

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And believe me, standards such as these are not always easy, convenient, or popular to sustain. But it is what we as a Sacred Heart community have committed to do, and what we as a Sacred Heart school are required to do. Frankly, it’s non-negotiable, and is part of the very reason so many choose to apply here, enroll here, work here, remain here.

So, as someone who has been committed to the educational and spiritual mission of Sacred Heart and the RSCJ for nearly 30 years now, I will emphatically and confidently respond to this curious query about whether we are “Catholic enough.” Yes, our Sacred Heart school is Catholic enough, because regardless of era, context, or faith evolution, we fight to ensure Christ and charism truly remain at the heart of all we aspire to do, teach, and practice, every single day.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Dioli Director of Schools

TRADITIONAL FUN: Celebrating the Feast of St. Philippine Rose Duchesne, Prep students take part in a Sacred Heart tradition—Goûter—with special treats to commemorate the day.

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AROUND ATHERTON

Preschool & Kindergarten Welcomes New Director Nasreen Ikram Hussain named Director of Early Childhood Education Appointed in late summer, Nasreen Ikram Hussain is Sacred Heart’s new director of early childhood education, heading the Preschool & Kindergarten (PSK) program in collaboration with P-8 Principal Francesca Brake. Hussain began her tenure September 1.

With a rich and diverse educational background, Hussain brings more than 20 years of experience as an educator in toprated independent and private schools in the U.S. and in Pakistan. Her prior classroom and administrative roles encompass both early childhood and elementary grades, with a particular emphasis on leadership in preschool and kindergarten programs. A founding head teacher for the International School, Karachi (P-12) and for The School at Columbia University (K-8), she also served as an instructor, fieldwork supervisor, and literacy (L to R): Director of Schools Richard A. Dioli, Board Chair Maryan Ackley, Director of coach for graduate students at Columbia’s Early Childhood Education Nasreen Ikram Hussain, and P-8 Principal Francesca Brake.

Teachers College, and is currently a volunteer In early September, PSK parents welcomed in the new school year at a reception with Hussain on Conway Court. curriculum consultant for Developments in Literacy USA, a nonprofit engaged in “More than excellent credentials, however, Nasreen is a person improving education in Pakistan’s underdeveloped regions. of great strength, warmth, and integrity, universally praised for her nurturing approach and genuine care for the children and Fluent in both Spanish and Urdu, Hussain holds a master’s families she serves, as well as for being a wonderful and thoughtful in curriculum and instruction with a minor in multicultural, colleague,” said SHS Director of Schools Richard A. Dioli. “We multilingual education from George Mason University; a reading are having an outstanding year at the PSK under her leadership specialist master’s from Teachers College at Columbia University; with Principal Brake, as they continue to advance St. Madeleine and an advanced diploma in nursery foundation teaching and Sophie’s vision to our youngest population on campus.” international Montessori, earned with distinction, from London’s Montessori Centre International.

Heart-to-Heart Helping lay the educational and emotional foundation for the youngest members of our school community are three educators who are, themselves, children of the Saced Heart.

These alumnae are Melissa Greenleaf (SJS ’02, SHP ’06), Room 2 teacher; Lauren Jollymour (SHP ’06), Room 3 intern and Afterschool Care staff; and Anna (Moorman) Reitman (SHP ’03), Room 3 teacher. Collectively, the three have worked at SHS for nearly 20 years.

Pictured right (l to r): Jollymour, Reitman, and Greenleaf.

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A Health(ier) Attitude

Sara Gandy, MD appointed Director of Health & Wellness

Achieving New Heights

Elaine Barry, Ed.D

Dr. Sara Gandy has joined the Sacred Heart community this fall as the inaugural Director of Health & Wellness. Dr. Gandy’s role is central to the strategic health and wellness initiative guided by Vision 2025 and the Living Agenda.

In partnership with the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Dr. Sara Gandy has joined SHS as its first director of campus health and wellness—a hire that signals an important step forward in the institution’s multi-year commitment to improve the overall wellness of its school community.

In this newly created role, Dr. Gandy is guiding the development of a long-term strategic health and wellness plan for students across all divisions, evaluating school culture, and helping implement best practices in child and adolescent mental healthcare. Additionally, she is creating a comprehensive parent education program that is aligned with the school’s mission, is responsive to timely trends, and relays the most current research in child and adolescent development.

Practicing for more than 20 years, Dr. Gandy has extensive experience with adolescent psychiatry, collaborating with local schools, counselors, pediatricians, and a wide referral network of specialists.

Currently affiliated with Stanford Hospital

and Stanford University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Gandy has been an attending psychiatrist with top-rated medical centers in the Bay Area, teacher and mentor to psychiatric medical residents, and past acting clinical director for Stanford’s geriatric psychiatry clinic, providing consultation as well as treatment in complex cases, family intervention, and coordination of care.

The creation of this new position and Dr. Gandy’s subsequent appointment are a central part of Sacred Heart’s strategic health and wellness initiative, connected to its Living Agenda and Vision 2025. To date, other related efforts have encompassed key changes to the high school’s academic schedule and daily practices, including implementation of a “late-start” Wednesday schedule; expansion of parent education programs focused on health and wellness; a close review of school policy and education related to healthy teen sexuality; and the recent launch of a Healthy Living program for employees, geared to help in achieving work-life balance.

A member of the Sacred Heart community for nearly 30 years Elaine (Berra) Barry (SHP ’87) received her doctorate in May 2016 from the University of San Francisco’s School of Education.

Barry’s Ed.D is in learning and instruction, with a concentration in Special Education. Her areas of expertise include executive function, cognitive psychology, graphic organizers, and learning differences in reading comprehension. A former language teacher with the high school, Barry currently serves as the director for Sacred Heart’s Sophie’s Scholars Program, as well as its Barat College Access Fund.

Sally Vance-Trembath Sacred Heart’s resident Catholic theologian, Sally Vance-Trembath, chalked up more entries in national media this fall. Along with her op-ed “Michelle and Hillary: A tale of two Christians,” published by global aggregate Religion News Service, Vance-Trembath authored five commentaries published on the Huffington Post—including a featured article on the connection between elections and faith.

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“Breaking the Binary”

SHP’s social justice topic issues challenge designed and coordinated a number of campus forums and activities to spark open dialogue around the idea of gender spectrum versus the traditional gender binary. Throughout the year, the topic is being integrated into campus life both formally and informally, as students and faculty learn more about gender social construct, recognize subtle biases, and consider their own position and perspective.

Incorporating the theme into classroom curricula where appropriate, the intent is to offer an added dimension to subject matter exploration—for example policy impact, religious views, historic gender expression and roles, etc.—and ultimately, to encourage thoughtful introspection.

Posing thought-provoking questions, SHP students launch the Justice Teach-In theme, “Breaking the Binary,” at an assembly.

Following the success of last year’s exploration of race and the criminal justice system, the high school’s social justice teachin program has now set its sights on issues related to gender construct.

Under the guidance of religious studies and Creative Inquiry teacher Katie Hennessey, along with six faculty/staff advisors, the team of approximately 15 SHP students leading the effort have

United We Stand

Unveiling the theme at an October assembly, the student team gave an impactful presentation that combined mixed media and performance art—creatively making the issue accessible while delivering foundational concepts and posing leading questions. In closing, the students shared personal stories of how each has experienced, 2016-2017 Social embraced, or felt limited by stereotypical constructs and expected behaviors connected to the gender binary, and issued a challenge to the community.

As one student put it, “Gender—how you see yourself and are most comfortable—is inherently the journey to self-identity. This year, we hope this topic helps you think about your own experience with the gender binary, and that it raises even more questions for you about its impact on the individual and on the entire human experience.”

