a publication from Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
Mes Amies № 09
2015 Spring ISSUE
Students Win
printer
LAURA BARTUSIAK ’15, with the 3-D printer awarded to the school as a result of her winning essay
T
hanks to a winning essay
Laura envisions the 3-D printer
FIRST® Tech Challenge competition
written by LAURA BARTUSIAK
being used in both efficient and
takes place at the regional, state and
’15 – with help from other
environmentally friendly ways at
national levels each year. An example
Robotics Club members – Woodlands
Woodlands Academy. “Our robotics
is this year’s Chicago Math and Science
Academy of the Sacred Heart’s goal of
team will use it to make reusable parts,
Academy Tournament where Woodlands
Its uses will be confined only by the limits of our imagination as we learn the intricacies of an emerging technology. John Denman, PHYSICS TEACHER, ROBOTICS CLUB MODERATOR educating girls to succeed and lead in
reducing the need to buy new parts for
finished in 9th place. Approximately 25
21st Century careers is being advanced
robots built in future years. We also will
teams from the Chicago and Rockford
with the help of a brand new 3-D printer.
recycle the cartridges from our printer
areas as well as central Illinois displayed
so that we do not create more waste,”
their robot-building skills at the Jan. 24
she said.
event.
use a 3-D printer for this season’s
The EKOCYCLE™ Cube® Printer,
Motivating girls to be 21st Century
robotics competition as well as how
delivered to the school in January 2015,
science and technology leaders is
its cartridges would be recycled. Laura
was one of about 1,500 made available
what the Robotics Club at Woodlands
sought the new technology as a way
nationwide by 3D Systems and the
Academy is all about. According to the
of empowering Woodlands’ all-girls
Coca-Cola Company to winners of a
National Coalition of Girls' Schools, all-
robotics team.
contest open to FIRST® Tech Challenge
girls' schools lead the way in graduating
teams registered to compete this year.
women who become our nation's
Contestants had to submit a 300word essay on how the team would
“Although our team has only been in existence for four years, we have learned
“Its uses will be confined only by
a lot about programming, building and
the limits of our imaginations as we
working together as a team to create a
learn the intricacies of an emerging
robot,” she said. “With a 3-D printer, we
technology,” John Denman, Woodlands
can take more creative liberties and use
Academy physics teacher/robotics
innovative thinking to build our robot. It
coach, said. “The students and faculty
will help create interest in the math and
are very excited as the printer will be
science field for women.”
made available to the whole school.”
scientists, doctors, engineers, designers and inventors. Research shows that girls' school graduates are more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology and also are more likely to consider engineering careers compared to girls who attend coed schools.
Summer school Woodlands Academy is on the move this summer with credit classes offered for the first time. Taking a class in the summer is a great way to free time for schedules during the regular school year. Classes are open to Woodlands students or any female student entering grades 9 through 12. Summer offerings for 0.5 units of credit include Christian Scriptures, Drawing, Printmaking and Painting, Instrumental Music, Introduction to Computer Programming, and Regency England. In addition there are 12 enrichment classes (not for credit) that range from ACT Preparation to Bridge to Geometry, Physics or Calculus. For a complete listing, please see the website.
Students Help Bring Music to African School
WA World
Alumnae Networking in mexico Associate Director of Admission Annie Montagne and Associate Director of Alumnae Relations Maura Chamberlin recently traveled to Mexico City for an admission/alumnae visit. The Admission department visits our network school COLEGIO SAGRADO CORAZÓN-MÉXICO. In addition, Woodlands Academy hosted a current parent dinner at Restaurant Anastasia which is owned and
ER, HEIDL AN SC M T R A & Bluff ARIE H Forest ANN M itor of d e g and nagin sights ‘89, ma s her in re a h lands s ine, (Wood Magaz h WAM it w e c en dents. experi dia) stu my Me Acade
The alumnae event the following day was held at Los Hacienda de Morales. CONCHITA CARSTENS de DAVIS ’53 hosted the tea for our alumnae. Many thanks go to our dedicated international parents and alumnae!
JODY DE L CANTE ORTIZ ’8 appointe 8 was d as the new exec director utive of the M others Tru Foundati st on.
