March 2021 OLP Magazine

MAGAZINE

HOPE.

J O Y. G R AT I T U D E .

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE (SPRING 2021)

OLP

MAGAZINE

LEADERSHIP Head of School Lauren Lek, Ed.D. Assistant Head of School Jessica Hooper Leadership Team Rivka Bent Marlena Conroy Becca Fink Aarón González Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Jessica (Goncalves) Occhialini ’88 Inez Odom Toni Russo Patti Schnick Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Ed.D., Head of School Damian McKinney, Board Chair Francesca Castagnola Monsignor Richard Duncanson Clair (Cunningham) Kennedy ’81 Diane Koester-Byron Deacon Lane Litke Gayle McMahon Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea, CSJ Carrie Sawyer Timothy Truxaw Danitza (Ramirez) Villanueva ’98 Sister Maureen O’Connor, CSJ Provincial

MAGAZINE TEAM Contributors Rivka Bent Lisa Damour Becca Fink Aarón González Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Michelle Kinder Ali Knoll Lauren Lek Bridgette Ouimette Toni Russo Kaila Weedman ’08 Katie Wilson Editor and Designer Becca Fink Photographer Beatriz Cabañas ’13 Copy Editor Lisa Danaher

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Dear OLP Pilot Community, As I was driving home the other day from OLP, my niece and I got to talking. It’s that time of year again when students start choosing their classes, and she decided to apply for Liturgical Planning, a class that allows students to be integral to the coordination of our school-wide faith celebrations. We began talking about the difference of our OLP celebrations, and she clung to one phrase, the experience that for her captures the essence of all she has come to know about faith and spirituality here at school. It comes from Father John Amsberry and has become woven into the very fabric of our campus as it encapsulates the charism of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and our desire to create a campus where all belong: “You are loved!”

We say it as we end our Zoom meetings, “You are loved!” In our faculty and staff gatherings, when we note the time before we dismiss, we say “You are loved!” It will even grace the new dedicated staircase from faculty and staff donations for the Boundless campaign in the student commons in Shiley Hall.

Here at OLP, we know that as faculty, staff, and even students, we are all representatives of Christ’s love for one another here on earth. When we show that love for one another, we are allowing others in our community to encounter Christ’s love.

In Pope Francis’ weekly general audience on December 30, 2020, he shared that “the gratitude that comes from encountering Christ’s love and mercy is enough to bring joy and hope to a troubled world.”

This edition of the OLP Magazine specifically focuses on these words from Pope Francis, as ways of transmitting gratitude, joy, and hope to all of you! These are cultivated here at OLP through the sense of love and belonging in the OLP community.

Joy is seen in the remarkable OLP retreat week where the spirit of the CSJ charism of “unifying love” was not only explored but experienced firsthand, regardless of the iterations due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Students shared that “seeing all the girls at school, and on Zoom, felt like a warm hug.”

Hope abounds as one walks through the newly renovated hallways of Navarra Hall and Shiley Hall and stands amongst the women of faith who serve as monumental reminders for all of us.

Gratitude, for being part of the OLP community, was one of the dominant takeaways from the launch of the Strategic Planning process that utilizes the approach of Appreciative Inquiry, a research based methodology that exemplifies the CSJ charism of "unifying love" and inclusivity.

While the hardships of this past year illuminated the struggles of many, the light of love and compassion from within the OLP community shines bright! May the stories enclosed allow you to feel the hope that surrounds you.

May God bless and keep you all,

Lauren Lek, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

IN THIS ISSUE

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8

J OY AT T H E FO U RT H A N N UA L R ET R E AT W E E K

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H O P E R A D I AT ES FROM CAMPUS ART

SPRING 2021

22

A NEW TEAM ON CAMPUS

G R AT I T U D E G U I D ES T H E ST R AT EG I C P L A N N I N G P R O C ES S AT O L P

O U R M I S S I O N STAT E M E N T

Founded and rooted in the Gospel values of the Catholic church and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace empowers young women in an innovative learning environment that honors the individual while fostering community, and develops faith-filled leaders dedicated to the “love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.”

N O N - D I S C R I M I N AT I O N STAT E M E N T

The Academy of Our Lady of Peace admits students of any color, race, ethnic origin, or faith to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, ethnic origin, or faith in the administration of its educational policies, scholarships, financial aid programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

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Joy Lives Here

U N I FY I N G LOV E AT O L P ' S R ET R EAT W E E K

BY KATIE WILSON & ALI KNOLL “How do we recreate the spirit of Unifying Love felt throughout Retreat

The Junior Retreat was themed around Unifying Love and engaged

Week in a way that protects our community and recognizes the reality

students in activities designed to build unity as a class. This year, the

of our times?” This was the challenge posed to OLP’s Discipleship

juniors celebrated what binds them together as they participated in

Class, consisting of 51 seniors known on campus as “Senior Mentors.”

the retreat both on campus and virtually. While a few of the in-person

While loading students into buses bound for various retreat sites and

activities that make the Junior retreat memorable could not occur,

cabin sleepovers were not options in 2021, our Senior Mentors, along

the Senior Mentors creatively turned these traditions into virtual

with the guidance of their teachers Mr. Harrison Trubitt and Mrs. Katie

experiences that captured the spirit of Unifying Love for the Class of

Wilson, creatively rose to the challenge to organize a Retreat Week that

2022.

was different from years past, but full of the love and intentionality that our CSJ mission calls for. Senior Mentor Daniela Andrade shared, “This

The Senior Retreat focused on the theme of God’s Friendship,

year was very different from others, but it was a wonderful experience.

exploring and deepening each student’s individual relationship with

Small group leaders on campus and virtually had the pleasure of

God. Senior Mentors shared personal testimonies of the joys and

connecting with all students. It was possible to connect virtually and

challenges of their faith journey, and the senior class had ample time

establish heartfelt conversations.”