Students, RSCJ partner for peace demonstration Following the historic, and at times contentious, presidential election season, a small group of SHP students joined with RSCJ in support of national healing, taking part in a peace march and demonstration in early November.

Beginning with a prayer for the country’s leadership, the group headed for the campus gates at Valparaiso Avenue, holding signs promoting “peace,” “love,” and “unity.” The effort reflected a clear commitment to Goal III (awareness that impels to action) and underscored the RSCJ tradition of peaceful demonstration and support for the marginalized.

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New Epicenter

Lower & Middle Schools Launch “Creativity Hub” Expanding opportunities for hands-on learning at Sacred Heart, the LMS Creativity Hub—billed as the campus “epicenter” for creative exploration— is already ratcheting up student excitement and interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).

Launched in December and located in a reconfigured and expanded suite on the north side of Stevens Library, the Hub is partner to the high school’s successful Creative Inquiry Lab, and a place where popular LMS programs and club projects in robotics, coding, tech, and creative engineering are finding a proper home.

Designed with maximum flexibility in mind to accommodate a variety of project types and class or team sizes, the space is divided into two main rooms: a more traditional “shop” and space for digital fabrication, as well as a room for tobotics and computer science. Both areas are equipped with a number of machine tools, computers and software, and other resources supporting both the design and crafting process. Collaborative, interdisciplinary Hub projects are being developed and directed by faculty in alignment with the curriculum, but the facility will also host open hours for students who want to independently develop skills and experiment with fabrication under adult supervision.

“Working together on inventive and collaborative projects, students will be highly engaged in solving real-world problems,” says Sarah Coogan, Director of P-8 Strategic Initiatives. “And, by actively teaching innovative problem-solving skills, we will help students develop qualities that stem from a Sacred Heart education, are grounded in the Goals and Criteria, and are critical to success in the greater world.

“Our location on the Peninsula affords us an incredible array of resources and we witness first-hand, powerful examples of innovation every day. We look forward to partnering with parents, community members, and relevant organizations to develop and enhance our STEAM program and bring a real-world focus to work in the Hub.”

On January 18, the Creativity Hub welcomed more than 50 parents from preschool to grade 8 for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially unveiling the space to the SHS community.

Pictured left (l to r): LMS Director of Learning Services Kyle Kalmbach, Director of P-8 Strategic Initiatives Sarah Coogan, P-8 Principal Francesca Brake, and Director of Schools Richard Dioli.

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Primary Engineers

Grade 1 STEAMs ahead with functional project Diving into the fall’s STEAM curriculum, students in Mayrin Bunyagidj’s first grade Exploration Class confronted—and conquered—a very current global need: sustainable cooking devices.

Currently, more than a half million solar ovens are in use around the world, predominantly by those in rural and poor areas of Asia and Africa, as well as in refugee camps. Needing no electricity to work and able to be made from simple, raw materials, the ovens apply solar energy for use in food preparation and water pasteurization, enabling critical health standards to be met and helping limit the spread and start of disease.

The class project began with the reading of a thematic storybook, class discussion, and a rudimentary exercise in engineering—during which students learned that every household object is the product of both technology and creative design. Following, the young scientists took up their task, and proceeded to map out their ideas, refine their designs, and collaboratively begin construction in small teams.

A Communal Thank You

And like all good experiments, the best part came in the testing— in this case, using their creations to melt marshmallows and make s’mores.

Annual Fund a success thanks to generous support Thank you to the many families and friends who have helped make our 2016-2017 Annual Fund campaign a resounding success! Year after year, the continued generosity of our Sacred Heart family enables us to meet and surpass our goal, and to deliver an exceptional educational program to each one of our Gators. Every gift makes a difference!

A special note of gratitude to this year’s Annual Fund Chairs Seksom Suriyapa, Sheila McWilliams and Gaurang Desai, and the more than 100 Annual Fund volunteers whose exceptional commitment and diligence are key to the success of the campaign.

Thank you, one and all. Go Gators!

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Trio Honored with St. Madeleine Sophie Award Recipients reflect more than six decades of service to school Joining a small but accomplished cadre, three members of the Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton community were named the newest recipients of the school’s prestigious St. Madeleine Sophie Award.

The trio of 2016 awardees—Ruth Cady, Elizabeth Dunlevie, and Carol Schaffer— represent a combined 60+ years of service to and connection with the school. Dunlevie is a former board chair and current trustee, Schaffer and Cady have been employed with the school for a number of years, and both Dunlevie and Shaffer are parents of alumni.

The awards were presented at a formal ceremony in September for friends and invited guests, held at the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts. Each recipient was introduced by a close colleague.

“Ruth exemplifies Madeleine Sophie’s spirit The 2016 St. Madeleine Sophie Award recipients (l to r): Elizabeth Dunlevie, Ruth Cady, of generosity,” said P-8 Principal Francesca and Carol Schaffer Brake and teacher Jesús Ramos. “She’s our backbone and our 911.” Following these remarks, Cady was given Former faculty member Connie Solari closed the night with insight special congratulations via video from a host of students, faculty, on her longtime friend, neighbor, and colleague Schaffer. “Carol’s and administrators from the Lower & Middle Schools community commitment to building a more just and generous world is threaded she serves. through her very being...but what makes [this commitment] so powerful is that it takes its energy from her spirituality...[As Citing Dunlevie’s many contributions to school leadership, another faculty member puts it,] ‘Carol invigorates my love for campus preservation, and aesthetic growth, former board chair Jeff theology and faith; [I know] Madeleine Sophie must be working Chambers praised her “impeccable taste,” “wonderful vision,” and through her.’” exceptional ability to “get things done”—all of which resulted in this “magnificent campus which would look entirely different if Elizabeth had never set foot on it.”

Fridays with Fiona With a budding journalistic interest, second-grader Fiona Lempres is the author of a new, online, monthly column —“Fridays with Fiona.”

The series features conversations with members of the Sacred Heart community, including a one-on-one with Director of Schools Richard Dioli in November.

To read “Fridays with Fiona,” please visit www.shschools.org/ fridayswithfiona

(Above) Fiona Lempres (LMS ’23) interviewed Director of Schools Dioli about his favorite part of the work day.

(Right) Talking with Kathleen Dolan, RSCJ, Lempres learned they were both born in the same hospital in Washington, DC.

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ARTS-IN-ACTION

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Confetti caps off the closing number of Grease

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ARTS-IN-ACTION

Exhibiting Talent

From preschool to grade 12, artistic expression deepens learning Public art abounds on the Sacred Heart campus, but in addition to the many commissioned and donated works, there are numerous samples of student work on display throughout the year. The pieces aptly illustrate the learned technique and depth of individual creativity of our students, but usually represent an overarching and thematic lesson in context.

In the Preschool & Kindergarten, each room has an area where student work is displayed. Used as a way to encourage expression, imagination exploration, and development of fine motor skills, art projects are more about process than product.

Variety of color, shapes, and instruments form the basis for an art activity, and can be linked to other expressive forms. As students progress through elementary school, art becomes integrated with the curriculum, so that projects connect in some way with core subjects and enhance both interest and learning.

A month-long emphasis on author Eric Carle provided kindergarteners

At the high school, courses in visual arts are offered in differing with the opportunity to experiment in the style of Carle’s familiar-butsimple colorful illustrations. media: studio, photography, ceramic, and digital. The most popular of these remain studio art and photography, with a samples of high school work are mounted throughout the year in number of students enrolling in advanced placement courses and the great hallways of the Main and Homer buildings—some of developing a more professional portfolio of work. In addition to scheduled exhibits in the Main Building and in the Sigall Building, which has since become part of a permanent collection.

