Spring 2014
Spring greetings from Patty 2013–2014 Board of Trustees
As our 50th anniversary year draws to a close, the Spring Stuart News offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the many exciting moments since our fall kick-off. We can hardly wait for the amazing culmination to this 50th
Mark Johnson, Co-Chair
birthday party in May—Stuart’s Hearts of Gold Spring Gala & Auction!
Suzanne Plambeck, Co-Chair Thomas Baker
Illustrious alumna and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Anne Murray
John Beckelman
Patterson ’76 graced our community as this year’s Woman in Leadership
Karin Borchert
speaker. Justice Patterson inspired us all as she spoke of the impact
Patricia Costante
being a “lifer” at Stuart had on her life and career. Many more “Women
Kristin Rodewald Dawson ’80
in Leadership” alumnae returned to share lunch with our Middle and Upper School girls. These impressive women spoke of their careers in
Patty L. Fagin, PhD
veterinary medicine, engineering, finance, esthetics, engineering and
Molly Hillenbrand ’96
entrepreneurship. Clearly, today’s THINK. LEAD. CHANGE. encapsulates
Rene Johnson
what Stuart girls have been doing for fifty years!
Nancy Kehoe, RSCJ Sara Burchell Kestner ’96 Joan Kirby, RSCJ Cheryl Lagay
This anniversary year also gave us a grand opportunity to celebrate our Sacred Heart history. Together with Stuart First Friday, we brought back former Heads of School, Sisters Joan Kirby, Judith Garson and Joan Magnetti, who spoke at our Sacred Heart assemblies. Their stories of experiences
Laura Lamke
at Stuart, and the saints who began Sacred Heart education, are treasured. We also welcomed
Melinda La Nasa
Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, a former Head of the Middle School at Stuart and current Headmistress at
Pablo Lapuerta, MD
Sacred Heart Carrollton (Miami), to share her deep knowledge of our namesake, Janet Erskine Stuart.
Lorraine McGowen Maureen O’Halloran, RSCJ
What would a 50th birthday party be without a few special gifts? We are so very grateful to our
Hamilton F. Potter III
generous donors who have funded transformational gifts in support of leadership, financial
Sohini Rath
literacy, financial aid, 21st century classroom renovations, outdoor education and STEM. Like the
Cynthia Reiche Schumacker ’73 Marguerite Vera James P. Winder
investments made by others over the past fifty years, these gifts continue to place Stuart on the cutting edge of girls’ education. As we look back on our first fifty years, Stuart’s greatest legacy is the thousands of wonderful girls and preschool boys who have called Stuart “home.” As St. Madeleine Sophie, Janet Erskine Stuart and our founding parents intended, Stuart’s Children of the Sacred Heart are leaders of change who truly make the world a better place.
Stuart Country Day School School admits
God bless,
students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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Patty L. Fagin, PhD Head of School
Spring 2014
Table of Contents Labatut’s Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Opening New Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Early Childhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 STEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Lower School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Upper School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Women in Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alumnae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Please accept our apologies for the following errors and omissions in the 2013 Annual Report: Dr. Pablo Lapuerta and Ms. Rachelle Bin were incorrectly listed as anonymous donors in the Angel’s Circle Giving Club. Ms. Margaret Ramsey and Mr. William Newman were omitted from the Memorials listing in memory of Mary S. Ramsey.
In the Mater Legacy listing Mr. Jaap Ketting’s name was spelled incorrectly.