Each grade level retreat offered students the option of attending on campus or virtually. Here are a few highlights: Our Frosh Retreat has traditionally focused on introducing our first year students to the CSJ charism. This year, the pandemic presented an opportunity for three legendary CSJ Sisters to join the Class of 2024 virtually for a live panel discussion and interview. The visiting sisters included Sr. Barbara Moore (one of two Catholic sisters to join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 1965), Sr. Helen Prejean (known for her tireless work against the death penalty and author of Dead Man Walking), and Sr. Calista Roy (highly regarded in the nursing community and creator of the Roy Adaptation Model in nursing). The frosh retreat experience concluded with the traditional “Catch the Flame” ceremony, which

" It was so meaningful to feel that connection with others that we miss so much due to quarantine and social distancing. We definitely felt the urge to pull our friends into our arms. But even with times such as these, we knew that building a beautiful connection with people could merely be spread with a smile.

Seeing all the girls at school, and on Zoom, felt like a warm hug—and we knew God was there, working through us as Senior Mentors, and through each student, teacher, and moderator that attended."

to reflect and share with one another. Seniors shared that this retreat was a deeply memorable experience, an opportunity to spend bonding time with their OLP sisters as they head into their final semester at OLP. The entire school community joined together for a virtual celebration of Mass, led by Fr. Emmanuel

Ochigbo.

Following

Mass,

we

gathered virtually with Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ as our keynote speaker. In a discussion led by our Senior Mentors, Sr. Helen shared her story about how she was inspired to become a CSJ. She also addressed students’ questions about her work with the death penalty, women in leadership in the Catholic Church, her spiritual journey, and solidarity with the dear neighbor. Following our time with Sr. Helen, students gathered in their Advisory groups to reflect on her wisdom, and to share how they personally feel called to work for justice and to grow as women of faith.

celebrated the CSJ Sisters of our past and welcomed the Class of 2024 into the CSJ family.

While retreat week looked and felt different this year, Senior Mentors Daniella and Isabella Cisneros summarized the spirit of retreat

The Sophomore Retreat celebrated the spirit of service alongside

week perfectly as they reflected, “It was so meaningful to feel that

the dear neighbor at OLP. While our students could not travel to

connection with others that we miss so much due to quarantine and

service sites around the county, our sophomore class spent their day

social distancing. We definitely felt the urge to pull our friends into

reflecting on the value of service in their own lives. Senior Mentors

our arms. But even with times such as these, we knew that building a

shared testimonies of how they have chosen to serve our community

beautiful connection with people could merely be spread with a smile.

as well as how we serve those closest to us: our friends and family. As

Seeing all the girls at school, and on Zoom, felt like a warm hug—and

a demonstration of unity with the dear neighbor, each student wrote

we knew God was there, working through us as Senior Mentors, and

letters to Sisters living at Carondelet Center in Los Angeles.

through each student, teacher, and moderator who attended.”

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Senior Mentors approached planning with the guiding question: "How do we recreate the spirit of Unifying Love felt throughout Retreat Week, in a way that protects our community and recognizes the reality of our times?”

“This year was very different from others, but it was a wonderful experience.

It was possible to connect virtually and establish heartfelt conversations.”

- Senior Mentor Daniela Andrade

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WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT TO THIS YEAR TO NURTURE YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND PRIORITIZE SELF CARE?

"My resolution for this year is to spend at least ten minutes each day on my mental health whether it's journaling or taking time to

"I want to be on time more and not procrastinate every situation and things I have to get done. "

do something I really enjoy."

"My New Year’s Resolution for 2021 is to check in with my friends and family more often and find a balance between my "This year I will place more focus on taking positive action on

responsibilities in school with my responsibilities to take care of

my hopes, prayers and thoughts. Through Sr. Prejean's talk today

myself."

I realized that we must see, feel and act to promote positive change for our communities and for social justice on a greater scale. I will continue to spend quality time with my family (even if it continues to be over video calls only since they live far away). I will remind myself to take time to appreciate everyone and all of the goodness in my life when I am feeling overwhelmed."

"I would like to grow in my faith with God. I can do stuff that I enjoy personally and show my thanks towards Him. Taking care of myself is also something I will continue because I am Gods creation and this is also a way I can show that I am grateful towards Him. Not only taking care of myself but also taking care of the world and others is also something that I will continue to do."

"One small step that I can take to connect with God more is to find the goodness and positivity in everything even during these tough times."