Sacred Heart’s dynamic visual and performing arts programs were the centerpiece for “The Art of Education,” a dinner held in fall for members of the 1898 and Tower Circle Societies. The annual event, which honors the school’s most generous and loyal donors, provides an opportunity to celebrate and share some of SHS’ most innovative and creative curricular programs. At this year’s event, demonstration classes in dance, music, ceramics, and others enabled participants to gain “insider’s perspective” on the arts at SHS.

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New Directions

Pfeifer joins SHP to head choral program Vocalists in the high school began the school year with a fresh sound—that of new SHP choral director Kristin Pfeifer.

An accomplished and active artist herself, Pfeifer has more than 20 years experience in music education, teaching both vocal and instrumental students from elementary through high school ages.

In addition to preparing and leading award-winning choral and string-orchestra performances across the country, touring groups under her direction have performed at such iconic venues as the Vatican, Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, and the Grand Ole Opry, to name

just a few. For seven years, she directed the Pacifica Children’s Chorus, a private organization she founded to serve aspiring singers in grades 2-12. Her extensive experience in theatrical musical direction encompasses both school and semi-professional productions. Pfeifer has a master’s in conducting from San Jose State University, and most recently served as visual and performing arts chair and music director for Notre Dame High School in Belmont.

Starting her Sacred Heart tenure, Pfeifer hit the ground running, preparing for the ambitious SHP musical, “Grease,” as well as the numerous, popular choral and a cappella performances held during the fine arts program’s annual “Holiday Treat.”

“I’m just so thrilled to be part of this community, and to work with such talented and enthusiastic students,” she said. “There’s already a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in this program, and I can’t wait to see what the students and I will accomplish together.”

(Below) Connected with Latin American Heritage month, SHP photography students blended visual art with historic and contemporary voices of LatinX authors. Interpreting textual excerpts, the students created haunting composite imagery—such as 10th-grader Henry Mallon’s below—to convey emotion, mood, and meaning.

(Above) The main hallway in LMS Murphy Administration Building houses rotating exhibits of student artworks, for example, seventh-grader Ava Grieb’s colorful flora.

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Holiday Tradition

LMS & Prep fine arts kick-off Christmas season An annual tradition in early December, the LMS and Prep host a two-day Holiday Treat in the Main Building and Campbell Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing myriad talent from Sacred Heart’s artists, musicians, thespains, and dancers.

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3 LMS Holiday Treat (Clockwise): 1. Fifth grade musicians play holiday favorites 2. Lower School choir students harmonize in the Main Building Chapel 3. Middle School strings students perform in the Quilt Parlor 4. “The Gift of Art” installation by third graders in the Main Building hallway 14

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SHP Holiday Treat (Clockwise): 1. Digital arts installation in the Main Building hallway 2. Dancers entertain in the Campbell Center 3. Prep symphonic band showcases breadth of talent 4. Drama students perform a short scene in the Heritage Room 5. Musical duo sings original songs

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Tracking the Pulse

Program taps into growing interest, talent Ramping up the rhythm on the high school campus, the new dance team is taking another step forward in the program’s development with a new organization—and new name.

Under the direction of instructor and dance professional Lauren Benjamin, the team, dubbed “Pulse,” has expanded to 29 total members—nearly an even split over freshmen, sophomore, and junior participants, with four graduating seniors— and is composed of three different levels of responsibility.

The full team continues to perform at school events, the Holiday Treat, and athletic games, including at the popular Valpo Bowl against rival Menlo School.

A new, five-member Officers’ Team, led by student captain Eliza Patterson (SHP ’17), works closely with Benjamin to develop choreography for the full team. According to Benjamin, the chemistry among the five has been tremendous, leading to fresh and inventive routines. “We have a great partnership and flow in producing material and refining it for each performance,” she says.

Also new, the Performance Team consists of 14 dancers, all of whom were required to audition for a spot. “This is our competitive branch of Pulse, and in a first for SHP, they will compete against

other high school dance teams this winter. The goal with this group is to develop a viable, advanced team that can eventually make it to the national level.

“This year, we hope to participate in more school functions, in addition to athletic games. We want to be involved in as much as we can within the school community,” explains Benjamin.

“This is why we chose the name ‘Pulse.’ We want to establish our own unique identity as an active group on campus that goes beyond halftime entertainment. We want to model involvement and contribution to the school—the beat and flow of Sacred Heart.

“And above all as a team, we are focused on growing and raising the bar of what we can accomplish through dance.”

In what has become a regular afternoon scene on campus, the full Pulse team warms up in McGanney’s dance room for a two-hour rehearsal. During each highenergy session, the team runs through choreography, refines tempo, and perfects synchronized moves—in this case, for fall performances at the Under the Lights, Valpo Bowl, and Homecoming football game halftime shows.

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Acting Up

Fall season takes off with mystery, music, and meta-theater

Greasers, Pink Ladies, drive-in movie and burger joint hangouts, and that nostalgic senior year at Rydell High roared to life on the Campbell stage, as SHP Theatre presented the beloved musical “Grease.” The cast and crew of 39 featured seniors Ellie Deubner (Sandy), Mike Higgins (Danny), Fatai Hemeli (Rizzo), and Jack Brudos (Kenickie), as well as special cameos by SHP teachers Virginia Boesen and Ben Hunter, and crowd favorite, third-grader Patrick “Chachi” Boesen.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective made another appearance at Sacred Heart, this time to team up with the original “spy-kids”—a gang of street-smart urchins and their leader—to solve crime in the heart of London. The Middle School’s “Sherlock Holmes and the 1st Baker Street Irregular” featured 30 players, including eigth-graders Alekos Kapur (Holmes) and Ian Cardamone (Watson), sixth-graders Anna Sonsini (Wiggins) and Carter Shaw (Hope), and eight student crew members.

SHP’S Advanced Showcase headed in a neo-futurist direction, as the group presented one of Chicago’s longest running performance art shows, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” Constructed as 30, two-minute plays in 60 total minutes, the show sprinted through subject matter and drew largely from the skills and stories of the 10-person troupe.

Composed of junior and senior players, the cast featured Peter Bird (SHP ’17), Gracie Parker (LMS ’14, SHP ’18), and Grant Komin (LMS ’14, SHP ’18), among others.

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GATOR SPORTS

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72 LMS student-athletes ran cross country this fall

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GATOR SPORTS

Fundamentals and Finding Success LMS teams took home nine titles over fall With more than 90 student-athletes in action over fall, the LMS teams captured nine championships in cross country, flag football, and swimming.

(Above) Paced by 72 runners in grades 4-8, the Gators won the 4th/5th co-ed division, 6th grade girls, and 7th/8th grade girls cross country titles.

(Above) The Varsity A flag football team went 14-0, and captured the WBAL and Sacred Heart Tournament championships.

Sixth-graders Julia Soderbury (pictured above) and Luke Bachler, and fifth-grader Adrian Wilson won their respective divisions.

Collectively, all seven flag football teams were nearly perfect and went 49-5-3 this fall.

(Below) Extending its dominance in the water, SHS’ boys’ and girls’ swimming teams both took home the league crown.

(Above) On December 10, the LMS continued one of its time-honored traditions, hosting the 26th annual Michael Murphy 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game in Spieker Pavilion.

In another tough competition, the faculty defeated the students, 66-54.

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Game Changer

SHP’s athletic trainers are doing more to ensure student health Beyond taping ankles, bagging ice for sore knees, or setting up rehab plans, Head Athletic Trainer Holly Brown and Assistant Athletic Trainer Robert Fennell are doing more to support the overall health and wellness of SHP’s more than 420 student-athletes.

“Robert and I work very well together to ensure the safety of our athletes,” said Brown. “We constantly watch for updated research, guidelines, and best practices to ensure that we are providing a high standard of care.”

With their expertise and dedication, the certified athletic trainers have instituted heart screenings and concussion baseline testing, have a physician on-site weekly, and conduct athletic physicals on campus.