Celebrating
L a b at u t ’ s S t ua rt
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On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, over 100 people from the greater Princeton community gathered in the Stuart Little Theater to learn about the life, work and significance of Stuart’s architect/designer Jean Labatut. Guest speakers Princeton architect J. Robert Hillier and Columbia University’s historic preservationist Jorge Otero-Pailos eloquently detailed the events that influenced Labatut’s vision of Stuart. Following the lecture, guests toured the light-filled hallways with a new appreciation of the magnificent jewel of a building we are so very lucky to call home. Professor Jean Labatut was the director of graduate studies in architecture at Princeton University when he built Stuart in 1963. He joined
Special guest speakers, Princeton architect J. Robert Hillier (left) and Columbia University’s historic preservationist Jorge Otero-Pailos with Dr. Patty Fagin Below: The Pillar of the Sacred Heart Bottom: The Stairway of Intellectuality Opposite: The Crown of Thorns
the University faculty in 1928 and was there for nearly 60 years. Awarded for his work both as an architect and teacher, Labatut had a great influence on contemporary architecture. At one point, 17 of his former students were deans of schools of architecture across the United States. Labatut received many awards from the American Institute of Architects and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture including the Distinction in Education Award. He designed the great spectacle of water, flame and fireworks in the Lagoon of Nations at the New York World’s Fair of 1939, one of the world’s first sound and light installations. Stuart is the only building Labatut had built in his professional career. When building Stuart, Professor Labatut incorporated many European design and construction techniques including what he called “Eucharistic Architecture,” in which religious symbolism is embedded in the physical structure. In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we’ve created a self-guided tour so the Sacred Spaces at Stuart can be appreciated by all.
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Opening New Contributions fund new facilities to enhance student learning We are exceedingly grateful to the many friends of Stuart who generously contribute above and beyond gifts to the Stuart Fund and events. These friends of Stuart support financial aid, educational and athletic programs, equipment purchases and facilities development that help launch our school into the next fifty years!
The Futures Classroom Final project completion supported by The Mario Family Foundation, Joane deTuro Patrick ’85 and guests of 2013 Monte Carlo Magic
Considine Gallery Improvements Mrs. Margaret B. Considine 6
Doors
Lego Wall Fund-a-Need donors at the 2013 Ascot in Kentucky Dinner Series party
STEM Link supported by the Stuart Fund 7
Ropes Course Rene and Gaylord (Rusty) Johnson
The Townsend Garden Christine and John Beckelman
Athletic Hall of Fame Tracy and Mark Johnson
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Kindergarten Classrooms and Air Conditioning the Preschool Molly Hillenbrand ’96 and The Hillenbrand Family Foundation
New Doors to Open in the Fall New Bleachers for the Small Gym Shelley Hearne ’79 Renovations to the Middle School Resource Center Amani Noor Ahmed and Inaya Noor Ahmed Art and Technology Collaboration Center Martha and Scott Blandford
Donors who are giving generously in celebration of the 50th Anniversary will be listed on the new Stewardship Wall to be completed over the summer. Contributions are sought for a variety of initiatives from financial aid to facilities and student programs.
3-D Printer Akira and Brian Johnson
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Creative movement performance
Playing Banjos
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Low Ropes Course
Early Childhood Do you know your ABC’s?
On any given day, our youngest Stuart girls and boys are learning about the letter of the week through phonics, rhythmic patterns, vocabulary building, show and tell, songs and creative projects. The 2’s begin their day by looking for the letter of the week hidden somewhere in their classroom while the JK students are writing the letter and highlighting it in word searches. As the day goes on, you might find a group of 3’s problem-solving in the kitchen or children making up elaborate plays as they dress in fanciful costume. Looking at them, you might not notice how they are using gross and fine motor skills as they exercise both their minds and bodies through physical activity, world language, art, science, creative movement and religion. What you will notice, however, is the way the girls and boys treat one another—looking each other in the eye when they speak, helping each other when in need and giving each other a genuine embrace filled with love and joy to begin and end their day. Michelle Dowling Head of Lower School
Thanksgiving Celebration
Clown Parade
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“It was really fun to get out of class and try something new! I am really excited for computer class this trimester now.”
< Hour of Code > For one hour on December 12, all other activity came to a halt as Middle and Upper School girls and the faculty took part in the Hour of Code, a nationwide campaign during Computer Science Education Week designed to encourage and foster an interest in computer science. If you walked through the halls, you would notice groups of girls creating JavaScript animations and game apps on computers and iPads. Beginners started with learning basic computer programming concepts. Some students were even teaching their teachers how to code. Lower School girls from Kindergarten through Grade 5 were coding in their computer classes all week and young women from Princeton University’s Princeton Women in Computer Sciences (PWiCS) visited to help out. Middle School Religion Teacher and novice programmer Emily Lesinski said, “What a wonderful experience! I had just as much fun as the students. I plan on going back to the website after school to code some more! All of the girls had a blast. They were helping each other as well as their teachers. We all wished we had more than an hour—it flew by.” Stuart’s Hour of Code participation was spearheaded by Middle and Upper School Computer Science Teacher/Technology Integrator Alicia Testa. She said, “The most rewarding experience from the day was watching students who never thought they could be a programmer find success within an hour. The problem-solving that happened during the Hour of Code was wonderful!”