From left: MORGAN KOHLMEYER ’15, REV. AVITUS KIIGUTA and MARY HURTGEN ’16 present during the Ash Wednesday prayer service.
T
operated by current parents Oscar and Lupita Padilla.
raditionally the Ash
This will be done in a variety of ways.
and Community Empowerment
Wednesday liturgy at
Throughout the project Woodlands
(COCE). Since then more than $5
Woodlands Academy of the
students will be collecting musical
million has been raised for construction
Sacred Heart marks the start of a major
instruments to send to Sacred Heart
and operation of Sacred Heart
service project. This Lent students
Secondary School. In addition funds
Secondary School, which opened its
will help start a music program at
will be raised through such means as
doors in 2008. Approximately 800
the relatively new Sacred Heart
a raffle and donations collected at
students have been educated there
Secondary School that’s educating and
Woodlands Academy’s dance.
since then.
Mary is aware of the African school
KRISTEN CLAIR ’16 said, “These are
because she has known its founder,
children who have grown up in poverty
the Rev. Avitus Kiiguta, from the time
and, until recently, have been denied
he served as a pastor at Sacred Heart
the chance to become educated. They
From left: RUI ZHAO ’16 and HAIQING GONG ’17 use their portable devices to complete
Parish in Winnetka. During that time
now eagerly embrace the opportunity
coding challenges. Photo Credit: ZARA ANDERSON ’15
Kiiguta was able to realize his dream
to learn and grow in ways never before
of establishing the school in the
available to them.”
empowering some poor and orphaned children in Tanzania, Africa.
Educating youth is a key to empowering africa. REV.
Avitus Kiiguta
US ’16, CAROLINE GRUMHA iling sm e som h wit ses po ts den St. Malachy's stu y ivit act al niv during the car hosted at WA.
northwestern Tanzanian village where he was born and raised. Sacred Heart
’16 MADELYN MORRIS pel, cha the o processes int ds lan od Wo the g bearin flag, during a prayer from service with guests l. oo Sch St. Malachy
Parish was Kiiguta’s first assignment after being ordained a Catholic priest.
“Even though this school is not a part
He now serves at St. John de la Salle
of our international network of Sacred
Church on Chicago’s south side.
Heart Schools, we share the same values,” said Woodlands Academy junior MARY HURTGEN ‘16, who initiated the project. “Throughout the next weeks, we will be helping to start a music program for these Tanzanian students."
“Educating youth is a key to empowering Africa,” Kiiguta said during the Woodlands Academy liturgy. His dream of providing this opportunity in Tanzania’s Izigo community began coming true in 2007 with the formation
KRISTEN CLAIR ’16
of a charitable organization, Outreach
Interfaith Prayer Service The Woodlands Academy community joined area representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Islamic faiths in a celebration of values they share during an interfaith prayer service Jan. 23.
KEIGHLEY N EMICKAS ’15, GIANNA HAGNELL ’15 and MARG ARET ANDERSEN ’15 look very patriotic at the school's winter danc e. The entire senior class came dresse d in red, white , and blue.
Prayers, readings from Bible Scriptures and the Quran, and reflections were offered by: Rabbi Samuel Gordon from Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, Helena Abushamaa from the Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville, the Rev. Bill Roberts from St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Deerfield, the Rev. Mark Hindman and the Rev. Tracy Hindman of Union Church in Lake Bluff, and Sister Patricia Reiss, RSCJ, from Woodlands. KEELY DICKES ’17, MIN ARABELLA MCMENA and ’17 E LSH WA ALICE LELE ’17 wear and matching red shirts iplet "tr of t par as pig tails ek. we rit spi ing dur " day
Students Participate in School-wide Hour of <CODE>
I
n an effort to expose all students
Universities and colleges are seeking
guys in computer science classes, like a
to computer science, Woodlands
young women who have a desire to
big boys’ club, which can make it hard
Academy hosted a hands-on,
major in a STEM area in order to reduce
for women to stick it out and succeed.
school-wide hour of coding Feb. 12.
the gender gap.
That is just ridiculous, and we need to
According to a National Science
“The hour of coding at Woodlands
Foundation study cited in AAUW’s Why
Academy is part of an international
The hour of coding event started with
So Few?, typically 29 percent of male
event usually done in January
simple, fun challenges students and
college freshmen plan on majoring in a
during computer science week. Our
adults did on their iPADs. As the hour
STEM (Science Technology Engineering
STEM Committee created this as an
progressed, assignments became more
and Math) field, but only 15 percent of
opportunity to generate interest in
difficult.