"To build a more just world, I feel called to help girls with eating disorders, and how that connects to high school struggles. To fulfill this passion I can write and speak, advocating for eating

"I want to focus more on my mental health by meditating, journaling, and opening up to others. I also want to grow closer to my loved ones and reach out to them. I also want to grow a closer

disorder prevention. Meditation, affirmations, and reaching for a book instead of my phone can all help me prioritize a healthy mindset."

relationship with God. I also want to stand up for injustices this year and advocate more."

"For this brand new year I plan to try to do more acts of service which I am interested in such as volunteering at the hospital, Father Joe's Villages, and participating in Pilots for Life. Another

"I would like to become more confident in who I am and stop

goal of mine is to pray every night before I go to bed."

worrying about what other people think of me. I want to love and focus more on myself and my mental health."

"For 2021, I aspire to really be more passionate about my beliefs and help our community more often. There are times where I can "I will use my social media platform to raise awareness for social

feel shy or maybe even lazy, but this year will be different and I

justice issues, and I will provide resources and petitions. I will

will execute my projects on certain beliefs I have in order to help

advocate for the injustices that arrive and I will use my platform

make a better world."

for good. I will also meditate, read, journal, dance, and release my emotions through healthy outlets."

"I have been inspired to more effectively stand up against injustice.

Sister Helen Prejean's discussion, especially, has encouraged me "I want to grow as a person and strengthen my relationship with

to advocate for fundamental human rights."

God. I am going to go on daily walks and say the rosary at least once a week to focus on myself."

"In 2021, I want to focus on my mental health by showing myself self-love."

"Spending more time in nature and meditation."

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As part of Retreat Week, we challenged students to write a NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR THE SOUL.

"Journaling about my relationships and reflecting on scripture in a modern day lens."

"I am going to make time for God every single day whether that is praying the rosary or even recognizing him when I wake up in the morning."

"My resolution is to participate in new opportunities that could inspire me to become a better person for my family, friends, and myself."

"I would like to strengthen my relationship with God by praying more or doing a part of the rosary every day. I also want to have a stronger bond with my family especially with my mom. I also want

"In 2021, I would like to give more time to God and help others in

to improve my time management skills."

need such as volunteering."

"I would like to better manage my time management skills, finish re-organizing my room to create a better workplace for myself. I would love to take more time for self care and I will try to be more

"In 2021, I want to evolve as a person. Be more confident about myself. I want to help out more my community here in San Diego and Tijuana."

productive!"

"1. To connect with God more often, I will set time aside to pray, "My resolution for 2021 is to pay more attention to my overall

and I will try to attend Mass more than I have been lately. In

health and become the best version of myself. I will make an

today's liturgy, I felt more connected to the love of God and the

effort to surround myself with love and positive energy to fulfill

Catholic community, and I would love to explore that further.

my goal."

2. To build a more just world, I will stand up for diversity and respect and become more involved in issues I am passionate "1) For this new year of 2021, my goal is to do something kind for my family each day. Even though we've been in quarantine and we've been restricted and I have not been as busy as I used to be, I still feel like I have not given enough time to my family, yet

about.

3. To take care of myself, I will make sure to take breaks from schoolwork and be present in my extracurricular activities."

they've given everything to me. I want to do one good thing for them each day, even if it's just hanging out with them for a few minutes a day. I want them to feel loved by me just as much as I feel loved by them.

"Take more time for myself, focus on my spiritual journey and find more hobbies."

2) Also, since I feel super inspired by Sister Helen Prejean's talk, my other goal is to try and get involved in more service (safely) and really try to combat issues such as world hunger and thirst, just like Sister Helen fights against the death penalty. I would also like to join or maybe start a faith group that prays regularly, such as the Pilots in Prayer group if they have it. Thank you!"

"I want to focus more on myself and my mental health through journaling more and stop worrying what others think."

Scan the QR code to view the Padlet with all the responses from OLP students!

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Meet OLP's Newest Team, Esports

BY AARÓN GONZÁLEZ 8 | OLP MAGAZINE

On a Tuesday afternoon last fall, Mrs. Jessica Hooper heard a loud

allowed me to socialize were suspended. When I learned that OLP

commotion coming from the other side of the back wall of her office.

was going to start an esports team, I was very enthusiastic to join

They were the shouts often heard during a volleyball or basketball

and be a part of it.” Peyton Brown '22 looks forward to Tuesday and

game in the Holy Family Event Center. In a normal year, Mrs. Hooper

Thursday afternoons more than ever. “This has been so uplifting and

probably wouldn’t have thought much of these sounds on campus, but

something I look forward to during this time in a pandemic,” she

during a pandemic—when high school sports were shut down—she

shared via Discord, the preferred app to communicate among gamers.

had to find out what was going on. What she found was four students playing competitive video games in the library. While physically

Team Captain Brianna Armendariz-Diaz '21, the most experienced

distanced and wearing masks, the energy, laughter, and smiles

gamer on the team, is excited to expand the team’s roster by

were evident! What Mrs. Hooper walked in on was OLP’s sisterhood

spreading the word on social media. You can often find her on the

making school history

team’s whiteboard drawing up plays or sending messages via Discord,

by competing in their

organizing practices, or

first official esports

simply sending tips and

match against Novato

encouraging words to the

High School in Northern

rest of the team.

