a publication from Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
Mes Amies № 08
2014 Fall ISSUE
Fall Play Involves Multi-Faceted Collaboration
T
here’s a new sense
is not a prerequisite to seeing
of excitement and
“Anon(ymous).”
collaboration in the air as
Woodlands Academy gets ready to present its fall play, “Anon(ymous)” by Naomi Iizuka.
a restaurant and a train tunnel that will be digitized and projected onto a fabric scrim. She said
Because the importance of
her own style, as well as that of
collaboration has been identified as
other students, will be highlighted
a 21st Century skill, Woodlands is
yet merged into a cohesive
demonstrating it firsthand with the
presentation.
“I selected this play because the
practical experience producing the
story it tells is relevant to our
play. Art students are designing
students. I believe the purpose of
and creating the set; developing
theatre is to engage audiences in
images that will be projected on
“Being a student at Woodlands has really helped my interest in art grow. We have so many opportunities to use different media,” she said. “Collaborating
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT A TRULY PROGRESSIVE
with other students allows me to look at art in a different way.”
EDUCATION ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION
ERIKA CERILLO ’15 is creating a
ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND DEPARTMENTS.
need to know about anatomy,
Catherine DeVuono, FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR
short animation for the play. “You shading, colors, how the body moves,” she said, adding that when
might be 76 drawings for a fivedifferent issues and possibly even
a large scrim, building sets and
change how they think about the
making shadow puppets under the
world,” new Theatre Director Sarah
direction of Fine Arts Department
Additionally, the dance teacher
Grunnah explained.
Chair Catherine DeVuono.
at Woodlands, Becky DeRosa, is
“Anon(ymous),” while funny in
Art II students have been treating
There also is a band of talented
moments, engages with the plight
this project as a job and have been
students working behind stage on
of war victims and refugees. It
working on it in earnest.
this production.
second animation.”
choreographing parts of the show.
trying to forge an identity for himself without a place he calls home. The play is an adaptation of Homer ’s epic poem "The Odyssey," though knowing "The Odyssey"
ELIZABETH FRANCLEMONT ’16
See the Play
she creates an animation, the drawings are done by hand. “There
tells the story of a young person
ORIGINAL ART BY: RENAE SCHOEFFLE
ANON(YMOUS) BY NAOMI IIZUKA The fall play, titled "Anon(ymous)," is a retelling of Homer’s "The Odyssey." A young refugee called Anon is separated from his mother and journeys throughout the United States, encountering a wide variety of people – some kind, some dangerous and cruel – as he searches for his family.
“Our fall play represents a
said she and the other students are
model for the entire community,”
using different media such as pen
DeVuono concluded.
$8 ADVANCE $10 AT THE DOOR
and ink, water color and guache to create scenes that include a beach,
NOVEMBER 6-9
Stepping Stone Connects Past, Present and Future
Thank you Donors Thank you to our generous donors and volunteers whose gifts and talents enrich our community and fortify the values that are the foundation of a Sacred Heart education.
the Inspired Thespian
the Innovative EDUCATOR
the Clever Counselor
A ‘New Crew’ of Talented Educators
1,047,528
"The science department was great," he said. "Talking to Principal
Sarah Grunnah, ENGLISH TEACHER, THEATRE DIRECTOR
TOTAL ANNUAL GIVING
Madonna Edmunds was wonderful, and the campus looked fantastic." While several months have passed since he was hired, his enthusiasm has
In the spirit of innovation, the theme for this school year, the Woodlands Academy theatre department is getting a makeover. Former director Idona Griffith retired at the end of last term after eight successful years, and English teacher Sarah Grunnah has taken the lead.
change - the way we understand the world,” she said. “This year, my aim is to find and produce plays that are not only relevant to the lives of students at Woodlands Academy, but also plays that engage our audiences in thought-provoking current world issues.”
department, she quickly took to literature. Her favorite plays include Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” and “The Winter ’s Tale” as well as work from playwrights Sarah Ruhl and Marcus Gardley.
