StoneRidge_2024_Oct3_v3-2

Students built laser-based photo gates to measure velocity and embedded accelerometers with their eggs to measure speed on impact. They designed protective exteriors to either decrease fall velocity or increase the time to impact. Students iterated through multiple rounds of the experiment, learning from their observations and trying out innovative new solutions to protect their test eggs.

INSIDE COVER: Grade 2 students mix vinegar with baking soda to model how volcanic eruptions can change the surface of the earth quickly.

FRONT COVER: The grade 9 Physics team partnered with the EdTech team to lead students in a fun and innovative challenge. The mission? Protect your egg during its fall from the entryway balcony to the floor.

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86 ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

James Purse

HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Malcolm McCluskey

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Alex Sundman

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

Sandy Gillespie

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Eric Osberg

DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

LaRita Gordon

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Kim Johnson

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Kate Kalas

Send any letters, comments, or suggestions to Kate Kalas, communications@stoneridgeschool.org

CREATIVE TEAM

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, MANAGING EDITOR

Keri Rasmussen

BRAND AND DESIGN LEAD

Sienna Long

CONTENT STRATEGIST

AND COPYWRITER

Nicole Goodman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Scott Butterworth, Rachel Wojnicki

PUBLICATION DESIGN

Alston Taggart, Studio Red Design

PHOTOGRAPHY

Caitlin Myler Taylor ’98

Dear Stone Ridge Community,

IT’S MONDAY MORNING, AND BY 7:55 A.M., campus was already alive with energy as drop-off wrapped up and the week began in earnest. Our 789 students, along with dedicated faculty and staff, have settled into classrooms, offices, assembly halls, and playgrounds, ready to engage in the learning and growth that defines our Sacred Heart tradition.

Upper School students are mostly in classrooms by now, though some gather at tables on Shelter Hill Campus Walk, collaborating on homework and studying for upcoming assessments. Morning assemblies in each division featured Sunday’s Gospel reading, brief reflections, and student presentations inviting peers to join clubs and activities. The Middle School assembly included a student presentation on Hispanic Heritage Month, while the Upper School enjoyed a rousing performance by the Step Team.

From my office window, I hear joyful shouts echoing from the playground all day. Walking by, I saw preschoolers engaged in imaginative play, making “pies and soup” out of sand, collaborating and negotiating as a team. Lower School students rotate through their playground turns, taking a break from their morning focus on reading, writing and math. In twenty minutes, they will line up for the cherished Sacred Heart tradition of Prîmes, where we celebrate accomplishments and reinforce our Sacred Heart Goals. “Specials” teachers prepare lessons for French, PE, STEM, art and music. Hallway bulletin boards are already showcasing project work, a signature of our inquiry-based academic program.

This morning, two young alumnae are visiting campus. Alice Felker ’16, along with members of L’Arche, a program that invites people with and without intellectual disabilities to build community together, encouraged the Upper School students to join the talent show they’re hosting in Roberts Theater this weekend. Julia Tepper ’15 spoke at a STEM assembly about her work as an avionics systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“ ...[Our] Stone Ridge education remains both timeless—grounded in our Goals and Sacred Heart values—and timely by continually evolving our curriculum, teaching methods, and school culture to equip our students for the modern world.”

All of this, and it’s only 10:00 a.m.

You may think you’ve caught me on a busy morning, but it’s actually just “a day in the life.” Despite it being my 17th year as Head of School, I still marvel at how it all comes together. Each and every day of the academic year—and indeed throughout the summer with our Summer CampUs programming, service opportunities, and more—this campus and community are bursting with joyful learning, rich activity, and a warm and welcoming spirit.

You’ll see it reflected throughout this magazine. This edition focuses on innovation, highlighting how a Stone Ridge education remains both timeless grounded in our Goals and Sacred Heart values—and timely by continually evolving our curriculum, teaching methods, and school culture to equip our students for the modern world.

As you read, you’ll discover the incredible work our students are doing and catch a glimpse of the accomplishments and spirit of the Class of 2024. You’ll also find stories of alumnae and other leaders in our community. We are deeply grateful for the continued engagement of our alumnae and invite you to stay connected.

I receive a lot of positive feedback about Stone Ridge throughout each year, and I am always deeply moved by what makes this place special for our students and families. I often hear praise for our curriculum and teaching, the families and students, the facilities, the arts, athletics, and more. However, the most consistent feedback is about the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education and how our exceptional faculty and staff cultivate a culture that brings them to life every day. The true magic of our campus lies in the clarity of our mission as a Sacred Heart School and the relationships that unite our remarkable community.

It feels impossible to write a welcome back letter for this year without mentioning the Olympics, so I’ll close with a reflection on my phenomenal journey to Paris. I struggle to find words to capture how incredible it was to witness three of our Stone Ridge alumnae on that world stage and how grateful I am for the experience. Looking back at my photos feels like glimpsing scenes from a rom-com movie or a dream. I am incredibly proud of Katie Ledecky ’15, Erin Gemmell ’23, and Phoebe Bacon ’20 for representing both our School and Team USA with such grace. Their determination, grit, resilience, and self-discipline are simply astounding. Even more so, their commitment to goal setting, teamwork, and kindness sets a powerful example for the world.

Exciting News!

We are proud to announce that our Head of School, Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86, has been appointed to the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) Board of Directors! Mrs. Karrels and five other visionary leaders began their three-year terms on July 1, 2024, joining 14 existing board members. Mrs. Karrels’ involvement will showcase our school’s impact and help shape the future of girls’ education worldwide.

One of my first days in Paris, I visited the Church of St. Francis Xavier, home of the reliquary and shrine of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. In the vigil area, where her incorrupt body rests, I lit a small red candle for each of our three Olympians, and two larger candles—one for all Sacred Heart Olympians and one for the global Sacred Heart community. Each of you was part of that prayer.

This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada. To mark this milestone, we will host a series of activities throughout the year, reminding us of the profound impact that our Sacred Heart mission continues to have not just in our region, but across the globe. I recently realized that I have a personal connection to this milestone year as well. My parents, Jim and Lucy Ronan, enrolled my sister, Mary, and me at Stone Ridge in 1974. This year marks my 50th year as part of this incredible community—a decision that has forever shaped my life, and for which I am deeply grateful.

I hope to see you on campus soon. Go Gators!

Warm regards,

Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86 Head of School

INNOVATION Sacred Heart Education

By Jaime Chao Mignano, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, and Kathryn Heetderks, Director of Formation to Mission

FOR CENTURIES, SACRED HEART

Educators have fostered in our students the virtues of leadership, resilience, perseverance, collaboration, creativity, empathy, and critical thinking so they will have the skills and capacities to be trailblazers—agents of change in their own lives, community, and world. Our capacities and avenues for innovation have changed dramatically over the last decade, leading us to make exciting new developments to this aspect of our program. Every 15 years, the Conference of Sacred Heart Education—in the spirit of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s call that “times change and we must change with them”—undergoes a re-visioning of the Goals and Criteria in light of the needs of the times and students. In the most recent re-visioning process, in 2020, the word “innovation” appears for the first time in the Criteria of Goal II, a deep respect for intellectual values. Criterion 5 states that “curricular and co-curricular programs integrate innovation and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving, the exploration of emerging technologies, and critical evaluation of information.”

Specifically, innovation in our current context is the application of new ideas and technologies that seek to incrementally transform designed objects and systems in the world. It is grounded in experiences of collaboration, which encourage empathetic listening and openness to co-creation, feedback, reciprocity, and solidarity. In practice, innovation focuses on process over prototypes and results, and cultivates a sense of craft that becomes meaningful and reflective. Innovation includes experiences of incremental progress, learning from mistakes, failure, and a lack of closure.

Our Innovation Curriculum and Philosophy is part of our greater school effort to build in our students a critical consciousness and a social awareness that impels our students to action.

The gift of a Sacred Heart education is centered around forming each child with a self-understanding as a person known and loved by God. From this flows a sense of purpose grounded in hope.

Flowing from the new version of the Goals and Criteria, the Conference of Sacred Heart Education created a new “Profile of a Sacred Heart Graduate.” This portrait of a Sacred Heart learner describes the skills, attitudes, and emerging attributes nurtured in Sacred Heart students, such as being purposeful, authentic, knowledgeable, inquisitive, analytical, creative, discerning, and empathetic. From this criterion and in the context of the entirety of the Goals and Criteria and the Profile of a Sacred Heart Graduate, Stone Ridge has undertaken a re-visioning process of its EdTech and Innovation program.

At Stone Ridge, our Innovation Curriculum and Philosophy is part of our greater school effort to build in our students a critical consciousness and a social awareness that impels our students to action. We point our students toward realworld impact that fosters justice and peace, with special care for the most vulnerable and the integrity of creation. We aim to nurture in our students a sensitivity to the designed and malleable nature of the systems and objects in the world that either support or undermine the integrity of creation and the common good. As designers, we encourage students to stay candid and human-centered to guide their designs forward with Sacred Heart values in mind.

The practice of continuing to imagine objects and systems as more effective, beautiful, and just, builds the muscles of hope and vision, affirming for students that they can explore new solutions to all kinds of problems and that they have the capacity to make these visions concrete. Students are encouraged to engage in processes of innovation

INNOVATION Education

that cultivate collaborative discovery and empathy. We encourage a “hacker ethos” that prioritizes the hands-on, experiential, and critical nature of seeking understanding. Across the curriculum and in every classroom, we provide an innovation toolkit that prepares girls and young women to develop adaptability, collaborative problemsolving, and creativity as they enter a technology landscape and a world that is changing. Finally, we help our students reflect on and celebrate the relationship between creativity and beautiful struggle, often leading to unanticipated and transformative results.

Innovation and a Transformative Foundation

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart amid societal upheaval following the French Revolution. Her vision was to form a community of women who would bring the love of Christ to the world through education and transform the world through that love. Sophie had an education far exceeding what most women of her time received. Perhaps it was because of this extraordinary formation that she was open to and even encouraged innovation in education. In a circular letter to her sisters, she urged them to “not be blind to the fact that in these times of activity in which we live, demands are made upon us and obstacles rise so that certain modifications and a certain perfectioning become indispensable.” She was concerned that the Society’s schools might become too entrenched in particular

Stone Ridge provides an innovation toolkit that prepares girls and young women to develop adaptability, collaborative problem-solving, and creativity as they enter a technology landscape and a world that is changing.

practices, leading them to fall behind. On the other hand, she did not want to lose the Society’s commitment to its mission, saying, “God forbid that we should wish to compromise with duty and sacrifice our principal end to these tendencies [in education], but we must again examine what we can accord and review our Plan of Studies to modify and complete it.” She was steadfast in her commitment to the Society’s “principal end,” but also open to new ways of thinking and teaching that would help the schools to fulfill that mission.

Key to fulfilling this mission depends on coming to a deeper understanding of the attitudes and preferences of the pierced heart of Christ through contemplation and reflection. Where in our world is Christ’s love most needed? How do we educate our students to recognize and attend to this suffering? We ask these questions in all aspects of our curriculum, including our Educational Technology and Innovation Program. In the heart of Jesus, we see the attitudes we seek to build in our students through innovation: empathy, generosity, an orientation to justice, solidarity, collaboration, creativity, and hope.

Remembering that Jesus of Nazareth himself was a maker both literal and figurative—a carpenter, a craftsman, an artisan, and a community builder—provides us with a unique lens through which to imagine our program.

Sophie said, “Education must be concerned not only with studies but also with whatever may be required for the right ordering of life and requirements of cultivated society. It is all very well to lay the foundation of solid virtue, but only the union of virtue with learning will give our work its perfection.” While Sophie could never have imagined the technological advances of our time, we imagine that Sophie might be delighted by how these advances and how her schools explore innovation today allow our students to develop the values and skills necessary to transform society on local and global scales. ❤

Check out this video “A Conversation on Innovation and Sacred Heart Education with Jaime Chao Mignano and Kathryn Heetderks”

STONE RIDGEInnovation

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES of what innovation looks like across the divisions.

Lower School

KINDERGARTEN

DESIGN, BUILD, AND TEST HELMETS

Students chose materials, designed and created helmets, and tested their creations. They collected data and reflected on how to improve their design.

