Hearts Full of Dreams Efrom disposable materials, water color art, and mandalas. If you can’t...
Transcript of Hearts Full of Dreams Efrom disposable materials, water color art, and mandalas. If you can’t...
OUR MISSION
S isters Academy of
Baltimore, a Catholic,
community-centered middle
school, educates girls of
different races, ethnic
groups, and religions, from
families of limited economic
means, particularly those
in southwest Baltimore.
The Academy empowers its
students to become agents
of transformation in their
families, communities, and society.
Sponsoring Congregations
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Bon Secours
Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Board of Members
Kimberly Baxter
Deborah Cerullo, SSND
Mary Donohue, SNDdeN
Alice Talone, CBS
Board of Directors
Lawrence Beyer
Faye Alston Cook
Marcia A. Cort, M.D.
Rosemary Donohue, SNDdeN
Delia Dowling, SSND
Kate C. M. Edwards
Anita Feeley
Andrea Giampetro-Meyer
Mary M. Gunning
E. Tonas Kalil
Mark McCarty
Moira H. Monk
Margaret O. Moseley
John Riehl, IV
Augusta Reilly, RSM
Janet Schmick
Janet Mary Shields, SSND
Josette Towles
E ach morning at Sisters Academy, the students and teachers meet to begin the day with
greetings, reflections, announcements, and prayer. On one morning last month, the
reflections were inspired by the celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday and his famous
speech, “I Have a Dream.” Following the reflections, each student received a slip of colored
paper and was invited to write her dream. Here are the dreams of some of our students:
“I have a dream that the world will be a better place where little children can walk and play
in the streets without being hurt.” – C’Erra, Grade 8
“I have a dream that people will come together and make a peaceful world. And that we
shouldn’t be afraid to walk outside because of violence in the world.” – Mo’Riyah, Grade 7
I have a dream that one day children who live in other places in the world won’t have to
work in unfair conditions.” – Daniera, Grade 8
“I have a dream that one day the fight for equality won’t have to happen anymore, that we
can all live peacefully.” – Leah, Grade 8
“I have a dream that one day I can try hard enough to accomplish something hard.” – Jade,
Grade 5
“I have a dream that all races will one day come together to make a difference and the world
will become a better place for future generations.” – Kiyah, Grade 7
The dreams of our students rise up from their experiences of fear, violence, and injustice at a
young age. Nurtured by their families and teachers, they have the capacity to envision peaceful
neighborhoods, to imagine a better world, and to dream that they can make a positive difference
in the world.
The dreams of our students come from a spirit deep within their own hearts. Symbolically, the
strips of colored paper together formed a large heart, now displayed on the wall outside the
school library.
This edition of our Newsletter documents stories of generosity, creativity, inspiration, and
commitment during the first semester of our school year. As you read these stories, know that
all of us at Sisters Academy are grateful to you for your generous gifts as donors and sponsors.
You not only enable our students to dream, but you also provide them with the means to realize
their dreams.
Hearts Full of Dreams
— Sr. Delia Dowling, SSND, President
Volume 15, Issue 1 Winter 2018
Tahjae (left picture) and Akata and Monica (right picture) are three of our students with bright aspirations.
Page 2 Sisters Academy of Baltimore Volume 15, Issue 1
News Notes
S isters Academy students received T-shirts, pom-poms, posters, and top honors when attending the Loyola University Maryland
“Field Trip Day” on Thursday, January 11. Loyola hosted more than 600 middle school students from seven Baltimore public schools along with our 70 students. The activities included cheering for the Lady Greyhounds basketball team as they played American University, listening to an empowering address on “Learning How Self-Discipline Leads to Success” presented by former Raven’s player Matt Stover, and dancing center court to the DJ’s sounds. But the most important activity of the day was the announcement of the 2018 “Field Trip Day” Essay Contest winners. Sisters Academy students swept the competition with the largest number of winners from a single school. Each student contestant was asked to write her thoughts and solutions in response to the question, “How can we make the world a better place for everybody?” Among the 20 winning essays selected, nine were submitted by Sisters Academy students with winning entries from each grade. The students had a banner day filled with fun, accolades, and gratitude for participating and competing.