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Upper School girls learn to program during the Hour of Code
Weather Station Supported by Innovation Fund Pat and Maureen McLaughlin, proud parents of Katherine ’18, established The Rita L. Conlon and Alice McLaughlin Innovation Fund in honor of their mothers. An award from the Innovation Fund will be directed to a faculty member each year to develop an exciting, innovative project or program that will benefit our girls in the areas of science, mathematics, history, English or world languages. Dr. Mike Sowa was the first to receive funding
Lower School STEM Fair
from the Rita L. Conlon and Alice McLaughlin Innovation Fund. Dr. Sowa’s proposal was to install Stuart’s very own WeatherBug. Now
Sparks host P-town Throwdown robotics competition
located in the science wing corridor, Stuart’s weather station observes atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and for students to study the weather and climate data in science classes in all three divisions. Current weather conditions from Stuart’s weather station are also being displayed on the monitor in the Front Hall and on the Stuart website. Special thanks to Pat and Maureen McLaughlin for their continued support of Stuart’s academic program with this exciting opportunity for our faculty.
L to R: Katherine, Maureen and Pat McLaughlin, Dr. Mike Sowa, and Dr. Patty Fagin at the unveiling of the WeatherBug station
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Women We Admire Day
Eric Carle Museum
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What makes a Sacred Heart school unique? As we embrace the challenge of balancing the new energy and excitement in the Lower School, we also strive to preserve the significance of a Sacred Heart education. Our girls are fully engaged in learning: building bobsleds to test the law of physics, creating “spoon” characters to depict their heritage, creating buildings and assembling cities from those buildings in architectural art, dressing in authentic garb to “become” a person off the Mayflower, and having a real conversation via Skype with Sacred Heart sisters in Texas. Our girls are also fully engaged in character development. Service learning projects have brought the girls together to work collaboratively, raising over $1,000 selling handmade necklaces and bracelets, creating an arcade out of recycled cardboard boxes and filling each other’s buckets with random acts of kindness and love. Our Lower School is vibrant with active co-curricular projects and participation, putting the girls at the center of their learning. Just as powerfully, our commitment to the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria lives within us and is displayed in our daily interactions with each other and in our community. Michelle Dowling Head of Lower School
Enjoying the snow!
Visiting Architect
Cardboard Arcade 15
by Isabel Landers ’14 During her life, Janet Erskine Stuart wrote poetry and prayers that the students of Stuart have come to know by heart;
were using the Earth’s resources without giving
for example, “Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty,”
part of the celebration of Janet Erskine Stuart’s
one of her poems, has been set to music and
centenary. Throughout the process I found
is a staple in nearly every Mass and prayer
myself in awe of how this play transcended
service at Stuart.
time, and how relevant it is now as it was
She also wrote a play, an adaptation of The Ugly Duckling. The play reflects on the life of the ugly duckling, rejected by her family and the society of the farmyard, forced to find
back (the cat and the hen); and ultimately, the RSCJ nuns (the swans). We presented this play to the Middle and Upper School students in December in Cor Unum, as
when Janet Stuart wrote it. It was an honor to direct, and I am thankful to Ms. Baldwin and the administration for trusting me with such an important piece of Stuart history.