GRADE 1 LEARN CIRCUITRY

Students learned how light and sound can be used to keep communities safe. They programmed “snap circuits” to illuminate a light and/or make a sound when switched on.

GRADE 2

DESIGN AND BUILD HAND POLLINATORS

Students observed the life cycle of plants by planting seeds and watching plants grow in the garden. They learned about pollination and seed dispersal processes to design and build their own hand pollinators.

DESIGN BUILD TEST

RIDGEInnovation

Middle School

GRADE 6 TELL STORIES WITH DATA SCIENCE

Students collected data and created visualizations, learning how to use design elements, color, keys, and imagery to highlight important information. They learned how to interpret data to answer questions and draw conclusions.

GRADE 8

ENGINEER INTERACTIVE STAGE PROPS (USING ROBOTICS)

Students explored circuitry and both electronic and physical computing, learning how to identify parts, purpose, and connections in systems. They created a working prototype of an interactive set by coding, and building electronic and mechanical systems, to enhance a performance.

Upper School

ENGINEERING CLASS

Students explore their curiosities through projects driven by their own inquiry and choice. One group created a Walking Arm Trebuchet with an arm that swings through the middle of a triangle, weighted down on the sides. They developed a design, planned their materials, and established success criteria for their testing.

EXPLORATIONS IN MOMENTUM: COLLISION RIGS

Students tested variables such as mass, movement, and material and measured the outcome and effect on collisions. They developed hypotheses, tested their theories using laser gates, and wrote a research paper documenting their process and interpreting their experimental results.

AP ART HISTORY

Students in AP Art History were assigned thematic groups of contemporary art and used AI to produce a “mash-up” of these works in a single digital image. Students then created AI-generated work in three dimensions using engineering tools in the Manfuso Innovation Lab.

Community

Across the Divisions

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

By Head of School Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86

IN JUNE 2024, HEAD OF SCHOOL CATHERINE RONAN KARRELS ’86

shared a report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work underway at Stone Ridge and explored how our efforts relate to and support the School’s mission and philosophy.

Here, we outline updates from each division as shared in the report. In the spirit of Goal III, our students deepen their understanding of various cultures and faiths, discover their talents and gifts, and consider how to serve those around them through Social Action, division-specific programming, arts, athletics, campus events, and conferences.

LOWER SCHOOL

• Grade 2 engaged in project work on family cultures and celebrated with family members as cultural guest experts. Grade 4 engaged in project work about equitable food systems, with a specific focus on how all people can access healthy, fresh, and locally grown food.

• The Lower School Library added a variety of reading materials to the collection, ensuring that all of our students could see images of themselves in the literature they read. This effort supports ongoing curricular work.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Led by faculty facilitators, the Middle School Diversity Club provided a supportive space for students to engage in discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Throughout the year, students planned activities and presentations for Cultural Programs with the broader community.

• Advisory Lessons were centered around Identity and Community frameworks, helping students to engage in deeper learning about themselves and their peers.

• Friday Flex Programs were structured to include diversity and inclusion activities and featured speakers.

ALL SCHOOL

• Stone Ridge continued its engagement with the “No Place For Hate” campaign through the Anti-Defamation League. Middle and Upper School students participated in three impactful events as part of this initiative.

UPPER SCHOOL

• Upper School Diversity Culture Groups (DCGs) uplifted and celebrated the rich diversity of our student community through regularly planned activities, information sessions, fundraising efforts, and presentations at Upper School assemblies. These studentled groups, supported by faculty and administration, for the 2023–24 academic year included: Allies, AsianAppreciAsian, Black Student Alliance (BSA), Jewish Student Union (JSU), Middle Eastern Student Alliance (MESA), Spectrum, and Unidas.

• Five students attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference, and four students attended the Baltimore Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

• On March 4, 2024, the entire school gathered for a Goal IV Multicultural Program. Our students celebrated diversity through singing, dancing, and sharing highlights from their cultures. In collaboration with DEI Practitioners, Middle and Upper School students assisted with planning for the day and other activities throughout the week. ❤

Gearing Up to Learn New Skills: ENCOURAGING A MAKER MINDSET IN LOWER SCHOOL

By Scott Butterworth, contributing writer

YOU NEVER FORGET HOW TO RIDE A bicycle, the saying goes. Stone Ridge may soon find out whether that learning is just as eternal for how to put a bike together.

This spring, Pre-Kindergarteners engaged in a seasonlong exploration of bicycles. The newest Lower School students discussed how people use bikes in everyday life, both in local neighborhoods and worldwide. They learned how these vehicles can be adapted to serve people with special needs. And the 4- and 5-year-olds dug into a deconstructed unicycle to examine its components and see how everything fits together.

This study came to life through Project Approach, a distinctive aspect of the Lower School curriculum that encourages students in every grade to investigate realworld topics familiar to them.

Project Approach, says Director of Educational Technology and Innovation Jaime Chao Mignano, allows Lower School students to become intimately familiar with such practices as “the design cycle, strategies for testing, for receiving and synthesizing feedback, making decisions, and the practice of a growth mindset.”

Ultimately, Ms. Chao Mignano believes that Project Approach helps Stone Ridge students see themselves as makers—people comfortable with taking something apart and rebuilding it better than before.

Head of Lower School Sandy Gillespie, who brought the Project Approach to Stone Ridge, agrees with that assessment: “Students who are engaged in more project learning are more curious. They’re more motivated,” she says. “They know how to do research. They know how to find answers to things. They understand that the world is a place where people have to work together to make things happen.”

For the Pre-K class, examining the bicycle was simply “the hook” to strengthen specific skills, says Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Kathryn Bonner Gillick ’89, “developing questioning, the ability to learn new information from different sources, the ability to observe closely.”

Mrs. Gillick and her colleague, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, Michele Carpenter, helped their students understand bicycle technology—how an axle works and the role of a gear—to learn why each part is essential. Along the way, students discovered firsthand why going uphill is slower than downhill. And Julie Thurston Ott ’99, Lower School

“Students who are engaged in more project learning are more curious. They’re more motivated,” she says. “They know how to do research. They know how to find answers to things. They understand that the world is a place where people have to work together to make things happen.”

—H ead of L ower

Educational Technologist, used Stone Ridge’s 3D printer to create gears that the children could manipulate.

Much of this curriculum comes together in summer, when faculty like Mrs. Gillick and Ms. Carpenter sit down with Mrs. Ott and Ms. Chao Mignano and brainstorm how to weave the Project Approach’s tenets into Stone Ridge’s “Expectations for Learning” standards and their grade lesson plans.

The planning goes only so far, though. Teachers then take their cue from the children in class about particular facets that interest them.

“The girls are taking ownership of their learning,” says Lower School Teacher Maura Murphy ’15, Grade 3. “They’re leading the charge half the time.”

This dynamic is a central quality of Project Approach, which asks teachers to be highly flexible about their lessons. “We’re not teaching kids a topic,” Ms. Carpenter explains. “We’re teaching kids how to learn, to direct their own learning by following their specific curiosity.”

“In the early grades, our job is to help them to love to learn, which is foundational to their Sacred Heart education,” Mrs. Gillick adds.

Over time, the Lower School has extended Project Approach to cover all grades, from Pre-K through Grade 4. In the older grades, trips off-campus allow students to explore and absorb more information about their subject. Discoveries come back to the classroom, where students in small groups build on them through hands-on work.

Lower School Teacher Rebecca McCleary, Grade 3, says, “When you do a field trip, you just go have your field trip and it’s done. But with these field experiences we do, we start with asking, what do you want to learn while we’re there? The students come up with their own questions. And then, out in the field, they have clipboards, they’re taking notes, they are invested in the process.”

This spring, Grade 3 students focused on sustainability, which inspired a class visit to Montgomery County’s Recycling Center in Derwood. The trip fired the children’s imaginations and ambitions, and they returned to Bethesda determined to reduce the amount of food waste and trash Stone Ridge sends to the landfill.

Grade 3 students, many of whom are in their fourth year of Project Approach, collected data documenting the amount of compost and recycling the School collects compared against trash totals. They also designed maps for Mathews Dining Hall that point students to those specialized bins.

Mrs. Ott says admiringly, “They’re doing a lot of groundwork—highlighting our sustainability efforts and what we can do better, working with our Lower School team to highlight those areas, and creating some ideas for the Mater Center after lunch.”

Such work, says Ms. Murphy, exemplifies why “Project Approach is Sacred Heart to me. This is what St. Madeleine Sophie Barat wanted for students: To wonder about the world. To feel a part of a global community. And to have that social awareness, that action piece.”

“They come to know that they can ask questions, and they can find the answers. They are researchers. They have the skills that they need moving forward.” ❤

Data Science, Robotics, and a Makerspace: INNOVATION REVS UP IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Rachel Wojnicki, contributing writer

“In the Makerspace, our students can discover how interdisciplinary STEM is and gain the ability to be agents of creativity and change in the face of problems in front of them.”

— J aime c H ao m i G nano , d irector of e ducationa L tec H no L o G y and i nnovation

HOW CAN DATA HELP US TO TELL A STORY? AS HUMANS use machines, where does it start to become difficult? How does innovation make the world a better place?

These are just some of the questions Middle School students are contemplating through a newly redesigned technology program.

Jaime Chao Mignano, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, and Sonia Chintha, Middle School Educational Technology Specialist, spent the last year revising pieces of Stone Ridge’s technology and innovation program. In the process, they amplified the School’s commitment to empowering students with the real-world skills they need to become intellectual citizens of the world.

“Through these reimagined curricula, our students have the opportunity to develop a systems-thinking approach to observing the world,” says Dr. Alex Sundman, Head of Middle School. “That skill alone is highly transferable. Systems thinking can help students grasp complexities within the ‘bigger picture’ and analyze data to develop solutions, as well as construct, evaluate, and sometimes even dismantle narratives.”

Middle School students now participate in mandatory technology seminars, which meet 10 times per semester and incorporate a “design challenge” at the end. While such learning opportunities are not uncommon at schools, Ms. Chintha noted that Stone Ridge is unique in making them a requirement.

“Not only are these seminars appropriately challenging, but they also set our students up to be lifelong learners and problem-solvers,” she said.

Taught by Ms. Chintha, the seminars for each grade build on their predecessors, year after year. Beginning in Grade 5, students learn how to organize themselves in a digital space, such as Google Drive, and come to understand the management systems they will need for academic success ahead at Stone Ridge and beyond.

Grade 6 students learn about data science as a tool for storytelling and seeing the world in a new way. To put theory to work, a data project serves as the design challenge for the year. This year’s Grade 6 students surveyed each other on lunch preferences at Stone Ridge, then developed a data story to visualize their findings and encourage the audience to take action. This practice, Ms. Chao Mignano noted, is crucial for innovation and understanding humanity.

“We’re focusing on storytelling as well as ‘data fiction’,” she said, referring to the use of data to blur the lines between reality and fiction. “As responsible modern citizens of

“ Through these reimagined curricula, our students have the opportunity to develop a systems-thinking approach to observing the world.”

—H

the world, it’s important for students to ask about data sources, the methods of analysis, and other questions that may affect data and their stories.”

The Grade 7 seminar focuses on mechanical engineering. Students learn about the ways machines can help humans and how the ultimate role of engineers is to improve life for humans.

“We study the complexity of human and machine interactions and build on that foundation of systems thinking,” Ms. Chintha said. “Ideas for upcoming Grade 7 design challenges include creating a machine for a woman in your life to make her life easier or developing a machine to illuminate the work of an artist in a new way.”

In the final Middle School seminar, Grade 8 students move from mechanical to electrical engineering and are introduced to robotics. Students add electricity and block coding into their mechanisms.

“This year’s challenge is to create an interactive model for a song or short story,” Ms. Chintha explained. “Imagine if a musical artist was going on tour—students must create a set with at least one moving piece. These projects are similar to old-school dioramas, but featuring robotics.”

Ms. Chintha also routinely collaborates with Middle School faculty across departments to incorporate technology and innovation into crossdisciplinary projects.