Usually there are all guys in computer science classes, like a big boys'’ club, which can make it hard for women to stick it out and succeed. Elliot Coffey, MATH TEACHER
help change that.”
Students said they enjoyed the event. Nearly 70 percent of students responding to an online survey the day of the event (which also was the surprise Congé date), had a positive experience. ELIZABETH FRANCLEMONT ’16 said, “I think the hour of coding was an opportunity that many of us haven’t had before, and it helped us learn through trying new things and gaining a new perspective.”
female college freshmen plan on doing
computer science,” said math teacher
In response to student interest,
so. The gender disparity is even more
Elliot Coffey, a STEM Committee
Woodlands will offer an Introduction
significant when the biological sciences
member. He added that students
to Computer Programming class this
are not included. Just more than one-
often do not know what subject
summer. The course will introduce
fifth of male freshmen planned to major
they’re interested in until they try it, so
beginning programming concepts
in engineering, computer science,
Woodlands wanted all students to have
which can be applied across many
or the physical sciences, compared
the introduction.
different types of software. Building
with only about 5 percent of female freshmen (ibid).
“I think there is an intimidation factor,” he explained. “Usually there are all
on knowledge of algebra, students will create programs for a variety of applications and creative problems.
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
Single Gender Education Advantage
PAID PERMIT NO. 93 LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
48% of girls' school alumnae rate themseleves "great" at math vs. 37% of their coed counterparts. Graduates of all-girls' school are three times more likely to pursue a career in engineering.
40
71%
60% of girls' school graduates spent 11 hours per week on studies, compared to 42% of their coed peers.
60%
Source: National Coalition of Girls' Schools
71% of girls' school graduates consider college as prelude to graduate school.
6X
Students at single-gender school score 40 points higher than their coed counterparts on the SAT test.
Girls' school grads are six times more likely to pursue degrees in STEM based areas of study than their coed counterparts.
100%
Nearly 100% of girls' school graduates attend college.
48%
3
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
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.
N O I S N A P X CAMPUNSeaErs Completion
Save the date April 25th CONGÉ
6:00 PM
April 30th
COKIE ROBERTS
M
es Amies sat down
That will be officially named Gloria
our plans have shown this spring
Dei, in honor of the donors, for
though it’s hard to give a more
School Gerald Grossman
whom we are forever grateful. It
definitive answer due to our
to get a quick take on what’s new with
will be a multi-purpose space for
infamous weather which affects
our campus expansion project.
our global education program,
whether asphalt can be poured.
q a
recently with Head of
a
10:30 AM
meetings, conferences, retreats for
How is the project moving along?
students, and social events such as the meet and greet for parents, for
It’s coming along nicely. Our
instance. We are going to need to
goal is to have a fully operational
live in the space for a while to see
campus by this August. There
what we will ultimately do to grow
are so many interesting facets to explore. For example, we’ve met with the Athletic department to ensure that we’re getting what is
How is the cupola faring?
a
When will the campus blessing and Consecration take place? We have just set the date of
want to re-connect the community, especially all alumnae from Woodlands Academy and alumni
There’s a separate task force
the remarkable, transformative gift
considerations required for light-
looking into the restoration of the
of this land.
ing, signage, drainage, fencing,
cupola, which is planned to be the
scoreboards, bleachers, team
centerpiece of an attractive area
benches, dugouts, batting cages,
for meditation and reflection.
walkways, turf, grass, parking and maintenance, to name a few! What’s happening with the former Cooney Library?
q a
When will the current driveway be reconfigured?
10:45 AM
May 14th FINE ARTS EVENING 6:00PM
community event this fall. We truly
from Barat College, to celebrate
to be in use this fall. There are
MAY CROWNING
Friday, Sept. 18, for a wonderful
It needs much tender, loving care.
needed for the two fields expected
q
q a
into it.
q
May 1st
May 20th MSB PRAYER SERVICE
June 4th
GRADUATION 6:00PM
September 18th
CAMPUS DEDICATION It will be moved to the west as