her own way in life. Along the way she meets creatures that are not restricted to the fences around the farmyard, and are forced to make their own way in life (an idea unheard of in the farmyard) and a cat and a hen who are pampered and manipulative. As a student at Stuart, it was fascinating to read this play, as it offered insight into what Janet Stuart went through as a child into her young adulthood. As a director, I found it challenging to come to a set theme about whom each character represented in Janet Stuart’s life. My final interpretation was that the play is a metaphor for how Janet came to find God and the Society of the Sacred Heart in a world where she felt so out-of-place. The classic characters of the story have been reinvented into the people she met in life that guided her to the sisterhood: her family and friends (the farmyard animals, unseen by the audience but strongly referenced); other nuns (the wild duck in the story); people who tried to encourage her to go into education, despite it still being a man’s realm when she was alive (the wild geese); industrialists, who, in Janet’s mind,
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Director Isabel Landers ’14
The Arts
The Ugly Duckling
Supporting visual and performing arts at Stuart
Top: Mame, Upper School Musical Above: Middle School World Arts Day Left: Women We Admire “Bagographies”
Mr. and Mrs. Neil C. Adams Courtney C. Alexander ’09 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Alexander Marie and Andre Bakhos Janice Baldwin Anne-Marie Belli ’79 Linda and Paul Brady Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Bucklee Alice Llewellyn Eubank Burke Fund Mr. Ethan Kapstein and Ms. Benedicte Callan Erin Camburn Shannon Cameron Elizabeth R. Catanese Stephanie A. Champi ’12 Ms. Tina Cipolla-Venturi Mrs. Margaret B. Considine Ms. Patricia A. Costante Beth and John Crutcher Joseph and Nancy Delaney Dominique Di Meglio Mr. William Dunn and Mrs. Patricia Carragher Robert and Mary Beth Enck Patty and Tim Fagin Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Felten Mr. and Mrs. Johan Firmenich Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Hannah Molly Hillenbrand ’96 Megan Ferrara Hoover ’95 Catharine M. Hornby ’93 Paul and Christina Jeanes Bethan G. Johnson ’11 Mrs. Betty Wold Johnson Mark and Tracy Johnson Joseph and Frances Lampariello Deborah A. Land Mr. and Mrs. Will Landers Jennifer Garver Landis ’90 and John D. Landis Dr. Pablo M. Lapuerta and Ms. Rachelle Bin Michele Maccarone ’91 Kathleen and Jerry Mandzij Mrs. Carol Martinelli Steven and Linda Martucci David and Mary Anne Maxwell Debra and Keith McAuliffe Kaitlin M. McCarthy ’06 Trisha and Norman Medeiros Ms. Avril B. Moore Elizabeth Murray Hosea ’70 Nishith and Hetal Parikh Mr. and Mrs. William Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Plambeck Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt B. Pratt Mr. Marco Sacchi and Ms. Sondra Scott Cynthia Reiche Schumacker ’73 and Scott F. Schumacker Madelaine Shellaby Edie Tattersall ’09 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thurm Mr. Scott Weingaertner and Ms. Annabelle Kim Mr. and Mrs. Todd A. Wigder Mr. and Mrs. James P. Winder Rose and Carlton Wong Phyllis Wright Jeffry and Kathleen Zavotsky
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Middle School “One day of fervor is worth a thousand tepid days.”
—Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ
The halls of the Middle School have been filled with tremendous energy and excitement this year. We started the year with several learning trips: sixth graders working with the residents at Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center; seventh graders spending time with children at CYO and Friends of Princeton Open Space; and eighth graders working with the Community Food Bank in Hillside and Loaves and Fishes. Not even a government shutdown in October could keep our eighth graders from their trip to Washington D.C. Applying civics lessons to real life, the girls wrote letters expressing their frustration to various government officials. With guided tours halted, the girls scored a personal tour of the Capitol from Congressman Rush Holt. Whether traveling to the nation’s capitol, or traveling to the world of imagination in “Alice,” the year has been quite exciting thus far. One of the innovative additions to Stuart, in our 50th anniversary year, has been the MakerBot 3D printer. The seventh graders made great use of the 3D printer, creating 3D replicas of a cell … just a taste of what is to come in Stuart’s next 50 years!
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Robert Missonis
Head of Middle School
Acapella singers
Touring the Capitol with Rush Holt
Preparing sandwiches for Loaves & Fishes
Designing kites in physics and art
The Cast of Alice in Wonderland 19
Varsity Basketball Closes Impressive Season
Maggie Walsh ’14 gets a hug from 2012-13 teammate Pamela McGowen ’16
“Our season was incredible, not only because of our record, but because each member of our team grew so much as a player over the course of this season. We were extremely cohesive as a team this year, which made the experience even better. Most of the credit for how well we all worked together goes to our coaches, who were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the season. It was an honor to play on this team and to be coached by Coach Leary and Coach Holmes.” —Maggie Walsh ’14, team co-captain The team had a great season finishing with an overall record of 8-8, a significant improvement over last year’s 2-14, and the winningest season Stuart has seen in years. With just one senior graduating (Maggie
“I’m very proud! From beginning to end of
Walsh), an experienced team will return next
the season, they really gained confidence.
year to build on this year’s accomplishments.