“From developing with [Social Studies Teacher] Dr. Bridget Riley artifacts based on women’s true but untold stories from colonization to a project with [Science Teacher] Mrs. Katie Klim highlighting the importance of NASA projects and learning how to communicate as scientists, the range

of topics has been vast,” Ms. Chintha said. “It’s been great collaborating with faculty to help our students understand that innovation happens in all disciplines, that they have the skills to be innovators now and in the future, and that, as women, they are deserving of that space in the world.”

In addition to a revamp of the Middle School technology and innovation curricula, Stone Ridge recently completed its Makerspace, accessible to students and teachers alike. Stationed in Hamilton House, the updated space was designed in community: following a series of faculty focus groups and input from students in Middle School, the team strived to incorporate technology and other elements that truly matter to the campus community.

The Makerspace includes equipment for 3D printers, a green screen, digital design and editing software, and a podcast space; as well as an area for kitchen tools and materials for the culinary arts, lovingly referred to as the “Bakerspace.” With hopes to eventually build a greenhouse, the team also has plants currently growing in the Uncommons.

“In the Makerspace, our students can discover how interdisciplinary STEM is and gain the ability to be agents of creativity and change in the face of problems in front of them,” Ms. Chao Mignano said. ❤

“It’s been great collaborating with faculty to help our students understand that innovation happens in all disciplines, that they have the skills to be innovators now and in the future, and that, as women, they are deserving of that space in the world.”

INNOVATION: AGENTS OF CHANGE

By Dr. Bridget Riley

“I have found that students are at their best when given both the tools and the opportunity to solve problems that impact their lives and the lives of those around them, and this particular assignment was no exception. From the initial research stages to drafting, editing, and mailing, our classroom embodied Goal V, an atmosphere of wise freedom, a setting in which students not only identified and reflected on complexities faced by global and local communities alike but also how their actions held the power to transform.”

Expanded Opportunities for Upper School Students GLOBAL STUDIES & STEM CERTIFICATES

By Rachel Wojnicki, contributing writer

AS CHERRY BLOSSOMS JUST BEGAN to appear in Japan this March, Ruth AyalaTerrazas ’25 visited a temple and saw sights that took her breath away.

“Many people were dressed in kimonos. It was beautiful,” the Stone Ridge Third Academic recalled of her school trip with 13 other Upper School students.

Two young women were particularly striking in their traditional Japanese clothing, and Ruth wanted to ask the pair if she could take their photo. The language barrier loomed large, but the three used Google Translate on Ruth’s smartphone to enthusiastically talk with one another.

It was a simple, sweet conversation, Ruth said, that has resonated with her ever since.

“It was a small, two-minute conversation that could have happened anywhere, but for some reason it’s stuck with me,” she said. “It speaks to the reason I think global understanding is so important: fostering this idea of global understanding can lead to more respectful dialogue and more empathy for one another, which I think we need in today’s world.”

Ruth is one of several students in the first cohort for Stone Ridge’s new Global Studies Certificate. This certificate, as well as a reimagined STEM Certificate, provides students

with hands-on experience and the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their preferred competency.

Dr. Jeannie DowneyVanover, Assistant Head of Upper School and Chair of World Languages; and Jaime Chao Mignano, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, developed the certificates to share a similar framework. Both credentials now incorporate experiential learning, as well as advanced studies components. While the certificates do not transfer to college credit, they demonstrate that students have shown a concentrated effort to be diligent and persevere in a particular field.

“Fostering this idea of global understanding can lead to more respectful dialogue and more empathy for one another.”

— r ut H a ya L a -terraza S ’25

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Examining the World

IN ENVISIONING A NEW CERTIFICATE, Stone Ridge faculty wanted to create intercultural and interdisciplinary educational programs that are both timely and timeless and also aligned with the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

“In one of their most recent documents, the RSCJ make reference to global citizenship and all that comes with that—modern languages and understanding what is happening around the world and locally,” Dr. Downey-

Vanover said. “The work for this Global Studies Certificate prompts our students to ask questions about the communities and perspectives that shape our world. ‘How is my well-being bound up in yours? How are we interconnected and interdependent? Once we determine what that is, what do we do about it?’”

To earn a Global Studies Certificate, students must take a fourth year of world language and either history or social studies, take world religions as their fourth year of theology, and complete two global studies courses from an approved list. Candidates must also complete at least three intercultural experiences, two community engagement projects, a summer job shadow, and an interview with a field expert to inform an article submission to the campus publication Here and Now. And they must lead a session in Stone Ridge’s forthcoming Global Studies Summit.

“From critical-thinking skills and comprehending various perspectives to social awareness and honing public speaking skills, our students are gaining experience as global citizens,” Dr. Downey-Vanover said. “Ultimately, we want to instill in them the ability to engage across cultures, an appreciation for the practices different than their own, and a curiosity and accountability for what is happening in the world.”

The first cohort of Global Studies Certificate candidates will graduate in spring 2025.

Science and Technology in and out of the Classroom

THOUGH STONE RIDGE’S DEDICATION TO STEM has already inspired numerous successful alumnae, such as Meyerhoff Scholars at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and medical school candidates, faculty wanted to amplify what graduates’ profiles could become by updating the STEM Certificate.

When surveyed during the revisioning process, more than 60 percent of certificate applicants noted they valued the opportunity to do fieldwork and participate in STEM-related activities outside the classroom. One student noted she was drawn to the opportunity due to the guidance it provided for gaining those hands-on experiences off campus.

“We took that feedback to heart and worked to refocus the program to include more experience in the field. This speaks to the value of developing relationships of mentorship, which is particularly important for women in the sciences,” Ms. Chao Mignano said. “We’ve also added

experiential components, like the ‘teach-out,’ which stresses the importance of information sharing, another fundamental aspect of STEM.”

In addition to four years of science and mathematics and one engineering and computer science course, the mentor program now includes a summer internship requirement. As with the Global Studies Certificate, students then conduct hands-on workshops at Stone Ridge’s spring Innovation Summit. Candidates must also participate in numerous STEM field trips, seminars, and lectures, as well as interview an expert and submit the subsequent article for publication in Here and Now.

“Earning this certificate is now more rigorous than before, but we know we are moving toward how we want this program to serve the campus community,” Ms. Chao Mignano said. “This is an opportunity to show our students they can be leaders and innovators and to feed that culture of innovation into the School as a whole.” ❤

INNOVATORSAlumnae

EVEN AS NEW INITIATIVES IN INNOVATION ARE embraced, our mission to inspire young women to lead and serve through lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, community, social action, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom has laid a foundation for innovation for over a century. Stone Ridge graduates use the Goals and Criteria throughout their lives, proving Sacred Heart education to be timely and timeless. Our alumnae are innovative thinkers and doers in every community they touch. We invited them to tell us how they were embodying innovation in their careers and daily lives.

LENA BAKALIAN ’16

Water Engineering, Flood Mitigation, Climate Resilience

AN ISSUE LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE IS VAST and complex; it requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills coupled with true collaboration and innovation. Over the 14 years I attended Stone Ridge, I practiced and honed many of these skills in and out of the classroom, creating a strong foundation rooted in the Goals of Sacred Heart education on which I have built my career.

Today, I am a water engineer in New York City, where I call on these skills daily in my work driving innovative solutions to urban flooding. My work centers around the use of green infrastructure to reduce localized flooding in cities, through technologies such as bioswales, rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable pavement. Where traditionally concrete and other impermeable materials are used in urban areas, the goal of green infrastructure is to increase the amount of green and permeable spaces in those areas, making cities more resilient. This not only addresses the issue of flooding but also has a host of other co-benefits, including increasing access to green spaces in heavily urbanized and underserved areas, amplifying local biodiversity by introducing microhabitats, and contributing to mitigation of the heatisland effect. When green infrastructure practices are systematically implemented across a city, they can create drastic improvements that directly boost people’s quality of life.

While it often feels like we cannot keep up with climate change and its effects, it gives me hope that we also cannot seem to keep up with the innovations that are continually emerging in this field. I look forward to implementing innovations in my work to contribute to positive changes for the environment and people.

SARAH O’HERRON ’90

Proprietor of Black Ankle Vineyards AT BLACK ANKLE Vineyards, innovation is not any one great leap, but a series of small steps that can add up to a big change. One of our big goals is to minimize our environmental impact wherever we can. Our farming practices are driven by that goal, which is a long story in and of itself, but one of the most visible (and relatable) ways we try to lessen our footprint is with our packaging. In wine production and sales, the biggest carbon sink is the use of glass bottles. Glass is still the best way to package wine from a portability and aging standpoint, but glass is energy-intensive to make, heavy to transport, and, continues next page

SARAH O’HERRON ’90

Proprietor of Black Ankle Vineyards (continued)

even if recycled, can have a big environmental impact. We have long tried to mitigate that impact by buying the lightest glass bottles available and storing our bottles in reusable trays rather than single-use cardboard boxes, but this year we are experimenting with a fun new project—wine in kegs! Close to 10% of the wine we produce is consumed by visitors to our tasting room through tastings, wine flights, wine-pairing dinners, and leisurely afternoons enjoying the view, and it is our goal to have none of that wine (or nearly none) go into a single-use bottle. This year, we will keg up the equivalent of more than 800 cases of wine, which means we will save more than 10,000 bottles. It is a small step, but over time it will make a big difference.

Another small but fun project that we have going is an ever-expanding wildflower garden. By its very nature, farming disrupts the natural order—we are choosing what will grow where, rather than just letting nature decide, but of course, we need food (and wine!), so that cannot be avoided. To minimize that disruption, we have always let the areas around the vineyards and between rows be populated by volunteer plants, but a few years back, we decided to go a step further and plant a pollinator garden of native wildflowers. We loved the flowers—and the bees, butterflies, and birds they hosted—so much that we have been expanding that garden wherever we can find a spot, including a four-acre patch at the edge of our tasting room lawn planted this spring. It’s a little extra work to maintain, but the upside of a gorgeous field of flowers and the positive impact they have on the environment is well worth it!

LASHELLE ROUNDTREE ’89

National Security Professional & Due Diligence Specialist, Former US Intelligence Officer (CIA), Torchlight Industry Advisory Board Member

AFTER GRADUATING FROM Georgetown with a B.S. in Finance, I started my Wall Street career.

Unsatisfied, I returned to school to earn an M.A. in Law & Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Upon graduating in 1999, I was recruited to work at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). I was finally able to use my experience in banking and finance

working in an innovative environment toward a common mission to make the world a safer place: The post-9/11 Global War on Terror. In 2001, I was assigned to the CIA’s newest team within its Counterterrorism Center, at the forefront of “following the money” to disrupt and dismantle al-Qaida.

Stone Ridge challenged me to think critically and discover new ways to solve complex problems. Innovative thinking was vital to my success as an intelligence officer and beyond—particularly with regard to problem-solving, collaborating with global partners, and using technology. For example, countering

terrorism demands adaptability and creative thinking. Our adversaries remain agile and flexible in their determination to uphold and spread their ideologies. I routinely draft forward-thinking strategic papers to support the U.S. president and top U.S. foreign policymakers in their decision-making on national security threats. The fight against terrorism transcends borders, requiring a unified and global response. I seek new ways to share information and pool resources with global allies in confronting our common enemies. Combating terrorism relies on cutting-edge technology to prevent

JENNIFER RUSIECKI ’85 Professor of Epidemiology, Uniformed Services University

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER IN EPIDEMIOLOGY,

I have studied how environmental exposures may put people at risk for developing certain chronic diseases, such as cancers, respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. Some of these exposures you may have heard about in the media, such as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” emissions from the petrochemical industry, spilled crude oil, plasticizers, and most recently emerging on the scene, micro- and nano-plastics.

The idea of measuring the sum of all exposures a person experiences in their lifetime is called “the exposome.”

It is a real challenge to try to understand what a person has been exposed to over many years; it has to be approached collaboratively and innovatively. I regularly work with scientists of many different backgrounds— molecular biologists, chemists, and physicians, and, now in this new age of big data, bioinformaticists. My

and respond to crisis situations— especially with today’s enhanced surveillance systems, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity. I identify new ways these tools can further U.S. economic security.