“We are one of the only schools in the area that brings in a physician for weekly visits to help evaluate our student-athletes,” explained Brown, whose aim is to bring the highest standard of care available to all students, athlete or not, at the high school level.

Athletic trainers Holly Brown and Robert Fennell are continuously working to improve the safety, health, and wellness of the Prep student-athletes.

Partnering with the Via Heart Project, SHP hosted its first heart screening session in January 2016, testing 532 students with more than 100 volunteers helping the day run smoothly. The screening also included an educational portion, teaching students about hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

“We continue to build the athletic training room with various supplies and tools to model after a collegiate athletic training facility, and we do our best to do as much for our student-athletes here on campus,” concluded Brown.

“The statistics of sudden cardiac death among young athletes can be quite scary and about one percent of [students nationally] tested will be found to have a heart ailment that may need follow-up or more significant treatment,” she said.

As the 2015-2016 school year came to a close, SHP hosted its second screening in June, in conjunction with annual athletic physicals. Brown’s hope is to host annual screenings and have all Prep students tested.

(Above) Prep students learn CPR at the SHP heart screening.

(Left) Athletic trainer Holly Brown tapes a student-athletes’ ankle before practice.

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Champions Circle

Prep squads see success over fall season With 36 student-athletes earning all-league honors and six teams or individuals capturing championships, the Prep boasted another stellar fall season.

The varsity boys’ water polo team captured the WCAL and CCS Division II championships over the fall, extending its consecutive league and CCS win streak to five and six, respectively. Jackson Enright (SHP ’17), pictured above, was named the CCS Boys’ Water Polo Player of the Year and the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Scholar Athlete of the fall season.

Closing out a standout high school career, Natalie Novitsky (SHP ’17) raced her way to becoming Sacred Heart’s first CCS Division IV cross country champion.

After winning all three league meets, Brett Anstrom (LMS ’13, SHP ’17) was declared West Bay Athletic League Boys’ Cross Country MVP. The distance runner and the Gators advanced to the CCS Division IV Championship meet, where he finished eighth and advanced to the California State Division IV championship.

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Behind a decade of dominance, the girls’ varsity water polo team took home their 10th straight CCS Division II title and fifth consecutive WCAL championship. For her work in the water, Maddy Johnston (LMS ’13, SHP ’17) was named the CCS Girls’ Water Polo Player of the Year.

Inducted

Coffey, Quattlebaum, and Smythe join Athletic Hall of Fame Among the highlights of last fall’s Alumni Oktoberfest, three past grads were inducted into the SHP Athletics Hall of Fame: Pat Coffey (SHP ’06), Wendy (Miller) Quattlebaum (SHP ’93), and Hudson Smythe (SHP ’05). The trio were each inducted for individual accomplishments and success while student-athletes at Sacred Heart and in college.

Coffey, a two-sport varsity athlete, was a four-year starter on the basketball team and three-year letterwinner in football.

In basketball, he guided the Gators to a 93-21 overall and 64-0 league record, captured four straight league titles and a CCS Championship, and was selected Division V All-State as a senior. On the field, Coffey was as versitale as they come, playing six different positions, including quarterback and punter during his twoyear starting football career. He also helped SHP capture its first Valpo Bowl in 2005 versus Menlo.

(L to R) Alumni Oktoberfest honorands and Hall of Fame inductees Coffey, Quattlebaum, Spirit

of Mater recipient Leana Giannini (CSH ’75), and Smythe. Read more about Giannini on p. 33.

Coffey went on to be a four-year starter on the University of Redlands basketball team, earning team MVP honors as a junior and senior.

One of the first SHP graduates to play Division I football, Smythe played at Dartmouth College. A four-year running back, he led the Synonomous with the success of the girls’ basketball program, Big Green in rushing touchdowns his sophomore and junior years.

Quattlebaum helped guide the Gators to unparalleled heights Smythe was also a consistent contributor on special teams. during her Prep career. As a junior, the power forward won the CCS title, followed by a history-making senior season in 1992-93.

To nominate an alumna/us for the SHP Athletics Hall of Fame, Quattlebaum and company put together the first undefeated season please visit www.shschools.org/alumawards in school history at 37-0 and won the program’s first state title. She scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, setting a title game record.

Quattlebaum continued to play at Loyola Marymount University, walking on to the women’s basketball team. By her sophomore year she earned a scholarship, and captained the Lions her junior and senior seasons.

A three-time SHP Athlete of the Year, Smythe was a key figure during the early years of football at Sacred Heart. A leader both on-and-off the field, he was a captain, team MVP, league MVP, and all-county selection over his three-year starting career. Smythe also was a standout on the baseball team, as a four-year starter he similarly earned team captain and MVP honors, as well as being named league batting champion and all-league.

Wearing her No. 15 jersey, Quattlebaum (seen at center) has continued her formidable run at Sacred Heart, annually playing in the Michael Murphy 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game.

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Golden Gators

Pair of alumnae help U.S. pick up hardware at Rio Olympic Games

Olympic gold medalist KK Clark (SHP ’08), pictured at center with the SHP girls’ water polo team, visited campus on September 13, sharing both the highs and lows of her water polo journey from SHP to the Rio Olympics, which included finding personal strength, overcoming disappointments, and ultimately developing a deep-seeded love that guided her to the pinnacle of the sport.

There was a strong connection between Sacred Heart and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games, as alumnae KK Clark (SHP ’08) and Denise Sheldon (SJS ’93, SHP ’97) were among the five Sacred Heart Network athletes representing the United States at the international tournament.

KK Clark, Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal It was a golden debut for Sacred Heart’s first Olympian, KK Clark, as she helped the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team tear through the competition and take home its second consecutive gold medal at the Summer Games.

(Above) Clark (standing, third from left) and her teammates show off their gold medals after topping Hungary on August 19.

(Left) In her Olympic debut, Clark served as a key sub off the bench. In her first action of the tournament, she scored a goal in Team USA’s 11-4 victory over Spain on August 9.

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Seated second from far right, Denise Sheldon (SJS ’93, SHP ’97) celebrates Team USA’s bronze medal victory over the Netherlands, 3-1, on August 20 at the Rio Games.

The 6-2 defender visited campus in the fall, speaking to a crowd of admiring Lower Schoolers, reminiscing former teachers, and current and former SHP water polo players.

Beside a very familiar locale—the Dunlevie Aquatic Center pool— Clark was honored by Atherton Mayor Elizabeth Lewis and Vice Mayor Michael Lempres, who issued a Proclamation from the town, and by SHS Director of Schools Dioli, who presented her with a “Golden Gator” medal. Following, Clark shared about her hardfought journey to the national team.

Later in the day, Clark met with the SHP girls’ water polo team, expanding on her time at Sacred Heart and the foundational importance it has had on her career.

Please visit www.shschools.org/kkclark to watch a video interview with Clark.

Denise Sheldon, Women’s Volleyball Bronze Medal Like Clark, Denise Sheldon also made her Olympic debut at the Summer Games, serving as Head of Delegation for the U.S. Women’s Volleyball team. Under the direction of head coach Karch Kiraly, the SHP Athletic Hall of Fame inductee managed all the logistics for Team USA while in Rio. Headed to Rio as the favorite to win the country’s first gold medal, Team USA had a heartbreaking semifinals loss to Serbia, but bounced back to top the Netherlands, 3-1, and capture the bronze.

During a visit to campus on October 7, Sheldon spent time with the current SHP girls’ volleyball team and coaches, offering insight on her path to working for U.S. Volleyball—hurdles she faced both as a student-athlete and professionally—and the resilience Team USA displayed after losing in the semifinals. Paralleling it for the enthralled audience, she explained how in life your plan may get derailed, but its how you respond and ultimately persevere that is key.