I n September, Sisters Academy received exciting news that the Frank family members created the Frank Family Fund for Sisters
Academy of Baltimore at the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF). The fund will provide annual support for the sponsorship of a full class and an academic scholarship for an individual student, in perpetuity. Last spring, Mimi Frank Bozzelli, Alice Frank Hubbard, and Timothy Frank visited Sisters Academy as a culmination of their research and family deliberations with the BCF. The family’s support of Sisters Academy began when Kate Hubbard, a fourth generation (G4) family member, volunteered as a tutor at Sisters Academy while she was in high school at Notre Dame Prep. Kate’s experience generated such enthusiasm for Sisters Academy that it inspired her family to become a student scholarship sponsor. As a student sponsor, Mimi and Alice have served as the family point persons for communications with their student who is now in the eighth grade. Both expressed their gratification in seeing her progress through letters, as well as their delight for the experience of meeting one another during Sponsor Appreciation Day. In a recent BCF newsletter article featuring the Frank family, Mimi shared her thoughts on how the generations of their family, third(G3) and fourth(G4), arrived at making this important decision. "Our dad loved education and thought it was the greatest gift you could give anybody. So, when our family agreed to create a fund for Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy, we said, 'What about the girls?' Without hesitation, the G3’s and G4’s agreed to establish a fund for Sisters Academy." We are most grateful to the Frank Family, all generations, for their foresight to value education and for their generous philanthropic validation of our mission.
Thank You, Golfers’ Charitable Foundation The Golfers’ Charitable Foundation awarded Sisters Academy a grant of $5,000 to help provide students with daily bus transportation throughout the school year. During the Golfers’ Annual Golf Tournament dinner, held on October 2, Sr. Delia was invited to speak about Sisters Academy. “It is an honor for our school to receive this generous recognition from such a wonderful and noble group of men and women, whose charitable work has such positive impact on the young people of our city. Many thanks to the member golfers, and to Bob and Anne Ariosa for their leadership within this great organization!”
Sisters Academy Art Now on Instagram When you visit Sisters Academy, you are sure to notice the
beautiful, fun, and joyful works of art created by the students
under the direction of Beth Lorete. During the first semester,
students created various art forms, including three-dimensional art
from disposable materials, water color art, and mandalas. If you
can’t visit in person, click onto Instagram and follow the artists
@SABartStars.
New Board of Directors & Chairperson for 2017-2018 At the September 2017 Board meeting, Sisters Academy welcomed two new members to the Board of Directors: John H. Riehl, IV and Sr. Janet Mary Shields, SSND. Mr. Riehl is Principal of Obrecht-Riehl Properties. His firm is responsible for management, marketing, leasing, and consulting for multi-family, residential, office, retail, and warehouse developments in Maryland and Virginia. With his extensive experience, Mr. Riehl is serving on the Board’s Finance & Facilities committee. Sr. Janet Mary Shields, SSND, a former Catholic School Principal, is currently serving as the Coordinator, Liaison and Supervisor of Student Interns at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Her experience as an educator and administrator provides expertise on the Board’s Academic & Student Affairs committee. At the September meeting, the members greeted Andrea Giampetro-Meyer as the new Chair of the Board. She is taking over the position previously held by Peggy Moseley, who continues to serve as a member and past Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Members of the Class of 2021 (current fifth-graders) gather in front of
their displayed art work.
Loyola University Maryland “Field Trip Day”
Sponsor Appreciation Day
Friday, April 27, 2018
A Family’s Legacy Values Education
Page 3 Sisters Academy of Baltimore Volume 15, Issue 1
Traditions and Celebrations
T he Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were founded in 1804 in Amiens,
France by Saint Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon. Their
mission became to make known the Goodness of God through
education, particularly for girls and for those of limited economic
means. The Congregation grew rapidly in the early years and soon spread
to Belgium where the Sisters located the Motherhouse in Namur. In 1840 Sisters arrived in
Cincinnati, Ohio to educate the children of immigrants. Soon, the Sisters blazed trails to
Washington (DC), Boston, and the Pacific Northwest, settling in Oregon and California.