California. The game was

The history-making team

Rocket League, where

continued their trailblazing

players play arena soccer

this February when the spring

using cars instead of

season began. In addition

soccer players.

to Rocket League, the team will be competing in FIFA 21

Please do not confuse

and Nintendo’s Super Smash

esports with simply

Brothers. The team started

playing video games.

The team is under the

with three Playstation 4’s but

umbrella of OLP Athletics

is looking to expand into

and the students attend

using Nintendo Switches and

weekly practices on

ultimately acquiring gaming

campus. PlayVS, the company that partnered

desktops.

OLP's Inaugural Esports Team (top left) Czarina Datiles '23, (bottom left) Brianna Armendariz-Diaz '21, (top right) Peyton Brown '22, and (bottom right) Isabel Borossay '23

with CIF, says “Esports takes video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams, governed by its own strict set of rules and guidelines. The difference is comparable to a pick-up basketball game at a park versus a varsity high school basketball game. Esports requires teamwork, communication, critical and strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership—much like traditional sports.” Anyone who saw and heard what was happening in the library on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons would agree.

While many other schools and athletic programs have

passed on esports, OLP saw this as another opportunity to engage even more students and share the OLP Mission of empowering young women while building community. The OLP gamers have the full backing of the OLP Athletic Department, which affords them the same resources as the other 17 sports teams it offers. The OLP Esports program is another example of the convergence of a student’s passion and OLP providing an opportunity to pursue it.

While the competition is fierce, there is no denying the purpose of starting this program in the middle of a pandemic was for community.

Each member of our four-student team mentions this team is about inclusiveness, forming community, making their mark in a maledominated arena, and simply having fun.

Isabel Borossay '23 shares that she immediately felt a sense that this team is a safe place where students can be themselves and share their love of gaming. “Esports, for me, is one of my biggest highlights this school year,” said Czarina Datiles '23. “Due to COVID-19 and everything happening in the world, all my activities and events that

“Although I’ve only been a part of the team for a short amount of time, I can truly say that I feel the sisterhood and community that is a part of it. Since joining this club, I’ve had a great time bonding with the girls. It’s a safe space for all of us to be ourselves while working together to achieve a common goal. We may not be the best or the most competitive, but we have a lot of fun and we love what we do.”

- Isabel Borossay '23 OLP MAGAZINE

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A mural in Navarra Hall showcases the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who have set the pace for our students in their achievements and commitment to "serving the dear neighbor." OLP students follow in their footsteps as "uncommon women for an uncommon time."

Surrounded by God’s Splendor The Boundless Art Journey

BY DR. LAUREN LEK AND TONI RUSSO

Isaiah 64:8 NASB “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”

In 2019, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace embarked on one of the most auspicious capital improvement projects in its 138 year history. It would mark the largest campus-wide renovation as well as transform two of OLP’s pivotal learning environments. Two-thirds of the academic buildings would be stripped down to their foundation only to reemerge anew, ready to serve generations of young women for the next onehundred years and beyond.

The very name of the project would challenge us to test the limits of what is possible: Boundless. The campaign and project inspired us to consider that which is unlimited, immense, and vast. As a community, we looked beyond what we need today—in terms of learning, community, sisterhood, faith experiences, storytelling—and sought what could be.

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Leadership also looked to the past to consider what had been missing and needed to be included in the new imagining of OLP’s physical presence.

All of this came together to reinforce the very core of what enlivens our school campus and sustains our ministry—the spirit of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ). The story of our faith, our CSJ Sisters, and the Catholic women who have traversed the path before us, provide us with the guideposts of both inspiration and fortitude for our own journey ahead.

We knew that the images and artwork that we placed on our walls and which filled our hallways had to create a literal and figurative reflection

of our values as a CSJ community. Through the Boundless construction, we had the opportunity to reimagine what would most profoundly influence our community as they navigated the learning spaces, day in and day out. During a diocesan retreat, it was in the teachings of Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan, a native to San Diego and a graduate of St. Francis Seminary and the University of San Diego, that this perspective was reinforced. He shared with all of the Presidents and Principals in the Diocese of San Diego that what we put on our walls reflects our values. His poignant statement challenged us to consider the power of transforming thought and ideas through the images we reflect around us. Indeed, that upon which our eye falls daily creates the pathway for what the mind consumes.

We knew we had an influential opportunity to do something remarkable with religious art only considered at universities and parishes, but unheard of at such a grand scale at a high school! This would represent a movement that could change the history of high school design, with religious artwork at its epicenter.

What further invigorated our cause was a study from Saint Mary’s Press of Minnesota in collaboration with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). The study, titled Going, Going Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics, published in 2017, seeks to understand why more Catholics are leaving the Catholic faith than ever before, especially young adults at an early age. Although the stories in the report are varied, “disaffiliation from the Church is largely a thoughtful, conscious, intentional choice made by young people in a secularized society where faith and religious practice are seen as one option among many.”