A Network Abuzz Beyond Atherton, the entire international Sacred Heart Network was sharing in the spirit and excitement of the Olympics on social media with the hashtag #GoSacredHeartOlympians. Nine alumnae from across the globe represented four countries in eight different sports, amassing a final total of nine medals.

Learn more about all our Network Olympians at www.rscj.org/olympics-2016.

During her visit to campus, Sheldon spoke to the SHP girls’ volleyball team about her journey from playing and coaching volleyball at Sacred Heart to working for U.S. Volleyball.

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Cover photo mural by LMS third graders

No Crisis of Faith:

How Sacred Heart Fares in the National Catholic School Trend

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In an age when the perception of Catholicity—that clear articulation of religious affiliation and spiritual conscience—has become blurred, it becomes even more difficult to plainly define what a Catholic school or Catholic education is, and should be.

It’s no wonder that according to the National Catholic Education Association, Catholic schools around the country have been in slow-but-steady decline, as their mission is devalued in favor of competitive education and career preparation, and financial value is questioned.

Layered on top of that, the delineations between archdiocesan and apostolate schools (those sponsored by religious institutes), their governance and guidelines, are further muddled, as media, critics, and other pop culturalists continue to portray Catholic schools and faith-based education in soundbytes and stereotypes.

On the hunt for some clarity about SHS’ own Catholic identity and what that looks like in its classrooms and programs, Sacred Heart Magazine goes one-on-one with Dr. James Everitt, new director of Mission Initiatives & Institutional Planning, to help navigate this tricky topic and bring it all into focus.

“From the first moment a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illumined by the light of faith and having its own unique characteristics…an environment permeated with the Gospel spirit of love and freedom. ” —The Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome

Order, as well as subject to Rome’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life giving each school a unique spirit and implementation of “Catholicity.” No two Catholic schools are identical.

SHM: So what is the relationship between a school sponsored by a religious congregation and the diocese in which it is located?

JE: All Catholic schools must work to maintain a positive relationship with the diocese and with the local bishop. The primary functions of a Catholic school are shared by all, diocesan or private; to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to provide young people with the opportunity to practice their faith in the service of others, to live in community and to worship God. This will look different in each school, based on the priorities of the sponsoring congregation.

Sacred Heart Magazine (SHM): Just as starting point, what IS the basic difference between the many Catholic schools in our area?

James Everitt (JE): The practicalities of Catholic schools around the globe are mostly universal. In each there will be some degree of prayer and worship, religious instruction as part of core subjects, an emphasis on Christian service and justice activities, on the centrality of relationships within the community, and signs of Catholic imagination (Crucifixes, religious statues and artwork, places of prayer, etc.).

In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are about 111 total Catholic schools, ranging from preschool through high school programs.

About 40% of these are diocesan or parish schools, governed by the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome and locally by the bishops. The remaining 60% are apostolate schools, founded to carry out the work and charism—or guiding principles—of a particular religious Order, be it Dominican, Jesuit, Sisters of Mercy, Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), etc. These schools are under the auspices and governance of the individual

SHM: What’s the relationship between the goals of an apostolate school and those of the diocesan school? Are the expected outcomes relatively the same?

JE: I’d say it varies; there are some commonalities, but many differences based on respective interests or historic emphasis.

For example, many diocesan schools focus on cultivation of strong parish membership, devotion to marriage and family, service to those in

Participating in an all-school contest, students submited photos and reflections on what they see as SHS’ Catholicity.

Kylie Aboukhalil’s (LMS ’19) representation of the SHS community showcased the collective hearts it takes to bring kindness and joy to others.

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“The name of our school [is] Sacred Heart, and every student that attends [our] school is a child of the Sacred Heart.

These reasons make this a very important part of our Catholic identity.

The symbolisym of the Sacred Heart shows that we are to love as Jesus loved, even if means a major sacrifice to help others.

The variety of images I drew [is meant] to show that we are all children of the Sacred Heart, even if we are different.”

—J.J. Boesen (LMS ’20)

need, and fidelity to the Holy Father in Rome. These objectives strengthen the parish community, ensure continuity, and inspire localized growth.

From the beginning, the RSCJ prioritized in its ministries the issue of structured inequality, addressing systems that keep people poor and discriminated against. The Order strives to penetrate those places in the world where people are suffering because of structured inequality and to bring into that situation Christ’s message of hope, justice, and peace.

In founder St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s day, that meant providing young women a classical education when access was restricted due to gender, as well as teaching local village children where access was restricted due to social class. Today, that means ensuring our students grow in their relationship with God; that they develop the skills to recognize and think analytically about the structures that keep people on the margins, disenfranchised, and without a voice; and that they actively work toward solutions through social justice advocacy, service, and leadership.

SHM: So the nature of a Catholic education, the integration or application of Catholic teachings into curricula, differs based on the congregation’s charism?

JE: The fundamental goal of all Catholic education is to provide a community in which the Gospel message is proclaimed, Christ is experienced; service to humanity is the norm; and thanksgiving and worship of God is cultivated.

But what the educational experience encompasses in achieving these goals certainly differs school to school, diocese to diocese, and congregation to congregation. And I think this is where the idea of a school’s “Catholic identity” can really get murky. There isn’t just one way of being a Catholic school or delivering a Catholic education; context matters.

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For example, some schools employ a 100% orthodoxy approach. The rules are stated, the rules are followed, and kids learn by rote—spiritual growth is assumed, rather than explored.

Some diminish their Catholicity, opting to promote values or beliefs through a broader lens of “spirituality.” Often the case with schools suffering from enrollment challenges, the Catholic affiliation can be seen as marketing liability rather than asset, so a more diluted presentation is preferred.

And still others emphasize a more flexible route, presenting the Church’s teachings clearly and faithfully, while remaining open to dialogue, realizing that young people today are on a lifetime journey of faith. Kids do not develop faith the same way today that they did a generation ago even. Understanding the young person’s social, political, and economic contexts are important in helping them receive the Gospel message and make room for it in their lives.

SHM: And this latter aligns with Sacred Heart’s approach?

JE: Without question, every Catholic school teacher has the obligation to present the teachings of the Church with clarity and fidelity.

And in fidelity to the charism of the Society of the Sacred Heart, we also believe our job is to help our students think critically about what the Church teaches so that they can integrate the faith in a meaningful way. We think it is important to help our students understand how the Church gets to a particular teaching, to cultivate critical thinking that enables the student to wrestle with the complexity of societal and moral issues. We accept and acknowledge that students—even many of the Catholic faithful— struggle with some of these teachings, particularly around contemporary social issues.

Therefore, in a way that neither diminishes the Church nor dismisses the students’ questions, we work with students to keep their faith alive while they explore their questions, doubts, and concerns. We encourage those whose tendency might be to say, “well, I don’t agree, so the Church holds nothing meaningful for me,” to see Church membership and growth in faith as a life-long relationship with God—a person—not just a set of ideas. We teach kids how to pray, often using Scripture, so that they can wrestle with the concerns that they hold in their minds and in their hearts.

Our goal as Sacred Heart educators is to successfully model the attitudes of the Heart of Christ—compassion, forgiveness, respect, generosity, and courage—and to emphasize God’s presence in all of our human activities.

SHM: Are these characteristics that you’d consider unique to Sacred Heart, or more broadly to Catholic education?

JE: I think every school in the country whether faith-based or non-sectarian tries to tackle big social issues in some way, to inspire young people to become better citizens and aspire for

a better future. However, as a Catholic school, and as a Sacred Heart school, our starting point for those conversations is different.

Our education begins with the values of the Reign of God or the Kingdom of Heaven, with the impetus to eliminate/address/fix “X,” not because of politics or social obligation or catalyzing events, but because this is what faithful discipleship demands and what Jesus asks us to do.