Today, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur serve in 15 countries on 5 continents.
In 1934 a new Province Center was founded at Ilchester, Maryland, with Sisters serving
throughout the east coast from New York to Florida to teach mainly in parish schools.
Today, Trinity School, Ilchester, is an active partner with Sisters Academy of Baltimore. Some
graduates have attended Maryvale Preparatory School, also sponsored by the Sisters of Notre
Dame de Namur. Sister Suzanne Hall, SNDdeN and Sr. Delia Dowling, SSND are the
“founding mothers” of Sisters Academy. From the outset, the Sisters of Notre Dame de
Namur have exhibited great enthusiasm and a strong commitment to Sisters Academy. A
number of Sisters have served in the school as teachers, secretary, volunteers, and on the
Boards of Members and Directors.
Saint Julie Billiart once said, “Teach the children what they need to know for life.” It has been
such a joy to journey with Sisters Academy through all its milestones: choosing a name for
the school, purchasing the building, welcoming the first fifth grade class, rejoicing with the first
graduates, and each successive class, and now seeing them embark on careers after
successfully completing college. One cherished quality that continues with each new class was
best expressed by a current fifth grade student, “The first time I came here I was frightened.
Then everyone welcomed me as a family member.” The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
continue their strong commitment to that mission of educating young women for life and of
creating a lasting family of welcome and accomplishment. We are proud to be a part of the
Sisters Academy family.
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Foster Their Mission through Sisters Academy
Sister Mary Donohue, SNDdeN presented the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Award for effort and academic motivation to Jaleah Jupiter, Class of 2017.
— Sr. Mary Donohue, SNDdeN, Board of Members
F rom September to December, Sisters Academy
students, graduates, teachers, volunteers, parents, and
friends gathered on more than one occasion honoring
school traditions and enjoying special events that celebrate
our school community. The events featured are snapshots
from the September Investiture Ceremony, the October Fall
Festival, and the Christmas Bazaar and Las Posadas in
December.
Investiture
Fall Festival
Christmas Bazaar
Las Posadas
139 First Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21227-3002
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Baltimore, MD
Permit No. 7618
SISTERS ACADEMY OF B ALTIMORE
Phone: 410-242-1212
Fax: 410-242-5104
www.sistersacademy.org
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Teaching Students to See Truth in the World
T he success of Sisters Academy is dependent on teachers who love teaching and want to empower their students to become passionate,
spiritual, confident, and well-educated leaders. Christine Barrett came to
Sisters Academy this year after teaching at The Seton Keough High School.
She is a teacher who exemplifies an unwavering passion for teaching with the desire to make a difference. With 15 years of experience teaching
English and literature to middle and high school students, Christine realizes
the importance of identifying the individual needs of her students, teaching
to those needs, and challenging her students to become active participants in the classroom, school community, and in their personal lives. "Last year
I was truly saddened by the loss of such a wonderful school community at
Seton Keough. It was during this time that a colleague and friend
recommended I research Sisters Academy of Baltimore. I vividly remember watching a video on the Sisters Academy website that
showcased the wonderful and talented young women who attend this
school. I cried instantly. It was because I knew that God had provided me
with everything that I have ever sought – my true calling. I am very grateful to be a part of such a special place.”
Christine's dedication to her students goes beyond the classroom. As
their teacher and moderator, she provided the eighth grade class with guidance and organizational tools that helped them produce a highly successful and fun Fall Festival. It was a celebration of games and
activities for the enjoyment of the whole school. “Sisters Academy is a community filled with amazing young women who work to
make the world a better place. And, I am even more grateful to work with a cohort of supportive and loving staff, who truly dedicate their lives to their craft and their students. Thank you for embracing me. I am finally home."
Christine and her husband Joe are the proud parents of their daughter Lilah. When meeting her, one quickly feels her supportive,
attentive and kind nature, knowing that she is truly dedicated to her family, home, faith, and Sisters Academy.
Welcome Christine Barrett