I have traveled to 88 countries and had an amazing career. I look forward to continuing the mission of transforming the world into a safer place through dedication and innovation. I credit my Stone Ridge education for instilling in me the need to do so and for providing me with the intellectual tools to make it happen.

research incorporates molecular epidemiology and modern statistical methods to evaluate health risks from not just one exposure at a time, but the multitude of exposures we experience over our lifetimes.

This is a really exciting time to work in my field. There are emerging molecular methods, such as metabolomics, which can indicate past exposures as well as internal processes that may be activated in disease. New methods for detecting not only microplastics in humans but even smaller nano-plastics are evolving the way we view plastic food packaging and plastic waste. Detecting patterns of complex exposures and pathways that may be related to a disease is now possible by using new machine learning methods. Things I couldn’t dream about being able to do even a few years ago are now possible.

Because of my passion for the environment, I cofounded a local citizen action group, Green Olney, a few years ago in my hometown of Olney, Maryland. We tackle global environmental problems at the local level, focusing on the reduction of single-use plastics in the community and the promotion of composting.

TARA FETTIG RYAN ’85 Lawyer, Sony Interactive Entertainment

INNOVATION, SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF A SACRED HEART education, goes beyond novelty. It’s about recognizing extraordinary possibilities through collaborative discovery and hands-on experiences.

As a lawyer who has represented both pharmaceutical companies and now video game companies, I’ve witnessed firsthand how innovation can transform industries and the world in very different ways. Recently, I joined Sony Interactive Entertainment to represent PlayStation, advocating on crucial issues such as online safety, privacy, AI, and, importantly, the overall societal value of video games. Despite often being underestimated, the video game industry is the fastest-growing form of interactive entertainment around the world, and its impact is far-reaching.

Video game development explores extraordinary possibilities and drives creators and developers to contribute to societal progress. Today, video games extend beyond entertainment; they have evolved into powerful tools in fields as diverse as medicine, education, and military exercises.

TARA FETTIG RYAN ’85

Lawyer, Sony Interactive Entertainment (continued)

Video games also foster a sense of community and shared experience across cultures and generations. Features like customizable controls, visual and audio aids, and adjustable difficulty levels make them accessible for all.

The power of play, central to video games, is a profound driver of innovation. Play stimulates creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and encourages failure and resilience. Through play, individuals learn to experiment, take risks, and develop new ideas—qualities essential for innovation. This playful approach to problem-solving and creativity is quietly transforming the world in subtle yet powerful ways.

The collaborative nature of video game development and gameplay

DEIRDRE WHITE ’84

Chief Executive Officer, Pyxera Global

mirrors the Sacred Heart values of empathy and collective discovery. Through hands-on experimentation and critical inquiry, game development and play continually push the boundaries of what we believe we’re capable of and what is possible. Both development and play teach us to understand and engage with complex systems and technologies more deeply and more personally, leading to incremental transformations of systems in the world. Only by embracing adversity and overcoming challenges can innovation flourish.

Video games exemplify the relationship between creativity and struggle, a concept deeply ingrained in Sacred Heart teachings. By overcoming challenges and

I OFTEN THINK BACK TO MY STONE RIDGE experience and how it contributed to my work and leadership today at Pyxera Global, particularly the Stone Ridge focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, future orientation, and creative transformation.

Pyxera Global is a nonprofit social enterprise with a mission “to solve our world’s most pressing challenges, one community at a time.” A specific technique, which has now touched two decades of Pyxera Global employees, is the importance of “so what?”

In Mrs. Koss’s notoriously difficult U.S. History class, we had “IDs” instead of quizzes: we were given an event or a phrase from our recent learnings—for instance, the Dred Scott decision or the Teapot Dome scandal—and we had to answer: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

embracing adversity, true innovation flourishes, leading to advancements that benefit individuals and communities alike. These advancements often occur as video games integrate new technologies and ideas into everyday life.

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology and entertainment, it’s essential to recognize how innovation in video games contributes to making the world a better place. By incorporating principles of empathy, collaboration, and creativity, video games are revolutionizing life. These innovations, unwittingly aligned with Sacred Heart Goals, help us envision and create a brighter, more connected future for everyone.

How? and, importantly, So What? It was never good enough for us to just memorize facts; we had to think about what those facts meant in the larger picture and how a seemingly isolated event related to the past and impacted the future.

Today, I always ask my team members to think not just about the facts of the project they are implementing but also about how their work relates to the systems around them. They know I am not interested in a simple report of what was achieved but an analysis of why it matters and how that contributes to our social impact mission. In a world that is changing at breakneck speed, where uncertainty is rapidly becoming the norm in many spheres of life and work, and where innovation is a necessity, the skills of critical evaluation and systems thinking are an absolute requirement. I’m grateful that I was exposed early to those skills at Stone Ridge and that I have been able to use them to influence two generations of passionate social impact professionals. ❤

GET THE STONE RIDGE ONLINE ALUMNAE APP

Download the “Graduway Community” App from the App Store and then search for Stone Ridge.

Connect

Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to, and stay in touch.

Give back

Introduce, employ, and offer to act as a mentor to our graduating students.

Expand

Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know.

Reconnect with old classmates

SR Connects allows you to both reconnect with old classmates and use the trusted Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart environment to expand your professional network.

By fully integrating with social networks, and cultivating a culture of helping and giving back, you will be amazed by the vibrant Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart community! ❤

SR Connects

The SR Connects: MENTORS program provides a platform for meaningful interaction and engagement between alumnae and current students. Alumnae participants and presentation topics will reflect a range of ages, experiences, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and professions. It is important to have alumnae involved in the day-to-day life of the School and for students to see, through the example of our alumnae, the amazing possibilities and opportunities they can pursue after leaving Stone Ridge.

connect. discover. unite.

STONE RIDGE ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND

Re Calling all Alums!

Welcome back to the classes ending in 0s and 5s! Reunion Weekend 2025 is an exciting two-days with the opportunity to reconnect with your classmates, rediscover the magic of Stone Ridge, and celebrate your milestone Reunion! Don’t miss this chance to reunite and revel in the memories.

April 25–26, 2025

April 25: Class of 1975 50th Reunion Luncheon and Class Parties

April 26: Reunion Celebration

If you have any questions or would like to help encourage your classmates to attend, please contact Michael Anne Cullen ’95, Director of Alumnae Relations, at 301-657-4322 ext. 1608 or macullen@stoneridgeschool.org. ❤

The goal of SR Connects: MASTER CLASS is to provide continuing education, bring alumnae together, meet alumnae where they are in various ages and stages in their lives, and to create networking opportunities. Classes througout the year will cover a wide range of topics led by alumnae experts in their field.

We want YOU!

Are you interested in being a part of the SR Connects: Mentors program or teaching a SR Connects: Master Class? Do you want to engage with students or alumnae about your professional journey, or on a specific topic or about a special skill? Please contact: Michael Anne Cullen at 301-657-4322 ext. 1608, macullen@stoneridgeschool.org. ❤

Your Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Online Community

GOLDEN OUTSTANDING ALUMNA

DONNA LONG MAZYCK ’74

After 14 years as a nurse in community settings, Donna Mazyck ’74 discovered school nursing. She pioneered school nurse roles in a high school and an alternative school. Ms. Mazyck understands and has lived systems change and the importance of collaboration across school health leadership. At a state education department, she provided consultation and leadership to local school health services and school-based health center programs, working with government, community agencies, and other stakeholders to develop school health policies and regulations. During this time in her career, Ms. Mazyck volunteered at the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) as a board member (1999-2003) and as president (2007-2009).

In 2011, Ms. Mazyck was hired to lead NASN as executive director; she retired in 2023. A thoughtful and strategic leader, she led an expansion of the influence and impact of school nurses in

addressing student and school community health and safety. Major initiatives during her tenure include launching and operationalizing a strategic plan focused on shared leadership, a commitment to evidence-based practice and data collection, and an emphasis on interprofessional collaboration among school nurses. She also oversaw the creation of “The Framework for 21st Century School Nursing,” defining the role of student-centered school nursing and its complex mix of community/public health, leadership, care coordination, quality improvement and standards of practice components, and the growth of NASN’s grant-funded activities to include major efforts in chronic conditions, data collection, and evidence-based practice.

Currently, Ms. Mazyck serves as a board member for Evermore, a nonprofit advancing US bereavement care and policy, and an advisory council member for Maryland English Language Learner Family Involvement Network (MELLFIN). She enjoys traveling with her husband, chatting with her adult children, playing with her granddaughters, and being in gardens.

2024 Outstanding

THE OUTSTANDING

Alumnae Awards recognize alumnae who have made significant contributions to their community or profession while embodying the Goals and values of Sacred Heart education.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNA ANDRÉA VIEIRA ’94

Washington, D.C., Latina entrepreneur Andréa Vieira ’94 is the co-founder and CEO of nailsaloon, the region’s first premier luxury nail and beauty parlor. With locations in Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, Ms. Vieira plans to launch two additional sites in the DMV area in 2024.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Ms. Vieira served for 20 years as a journalist and television producer with the Discovery Channel, TruTV, HGTV, Animal Planet, and the Discovery Health Channel. She covered stories of Latin American

Alumnae Awards

YOUNG OUTSTANDING ALUMNA

MARIEL RICO ’09

Mariel Rico ’09 received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The George Washington University and a M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

She is currently a Customer Program Manager for Axiom Space in Houston. Axiom Space aims to build and operate the world’s first commercial space station. She manages contracts between international governments and Axiom and helps ensure that Axiom meets contract requirements.

She started her career as a Payload Integration Engineer for NanoRacks, a commercial space

services provider and the first company to operate a commercial laboratory in low-earth orbit. Ms. Rico was the primary customer interface for payload (science experiment) integration for Blue Origin’s New Shepard, a suborbital rocket. Afterward, she took a role at Aerodyne Industries LLC, a multi-faceted engineering services and solutions company, as an EVA (spacewalk) Operations Safety Engineer. She has worked on 11 EVAs, accumulating over 100 hours on console.

In 2018, the International Institute of Space Commerce awarded her the “35 under 35” award for her work with NanoRacks.

As to the future of her field, Ms. Rico is excited to see an increase in the accessibility to space that has come with commercialization. As she says, “Aerospace used to be just NASA. That is no longer the case.” With talented engineers like Ms. Rico leading the way, every day people’s access to space is getting closer and closer every day.

interest for Globo TV in New York, Telemundo in Washington, DC, and CNN in Atlanta. Ms. Vieira also worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, crafting speeches for both Bill and Melinda Gates and drafting and deliberating publicfacing communications for the pair and their projects. There, she cultivated her lifelong commitment to serving those most in need.

Ms. Vieira is driven by her business venture’s impact on a broader

community and is committed to supporting women, the free press, and organizations that address homelessness. Named a 2023 winner of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, Ms. Vieira commits nailsaloon to annual charitable donations and has contributed over $200,000 to causes, including the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless and her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Maryland’s Merrill College of Journalism.

Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, Ms. Vieira also holds a Global Executive MBA from Georgetown University and ESADE (Spain). She is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and sits on two boards, the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless and the Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas. Her proven record of cross-industry success has paved the way for her to drive seminal cultural and community impact through nail and beauty services. ❤

REUNION 2024 Alumnae

Preserving Tradition. Celebrating Community. Embracing Growth.

EEXPRESSING YOUR ENDEARMENT FOR STONE RIDGE CAN BE done through generous contributions to The Stone Ridge Fund. By supporting The Stone Ridge Fund, you are an integral part of nurturing our students and strengthening our faith community. Your contributions empower our dedicated faculty and enable the development of our academic, artistic, and athletic programs. When you choose to donate to The Stone Ridge Fund, you create transformative opportunities that enrich the lives of every student on a daily basis.

THE STONE RIDGE FUND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN MAKING A difference for every student and teacher. The unrestricted support generated through annual giving has a tangible, immediate impact, providing crucial resources to empower our community. Your generosity and commitment enable us to uphold our longstanding tradition of educational excellence.

Whether in the realms of academics, the arts, athletics, or faculty development, annual giving grants us the flexibility to invest in our most pressing needs. Your contributions sustain our ability to deliver the transformative educational experience that is the hallmark of a Sacred Heart education.