So, when religion teacher Tim Harden offers a course on the environment, for example, it draws on Pope Francis’ encyclical.

When biology teacher Diane Sweeney introduces evolution, she’s also citing Genesis—not to explain how the world came about, but why. As Sacred Heart educators, we actively apply the Goals and Criteria to help us in the classroom and in conversation with students. And as Catholic educators, we seek to provide that balance of reason tempered by faith, faith tempered by reason, because it’s the conversation between faith and reason that leads the human person to the person of Jesus. I think we actually do this quite well, and early on kids know—even if they roll their eyes sometimes—that our starting point is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

SHM: Isn’t that framing difficult to do, given the multiple faiths represented in the student body?

JE: I think there are some things around our Catholic identity that are nonnegotiable, one of which is we must be explicit and consistent in conveying the person of Jesus Christ as encountered in Christian scripture. The very life of the teacher should be one that is animated by these virtues found in the Gospel—so full of hope and meaning and joy that when a student asks, “where does that come from?” we should very convincingly be able to say, “from my relationship with Jesus.” Ironically, I think that’s really hard to do in a Catholic school today.

I think it’s because kids hear that as being freaky and biased.

I mean even hearing myself say it, I’m imagining the way the teachers would respond to me asking them to do that. Yet, the very purpose of this school is to introduce students to Christ, to His attitudes and His lessons, because through these, He points the way to solving all of these other things. Like war, Jesus has something to say about war. Or the environment, Jesus would have something to say about our care of, as Pope Francis calls it, our “common home.”

Regarding the multiple faith traditions in the school, our educational philosophy clearly calls us to educate to an understanding of, and deep respect for, the religions of the world. Our Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist students feel comfortable at Sacred Heart because we do this well. It is because we are a Catholic school that we honor and recognize the many beautiful faith traditions that enrich our campus community. We are more Catholic because of the way that we embrace the religious diversity of this community.

SHM: So do you feel that this Sacred Heart brand of Catholicity, that the Catholic experience of education as directed by the RSCJ, really can “lay the foundation for a meaningful life”?

“SHS has a lot to offer, from LMS students helping with the Special Olympics, to high schoolers performing in the fall musical, and Fr. John presiding at our Mater Mass. Our [Catholic] community has room for everyone—like God does.”

—Sydney McJannet (LMS ’19)

JE: We are confident that, ultimately, our students are going to be in places of authority and power. Our education prepares them to go into those places with the ability to analyze the systems and structures that keep people disenfranchised or marginalized and the courage to work towards a more just and humane world.

And these kids are quite capable and willing to meet the challenge.

I’m sure there are moments when they feel like we’re beating them over the head with this message of having so much while the rest of the world is suffering. But they also have incredible empathy and a desire to learn about how they can use their blessings for good. Admittedly, it’s messy, and some days are better than others, but what I will say is that the students at this school love the experience of it all. They don’t complain about having to take courses in religious studies, participate in spiritual retreats, visit with the Sisters at Oakwood, or take part in service projects.

Instead, they actually embrace it.

In the end, I think how we regard and uphold our Catholic identity—as a Sacred Heart school, as a Bay Area Catholic school—really resonates with students in lots of different ways.

Some of our best, most interested students are those for whom Sacred Heart is their first Catholic experience—students who are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu—who find the Christian perspective intriguing, thought-provoking, and not so disparate from their own religious beliefs and practices. And for our Christian students, a Sacred Heart education respects them where they are and also calls them into a more thoughtful, conscious, and adult faith.

Most important, our students leave with a sense of their unique gifts and their abilities to participate in the transformation of the world in which they live. They leave us with some purpose and with some hope. And I judge that as a pretty significant and successful marker of who we are and what we do as a Catholic school. It’s a Catholic identity that I believe St. Madeleine Sophie Barat would be proud of…though I’m also sure she’d have a few suggestions for improvement.

Please visit www.shschools.org/CatholicID to watch a video featuring members of the SHS community reflecting on the school’s Catholicity and what it means to them.

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ALUMNI NEWS

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The annual Alumni Mass in our historic Chapel

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ALUMNI NEWS

From the Alumni Association President Dear Fellow Alumni, If you’ve come back to campus for any one of our Alumni Association events in the past year, you may have noticed excitement continuing to build among our alumni community. Thanks to the ideas, efforts, and abilities of your Alumni Board members, there are more ways to reconnect with each other and the campus than ever before.

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Our book club series and faculty lecture series have allowed alumni and parents of alumni to continue to grow on the intellectual front.

Our professional development offerings, including a mentorship program, unite young career-driven alumni with those more seasoned across a spectrum of industries and fields.

Our annual Oktoberfest & Milestone Reunion Celebration brings hundreds of alumni home to our Atherton campus to reconnect and share fond memories. This year, Oktoberfest included the Class of 2011 celebrating their 5th reunion, the Class of 1956 celebrating their 60th reunion, and all years in-between. Thanks to the support of Dan and Melissa Gordon, alumni and their families sampled selections from Gordon Biersch Brewery, catered German fare, and lively music, all under a grove of trees and evening lights.

Our Alumni Association efforts also focus on service and giving. November’s National Philanthropy Day brought alumni back to campus to work with Dr. Stewart Slafter bottling the olive oil sold at the Holiday Boutique, with proceeds benefiting the Sacred Heart community.

We continue to also offer opportunities for alumni to give back to SHS in financial ways–visit supportshs.org to learn more.

The Board and I hope that you may find your Sacred Heart community as a continued anchor in your life. Never hesitate to get informed, involved, or invested in our fine Alumni Association. Reach out anytime to Alumni Relations Manager Shannon Melinauskas at alumni@shschools.org, or connect with any one of your Association Board members directly.

In Your Service, Christine O’Neal (SJS ’94, SHP ’98)

Carrying on Mater’s Spirit Nominated by her peers and selected by the Alumni Association and Director of Schools, Leana Giannini (CSH ’75) was named the 2016 alumna recipient of the Spirit of Mater Award.

The embodiment of a lifelong learner, committed educator, and loyal alumna, Giannini became actively involved with the SHS Alumni Association within five years of her high school graduation, and from 2005-2009, was selected its president. Her history of leadership, caring, and service to the school and to the RSCJ has continued to flourish over the years. Gianinni has been an active volunteer leader and serves on several boards, including the Italian Community Services Agency in San Francisco, and Primo Programma, an Italian language program for children. A longtime Bay Area teacher and tutor, she is a graduate of Stanford’s School of Education, holds a J.D. from 32

Santa Clara University School of Law, and studied abroad while completing a program in international human rights.

Other than her mother, she says, she credits Sacred Heart alumnae for “having the greatest influence” on her life.

The Spirit of Mater recognizes alumni who radiate Mater’s spark of divine spirit and employ life in a manner representative of the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. Candidates will have contributed significantly to their alma mater, profession, or community and exemplify outstanding quality of character.

Mission-Driven

St. Joseph’s alumnus continues in service work post-retirement In 2013 at age 77, Ross Beaudoin (SJS ’50) retired after 40 years working for the Catholic Church in religious education and as deacon director and a pastoral administrator. But that retirement has in no way slowed his activities in the service of his fellow man.

A “sometime” writer on Gospel meditation and interpretation, today Beaudoin remains active in inner city ministry in Kansas City—co-coordinating the Troost Alliance and helping to heal and address a troubling racial and socio-economic divide near his former parish of St. James. His mission work in Colonias Puerto de Anapra and Lomas

de Poleo, Juarez, Mexico, is centered on assisting those most in need—impoverished and vulnerable rural villages near the U.S.Mexico border, who have little reliable infrastructure and who are often subject to the violence and disruption of Mexico’s warring drug cartels, and the region’s internal migrants, who are in search of a better life in the more industrial center of Juarez.

