Empower our Faculty and Staff | Name and Claim the Cor Cordis Philosophy | Build a Team and Dream Around Athletics | Spark Innovation & Attention Through External Partnerships | Ensure a Smooth Accreditation Process
Empower our Faculty and Staff to Empower Stuart
Stuart students thrive from the expertise, support, and encouragement of our dedicated teachers and support staff. Therefore, ensuring they are equipped with the professional resources and opportunities for their growth as cutting-edge educators remains a top priority. This year, specific attention has been paid to topics such as leveraging AI in the classroom, honing classroom facilitation skills for inclusive discourse, and reviewing and documenting curriculum, structures, and practices as we prepare for our dual accreditations. Each adult member is committed to this work and empowered by it.
With this bolt of communal confidence, faculty and staff are exploring new ways to innovate in their classrooms and contribute these innovations to the broader national field of education. Many of our esteemed faculty members are recognized thought leaders, and we are proud to share that several have been invited to present at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Regional Symposium, presenting workshops on “Leveraging the Girls’ School Network to Promote Leadership and Service,” and “Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit for Transformative Leadership in K-12 Education.”
I am so proud to see the wide impact of Stuart’s wisdom and expertise!
We had the debut of our regular blog series by Robert Missonis on curricular innovation, as well as reflections from our faculty and staff. Stuart's Tartan Talk podcast is a great listen as it dives into life at Stuart, from behind the scenes in the arts to researchbacked conversations on what girls and families need to lead with confidence and purpose. Each episode brings fresh perspectives from our dynamic team of hosts.
At Stuart, we continue to explore new ways to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of educational technology. To ensure we remain at the forefront, we have placed tech integrators in each division, who you will meet soon in a future blog. In collaboration with our teachers and the IT Office, they are working to ensure we leverage all available technology to enhance the girls' learning experience across disciplines.
In an effort to affirm and inspire best practices within the classroom, we have returned to the promotion and structure of “peer-led” observations, which allows our educators to promote curiosity and connections across divisions and departments. These observations, along with other teaming opportunities, have fueled an increase in innovative changes and additions to school-wide curriculum and programs.
Ultimately, our staff is empowered by our mission and their commitment to our students. There is something truly unique about being a Sacred Heart educator at Stuart it’s a calling to shape the lives of girls and young women into individuals with character, intellect and purpose. I invite you to listen to a recent webinar featuring a panel with Tom Verni, Monique Jones and Tonia Simone about their role as Stuart educators and how they nurture intellectual curiosity, build resilience, and instill faith in their students.
Sacred Heart education is a calling. It isn't just a job; it's something that we feel that God has called us to do. - Tom Verni
Name and Claim the Cor Cordis Philosophy
We opened Cor Cordis! Not only did we complete the stunning construction of spaces that embodies this philosophy, but we also introduced a new Cor Cordis curriculum that integrates health and wellness, leadership, physical education, DEIB, and ministry into one cohesive program. To ensure we continue to meet our students' evolving needs, we ’ ve established a Cor Cordis department led by Dean of Student Life Kristen Zosche. This team is dedicated to reviewing and enhancing programming, curriculum, and events based on feedback and observations. To extend the reach of Cor Cordis, we also introduced auxiliary programming, which families have enthusiastically embraced to further enrich their children’s experiences
Also in the fall, the National Center for Girls’ Leadership at Stuart published “Mind. Body. Spirit,” the Cor Cordis white paper. This publication dives into the transformative potential of an education that nurtures empathetic, resilient, and ethically grounded leaders. Not only does it serve as our guiding light as we launch this new program, but it also serves as a catalyst for other institutions to change their approach for the betterment of girls’ well-being and academic success.
It’s thrilling to see the Cor Cordis philosophy come to life in such a tangible way. A dedicated newsletter for Cor Cordis will launch soon, featuring curricular spotlights and resources for the community.
Build a Team and Dream Around Athletics
It is our firm belief that a strong athletic program can have a powerful impact on a school, inviting students in, increasing school spirit, strengthening students’ health and well-being, and keeping students connected long after graduation. Creating a new vision and aspiration for Stuart Athletics is a goal for 2025.
The Stuart community has been filled with pride for our teams this year! Throughout the fall and into the winter season, our student-athletes have been playing with heart and determination and we are seeing the results. Our Interim Director of Athletics, Missy Bruvik, is encouraging a strong culture around sports participation and has supported our student-athletes and coaching staff in meeting a high bar while feeling valued.