EXPANDED FINANCIAL AID

The Stone Ridge Fund enables us to keep our tuition accessible and maintain our programs and facilities. A Stone Ridge education is an exceptional investment in a child’s future. The Fund helps ensure a strong financial aid program designed to meet a wide range of family needs.

ACADEMICS, CURRICULUM, AND TECHNOLOGY

At Stone Ridge, our aim is to nurture a lasting passion for learning within each and every student. The Fund helps ensure that academic programs and related curricula are designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills that will serve our students well throughout their academic and professional journeys. Through advancements in technology, we are able to deliver a curriculum that engages students in substantive, open-ended discussions.

GIVING SOCIETIES

Très Bien Circle

Head of School Circle

Sacred Heart Circle

Duchesne Circle

$25,000+

$15,000+

$10,000+

$5,000+ Barat Circle

considering

WAYS TO GIVE

ONLINE www.stoneridgeschool.org/giving

VENMO @StoneRidgeDonations

MAIL 9101 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814

CONTACT Kim Johnson, Director of Institutional Advancement, kjohnson@stoneridgeschool.org, 301-657-4322 ext.1611 for information regarding: Gifts of Stock • Donor Advised Funds • Matching Gifts • Combined Federal Campaign ❤

STONE RIDGE At the Olympics

IT WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER FOR the Stone Ridge community as we cheered on our Olympic alumnae swimmers. The excitement began in June with Katie Ledecky ʼ15, Phoebe Bacon ʼ20, Erin Gemmell ʼ23, and Eleanor Sun ʼ23 competing in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming. These alumnae are among the fastest and most talented swimmers in the world. By the end of the trials, Stone Ridge Gator fans were thrilled to learn that the performances of Katie, Phoebe, and Erin earned them spots on Team USA to compete in the 2024 Paris Games.

It is rare for three athletes who attended the same high school to be named to an Olympic Team together; of the 20 women comprising the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Team, Stone Ridge alumnae represented 15%. This statistic is especially impressive considering that the qualifying process for swimmers to make Team USA is one of the most difficult of any Olympic sport.

Katie, Phoebe, and Erin have nationally and internationally decorated careers. The 2024 Paris Games was Katie’s fourth Olympic appearance. In July 2023, she broke Michael Phelps’ record for most individual World

Championship gold medals. For Phoebe, the 2021 and 2024 NCAA Champion in the 200-yard backstroke, this was her second appearance after her debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The youngest of the group, Erin, represented the U.S. on the World Championship team in 2023 and earned silver in the 4 x 200 Freestyle Relay.

“The Olympics are inspirational both as an expression of our global community and also because of the triumph of individuals and the hope and inspiration they model in terms of the human spirit,” says Head of School Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86.

Ahead of the Opening Ceremony on July 25, hundreds of Stone Ridge community members, past and present, gathered for an Olympic Pep Rally at the School, exuding

“ ...of the 20 women comprising the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Team, Stone Ridge alumnae represented 15%.”

enthusiasm and pride for the Olympic Gators. Attendees showed their spirit by wearing specially made Stone Ridge Olympic t-shirts and red, white, and blue accessories to mark the occasion. Director of Athletics Andrew Maguire led the crowd in spirited cheers as Gator fans held up handmade posters honoring the hometown Olympians. Head of Upper School Malcolm McCluskey highlighted how the athletes exemplify Sacred Heart values. Former teammates, coaches, and friends stepped to the mic to share personal anecdotes about the swimmers.

Katie, Phoebe, and Erin sent heartfelt video messages thanking the community for their support. Mrs. Karrels, who was on her way to Paris, pre-recorded a video message for the crowd, which included an impromptu dive into the Stone Ridge pool exclaiming, “We are all in this with you!” (See Mrs. Karrels’ reports from the Olympics in our Instagram stories highlight #SROlympicGators).

Varsity Swimming & Diving Coach Bob Walker says, “The community spirit, dedication, and humility that all three of these young women bring to their successes are hallmarks of what it means to be a Stone Ridge studentathlete, and it is so inspiring to our younger swimmers, athletes, and entire community to see them achieving at such a high level with such grace.”

RESULTS OF THE GAMES

Katie finished on a high note with her second gold medal in Paris and was selected as a U.S. flag bearer for the closing ceremony. She ended the games as the most decorated female American Olympian in history and became the first woman to win four gold medals in any single Olympic event. Phoebe and Erin also delivered powerful performances in Paris that made our whole community proud.

STONE RIDGE OLYMPIAN EVENTS AND OUTCOMES

400m Freestyle: KATIE

OUTCOME: Bronze Medal

200m Freestyle: ERIN

OUTCOME: 9th place finish overall

1500m Freestyle: KATIE

OUTCOME: Gold Medal and new Olympic record for this event. With this medal, Katie tied for the mostever Olympic gold medals and total medals won by a female American Olympian.

4x200m Relay: ERIN and KATIE

OUTCOME: Silver Medal, the first Olympic medal for Erin and with this medal, Katie became the new record holder for most Olympic medals and total medals won by a female American Olympian.

200m Backstroke: PHOEBE

OUTCOME: 4th place finish overall

800m Freestyle: KATIE

OUTCOME: Gold Medal

THE ATHLETES RETURN

Despite their busy schedules, all three Olympians made time in late August to visit Stone Ridge before returning to their training, schooling and lives in America. Erin surprised school faculty and staff by joining Mrs. Karrels for a Q&A about her Olympic experience during the All-Employee Orientation. Katie swung by campus to reconnect with the swim coaches, Mrs. Karrels, and Head of Upper School, Malcolm McCluskey, who all played important roles in her experience as a student-athlete at Stone Ridge. Phoebe came by the day before heading back to college in Wisconsin for a Q&A with Director of Athletics, Andrew Maguire, during which she answered student-athlete questions and offered valuable advice on staying physically and mentally healthy. All three athletes hope to return to campus this fall to engage with students and the school community.

CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE

Today, a new generation is inspired by the grit, dedication, and determination of Katie, Erin, and Phoebe as they hone their craft in pursuit of excellence. Our community takes immense pride in celebrating their successes, not only for their impressive achievements in the pool but also for the character and values they represent as role models for countless young Gators.

Stone Ridge’s athletic program aspires to develop Champions for Life, guided by our mission, the Goals of Sacred Heart education, and the powerful bonds of sisterhood. Our Olympic Gators embody this ethos, reminding us of the profound impact our students and alumnae have on their peers and future generations of champions.

#GatorStrong

As Mrs. Karrels notes, “Erin and Phoebe were both deeply inspired by Katie when they were younger, and the spirit of sisterhood they demonstrate is part of our school culture. It’s hard to find words to express how happy it makes me to see three of our alums standing next to each other on the world stage, doing exactly what they love.”

Reflecting on this remarkable summer, we are reminded of the incredible journey of our Olympic alumnae and the powerful example they set for our community. Their success is a testament to the values of commitment, resilience, and teamwork at the heart of Stone Ridge. Their achievements bring pride to our school and inspire both current and future generations of Gators to strive for excellence, both in and out of the pool.

As we move forward, we carry with us the spirit of these Olympians and their embodiment of Sacred Heart values and traditions. Katie, Erin, and Phoebe remind us of the impact that perseverance and passion can have,

encouraging us all to pursue our own goals with the same commitment and grace. We look forward to celebrating future successes with our community, inspired by the exceptional example set by our Olympic Gators. ❤

GATORS IN THE NEWS

All three athletes have been in the news for their accomplishments. If you’d like to read up or watch video coverage of our athletes, we’ve compiled a round-up on our Olympic Gators page.

LOOKING FOR MORE ON SOCIAL?

Our school social media accounts were packed with coverage on the athletes and sharing photos taken by Mrs. Karrels in Paris. If you missed it, we’ve saved all our social content under the #SROlympicGators highlight on our SR Instagram profile. You can also follow Katie (@katieledecky), Phoebe (@baconswims) and Erin (@eringemmelll) on Instagram.

WORLD-CLASS GATORS STONE RIDGE: A Home for Up-and-Coming Elite Athletes

AS A SACRED HEART SCHOOL INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN

to lead and serve through lives of purpose, Stone Ridge has had the privilege of seeing many of our students and alumnae thrive in their chosen pursuits. This summer, we had the remarkable opportunity to cheer on three of our alumnae as they competed at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Among them was America’s most decorated female swimmer of all time, our very own Gator, Katie Ledecky ’15, along with second-time Olympian Phoebe Bacon ’20, and Erin Gemmell ’23 making her Olympic debut. A fourth Gator swimmer, Eleanor Sun ʼ23, also competed at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. While it is sometimes possible for swimmers from the same college to be named to an Olympic team together, it is nearly unheard of for three athletes who attended the same high school to do this. What is it about Stone Ridge that helps support young athletes to reach elite levels of competition?

The Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria form the foundation for the School’s development of leaders ready to share their light in the world. Goal V and its Criteria encourage growing in courage, strength, and resilience by meeting challenges (Criteria 1 ), finding balance in spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional well-being (Criteria 2), and educating to transformational leadership (Criteria 7 ). The resulting environment encourages students to tackle challenges and develop leadership skills while maintaining a healthy balance in their lives. This seems to be an ideal blend of support and challenge for young athletes.

The new level of inspiration and motivation brought by Katie Ledecky’s ’15 record-breaking career has also certainly contributed to the increase in elite-level athletes graduating from Stone Ridge in the 12 years since her Olympic debut.

The sight of past Gators competing for country and for college, on playing fields and rivers, in swimming

pools and gyms, has become familiar over the past decade. Stone Ridge has long been a force in its regional sports league, the Independent School League (ISL). Banners in its athletic buildings testify to the Gators’ ISL success over many, many years.

For 20 years, about a half-dozen seniors annually signed letters of intent to play collegiate sports but the steady stream of Stone Ridge collegiate athletes has broadened substantially—12 from the Class of 2020, 15 from ’21, 17 from ’22, 15 from ’23, and 13 in 2024. In other words, 72 women who rank among the best athletes in the United States

graduated from Stone Ridge in four years’ time.

Director of Athletics Andrew Maguire says that the school is attracting more top-notch players, a development for which he cites several factors. The allgirls environment is a draw for many families. So is Sacred Heart education. Stone Ridge’s emphasis on equilibrium—between academics and athletics and between club sports and school sports—is welcomed by players and parents alike.

Standout athletes are drawn to attend Stone Ridge because they’ve seen standout athletes attend Stone Ridge.

Swimmers Phoebe Bacon ’20 (2021 and 2024 Olympian and 2021 and 2024 individual NCAA Champion) and Eleanor Sun ’23 (2024 Ivy League Team Champion, NCAA Championship qualifier, and 2024 Olympic Swimming Trial competitor) both mentioned that Stone Ridge’s swimming success with Katie Ledecky ’15 was an initial reason that they were interested in coming to Stone Ridge for Upper School. Notably, once they were Gators, both reflected on the support

Phoebe Bacon ’15

Standout athletes are drawn to Stone Ridge because they’ve seen standout athletes attend Stone Ridge.

they received to balance their demanding schedules as a factor that truly helped them continue to grow and succeed and that there was something unique about the support at Stone Ridge. Both Phoebe and Eleanor credit Swim Coach Bob Walker for helping to balance their obligations as studentathletes, especially with swimming being one of the sports where the external club and school seasons occur simultaneously.

Katherine Khramtsov ’22, a threesport Iron Gator at Stone Ridge and current Ivy League ice hockey player at Princeton, says she found similar encouragement from all of her coaches at Stone Ridge, as well as from teachers and administrators. Head of Upper School Malcolm McCluskey and her advisor would “meet with me to help me balance my academics and athletics and to find the best possible solution when conflicts arose—which sometimes would consist of having to miss multiple days of school at a time,” she says.

Stone Ridge, these athletes say, encouraged them to become the best versions of themselves in every facet of life.

“Something that has stuck with me after I graduated from Stone Ridge is the opportunity that Stone Ridge gave me to explore all parts of myself and all of my passions,” says Michaela O’Connor ’22, a member of the 2024 National Championship winning Boston College Women’s Lacrosse team. Michaela noted that Stone Ridge helped her balance being more than just a student or an

Katherine Khramstov ’22

Mary Hollensteiner ’23

Samantha Aronson ’23

Michaela O’Connor ’22

Eleanor Sun ’23

athlete, stating that Stone Ridge’s Upper School schedule allowed her to fit an art class into her schedule, which proved to be a great outlet from other stressors, and that having Social Action built into the curriculum allowed her to have experiences outside of the community during the school day, which helped with balancing school and club sports at the same time.