A native of Palo Alto, Beaudoin and wife Renata Melton raised four children in Independence, MO. In 1978 he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph; prior to that time, he spent eight years with the Jesuits, four years in the Air Force, four years with the FAA, and a few years teaching with the American Red Cross.

Recalling his time spent on the Atherton campus and the impact it ultimately had, Beaudoin said, “I am so grateful to St. Joseph’s School and the Religious of the Sacred Heart for having welcomed me as a transfer student and prepared me for a life of service.”

National Alumni Conference Headed to Bay Area Atherton campus among destinations for US-Canada Province grads From April 27-30, generations of Sacred Heart alumni from around the country will converge in San Francisco for the 41st AASH (Alumni Association of Sacred Heart) Biennial National Conference.

Featuring a slate of speakers, panels, tours, and a “hackathon,” the three-day program promises to spark dialogue and collaboration

among alumni and leadership from the 24 representative schools in the Network. Headquartered in San Francisco, conference activities will also include the presentation of the inaugural Sacred Heart Lay Educator Award, a Heritage Tea at Lone Mountain College, an afternoon goûter with RSCJ residing at Oakwood, and an SHS campus tour and discussion around the SHP Creative Inquiry Lab, led by program director Dan Brady (SHP ’04).

We invite you to come join us in April 2017, and leave your heart in San Francisco.

Registration and Sponsorhip Information at www.AASH2017.org

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One for All

Alumna leads tech companies toward global inclusion Alumna Michelle Rodriguez (SHP ’02) is currently a program manager in Diversity and Inclusion at VMware, where this past year she launched a unique model for employee groups to form around the topic of inclusion. These “Power of Difference” communities at VMware differ from traditional models because they are formed around underrepresented nationalities, or more generalized global inclusion efforts tied directly to business impact. Rodriguez describes the global momentum of this program as “outstanding.”

Her path in public service was paved during her four years at Sacred Heart. “My mind was blown open at SHP, what I learned inside and outside of the classroom. It instilled in me a drive to make positive change in society.” Courses at SHP impacted her deeply and sparked her curiosity to learn more in sociology and ethnic studies, eventually leading to a BA from Santa Clara University, a credential in family development from Cornell University, and an MPA from University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.

What she appreciates most about SHP is that every teacher taught her beyond what was expected of them—they educated the “whole child,” supported her in many ways outside the classroom, and influenced her view of the value of service and social justice programs.

“Some of my most profound memories of high school were on immersion trips to East Los Angeles and attending protests at Chowchilla and San Quentin prisons,” she recalls. “These experiences shaped my desire on a macro level to improve society’s inequities, to learn how leaders create opportunities, and to determine my own role in the Latino community.”

As a result, Rodriguez has committed her entire college and professional career to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be their “authentic selves.” Her first position out of college was as home visitor for FIRST 5 of California in Eastside San Jose. Seeing that increasing her management skills would enable her to be a greater agent of change through local

government, she next took on civic internships in Southern California and Redwood City. Eventually, she realized her real ambition was to make a significantly larger impact on inclusion.

“I accidentally fell into the tech space and chose to take a detour from public service,” she says. Six years and several companies later including time spent at corporate giants SAP, Yahoo!, and VMware, Rodriguez has fast become a recognized and reliable leader in this emerging field. At these various companies, she has successfully founded support communites for Latinos, military veterans, and others, and led efforts behind Pride Parades, Black History Month, and numerous corporate global diversity campaigns. Throughout, she has been firm on her goal to make sure fellow employees feel they have a voice and are heard.

“I realized in a world full of MBAs and engineers, my skills were needed and my mindset was unique. Tech companies are vying for the best talent, and no one has truly cracked the code on creating a truly diverse workforce that fuels the best business success.”

At an event coordinated for SAP in 2013, Rodriguez and her colleague (pictured) hosted baseball legend Reggie Jackson, who shared with attendees about his past experience as a rising Black and Latino athlete. The event was one of many overseen by Rodriguez during SAP’s Diversity Week, organized to promote inclusion.

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Founded and Fueled Through Philanthropy Inspired by our history, alumni take up the call to serve

On November 15, the Sacred Heart Alumni Association hosted its fourth annual community service event, this time coinciding efforts with National Philanthropy Day. Marketed as an extension of Sacred Heart’s history—a campus created and sustained through charitable gifts and service—grads from 1966 to 2008 and their families rolled up their sleeves and dove into the task at hand, to prep the recently harvested SHS Olive Oil for sale at the annual Holiday Boutique.

Under the watchful eye of Dr. Stewart Slafter, who directs the SHS Farm & Gardens program, the group of 20 helped fill, cork, label, and seal more than 200 bottles in just under two hours.

Good Reads

Alumni authors offer fiction, intrigue, and history Who doesn’t like a book recommendation, especially one written by our own alumni? Below are a few titles that have been shared with us since our summer magazine was published.

Diane (Lovegrove) Bader (SJS ’52, CSH ’56) Setting Donegal on Fire In 1877 Daniel Sweeney, a wealthy Irish immigrant, leaves San Francisco and returns to Ireland with his wife and eight children. Appalled at the miserable conditions in which he finds the peasants of his native land, he challenges what he believes is a policy of neglect by both landlords and the authorities. This book provides insight into a true story of one returning immigrant’s encounter with the people he loves, the landlords he despises and the law under which he suffered.

“With seamless writing and an absorbing account of international intrigue, the authors of High Hand prove to be three aces of the spy thriller genre. Everything about this illuminating first novel feels wholly authentic.”

—David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Once in a Great City and First in His Class

ion between a bomb blast meant to kill the ublican presidential nominee and a group of ho played poker in Moscow years ago? What g Shadow, and what does it have to do with the -tech device that can receive and transmit data ank Adams must find out why his poker buddies or assassination and gets surprising help from wkes, a brilliant Russian linguist and CIA covert e truth in this international thriller.

d with verve and flair. Curtis J. James’s first novel he tradition of Graham Greene, bristling with d dizzying plot twists. High Hand grabs you by rst page and doesn’t let go.”

James Ellenberger (SJS ’60) High Hand

y Warrick, Washington Post reporter and Pulitzer e–winning author of Black Flags

vividly captures the unique culture and ethos of unity.”

n Rizzo, former CIA General Counsel and author ompany Man

iant, devious, and thoroughly gripping spy thriller. from page one and absolutely will not let go. ed!”

the pseudonym Curtis J. James, this international spy thriller takes readers on a tense journey through geopolitical intrigue, from the Cold War years to present day, and features a whirlwind of twists, turns, and nefarious plots.

Agatha de Marthon Hoff (SHE ’50, CSH ’54) Burning Horses – A Hungarian Life Turned Upside Down Taking place during the Hungarian Holocaust, this fictionalized account of one woman’s real-life experience paints a remarkable portrait of courage and a will to survive. The author combines childhood recollections, as well as written and oral accounts, to chronicle her own mother’s compelling story, a woman who despite marriage and conversion was still considered by the Nazi regime as a Jew, narrowly avoiding capture, escaping to Austria, and eventually finding a new home in New York.

athan Maberry, New York Times best-selling or of Predator One and Extinction Machine

land or House of Cards, if you love Ian Fleming or book will give you the fix—of covert ops, official -second danger—you have been craving.”

es Rosen, Chief Washington Correspondent, Fox s, and author of Cheney One on One

pseudonym for three distinguished Washington, als: Curtis Harris, a world-renowned cancer en, an award-winning political journalist; and James senior official of a national labor federation.