Alberta Cammack’s, CSJ, poem, A New Harvest: “Uncommon women for an uncommon time.” Her poem captures the changes that will come, the different pathways they will take, and the new voices needed. Too often, our students, and even our world, characterizes women of faith in slim categories, failing to see the tremendous depth of all they have accomplished.

In 1650 Le Puy-en-Velay, France, six women came together to make a profound impact on our world by forming the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Their journey would lead them from France to Carondelet, Missouri in 1836, and eventually to founding OLP in 1882. The new CSJ mural features six Sisters of St. Joseph, who have similarly shaped our world by their courageous actions. Even though the mural features the stories of specific Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters are representative of how women religious have impacted society at large. They represent religious women who have stood up for civil rights, served as public advocates, fought for human rights, led research transforming learning and understanding, shaped healthcare practices on a global scale, and served as powerful leaders in launching educational systems. These were “uncommon women for an uncommon time,” who ask each and every one of our students, “What will you do, for your world, in your time?”

The art that marks our walls inspires our girls to consider who each woman was and how she impacted the world, not just as a figure of her time, but also one to influence our time, today. In the 2015 issue of Yale’s Spring issue of Reflections, titled Divine Radiance: Keeping Faith with Beauty, the edition asks Mosaic of Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Navarra Hall the question, “Can beauty be a way to God? How can art deepen the church’s impact?” Author Megan Mitchell writes in “What the World Needs Now” that “Art is about As a leadership team, we challenged ourselves to consider how students making space—both physical and mental—for listening, searching, could see women of faith in a new and relevant way. We wanted our and expressing. Art cultivates the ability to imagine a future and so young women to see the tremendous relevance of the work of these transcend the present moment. This is inherently hopeful.” women today, in our world. For example, one of the groups that the CARA study examines is characterized as “drifters,” those who slowly Each of the pieces of art throughout our renovation were chosen to disconnect from their faith to move closer toward what they define tell stories, elucidate women of faith, and build connections through as “real world” relevance. At OLP, we saw an opportunity to tell new art with our young women. As you walk in the newly renovated main stories, showcase women of faith that our young women could connect hallway of Navarra Hall, and gaze upon the mosaic of Saint Teresa of with, and in turn, see themselves reflected back. This was a chance to Calcutta, you feel as though her love for you is oozing off the very piece create the very “real world” connection our youth yearn for in their of art itself. As you stand in front of her mosaic, it radiates compassion, faith, but sometimes miss. love, and kindness through her prayerful hands, gentle smile, and searching eyes. She is a reminder to love, and that you are loved, all As we considered a new mural to tell the stories of our remarkable in one!

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, we clung to a line from Sister OLP MAGAZINE

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Surrounded by God’s Splendor: The Boundless Art Journey

Diversity of Saints Mosaics in Shiley Hall

As you journey up to the second floor of Shiley Hall, the Diversity of Saints mosaics tell the stories of four different women of faith from around the world. They reflect the unique stories of young women within our OLP community, women whose stories are as diverse as the Saints reflected on this very wall. Each was particularly chosen for their impact on our world, and their community, as well as for lessons they teach us:

St. Marina of Omura, Japanese

The Patron Saint of Japan, sought by persons who were close to having their faith tested and who needed to recover their courage and strength

St. Laura Montoya, Colombian

The Patron Saint of people suffering from racial discrimination and orphans

St. Josephine Bakhita, Sudanese

The Patron Saint of Sudan and for human trafficking

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk

The Patron Saint of environment and ecology 12 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

On the wall adjacent to these mosaics is a television that is updated with additional stories and images of other women of faith from all religious traditions who similarly inspire our young women in their own faith journeys.

As you leave the new buildings and venture out onto Circle Drive, our newest addition to our women of faith mosaics is the installation of la Virgen de Guadalupe. This is the title of one of five Marian Apparitions in December 1531, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City. OLP was given special permission to replicate the mosaic, originally created by Rolf Rohn of Rohn & Associates, developed for Our Lady of Guadalupe Adoration Chapel in Fargo, North Dakota. This same design of Our Lady of Guadalupe was also chosen by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Respect Life campaign in 2018. The magnificent artwork captures the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she bends over to touch Saint Juan Diego. Beyond just the majesty of the gold leaf tiles, and the contrasting beauty of the red roses, there is the compassion between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the devotion of the faithful Juan Diego, canonized Saint Juan Diego in 2002.

Standing in the center of campus, looking up at the new grand staircase joining Navarra and Shiley Hall, one can see art and symbolism fused together through the lace railings. The specially designed architectural metal serves as a reminder of the continued influence of our Sisters of St. Joseph in the life of our school. Although we might not have our Sisters on our campus, their faith, spirituality, and pioneering influence

Surrounded by God’s Splendor: The Boundless Art Journey

is always an integral part of us. Lace was not only an important economical means of support to sustain our first sisters in Le Puy-enVelay in 1650, but it also represents the highly technological tools they imparted to young women, empowering them with a tangible skill to transform their lives. The spirit of our Sisters, represented in the symbol of our architectural lace, is the connective tissue that binds together, through art, the stories of our past.