A few girls stepped up big time—sophomore Harley Guzman did a great job at point guard, and really emerged as a leader. Junior Harlan Bell, one of the captains, really improved as the season progressed and junior Nneka Onukwugha always gave us a spark coming off the bench.” —Coach Dana Leary
Co-captain Harlan Bell ’15
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Harley Guzman ’16
Coaches Leary and Holmes strategize
Athletics Varsity Field Hockey
Middle School Tennis
Upper School Squash
Varsity Volleyball
Middle School Cross Country
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Upper “Well-behaved women rarely make history.”
SHAEP
—Eleanor Roosevelt “Empowerment” is the theme for the year, chosen by Upper School Student Government representatives. Each girl arrived on the first day of school to find Eleanor Roosevelt’s provocative words above taped to her locker—and with that, the year started off with a roar! So much has happened since that first day of school. Our young Forensics Team has made it to national level competition—quite a feat given that the team was just formed last year! Sparks, our spunky robotics team, made it to States again for the third time in three years, and 21 students headed off on the Sacred Heart Academic Exchange Program (SHAEP) to Sacred Heart schools around the world. Global destinations included: Atherton, California and Lake Forest, Illinois here in the U.S.; and overseas to Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Peru. The sophomores who chose to stay home
Forensics Team
devoted their time to building solar suitcases destined for hospitals and schools in Haiti. In between debating and serving the world, our girls manage to juggle multiple AP courses and even have some fun a long the way (just check out the photo of the student/faculty dodgeball game)! Time does fly when you’re having fun—as evidenced by 100 Days Until Graduation, with seniors walking hand-in-hand with preschool students, looking forward and ready to take on the world … and ready to make history! Dr. Trisha Mederos Head of Upper School
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Pumpkin Contest
Fall play Exhibit This
Joan Kirby, RSCJ and Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ join sophomores who spent two weeks building solar suitcases which will be installed in schools and churches in Fond Parisien, Haiti. Stuart girls will travel with Konekte, co-founded by Anne Hoppenot, to install the solar suitcases.
Cooking class at Reading Terminal
100 Days to Graduation
Student/faculty dodgeball game
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Outreach Service Committee in the Spotlight by Bindu Bansinath ’14 Recently, there existed an element of the fantastical inside Stuart’s serpentine parlor. As Monday compounded into Tuesday and the work week beyond, students piled the parlor high with brownie tins. The image was something akin to presents underneath a Christmas tree, only with the addition of aluminum. In fact, the advent of
Saturday, Jan. 25. Kayla Jones ’14, one of the
homemade brownies
student heads of the committee, expressed
— along with the
her enthusiasm over Stuart’s incredible
fresh bread, fruits, boxed foods and toiletries
support of the Loaves and Fishes initiative,
that followed — was nothing outside the
“... It was amazing to see how many Stuart
norm for the Stuart community. Each tin was a
families were willing to donate their time to
donation for the Loaves and Fishes initiative,
serving meals on Saturday and we plan to
an annual service project that began under
keep the service going!”
the guidance of Barbara Anne Cagney. Now, 30 years later, Madame Elizabeth Amir carries
In this sense, Stuart’s Outreach committee
the tradition onwards. This project, however,
is decidedly unique. Its focus is not charity;
like so many others characteristic of Stuart, is
rather, it is community. Whether through
also contingent upon the participation of its
work at food banks around Thanksgiving or
students. And the hardworking liaison between
Fair Trade sales hosted in previous years, the
faculty, service and students is none other
students of Outreach know that community
than the Upper School’s very own service
is an idea more profound than the simple
committee, Outreach.
motions of some-give-and-some-take. Service is as much about the individual who serves
Composed of a small band of girls spanning
as the individual who receives, and to try
freshmen to seniors, Outreach is an
and differentiate the two is to mess with the
application-based committee that brings the
symbiosis of community.