Despite the balance seeming effortless to outsiders at times, these student-athletes acknowledge that it was always something they had to work at. Mary Hollensteiner ’23, a member of Harvard’s women’s basketball team, noted that “it was definitely challenging at times to balance academics and athletics. However, Stone Ridge did a very good job of teaching students how to excel at both and provided plenty of opportunities and resources for building good habits at a young age.”

Mary reflected that the lessons learned at Stone Ridge helped prepare her for an even more time-intensive and demanding schedule in college because Stone Ridge had instilled these habits the discipline necessary for being a student-athlete long before she got to Harvard.

Dr. Maguire noted that the Stone Ridge Athletics Department is “committed to supporting its studentathletes in whatever ways possible” to succeed in their sports, while recognizing that participation in their sports is just one component of their busy school schedules. He continued that “sometimes helping them just means allowing them to come use the Stone Ridge fields and gyms to practice on their own time

when the facilities are available, or trying to bring more programming to campus, like morning strength and conditioning sessions next school year, to help with family logistics.”

Access doesn’t stop when Gators graduate. Dr. Maguire noted within a 48-hour period in mid-May he heard from Mary, along with Chetanna Nweke ’20 (Basketball— Princeton, Georgetown), Corey White ’23 (Lacrosse—University of Virginia), and Samantha Aronson ’23 (Soccer—Boston University), all saying that they were home from college and were hopeful to come back to campus to continue to master their skills.

The Stone Ridge Athletics experience fosters dedication within the students themselves, and also surrounds them with dedication from the entire Stone Ridge community to support the balancing act required of student-athletes in the top echelon. ❤

Stone Ridge, these athletes say, encouraged them to become the best versions of themselves in every facet of life.

STUDENT LIFE Athletics

COMMENCEMENT

Anna Alberino · BOSTON COLLEGE

Lillian Aquino · FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

Atoosa Azizi · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

Roxana Azizi · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

Simone Bailey · BELMONT UNIVERSITY

Caroline Baker · MACALESTER COLLEGE

Hadley Blair · VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Madeleine Bohlen · AMHERST COLLEGE

Taylor Bowen-Longino · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Daniela Braw-Smith · UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

Katherine Carr · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Charlotte Coffman · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Lauren Connelly · MCGILL UNIVERSITY

Valerie Consuegra · SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN

Sofía Cubillan-Bravo · LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND

Annabelle DeFosse · PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Fiona DeSouza · SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Claudia Donatelli · TULANE UNIVERSITY

Claire Donovan · COLGATE UNIVERSITY

Gabriella Dourgarian · TULANE UNIVERSITY

Reilley Dunn · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Bridget Ellis · COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY

Emily Espinosa · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Madeline Espinosa · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Emily Evans · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Sabrina Feldberg · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Maia Fendig · OBERLIN COLLEGE

Madeline Foulkes · VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Katherine Gannon · BOWDOIN COLLEGE

Lela Gavasheli · AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Alicia Gebara · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL

Megan Glynn · UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

Riley Gozycki · SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Ava Guiterman · GETTYSBURG COLLEGE

Francesca Guzzo · UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Rachel Habib · INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Emanuelle Hair · SPELMAN COLLEGE

Anna Hasselwander · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Erin Johnson · MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

Alessia Jones · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Gabrielle Klein · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Rachel Knox · UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

Ella LaGrange · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

Lucy Lamond · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Marieve Lange · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Elice Lebedev · SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Caroline Lennon · DREXEL UNIVERSITY

Alyssa Lentz · BUTLER UNIVERSITY

COMMENCEMENT

Class of 2024

Elizabeth Maurano · UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

Cara Mitchell · FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

Margaret Myers · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Molly O’Toole · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Ngolela Omekongo · AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Clare Osberg · COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY

Natasha Parker · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Natalie Pearl · GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Madeline Peppo · BOSTON COLLEGE

Emma Person · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

Ariana Plotas · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Clare Porto · COLGATE UNIVERSITY

Jocelyn Procell · LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY

Sophia Quintero-Thanos · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Amina Rashid · NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Ciara Rattanavong · UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

Morgan Robinson · SPELMAN COLLEGE

Marie Ronin · AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Taryn Ryan · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Mary Scanlon · MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

Madeline Schneider · ALLEGHENY COLLEGE

Ruby Schropp · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Kathryn Scola · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Taylor Scott · HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Juliana Scurfield · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY

Caroline Seigel · BOSTON COLLEGE

Adeline Shannon · TRINITY COLLEGE

Sofia Sheikh · UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS

Sydney Silva · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Hallie Slidell · DAVIDSON COLLEGE

Red Smawley · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

Annelise Steinkamp-Johnson · HOBART & WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Lucy Stockton · VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Paige Suk · BARNARD COLLEGE

Amelia Taylor · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY/ PEABODY INSTITUTE

Ella Tetteh · EMORY UNIVERSITY

Edy Thompson · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Clara Ubl · SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY

Emeline Valeck · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Fiona Volanth · BOSTON COLLEGE

Lina Vuga · RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Kirsten Weber · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Ashwin Whig · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Tayla Williams · CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Veronica Williams · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Naomi Witkowski · BOSTON COLLEGE

Your Capital-T Truths

Excerpts from the 2024 Commencement Address

Ms. Beatriz “Bebe” L. Albornoz ’10, Esq., Litigation Associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLC

ANXIOUSNESS CAN make us feel quite alone. I think of anxiousness

as a form of fear, frozen in a time frame. With the grace that comes with more time, we step out of that time frame and move forward. This is the gift of perspective that frees us from paralysis.

Stone Ridge, for me, was a place that cushioned life’s sorrows. It was the safest place. It was the place that shined God’s unfailing grace on me when I was admitted to Stone Ridge in 2006 and promised the security of financial aid to be able to attend.

Why did Stone Ridge soften sorrows for me? Because it gave me the space to remember my intrinsic human dignity. To know, with utmost certainty, that I was a child of God. That meant that I was as carefree as a child: unconcerned about my appearance, bold enough to attempt stand-up comedy while leading daily assemblies, having an openness of heart to be friends with every member of my class, joking with respectful confidence

with my teachers, or even my audacity to take Drama I as the only senior in a class of all freshmen.

Connection, belonging, sincerity, serenity, selfawareness, selflessness, and humor (with some selfdeprecation) are supplements for your soul, all of which I received daily at Stone Ridge and continue to each time I return, awash with a perspective that frees me from the paralysis of anxiousness. It is human to fear and to have unease. This is a part of our human condition that no supplement or lifestyle choice can ever fully dispel from us. And that’s okay.

You may have some anxiousness and unease about starting college this year. You may wonder: Will I get along with my roommate or make friends? Will I survive homesickness? Will classes be hard? How many gallonsize containers of Goldfish in my dorm is too many? And then, just as you did as freshmen and now, as the graduating Class of 2024, you will ease in. You will fill out your surroundings because, just as natural as it is to fear, it is also natural to adapt, learn, connect, and belong. You will learn that, even in lonely moments, you are never alone. God’s hand is on your shoulder, the people and places that were home to you before are still there, with open doors and open arms, and new friends will clothe you in the comfort of knowing that you are known and understood.

There are many truths to reality, including the truth of anxiousness and unease. But where these are conditions of your reality, there are some immovable, capital-T truths that are enough and that exist beyond the time frames of fear.

Commencements are, rightfully, days where you are encouraged to soar. You are urged, even, to go change the world. And I know that each of you will. I know this because changing the world starts and often even stays centered on your ability to prioritize the capital-T truths of life. I know that Stone Ridge is a place that has nurtured your ability to recognize those priorities and center them.

When you leave Stone Ridge, you will go off and do so many outstanding things. But, I say to you, as I say to myself, the most outstanding things can also be the most ordinary ones. The ordinary things are often the most essential ones, the capital-T truths, that are already within you and around you:

• Cherish your parents (and call them). You will disagree with them, maybe argue with them, and want to defy them. That’s life. But you’re here because of them, and they love you in the form closest to what the elixir of God’s love is.

• Remember your friends. You may, like me, find that the first few years after Stone Ridge are fertile ground for the hometown reunions at Einstein Bagels, Starbucks, or elsewhere in Bethesda. And you will make friends in college, at your internships and jobs, and elsewhere. Sometimes, though, you lose track and communication becomes infrequent. Try, though, to keep those friends in your heart, and, freely text them no matter how much time has passed. Rest assured that your friends will always find you, reach you, and remind you of your happiness.

• Revel in nostalgia. The memories stay with you to buoy you through life’s uncharted waters. The past doesn’t have to be unmoored from your future or the present. It is connected in important ways that will help keep you grounded and able to push out of the paralysis of anxiousness. Remember what you sounded like when you laughed at assemblies and events at Stone Ridge; recall even the warm, salty tears that you’ve cried in sad moments; preserve always the kindness in your heart.

• Love yourself. Love who you were at Stone Ridge and the ways in which you will continue to be that person.

But also love the person you may change, in some ways, to become as you grow and develop. Recognize yourself in the mirror of your heart at each stage. Even when you fear you are lost, you are not; you are just on your way.

• Consider others. You have served the broader communities you’ve come to know through Social Action and global awareness. But each day is filled with interactions. Sometimes it may be with the person you want to honk at on Old Georgetown Road or that you want to prod to move faster in the checkout aisle at Target. It’s okay to have negative moments. But try to consider, with empathy, how human those people are and how alike you are as a result. Be forgiving and generous, say something nice, and embody the Golden Rule.

• Trust in God. Your hope can always be founded in God. God alone is enough.

I wish for each of you the grace of your Stone Ridge days, the joyful youth and wonder radiating off your beautiful beings today. And also the perspective to face the unknowns of your coming days, where you will harness some of the wisdom that comes from weathering tougher challenges and existing in anxiousness within each fleeting time frame in order to move forward.

This moment, your Commencement, is also a time frame. It is one you will remember some aspects of and forget some of, too. What won’t fade is the capital-T truth that you existed in this time frame as a child of God, full of dignity, imbued with all of the core qualities that make you who you are and will continue to be, and that make all of us so unbelievably proud of you.

Congratulations, my fellow new alumnae: the Stone Ridge Class of 2024! ❤

The Highway of Life

Clare Osberg ’24 Valedictorian Speech

GOOD MORNING, FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

faculty and staff, members of the administration and Board of Trustees, and the Class of 2024. For our class, today marks the end of our high school path together, but I am glad to tell you that this is not the end of our road. Although I hardly feel qualified to advise you on the future, I am grateful to have the opportunity to share with you how bright the futures are that I see ahead for our class as we take the lessons that we learned as student drivers at Stone Ridge onto the highway of life.

When I reflect on my time at Stone Ridge, I have to remember where it all started: at the dinner table when I was seven years old and my parents told me that I would be switching schools to attend Stone Ridge for second grade. I did not want to go, and I cried—a lot. Luckily, I quickly got over my sadness as my new classmates welcomed me with open arms. Now, more than a decade later, I cry at the thought of leaving Stone Ridge, a place that has become my second home.

Throughout my time here, just like teenagers learning to drive, I have seen each of you grow from nervous, brakereliant beginners into capable individuals coasting down the road as we emerged from our freshman-year cohorts, formed true connections with our class, and now cheer loudly for each other as we graduate.

For helping us achieve this progress, we have so many metaphorical driving instructors to thank. First, to our families and friends, I am so grateful that, by allowing us to be part of this wonderful community, you have given us, in the words of Alicia Gebara ’24, the greatest gift of all. Thank you all for your constant love and support, from getting me a poster board the night before my projects were due to my parents helping me with this speech the day before graduation, as it’s your endless efforts that have kept me afloat throughout my high school years. Second, to the faculty and staff, thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, so that we may gain not only knowledge but also good character and integrity. I am appreciative of Mr. Ish’s fake quizzes for keeping me alert on the road, conversations in Mrs. Diaz’s physics class for making my journey enjoyable, and the Goals of the Sacred Heart, instilled in us by Mr. McCluskey and Mrs. Karrels, that guide us in everything we do. I know that, even if we forget exactly how Dr. Wear taught us

“If you feel lost, look for the love of the Sacred Heart cultivated in each and every one of you and be found. If you doubt yourself, remember our confidence in you and embrace your ability to do hard things.”