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE >> and social policy from
"I want to get as many young ladies interested in science professions as
Northwestern University and a master ’s degree in human services and
possible," he said. "There's this idea that, 'Oh, physics and math are too
counseling from DePaul University. Gilfillan currently serves as president-
hard. Oh, engineering is too hard,' and that's just not the case. I'm really
elect of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling.
happy to see that no one here has that opinion. I want to do as much as I
ping Stone symbolizes the connection between past, present and future as well
to send some type of Stepping Stone
as between the many countries, religions
to the Stuart Country Day School in
and cultures that have been served –
Princeton, N.J., for the closing ceremony
both at Barat and at Woodlands,” said
held there.
Mary Gramins, Theology Department
who rooted their lives and ministries in
way for Woodlands’ future plans on
the open Heart of Jesus. Indeed there
the former Barat College property to
is a strong connection that exists in
proceed. Two bricks were placed in a students in a color approximating that
His enthusiasm for science and commitment to his students have been
by the stories she told me about the Woodlands community, activities
of Old Main’s woodwork.
apparent.
she was doing at the school and the close relationships she had with
member of the AP physics class and part of the Robotics team.
“In particular, the College Skills class attracted me to this position. I love the ability to actually work with students through the college process
department is set for further success.
both junior and senior years in a classroom setting. This class is unique
of Technology and has done graduate work in physics at DePaul and
to Woodlands, and the students are lucky to have this resource. Now that
science education at Illinois Institute of Technology.
I’m part of the school, I feel lucky to be able to teach it!
BY: MARISSA HOWE ’16 WAM
“Additionally, Naomi always spoke so highly of the sense of community
Beth Gilfillan, COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Since the day he began teaching at Woodlands Academy, it has been
ping Stone are the vision and writings Sophie Barat and Janet Erskine Stuart
was recently demolished clearing the
acquaintance with Ewing the past few years. “I was always intrigued
she has here.”
chair. “The underpinnings of our Stepof insightful women like Madeleine
bricks from the Old Main building that
display box stained by Campus Ministry
students,” Gilfillan said. “She also spoke so highly of the sense of support
spirit between the previously separate campuses.”
A. EMMA WARD ’16 and alumna TAMI HOEKSTRA ROCHA ’80 hold the Woodlands Stepping Stone symbolizing the connection between past and present students. B. Sister Patsy Reiss, RSCJ, holds the Woodlands Stepping Stone. For decades Sister Patsy was the campus minister at Barat and now serves as the spiritual presence for the RSCJs at Woodlands. She truly links past and present.
Sacred Connections
and support she has here. I was excited to join this community and have the opportunity to really get to know the students, families, faculty and staff here.”
A connection of our own: Janet Erskine Stuart visited the Woodlands/Barat site in October 1898, before any building had begun. She was aware of the Society
apparent that John Denman has a great enthusiasm for science and a
A “passing of the torch” began this fall as Beth Gilfillan joined Naomi
commitment to the students.
Ewing, who’s been Woodland’s college counselor since 1996, and her
Ewing in the College Counseling Department ahead of Ewing’s planned
of the Sacred Heart’s intent to move its convent and
husband plan to retire to the Denver area in the next year or so. She’ll
mid-year retirement.
be taking many fond memories with her. “What I’m most grateful for,”
boarding school from Taylor Street in Chicago to the
Denman has been a physics teacher for eight years, and this is his first year as Woodlands' newest science teacher and the Robotics coach. Even
Gilfillan most recently served as College Counselor at Deerfield High
before he had been hired, he said he held Woodlands in high regard.
School the past four years. She has a bachelor ’s degree in education
WAWorld THE CLASS OF 2015 be gan the scho colorful disp ol year with lay of senior a lively and pride!
Ewing says, “is that I have been valued for who I am – not just what I do. Feeling valued as a person truly has meant a lot to me.”
VAN d ELEANORE MATEO ’15 an A SC CE apel of AN FR tside of the Ch OY ’16 pose ou KO K IJ W Mass al AR M school's annu art before the He ed cr Sa e th remony. irit and Flag Ce of the Holy Sp
Lake Forest location where it was deemed the girls would be safer. The building, which opened in 1904, became affectionately known as Old Main.
THE WOODLAN DS FIELD HOCK EY TEAM fiercley against its Vikin squares off g opponents in a five way scramb le for the ba
classmates and her senior TARA GILL ’15 om T-shirts epared in cust looked very pr eir final bus mmemorate th designed to co ol students! ill as high scho evacuation dr
MIA OBERTO ’17 and ERIN PATTIE ’17 don spirited Woo dlands fleeces fro m the newly desig ned WA store.