Sacred Heart goal of social awareness and action to a new level. The committee is not
Outreach, as they busy themselves planning
only constantly thinking of ways to extend
hot meals in Central Park, trips to the SAVE
helping hands into the community (trips to
animal shelter and more, understand this idea.
Sandy relief sites as well as beach clean-ups
They understand that this is our community,
have been points of discussion) but also of
and with a great deal of dedication, creativity,
ways to insert students into the communities
humor and hands, they’re willing to build it,
they aim to help.
mend it and, most of all, love it.
For example, not only did Outreach collect
This article was originally written for the
donations for Loaves and Fishes, but they
SIMPLY STUART column in the Princeton Packet.
also served at the St. Mary’s Cathedral on
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Thanksgiving food drive mandala
14th annual Locks of Love
Community
Stuart girls serve at Loaves & Fishes
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In Stuart’s 50th Anniversary year, we knew our Women in Leadership speaker would have to be special— and oh, what a special day it was! On October, 4,
The Honorable Anne Murray Patterson ’76
2013, we were honored with a visit from Stuart alumna and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice, Anne Murray Patterson ’76. Justice Patterson was gracious with her time, sharing memories with Middle and Upper School girls from her days at Stuart, Dartmouth, Cornell Law, her professional law career and daily life as a Supreme Court Justice. As a “Lifer” at Stuart, Justice Patterson was a member of the very first Kindergarten class. A large contingent of former classmates returned to see her speak. We will all cherish Justice Patterson’s wonderful stories of her experiences at Stuart, which she credits, in large part, for her sound character, values and the work she has accomplished.
Justice Patterson with Board Co-Chairs Mark Johnson (far left) and Suzanne Plambeck (far right) and Head of School Dr. Patty Fagin
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Connecting Generations of Stuart Sisters The 50th Anniversary has been an incredible opportunity to not only celebrate the lives and accomplishments of our alumnae, but to introduce current Stuart girls to just some of the opportunities that lie ahead.
Alumnae Visits On three occasions this year we welcomed back groups of alumnae to meet with our students. The alumnae discussed their careers and the impact Stuart had on their lives. Our featured speakers’ career fields ran the gamut from fashion and beauty to engineering, film, medicine and more. We are grateful to the following alumnae for their time, efforts and insights: Mary Anne Bitetto Wassel ’02 professor of engineering at County College of Morris
Meredith Lepore ’02 freelance writer and senior editor at Levo League
Sara Burchell Kestner ’96 manager at Accenture, a global management consulting and technology services company
Sabrina Lupero Reichert ’94 architect, landscape architect, project manager
Gia Fruscione-Loizides, DPT ’96 doctor of physical therapy and owner of DLVR Maternity Miss Harmon ’97 4-H program associate at Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station Alena Herklotz ’98 lawyer with the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at the Fordham University School of Law Carys Johnson ’08 analyst at the Investments Banking Legal Team at Goldman Sachs Mari Keeler ’96 fine artist, advertising creative director and web designer Allison Keves ’01 events manager at New York University’s Steinhardt School
Farha Naqui, MD ’97 pediatrician Sarah Pierpont ’04 film and new media producer and cinematographer Lorena Sayer O’Brien ’88 managing director and senior banker in the JP Morgan Private Bank Wendy Schotland, VMD ’91 veterinarian, owner of Stony Brook Home Veterinary Care Melissa Baggitt Scott ’75 litigation attorney, currently practicing guardianship law Amanda Sharp ’08 costume designer and owner of The Costume Scene Joanna Wilson Vargas ’88 owner of Joanna Vargas Skin Care, celebrity facialist
Top to bottom: Mari Keeler ’96, Joanna Wilson Vargas ’88, Wendy Schotland ’91, and Gia Fruscione-Loizides ’96
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Alumnae The Class of 2014 “Lifers” pose with preschool boys and girls at 100 Days to Graduation
Junior Ring Ceremony
Susan Knox ’12 returns to Stuart with her classmates from TCNJ’s chemistry program
34 young alumnae return to Stuart for Little Christmas 28
Save the Date! Alumnae Day September 13, 2014 10:00 AM 2014-2015 Alumnae Gallery Unveiling
10:15 AM Champagne Brunch Retiring faculty and staff recognition Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Alumnae attendance and giving awards
12:00 PM Stuart Fest: Family fun for all ages— hosted by the Stuart Parent Association
Afternoon Athletic Events Come home to cheer on the Tartans in
field hockey, tennis and cross countryCall
Online Alumnae Directory
Call for Nominations!