US $13.95 Copper Peak Press

ISBN 9780986430305

9 780986 430305

51395 >

Copper Peak Press

Fiction: Thrillers/ Espionage

A CIA network of spies and allies; an attempted assassination of a presidential nominee; a poker game in Moscow years ago—all of which may be connected through time, technology, and conspiracy. Written under 12/17/15 8:05 PM

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Octoberfest & Milestone Reunions

Alumni reconnect on campus to celebrate the Sacred Heart bond

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SAVE-THE-DATE

OKTOBERFEST September 23, 2017

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Alumni Class Notes

Convent of the Sacred Heart • Sacred Heart Elementary • St. Joseph’s • Sacred Heart Prep Promoted? Moving? Married? New baby?

New job? Please share your news with us for a future issue of the Sacred Heart Magazine at SHMagazine@shschools.org.

All submissions may be edited for length and clarity, and digital photographs are welcome, too!

Note: Alumni entries are categorized by highest year of attendance. If an alumnus/a is a graduate of multiple campuses, a notation will appear next to the name, prior to the submitted news.

to earn a second doctorate in public health at UNC. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the University of Alaska, where she teaches both medical and nursing students.

SHP Class of 1998 Christine O’Neal (SJS ’94) and husband Gus Elmashni welcomed a son, William Pierce, on November 7, 2016.

Netflix mailer illustration by Alice Malone (SHP ’03).

SACRED HEART PREPARATORY (SHP) SHP Class of 1988 Abby Smith is senior director in corporate communications at eBay, Inc. and serves on the SHS Alumni Association Board.

She particularly enjoys being a mentor for Sacred Heart alumni who are recent college graduates seeking career guidance.

SHP Class of 1991 A women’s life coach, Anna (Neff) Verzone spent 10 years as an international climbing guide in Nepal, India, and North America before deciding to change careers and become a nurse practitioner through UCSF. She attended graduate school a second time to become a nurse midwife.

Completing her clinical doctorate as a Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar, she plans

SHP Class of 2003 Alice Malone, an independent freelance artist/illustrator, most recently had her artwork featured on Netflix’ fall 2016 mailer. She is a graduate student at Smith College’s School for Social Work.

SHP Class of 2005 Erica Ruggeri (SJS ’01) married Stephen Mendonca on July 30, 2016, at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park. She is currently a director/executive recruiter with The Atlantic Group in New York.

SHP Class of 2006 Kevin Deggelman and Diana Tarantino were married on July 9, 2016. Diana is an assistant manager and designer with Traditionally Derby, and Kevin is a software engineer with First Round Capital.

RJ Horsley is chief financial officer for AXSY, where he works to build a global enterprise SaaS company focused on transforming the Order-to-Cash process for mobile enterprises.

He has recently joined the SHS Alumni Association board team.

Anna (Neff) Verzone (SHP ’91) and family.

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Chris O’Neal (SJS ’94, SHP ’98) and Gus Elmashni with their son, William Pierce.

SHP Class of 2007 Rob La Rue is an MBA candidate at the Wharton School. A member of the SHS Alumni Association leadership, he founded the Alumni Mentor Program to connect alumni through professional networking and career interests.

SHP Class of 2009 Recently appointed program manager for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ventures, Morgan Aitken-Young has been with HP since 2014, serving in successive managerial roles for its marketing and executive briefing and customer success divisions. She has served as the vice

In Memoriam: Ken Thompson

The wedding party of Erica (Ruggeri) Mendonca (SJS ’01, SHP ’05) included cousin of the bride Kimberly Lautze (SJS ’02, SHP ’06) and SHP ’05 classmates Kirsten Harmon, Rachel Taylor, Lynn (Rudolph) Rosendin, Christina Baladi (SJS ’01), and Kate Carroll.

president for HP’s Bay Area Young Employee Network, and in 2015, cofounded the San Francisco chapter of national campaign “Represent Us”— successfully leading a campaign to pass the ballot measure Prop T (the Lobbyist Gift Ban).

In summer of 2016, the Sacred Heart school community suffered another devastating loss: colleague and mentor Ken Thompson.

Serving nearly three decades on the Atherton campus across a variety of capacities—in sports, arts, academics, and most recently, mathematics department chair—Thompson embodied the Sacred Heart spirit and impacted countless students under his guidance.

SHP Class of 2012 Hogan Bradford was promoted from a summer internship to marketing associate with the firm Tripping, founded by fellow grad Jen O’Neal (SJS ’93, SHP ’97).

Tyler VauDell (SJS ’09, SHP ’13) with Jean Bartunek, RSCJ.

SHP Class of 2013 Tyler VauDell (SJS ’09) is a senior management major with a concentration in finance and operations management at Boston College. He serves as an undergraduate assistant in the Management & Organization Department of the Carroll School of Management, alongside Jean Bartunek, RSCJ.

SHP ’06 newlyweds Diana Tarantino and Kevin Deggelman.

Beloved teacher, coach, dean, performer, & friend

Called a true “Renaissance man”

by Rep. Anna Eshoo, in 2008 Thompson received the St. Madeleine Sophie Award, among the highest honors given by the school.

Sharing news of his passing with the campus community, Director of Schools Richard Dioli said, “Battling illness for more than a decade, Ken’s unfailing courage, compassion, and commitment to the school was a source of inspiration, and his presence will be sorely missed.”

Honoring Thompson’s legacy at a campus memorial in October, more than 200 colleagues, former students, and friends came together in celebration of his life.

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Caring for Their Future For just about 11 years, Louise Paustenbach has been a part of the Sacred Heart family, first as parent to Anna (SHP ’07), then as a counselor for students at Sacred Heart Prep, and more recently as a project manager within the new Office of Mission Initiatives and Institutional Planning.

In both roles, caring for the current and future wellbeing of Sacred Heart students has been at the forefront of her work and her personal drive. So much so, that seven years ago, she decided to invest in future generations of Sacred Heart students by including the school in her estate plan.

“The community of Sacred Heart has meant so much to me, from the students and families to my many supportive and caring colleagues across campus,” says Paustenbach.

“The planned gift was extremely easy to arrange. I was happy to have this option to make a future gift to the school, knowing that it will help carry on the educational mission and give back to this wonderful community for years to come.”

If you would like to include Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton as a beneficiary in your estate plan or will, or if you would like to learn more about our planned giving options and tax benefits, please contact Karen Rogers in the Office of Institutional Advancement at krogers@shschools.org.

Painted by graffiti artist Joe Colmenares with the help of Sacred Heart students, the “Bell Tower” mural was created as part of the 1898 and Tower Circle Societies’ fall program and dinner, the “Art of Education.”

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Gators

g n i p l He

Gators

Alumni access to professional resources & networking Whether you are a student exploring career options, a recent graduate seeking a college internship, or an alumna/us considering changing industries or jobs, the SHS alumni network can be an excellent resource.

As Gators helping Gators to succeed, we acknowledge the value of our Sacred Heart education in the workplace—especially the character, integrity, and commitment that are the hallmarks of our shared experience.

Get Informed Visit our alumni website at www.shschools.org/aluminternships to learn more about our programs, resources, and benefits.

Tripping founder & CEO Jen O’Neal (center) hired fellow alumni Hogan Bradford (left) as a marketing associate and Carter Brutschy (right) as finance director. San Francisco-based Tripping regularly posts summer internships for college-aged Sacred Heart grads.

Get Invested Connect with “Madeleine Sophie” on LinkedIn and kick-start or advance your career through our Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton community network.

Get Involved There are multiple ways to participate right now—become or request a career mentor, offer an internship or shadow opportunity, post a job through our LinkedIn group, or host a networking event, to name a few.

NOW SEEKING SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE-AGED ALUMNI! If you would like to create/offer/post an internship with your company, please contact us with details at alumni@shschools.org.

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SAVE • THE • DATE D HEART SCHOOLS AUCTION E R C A S

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