Looking to the West of the campus, the Martha McRoskey Place of Peace and Butterfly Project Installation, completed in March 2020, houses a Vatican sanctioned replica of Michaelangelo’s Pietà, now standing alongside other iconic images of faith across the OLP campus. The statue of Our Lady of Grace in the Chapel Gardens, the historical OLP mural, St. Joseph in Circle Drive, the Holy Family outside of the Event Center, and St. Therese of Lisieux on St. Joseph Plaza, are all examples of the investments around the campus of precious pieces of art. Each is a reminder of the stories of faith that influence our own journey.

We know that this is just the beginning of what will continue to be our school’s commitment to telling the many varied stories of people of faith through the powerful medium of art. In this way, it allows us to be surrounded by yet another example of God’s splendor.

Martha McRoskey Place of Peace houses Michelangelo’s Pietà

Mosaic of la Virgen de Guadalupe with Saint Juan Diego in Circle Drive

Butterfly Project Installation in the Martha McRoskey Place of Peace

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OLP students outside the Holy Family Event Center (2018)

Community Care: Buoying Your Mental, Emotional, and Relational Health

BY MICHELLE KINDER The Academy of Our Lady of Peace team stands out to me among the organizations I have the pleasure of working with. I have been thinking about why.

Most everyone has experienced challenges in the last year and is furiously editing their mental health recipe. Organizations are working to attend to the added stress, but few leadership teams can resist the pull toward leading from a place of fear. Few leadership teams can consistently make decisions guided by love for their students, teammates, and community.

My experience of this fantastic team is that they are doing precisely that, and it most certainly will benefit the community long after this crisis subsides.

One act of love made manifest is providing monthly conversations that focus on helping everyone manage their internal world so that the external world is manageable. In these conversations, we explore topics like stress, self-compassion, regulating the nervous system, grief, and resilience.

To give you a taste, here are six ideas to buoy your mental, emotional, and relational health: 14 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

Acknowledge and accept grief and stress.

The simple act of naming your circumstances can free up a lot of energy.

Energy that is better spent fueling your efforts to lighten the load for yourself and others.

Be suspicious of the narratives floating around in your head that focus on your shortcomings.

We seek to feel in control when things are out of control. Toward that end, many of us are unleashing our inner critic. Instead, nurture selfcompassion, which author and professor Dr. Kristen Neff defines as “the

One aspect of well-being extends beyond the self—the responsibility we have for each other. OLP lives this well. As Nakita Valerio says, “Shouting ‘self-care’ at people who actually need ‘community care’ is how we fail people.” She goes on to write that community care is recognizing our social nature and the ways we can reduce harm by showing up for others and leveraging our “relative privilege while balancing one’s needs.” It’s the opposite of hoarding resources or well-being.

Keeping community-care top of mind means self-care can't be an excuse to tune out. In the same ways we wonder what we would have done during crucial times in our history, our descendants will one day be asking what we did for others when so much was at stake. Claim your own well-being—not as an exit ramp but as a way to participate fully in your communities. Show up as your most grounded, powerful self, guided by the best version of you or a higher power, not by ego or fear.

capacity to notice your own suffering, be moved by it and extend care and warmth to yourself as you would to a friend.”

Turn any guilt or shame you feel about others’ suffering into action that makes a difference for them.

The complex issues swirling around us at full speed won’t be solved in our lifetimes, but the outcomes could be transformed by the lives we lead.

Give generously, volunteer, participate in policy change, and engage with something or someone every single day that widens your perspective.

Treat people with empathy and respect if they disagree with you.

Assume they are both moral and intelligent. I learned this while doing a fellowship with The OpEd Project, and it has taken on new meaning in our current climate.

Develop a list of questions you can use to check-in with yourself.

Here are some I have collected over the years:

✓ What do I need? Am I hungry, lonely, anxious, or tired?

✓ Is there something I am avoiding that is weighing on me?

✓ What else could be true? What am I not seeing?

✓ Is what I’m doing right now brightening or dimming my spirit?

✓ Am I acting from fear or love?

Risk hope.

Unapologetically step into hope and let that sense of optimism fuel your next steps—anything short would be operating outside of this generation's charge. In the words of singer-songwriter Holly Near, our hopelessness or failure to be open and willing to stand in the winds of change can dishonor those who go before us.

MICHELLE KINDER was raised in Guatemala as the fifth of six children to missionary parents. Growing up in Guatemala was rich with experiences that gave her an immense appreciation for the value of learning from others, the importance of diversity, and the clarity that there are many different ways to approach virtually everything. She eventually made her way to Texas where she received a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts at Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Texas. She received her license as a professional counselor in 1998.

Michelle now spends her time as an Executive Coach, speaker, and writer. She co-authored WHOLE: What Teachers Need to Help Students Thrive. Michelle is a fellow of the OpEd Project and has articles featured in more than a dozen publications including TIME, Washington Post, Texas Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Mindful Magazine, Ms. Magazine, and Huffington Post.

Michelle lives in Dallas with her husband, Patrick, daughters Maya and Sophia, and their high-maintenance, full-of-love rescue dogs.

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How to Manage Anxiety Under COVID-19

BY LISA DAMOUR , PH.D.