Keep your eyes and inboxes open for login
Please nominate a Stuart alumna for
information later this spring! Thanks in large
recognition in the Alumnae Gallery. Stuart
part to our Alumnae Association Board and
Alumnae who exemplify Stuart’s Portrait of
alumna donor Georgienne Bradley, we are
a Graduate will be selected and highlighted
excited to reconnect alumnae in this way.
for the year. You can read the criteria and
We’ll use our database to help Stuart
nominate a deserving alumna online at:
alumnae connect and support each other
www.stuartschool.org/nominate.
both personally and professionally.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors:
Rain or Shine!
Register online by April 30 or register in person on race day. USA Track & Field Certified Course
Nikki and Brinton Frith Stuart Class of 2008 Stuart Class of 2011
The Ajemian-Manzulli Family The Rangecroft Family The Starke Family The Vera Family ’08 ’13 ’18
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Holidays
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something very special and precious about Christmas at Stuart! From the terra cotta houses beneath the tree, to the bicycles lining the hallway, destined for children who would otherwise have none, Stuart holiday traditions are to be treasured and never forgotten.
Our 50th Anniversary year was no exception as parents and grandparents gathered in Cor Unum to pray together and enjoy the many incredible performances. Our Advent prayer service was followed by the moving Middle and Upper School performances at Evensong. Christmas celebrations continued the next day with a wonderful performance of song and movement from our youngest Early Childhood students in the Preschool and Junior Kindergarten. The sweet sound of bells and the voices of our K-5 girls at the beautiful Veni Emmanuel service completed the celebrations of this very special season at Stuart.
Middle School at Evensong
Tartantones at Evensong
Early Childhood Christmas Program
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Lower School Veni Emmanuel
May 3, 2014 . 6:00 PM . Jasna Polana
Special thanks to our generous sponsors Project Princeton Advisory Board Sponsors Cynthia Reiche Schumacker ’73 and Scott F. Schumacker Council of Founders Sponsors John and Christine Beckelman The Lagay Family The Plambeck Family Labatut Sponsors Nikki and Brinton Frith Lori Hennon-Bell and Thomas J. Bell Union Center National Bank
1963 Sponsors Kate Adams and Duke Wiser
Luxaby Baby & Child
Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Bae
The Makhija Family
Thomas Baker and Suzanne McSorley
Mary Ann and Raymond Marks
Lynn and Marc Baranski
The McConkey Family
Karin Borchert and David Stengle
Maureen and Pat McLaughlin
The Chiurco Family
Nishith and Hetal Parikh
Brenda and Herman Cooper
Jay and Joanne Park
Robert and Mary Beth Enck
The Roche Family
Tim and Patty Fagin
The Tarditi Family
Emily and Johan Firmenich
Twirl Toy Shop
Flik Independent School Dining
The Vera Family
Debora and John Haines
The Vogel Family
The Harlan Family
Kay and Kris Weeder
Jud and Christina Henderson
Philip and Maria Yang
Mark and Tracy Johnson
Jeffry and Kathleen Zavotsky
Shahid and Nadia Khan
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
1200 Stuart Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Princeton, NJ Permit No. 310
www.stuartschool.org
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is dedicated to environmentally and socially responsible operations. We are proud to print this issue of Stuart News 2014 on Endurance Gloss, an industry leading paper that carries an FSC® chain of custody. The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit conservation organization that certifies forestry operations, ensuring that they meet rigorous standards for the conversation of natural resources and the rights and welfare of workers and local communities.
In celebration of reaching 50% parent participation in the Stuart Fund, our entire school enjoyed a festive and cozy “Pajama Day.” An icecream day is next up when we reach 75%! Thanks to all our donors, we are currently 82% of the way to our 2013– 2014 Stuart Fund goal of $440,000! To do what we do best—educate girls who make a difference—we need a robust annual fund. When you participate in the Stuart Fund, you strengthen our school and support the programs and activities that make a difference for all of our students. We hope in our 50th year you will make a gift and make a difference!
www.stuartschool.org/give