B
Sacred Heart Network school was asked
She learned about the Woodlands Academy experience through her
Denman earned a bachelor ’s degree in physics from the Illinois Institute
John Denman, PHYSICS TEACHER, ROBOTICS CLUB MODERATOR
tribution truly runs deep. “Our Step-
tenary observance, each
Lee Edmunds suggested sending some
insight to her theatre classes and productions at Woodlands, the theatre
BY: EMMA PARKINSON ’15 WAM
Janet Erskine Stuart Cen-
it clear that he is devoted to his students and has high hopes for their
wants to share his love of physics with us," said LAURA BARTUSIAK ’15, a
considering theatre texts from the lens of performance.” Applying this
The significance of Woodlands’ con-
Woodlands Academy Principal Madonna
"He's really passionate about physics, which translates into the class. He
“I remember getting frustrated in English classes . . . nobody was
s part of the just-concluded
When considering his goals and ambitions for the year, Denman made
can to help our students succeed."
Although Grunnah originally began her college studies in a biology
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO VIEW OUR 2013-2014 ADVANCEMENT REPORT.
not diminished.
future.
“Theatre, I believe, is meant to challenge - and sometimes even
A
A
ll.
KRISTEN CLA IR ’16 warm ly hugs sister LISA C LAIR ’17 as sh e, and fellow soph omore classm at es embark on th eir trip to V ie nn a, Austria.
To see more photos please visit us online! VISIT » WOODLANDSACADEMY.ORG
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
Woodlands Academy Club Statistics
6,000 55
PAID PERMIT NO. 93 LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
Meters rowed by the CREW TEAM during a fall season race.
8
Number of miles run by THE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM each week.
Number of attacks made by VARISTY & JV VOLLEYBALL TEAM during the course of an average game.
829
Number of average hits made by FIELD HOCKEY TEAM members during a match.
87%
40 Over half our students play for a Woodlands team.
Almost all Woodlands athletes also participate in other extracurriculars.
%
18
Number of serves fired off by VARISTY & JV VOLLYBALL team during an average game.
1,503
Number ofweek student-run Hours per the CREW clubs meeting TEAMactively will practice during its this school year spring season.
Schedule a Shadow Day Do you know someone who might want to do a shadow day - maybe a friend, a neighbor, or relative who has a 7th or 8th-grade daughter? If so, please encourage her to call the Admission and Financial Aid Office at (847) 234-4300.
Save the DATE Open House NOVEMBER 11 • 6:30PM
SAINT PHILIPPINE PRAYER SERVICE NOVEMBER 21 NANCY KELLY SAVARD ’64 and SUSAN BARRECA SMITH ’64 attended the school's cocktail mixer which kicked of the 2014 Reunion Weekend festivities.
Alumnae from THE CLASS OF 1949 were honored with blue ribbons during the Reunion dinner at Onwentsia Club.
THE CLASS OF 1989 form a chorus line for this fun shot following the more formal class photo.
Christmas concert DECEMBER 4 • 7PM
Winter wonderwalk
Creating new Memories REUNION WEEKEND 2014 Festivities started with the Alumnae Open House and Head of School Reception at the school. The following day, Sister Martha Curry, RSCJ and author, was the guest speaker. The Reunion Liturgy Celebration followed in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, and the
DECEMBER 9 • 6-8PM DECEMBER 10 • 9AM-3PM
Cokie Boggs Roberts APRIL 17
The Sacred Heart alumna, political commentator and author will present to the Woodlands community.
Reunion Dinner was held at the Onwentsia
congÉ
Club. We were thrilled that alumnae from the
APRIL 25
class of 1949 celebrated their 65th Reunion from the Convent of the Sacred Heart. Thank you to all who participated and to all who welcomed our alumnae home to their alma mater. A good time was had by all!
BETSY GREEDAN WEINEL ’94, MEGHAN RAFFO STUFFLEBEEM ’94, MARY GILLARD ANDERSON ’94 and MEG GREEDAN HEINTZELMAN ’99 catch up at reunion.