“…the qualities of perseverance, creativity, and responsibility that our teachers have cultivated in us will shape our success for the rest of our lives…”

to write an introduction or the topic of our junior-year morality project, the qualities of perseverance, creativity, and responsibility that our teachers have cultivated in us will shape our success for the rest of our lives, in the same way that I still hear my dad’s voice in my head telling me to brake every time I get too close to another car.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Class of 2024. It’s your friendships, new and old, that have made me feel like I truly belong here. You have loved me through asymmetrical haircuts, awkward Google Meet breakout rooms, and embarrassing photos of falling asleep on school buses. It has always been seeing you that made me most excited to come to school. From morning chats in the “slounge” to shouts of “Closberg!” when I pass someone in the hallway, you have filled my days with joy, and I love you all for sharing your beautiful personalities with me.

I honestly don’t know what challenges lie ahead for each of us as our paths split and we go our separate ways, and as someone who meticulously plans everything on a collection of sticky notes on my desk, that terrifies me in the same way that my first solo drive on the highway did. I am scared of not knowing how I will possibly thrive when I am not surrounded by all of you every day because you are the people who have most significantly impacted my high school experience, and I am so proud to call you my classmates and friends. What I keep telling myself, and what I want to tell each of you, is that, despite having reached the end of our time together as students, we will always have each other.

As drivers, we all encounter roadblocks. I’ve learned how to navigate life’s obstacles as I’ve learned from each of you, and I will always hold these lessons close to my heart. From Natasha and her significant list of accomplishments, I learned the values of diligence and hard work. From Katherine and her enthusiastic commitment to the community, I learned the values of confidence and

dedication. From Alessia and her honest humor, I learned the values of authenticity and laughter. As we go off to college as independent drivers licensed with our high school diplomas, we will no longer have our driving instructors along for the ride to decide our every move, yet we can still be guided by each other’s best qualities. Therefore my advice to you, is to consider how you might channel Ellie’s outgoing spirit to build a new community, or Hallie’s bravery to try something new, or Ashwin’s sincerity to ask questions and pursue your passions.

If you feel lost, look for the love of the Sacred Heart cultivated in each and every one of you and be found. If you doubt yourself, remember our confidence in you and embrace your ability to do hard things. If you feel isolated in a new place, reach out to the people sitting next to you right now, and if you remember nothing else that I say, remember that no matter the time or distance between us, our class loves you.

Despite my nervousness to navigate the highway ahead alone and my sadness at leaving this stage of my life behind, I am determined to forge ahead. In the words of singer Natasha Bedingfield, “Live your life with arms wide open / Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten.” Having driven down this winding road with each of you for one year, four years, or even ten, I know that your achievements today are only a fraction of what lies in front of you, so move forward assuredly with the knowledge that you will always have our community behind you. I can’t wait to see just how far we all go on the highway of life. ❤

To the Extraordinary Class of 2024

Natasha Parker ’24 Salutatorian Speech

HI EVERYONE! I’M SO EXCITED TO HAVE the opportunity to celebrate one of the most extraordinary classes, the Class of 2024.

I know calling all of you extraordinary might seem like a rather boring description. Maybe I should have pulled up Thesaurus.com while writing this and chosen another word, but I think the adjective suits you all perfectly. For all my four years of high school, I didn’t think the final weeks leading up to graduation would affect me because, as many of you may know, I’m not a very sentimental person. Yet, the Thursday night before Prank Day, as I drove home after decorating the school, it hit me how much I would miss each and every one of you. I was sure I would feel sentimental eventually, likely after graduation, but before was something I never expected. However, thinking back on it, I cannot believe I ever thought that I would not be missing all of you before we even went our separate ways. After all, when I think back on my experience at Stone Ridge, I immediately think of the people I am surrounded by today: scholars, volunteers, artists, advocates, inventors, athletes, and so much more.

The beauty of going to a small school is that you get the chance to talk to all of your classmates. If you haven’t had

a class with someone, you probably ended up in a Kairos group with them, sitting next to them on a bus ride to your Social Action site, or crammed up next to them when you joined them to cut the lunch line. No matter how you ended up having your first conversation with a classmate, you always left knowing a bit more about them, and I guarantee you’ve had at least one conversation with everyone here. These conversations, no matter how small, have reminded me of the many amazing qualities this class has. We are empathetic, welcoming, hilarious (if any of you get into stand-up comedy, you’ll see me in the crowd), intelligent, and athletic. These qualities are why I have such fond memories of this class, and they are why you all managed to do the impossible and make me miss you before you were even gone.

“ We have all come out of Stone Ridge more resilient than we were before, and it would not have been possible without all of the faculty and staff’s help and genuine care for the quality of our education.”

However, after today, we will no longer return here after every weekend. We will no longer be making fond memories at Stone Ridge but at college, internships, clubs, and whatever other activities we choose to invest our time into. Yet, though I will not be along with all of you for the ride, we will still be connected by the bond we have formed by seeing each other at our best and worst these past four years, which is why I know that the memories you will make and the things you will accomplish after today will be amazing.

This is in part because of the unbelievably wonderful personalities graduating today but also the skills Stone Ridge has taught us. I would like to thank all the exceptional teachers at this school. Stone Ridge teachers not only have a strong grasp on the subject they teach but also have a vast breadth of wisdom they are willing

to share whenever you stumble into a problem in your personal or academic lives. Though there have been a few days where I know we have all wondered what could possibly be the value of having hours of reading or a test nearly every two weeks for one class, I would not have had it any other way. The rigorous and, at times, seemingly overwhelming education brought us closer together. Together we survived the hard times like the week before any holiday break and college application season, all while juggling multiple sports and a large helping of clubs, jobs, and other activities. Though these challenging weeks every year may have seemed to have no upside at the time, it has made us a community where no one is afraid to engage in the classroom, advocate for themselves, and ask for help. We have all come out of Stone Ridge more resilient than we were before, and it would not have been possible without all of the faculty and staff’s help and genuine care for the quality of our education.

The wonderful future I know is ahead of us is also thanks to all of the family and friends who supported us along the way. Thank you to my parents, who were always willing to drive me to another field hockey practice or to grab ice cream after school. Thank you to my friends, who made sure I maintained a social life. Finally, thank you to all my peers, who made every class one I enjoyed with their incredible wit, humor, and understanding, even if I wasn’t looking forward to coming to school that day. I’m sure

“After all, when I think back on my experience at Stone Ridge, I immediately think of the people I am surrounded by today: scholars, volunteers, artists, advocates, inventors, athletes, and so much more.”

every graduate sitting here today has similar thanks for those gathered here to celebrate, so allow me to thank you on their behalf and share in your excitement about what amazing things this class will do in the future.

With all this being said, whether you were here with me from the very beginning 14 years ago (which, fun fact, is about 80% of our lives so far) or you came some time along the way, you each hold a special place in my heart. You will all have that place for years to come, which is why I can confidently say extraordinary is the perfect adjective to describe every one of you. ❤

Awards & Honors

VALEDICTORIAN

Clare Osberg

SALUTATORIAN

Natasha Parker

Awards of Distinction

FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT AWARDS

GOAL I: FAITH

In Honor of Anne Dyer ’55, RSCJ

Katherine Carr

GOAL II: INTELLECTUAL VALUES

Daniela Braw-Smith

GOAL III: SOCIAL AWARENESS

In Memory of Mary Hogan Leslie ’64

Marie Ronin

GOAL IV: BUILDING COMMUNITY

Francesca Guzzo

GOAL V : PERSONAL GROWTH

Red Smawley

THE CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Ella LaGrange

THE CARDINAL’S AWARD

Lina Vuga

THE PARENTS AND ALUMNAE AWARD

Taylor Bowen-Longino

THE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE AWARD

Ngolela Omekongo

THE BARAT AWARD

Hallie Slidell

Athletic Awards

BONIFANT-WILLSON AWARD FOR BEST ALL-AROUND ATHLETE

Katherine Carr

Adeline Shannon

STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD

Madeline Espinosa

Katherine Gannon

SPIRIT AWARD

Kirsten Weber

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Margaret Myers

Madeline Peppo

STUDENT-ATHLETE LEADERSHIP AWARD

Hallie Slidell

KEVIN DUFFY GATOR STRONG AWARD

Fiona Volanth

STONE RIDGE IS PROUD OF THE MANY student-athletes who have taken their passion for playing sports to college with them to participate on teams for their universities. Thirteen members of the Class of 2024 committed to playing at the varsity intercollegiate level—for many, the highest level of competition in their respective sports. #GatorStrong ❤

College Athletic Signing Commitments

Alyssa Lentz · BUTLER UNIVERSITY: Lacrosse

Kristen Weber · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER: Lacrosse

Madeleine Bohlen · AMHERST COLLEGE: Lacrosse

Charlotte Coffman · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON: Rowing

Ava Guiterman · GETTYSBURG COLLEGE: Lacrosse

Katherine Carr · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: Lacrosse

Caroline Lennon · DREXEL UNIVERSITY: Lacrosse

Margaret Myers · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER: Lacrosse

Madeline Schneider · ALLEGHENY COLLEGE: Soccer

NOT PICTURED: Adeline Shannon · TRINITY COLLEGE: Soccer

Natasha Parker · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: Field Hockey

Tayla Williams · CORNELL UNIVERSITY: Field Hockey

Hallie Slidell · DAVIDSON COLLEGE: Field Hockey

(Pictured left to right)

STUDENT LIFE Arts

Rising Artists

Class of 2024 College Arts Programs

Taylor Bowen Longino · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI: Music

Lillian Aquino · FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY: Minor in Art

Valerie Consuegra · SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN: Illustration

Gabriella Dourgarian · TULANE UNIVERSITY: Architecture

Rachel Knox · UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: Acting

Marieve Lange · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: Studio Art

Ella LaGrange · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Media & Digital Communication

Ariana Plotas · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: Minor in Art

53 RD DEER CREEK FIDDLER’S

CONVENTION JUDGE’S PRIZE

Rose Colomb ’30

Celebrating Our 2024 Barat Medal Recipients

Excerpts from Head of School Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86 speech in May 2024

THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITE NIGHTS OF THE year, as it offers a chance to gather with significant leaders in our community for a night of gratitude and celebration.

Every single person gathered in this room is a Stone Ridge leader. Whether you are a parent, past parent, current or past board member, or employee, you have supported and strengthened Stone Ridge through your philanthropic support, your volunteerism, your intellect, your work.

BRIAN FRIEL

Brian Friel has exhibited unwavering dedication and made significant contributions to Stone Ridge since becoming part of our community in 2012, when his daughter Delia ’16 enrolled as a First Academic and Mary Kate ’25 enrolled as a Kindergartener.

Always engaged in the parent community and as generous donors, Mr. Friel and his wife, Mary Margaret, have been incredibly supportive and engaged parents.

Mr. Friel served on the Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2023 and, for five years, was also Chair of the Development Committee and a member of the Cor • Unum Campaign Executive Committee.

This was a particularly important stage in the School’s history, as we were engaged in the largest master planning effort in more than 20 years and the largest capital campaign in its 100-year history.

Mr. Friel led by example by making a generous contribution and then met with many prospective donors to encourage them to contribute. He played a major role in Stone Ridge, raising $26.5 million for that capital campaign.

Mr. Friel’s natural ability to connect with people, his deep commitment to building relationships and community, and his unwavering belief in the benefits of a Sacred Heart education make him a spectacular ambassador for our School.

When asked about his role as a Trustee, past Board Chair Kristen Hohman remarked: “Brian was incredibly impactful as a board member. He always kept the School’s mission at the forefront and asked deep, insightful questions that led to active debate and wellinformed decision-making. His passion for Stone Ridge’s success was inspiring to witness.”