As planned, we are also in the midst of a robust search process for our next Director of Athletics, who will be announced in the early spring.
In our first year as a full NJSIAA school, we have ensured that all new requirements are being met and that our competition and accountability are leveled up. Our teams are meeting the challenge and competing hard in their new league. This fall, Stuart Volleyball was the first team to advance in the state tournament at this level, and we continue to offer our teams a diverse array of opponents and competitive opportunities Our coaches have also answered the call, including completing an annual bias and boundaries training and partnering with Admissions on Stuart’s enrollment efforts. In a recent webinar on Stuart Athletics with Missy Bruvik, Dr. Muoio and seniors Maya Dev and Emily Harlan, both students spoke of the bonds they formed and the valuable life and leadership skills they developed. As Maya stated, “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t participate in Stuart Athletics.”
Save the date for April 26, when Stuart hosts “She Leads, She Wins: Girls Athletics and Leadership Conference” in partnership with LaunchBreak and Let Her Play. Middle and high school female athletes and coaches will come together for a day filled with mental skills training, leadership development, and professional growth. This conference provides a unique opportunity for young athletes to enhance their sports performance, develop leadership abilities, and prepare for future challenges both on and off the field. Registration will open on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, February 5.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t participate in Stuart Athletics... Sports helped me connect with other people in a way that I wasn't sure how to before
Spark Innovation & Attention Through External Partnerships
At Stuart, we remain on the cutting edge of academic and institutional excellence by cultivating partnerships at the local and national levels. These relationships enhance the student experience through our shared missions and drive continued growth. One example is our Cor Cordis Speaker Series, which has provided immense value to our community and positioned Stuart as a leader in holistic education. By partnering with Princeton Common Ground, we have been able to make these events available to the broader community, widening our footprint and contribution to the health and wellbeing of girls and young women. We hope you can join us on March 6 for our next guest, Eric Nook Eric, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Princeton University and an Associated Faculty Member in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, will discuss the emerging evidence connecting the words people use to how they manage (or regulate) those emotions.
Through the National Center for Girls’ Leadership, Dr. Muoio has partnered in research and programming with several higher-ed institutions. Just this month, NCGLS launched a national study in partnership with the University of Notre Dame that explores the role of spirituality in fostering purpose among adolescents. This research places Stuart at the forefront of academic inquiry and has the potential to reshape educational practices within Sacred Heart schools and beyond by emphasizing the critical role of spirituality in adolescent development. Additionally, students in the Leadership Endorsement program recently traveled to The Purpose Center at West Virginia University to explore their Gallup survey inventory; another group of students will begin coursework this spring through University of Pennsylvania’s Social Innovators program. So many exciting opportunities for our students and our school!
We are blessed to have built many connections with Princeton University, inspiring myriad opportunities for faculty and staff to further their learning and to partner with us on student experiences outside the classroom. A number of our teachers have participated this year in the Teachers as Scholars Program, which provides scholarly and intellectually engaging opportunities for teachers taught by University faculty and staff Our students have also had opportunities to take undergraduate courses in varying disciplines and to work in their cutting-edge laboratories under the guidance of Princeton professors.
Finally, we continue to expand ways for our alums to connect with the launch of StuartConnect, a dedicated space for our graduates to reconnect, support one another, and continue to grow beyond their time at Stuart. After the holiday break, we welcomed back a spirited group of young alums to celebrate Little Christmas. It was so powerful to see these recent Stuart grads reconnecting within the green brick walls. Our hope is that StuartConnect can continue to build and foster these relationships in order to support our students in all their future endeavors.
Ensure a Smooth Accreditation Process
Our dual accreditations of SHCOG (Sacred Heart Commission on Goals) and NJAIS (New Jersey Association of Independent Schools) are underway and going smoothly, thanks to all the time the steering committees of faculty and staff spent planning and preparing. Our faculty and staff are hard at work gathering the necessary information. More importantly, they are reflecting on what processes are going well and where potential improvements can be made. We want to thank all of you for your hard work as well! Your voices are instrumental in this process, and we are so grateful that you have taken the time to engage with these reflections and questions.
Thankyou
Thank you for your partnership in providing a stellar educational experience, rooted in our shared commitment to excellence, faith, and growth. It is an honor to serve as your Head of School, walking alongside you with courage and confidence.
Julia Wall Head of School