Social connection does not mean you need a lot of people, it’s quality over quantity. You need three things: someone to tell your worries to, your secrets to, and a person/group who helps you to feel connected and accepted. (left to right) Samantha Armstrong '22, Belyeziin Farley '23, Sofia Gaxiola '21, and Josie Santos '23

WHY CONTROLLED BREATHING REDUCES ANXIETY When our brain detects a threat, the primitive "fight or flight" system turns on and sends the heart and lungs into overdrive in order to deliver heavily oxygenated blood to our large muscles should we need to attack or run.

If the physical response feels too intense, controlled breathing is a good way to manage it. Communication between the brain and the lungs is a two-way street. Deliberately taking deep and slow breaths tells the nerves on the surface of our lungs that all is well. The lungs send this message to the brain, which quiets the anxiety alarm.

ONE TECHNIQUE: SQUARE BREATHING One particularly good technique is square breathing. Inhale slowly for a count of three, then hold your breath for a count of three, then exhale slowly for a count of three, and then pause your breathing for a count of three before beginning the cycle again.

16 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

If you are prone to getting anxious often, or to have anxiety become very intense

In December, Dr. Lisa Damour visited OLP virtually for

very quickly, use calm moments to get comfortable with square breathing. This

a Parent Education Program, a student assembly, and

will make it easier to slip into square breathing when your anxiety ramps up.

a meeting with our faculty and staff. She provided our community with invaluable advice on how to manage

1

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3

stress and anxiety, both under everyday conditions

4

and at times of heightened concern and disruption.

Hold Your Breathe

Breathe In

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Adolescence column for the New York Times, cocontributor to CBS News, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and serves on the Advisory Board for Parents

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2

and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of

hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, appears as a regular

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Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She writes the monthly

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Breathe Out

2

best selling books, Untangled: Guiding Teenage

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Lisa Damour is the author of two New York Times

magazine. Dr. Damour also maintains a private practice and consults and speaks internationally.

Hold Your Breathe

UNDER COVID-19, HEIGHTENED ANXIETY IS NORMAL AND EXPECTABLE Anxiety is a healthy, protective emotion meant to alert us to the presence of danger. Feeling anxious about COVID-19 is entirely appropriate, especially if you find yourself in uncontrolled settings or around large groups of people. Anxiety is uncomfortable, and it's supposed to be. By getting our attention, it helps us to be cautious under risky conditions.

MANAGING ANXIETY WHEN IT BECOMES TOO INTENSE Anxiety sometimes becomes too intense. Luckily, anxiety usually unfolds in a step-wise, predictable pattern. And at each of these steps, there are things we can do to bring anxiety under control.

ANXIETY SEQUENCE

INTERVENTIONS

1: THE BODY ACTIVATES Heart rate rises and breathing becomes quick and shallow.

USE CONTROLLED BREATHING.

2: THE MIND INTERPRETS We take the physical changes as signs that the situation has gone out of control.

VIEW THE PHYSICAL CHANGES AS READINESS TO DEAL WITH A CHALLENGE.

3: THINKING IS HIJACKED We become fixed on the risks and lose sight of our ability to manage them.

PAUSE, OBJECTIVELY EVALUATE THE RISKS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MANAGE THEM.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO ACCESS MORE RESOURCES FROM DR. LISA DAMOUR!

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SEVENTH ANNUAL WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM $ Schedule 8:30 AM Wellness Session

20

Innovator Sponsor

WATCH HER RISE Lessons in Perseverance & Reinvention

9:00 AM

Open Plenary & Keynote

9:45 AM Break

9:55 AM

Breakout Session 1

10:40 AM Break

The 7th Annual OLP Women’s Symposium brings together prominent female leaders for a series of workshops and panels held virtually on Friday, March 12, 2021.

This year’s theme, WATCH HER RISE , will focus on stories of perseverance and reinvention. At a time in our world when iteration seems to be the key to success, these stories from our speakers will resonate with all of us!

10:50 AM

Friday, March 12, 2021

11:35 AM

Tickets* & sponsorship opportunities at

Breakout Session 2

Break

11:45 AM

Breakout Session 3

12:35 PM

Closing Plenary

18 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

aolp.org/OLPWS For sponsorship information, contact Kaila Weedman ’08 at kweedman@aolp.org. *Service members, as well as middle and high school girls and educators, are invited to attend this virtual event for free. Register at no cost on our website.

Select Panel Topics

ATTEN D EES WI L L H AV E A CCE S S T O 1 8 D I F F E RE N T S E S S I O N S !

Conquering Digital Distractions

Digital overload is a defining problem in today’s workplace. We spend days and nights on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, we’re bombarded with so many messages and alerts that even when we want to focus, it’s nearly impossible.

This workshop will help you to take control over your digital devices rather than having them control you.

Women in Command: Females in the Armed Forces

This panel consists of determined, hardworking, and inspiring women making their mark in the military. These “Women in Command” will share what inspired them to join the military, how they have risen in the ranks, and how they each navigate being a woman in a male-dominated field. Panelists will also discuss their roles in the military and the paths that have led them to become the courageous servicewomen they are today.