Let’s not forget that Mr. Friel also has a day job and four kids. Nestled in age between the two Stone Ridge girls, the Friels also have two terrific boys—Declan and Rory. As one of the founders and partners of Miller Friel, a law firm that specializes in insurance recovery, Mr. Friel juggles a robust calendar, but he always generously gives to Stone Ridge his time and expertise.

BILL AND ANA MARIA BALFOUR

For more than five decades, the unwavering commitment of Bill and Ana Maria Balfour to Stone Ridge has been nothing short of extraordinary.

They are the parents of three wonderful Stone Ridge alumnae: Michele ’84, Valeria ’88, and Alexandra ’95.

Since first enrolling in 1971, they have dedicated their time and philanthropic endeavors to our institution—but more importantly, they have given us their hearts.

The pivotal roles they have played in numerous transformative capital campaigns, including the Upper School Academic Building and, most recently, Cor • Unum, have been instrumental in shaping the Stone Ridge campus and elevating our students’ educational experience.

Throughout their tenure as Stone Ridge parents, Dr. and Mrs. Balfour served with distinction in various capacities. Dr. Balfour was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1998 and served on several leadership committees.

For many years, Mrs. Balfour volunteered in the campus greenhouse, at the Used Book Sale, and with Christmas Bazaars.

Their leadership and community investment have propelled Stone Ridge forward, supporting generations of students and fostering an environment of excellence.

Sister Anne Dyer ’55, headmistress from 1984 to 2006, says this of the Balfours:

“Ana Maria embodied the mission of the School as a consummate parent volunteer, a fearless

advocate for her children, and a clarion trumpet for the school. Bill was always my pediatrician on call for advice or emergency care. We were blessed to have a person of his caliber as a member of the Board. Above all, with pride, I can say the Balfours are wonderful personal friends.”

In their personal lives, the Balfours live the Five Goals of Sacred Heart education with an uncommon dedication. Though their third daughter graduated from Stone Ridge almost 30 years ago, they still remain incredibly involved.

They continue to spread the word about Stone Ridge in the community, have recruited many families to join us over the years, and have been surrogate grandparents to a number of students over many decades. ❤

The Barat Medal recognizes leaders who have made a significant difference and helped shape the school’s destiny. It is the highest honor Stone Ridge presents to any non-student.

Welcome Our Newest School Members

Martin, Mrs. Andrea Beane, Ms. Cleo Kirila, Ms. Jessica Morrison ’98, Ms. Carmen Amaya, Ms. Erin Hall, Ms. Nicole Goodman, Mr. Aidan Deighan

(Meg) Kummer, Ms. Jenny Lipford, Ms. Mary McAndrews, Ms. Elizabeth Zitelli, Ms. Victoria Capehart, Dr. Megan Minogue ’03, Ms. Barbara Brown

NOT PICTURED : Mr. Hilario (Wawet) Faustino, Ms. Tulasi Leonard, Ms. Sylvia McLeod

KATE KALAS

Ms. Kate Kalas joins Stone Ridge as the Director of Marketing and Communications. She has served as the inaugural director of marketing for the MarTech graduate enrollment marketing team at Georgetown University, and in a variety of roles in education marketing and creative services during 13 years at the George Washington Univeristy.

“I was looking to join an institution where the mission was truly driving the daily experience. I’m thrilled to have found that here at Stone Ridge and to now be part of a thriving community of Sacred Heart students and educators,” Ms. Kalas says.

Ms. Kalas is also a certified birth doula and a long-time volunteer with Somos Amigos Medical Missions. She holds a B.A. in communications from Boston College. ❤

Sweeney, Ms. Lauren Anderson, Ms. Olivia Lussi, Ms. Brittany Adkins-Williams, Ms. Patricia (Patty) Millar, Ms. Sienna Long, Ms. Carey Bibb, Dr. David Cohen

Years of ServiceCelebrating

EACH YEAR AT OUR ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE BARAT

Liturgy, we celebrate members of our faculty and staff who have completed milestone years of service to Stone Ridge or the the Sacred Heart Network of Schools.

5 YEARS OF SERVICE

Mrs. Emily Leaf, Ms. Julie Anderson, Mrs. Meg Mosier, Señora Estela Pascale, Dr. Bridget Riley, Mrs. Meg Russell, Mrs. Sarah Stuckey, Mr. Stanley Johnson, Mrs. Reyhaneh Khaze, Ms. Katie Lampadarios, Dr. Katie White, Mr. Jason Huberman, Mrs. Courtney Perna, Ms. Leydis Guardado Fuentes, Mr. Sergio Soriano, Ms. Giovanna Burelli

IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL:

Mrs. Sarah Bramble (27 years) retired from her role as Middle School Learning Specialist at the end of the 2023–24 school year. We are so grateful for her dedication to uplifting and supporting students over those years and wish her best of luck with this next adventure.

10 YEARS OF SERVICE

Mrs. Jeanette Roman, Ms. Gillian Coppock, Mrs. Dana Iandoli, Ms. Renee Karlin, Ms. Susie Coffman-King, Ms. Kathryn Heetderks, Mrs. Deanne Ciatto

15 YEARS OF SERVICE

Señora Maria Bravo-Cubillan

25 YEARS OF SERVICE

Mrs. Kathleen Flood, Mr. Tony Lemon, Mrs. Marisela Montiel-Bodelle, Ms. Hope Walker (SAGE Employee)

IN THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE:

Mrs. Nancy Wiegand (26 years) retired from her role as Associate Director of Lower School

Admissions at the end of the 2023–24 school year. She began and was a classroom teacher at Stone Ridge for several years before becoming an integral part of the admissions team in 2018. We are so grateful for the work Mrs. Wiegand has done to elevate the Lower School and give so many students the opportunity for a Sacred Heart education. ❤

IN MEMORIAM

Richard Barbieri

Mr. Barbieri served as the Interim Head of School July 2006–July 2008.

Raphaël Bastian ’83

Sister of Marquette Bastian Arnold ’84

Erik Carl Berger

Brother of Andrea Berger DeMott ’80 and Monica Berger ’87

Paula Eve Bielski ’74

Gerald Randall Bonney, Jr.

Father of Mary Bonney ’05 and Katherine Bonney ’08

Mary Bourgoin

Mother of Adriana Bourgoin ’87 and Elena Bourgoin Kupchik ’91

Mary Pat Breitfelder

Sister of Brenda English, Former Middle School Faculty, and Msgr. John Enzler

Alicia Sexton Brown

Mother of Alicia Brown Powers ’78, Maria Brown Pitts ’80 and Beatrice Brown Edwards ’83

Esther Brooke Christmas Cassidy ’51

Mother of Carroll Cassidy Drewyer ’77, Grandmother of Kallie Drewyer ’15

Peter John Connell

Father of Michaela Connell ’97

Pat Davis, Former Faculty

Ms. Davis was an US Art Teacher from August 2004 until she retired in 2014. She also worked as a part-time substitute until 2020.

George Demetrovits

Father of Grace Demetrovits Ronan ’83

Margaret Mary Don

Mother of Sophie Don Donpineo ’80, Child of Mary Noreen C. Emerson

Mother of Eileen Emerson Boles ’90, former Stone Ridge faculty, and Beth Emerson ’92, current Board of Trustee Member, and grandmother of Suzanne Emerson ’10 and Sarah Slimp ’19

Joseph Frank Faccone

Father of Francesca Faccone SR , Isabella Faccone SR , Gabriella Faccone SR , and Alessandra Faccone SR

William Funderburk

Father of Julie Funderburk ’80 and Christina Funderburk Lingelbach ’81

Colleen Ragan Gigliotti ’70

Joseph F. Horning, Jr.

Father of Missy Horning Young ’81

Virgil Huber

Father-in-law of Jean Plummer, Upper School Faculty

Antoine Karam

Grandfather of Lauren Sheehan ’25

Eleanor Kelly ’64

Marie-Louise Kennedy

Mother of Leigh Kennedy ’86

Kay Klayman

Mother of Sarah Bramble, Middle School Faculty

Barbara Thomas Lima

Mother of Lucia da Costa Lima, Lower School Faculty

Harvey Long

Grandfather of Allison Long ’14 and Brian LongSR

Ann McInerney

Mother of Caroline McInerney Williams ’88

Solange Meersman Meetze ’79

Kathy Malley Montague ’62

Karolen Linderman Muhlke ’63

Diane Mears Musgrove ’55

Frederick Nebel

Father of Homana Nebel ’05

Victor Njuki

Father of Wanyana Njuki ’19 and Nankyinga NjukiSR

David Joseph Notarangelo

Husband of Jen Stevenson ’94

Maria L. Petruccelli

Aunt of Dana D’Avella, Upper School Staff

Jean Rossi

Sister of Brenda English, Former Middle School Faculty

Martha Roughan, RSCJ, Former Faculty

Sr. Roughan was with Stone Ridge from 1969–1974 and 1978–1982 serving as a faculty member, Middle School Director of Students, and Director of the Middle School.

Elizabeth Ruff

Mother of Mary Ellen Ruff ’90, Grandmother of Lauren Ruff SR and Allison Ruf fSR

Mary Ann Ruggieri-Krause

Mother of Kara Krause ’05, wife of Edward J. Krause, III, past Board of Trustee Member, aunt of Andrea Ruggieri ’88 and Caroline Ruggieri ’92

Sabino Solazzo

Grandfather of Livia Solazzo ’31

Herma Symes

Grandmother of Amira Symes ’26

Maxine Rizik Tanous

Mother-in-law of Lori Maciulla ’76, Mother of Jackie Tanous Jacobson ’77 and Joan Tanous Walker ’81, Aunt of Tracy Kalil Ferridge ’83

Timothy Raymond Tehan

Father of Maggie Tehan ’10 and Katie Tehan ’12

Geneva M. S. Wade

Mother of Beryl E. Wade ’74

William F. Weber, III

Grandfather of Kirsten Weber ’24

Peter A. Welling

Brother of Mary Williams Schaller ’61

Debbie McCarthy Whyte

Mother of Morgan WhyteSR , Sister of Dannette McCarthy Christmas ’65

Patricia Woerz

Ms. Woerz served as a teacher in Middle School from 1975–1978. She returned to teach in the Middle School for the 1985-86 school year and became the Head of Middle School from 1986–1992.

OSr. Geuting was a model of dedication to the mission and vision of the Society of the Sacred Heart for all of us at Stone Ridge. She demonstrated, through her lived example, a deep devotion to the mission of making God’s love visible in the world and seeking the heart of Christ in the world around her.

Sister Pat Geuting ’52

December 24, 1934–May 23, 2024

UR WIDER SACRED HEART FAMILY HAS LOST A beloved Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sister Pat Geuting ’52, who passed away at the age of 89. At the time of her passing, Sr. Geuting was living at Oakwood, the RSCJ Retirement Community in Atherton, California.

Sr. Geuting’s journey at Stone Ridge began almost 80 years ago, when she entered Grade 6 as a 10-year-old girl. She graduated as a member of the Class of 1952 and then went on to become a Religious of the Sacred Heart in 1967.

Sr. Geuting worked in the Stone Ridge business office from the late 1990s until 2014 and remained in residence in one of Stone Ridge’s homes until 2017. During her many years as a member of our business team, Sr. Geuting helped improve and modernize the department’s work.

After retiring, she joined the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2021. During that tenure, she served on the Executive Committee and the Master Plan Committee and was Vice-Chair of the Board in the 2019–2020 school year. Sr. Geuting was a vital voice as we planned the construction of the Mater Center and related campus infrastructure work, the development of our Campus Walk, and the interior renovations of our academic space.

In 2017, Stone Ridge honored Sr. Geuting with the Barat Award, the highest award we bestow upon a non-student member of our community. This award recognizes leaders who have made a significant difference and helped shape the School’s destiny.

Sr. Geuting touched so many hearts and lives in our wider Stone Ridge community, and was a cherished and dear friend to many.

May perpetual light shine upon Sr. Geuting, and may she travel with the angels to the Lord. ❤

From Left: Sister Anne Dyer ’55, Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86, Sister Clare Pratt ’57, and Sister Pat Geuting ’52.