Creative Careers

Do you have a passion for the arts? Are you interested in visual arts, performing arts, fashion, or all of the above? If so, this panel is perfect for you. Featuring changemakers in the arts that will offer their professional advice and answer your pressing questions, such as “How did you get started?,” “What is it like being a woman in the arts field?,” and “What inspired you to pursue your passion for arts as a career?”

Five Years Out

You’re fresh out of college with a degree in hand. You look out into the world with so many opportunities and possibilities it’s hard to figure out what the “right” path is for you. Uh oh, a quarterlife crisis might be setting in…But the transition from school to whatever comes next doesn’t have to be so scary! These speakers, five years out of OLP themselves, will look back and share what it was like to jump into the “real world.” Speakers will share tools and tips for getting settled into the responsibilities and exciting possibilities of post-grad adulthood.

Confirmed Speakers VI EW AL L SPEAK E RS A N D BI O S O N T H E O L P W S W E BS I T E

Dr. Seanna Thompson '93

SE NIOR MEDICAL DIR EC TO R AT MOUN T SIN AI SOUTH N ASSAU

Sara Jacobs

U. S. R EPR ESEN TAT I V E FO R C AL I FO R NI A ' S 5 3 R D C O N G R ESS I O N A L D I STR I C T

Adia Sykes '12 CU RAT O R A N D A RT S O RG A N I Z E R AT 2 1 C MUSEUM HOTELS

Haley Antoine '15 S A F E T Y A ND CRA S H W ORT HINES S E N G I N E E R AT T O Y O TA

SCAN THE QR CODE TO PURCHASE TICKETS, V I E W PA N E L D E S C R I P T I O N S , A N D M O R E !

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ADAPTATION & INNOVATION

Sept. 1, 2020

Fall 2014

Following all county and state health

guidelines, OLP students returned to

OLP implemented a Bring Your Own

campus for in-person learning!

Device program requiring students to use their own device to access webbased resources. Students already having remote access to school software made the transition from in-person to virtual learning that much smoother.

May 22, 2020

For the first time in the school’s 138 year history, OLP hosted a live virtual graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020. In her speech, Dr. Lauren Lek told the graduates, “We cannot hope to understand these times we have been born into, but we were chosen for these times. You are not here by mistake, nor are you graduating in 2020 by accident, you were chosen for this time. You are a class with great tenacity.”

Summer 2020

In preparation for bringing students back to campus, our Campus Readiness Task Force researched safety protocols that ensured we were bringing students back to campus safely and our Instructional Task Force crafted strategies to ensure learning wouldn’t be disrupted should we need to pivot from in-person to hybrid.

March 13, 2020

OLP announced the school would close the physical campus and transition to virtual learning. As Monday, March 15 was already a planned holiday, virtual learning

Sept. 17, 2020

began on Tuesday, March 16. The 750 students at OLP

Amidst the return of students to campus, OLP celebrated a milestone with the

did not miss a single day of learning.

completion of Boundless Phase I, a project more than 20 years in the making. The school hosted a Virtual Building Dedication for Esther Sanfilippo Navarra Hall and the Shiley Center for Science and Innovation, both buildings having been renovated to better meet the needs of our 21st Century learners.

20 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

A TIMELINE OF OLP'S RESPONSE TO CHANGE

Jan. 2021

Our Fourth Annual Retreat Week

Fall 2020

looked a little different this year, but we were still able to bring each grade-level to campus for a half-day

Throughout the fall semester, each class was welcomed

retreat experience.

back to campus for Mass and lunch with their individual grade-level.

Dec. 2020 No Santa, No Problem! Physical

distancing requirements restricted our ability to have photos with Santa on campus, so OLP celebrated Christmas with selfies with an alpaca instead!

Nov. 2020

The Show Must Go On! Unable to hold large gatherings on our campus, OLP’s Drama department adapted their fall production to be available as a Video on Demand. The Suffrage Project, a student-researched, written, and produced production, takes the major events in the Women’s Suffrage Movement and brings them to life, revealing the arduous fight suffragists waged to ensure the right to vote for women in the United States.

Spring 2021

Our clubs continue to thrive, both virtually and in-person.

Here the Robotics Team is hard at work doing tool training!

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Gratitude Guides the Strategic Planning Process at OLP

BY BRIDGETTE OUIMETTE

"Most companies and schools follow a formula for success, which is this: If I work harder, I’ll be more successful. And if I’m more successful, then I’ll be happier…But our brains work in the opposite order. If you can raise somebody’s level of positivity in the present, then their brain experiences what we now call a happiness advantage...If we can find a way of becoming positive in the present, then our brains work even more successfully as we’re able to work harder, faster and more intelligently.”

- Shawn Achor This quote from New York Times best-selling author Shawn Achor signifies the understanding that lies at the basis of Positive Psychology, the field on which the philosophy of

INQUIRE into exceptionally positive moments

Appreciative Inquiry is predicated. Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to organizational development that was pioneered

by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva, professors at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a worldview and a process for facilitating positive change in organizations, groups, and communities. Its basic premise is that every human system has things that give it life when it is successful. AI begins by

SHARE those dreams to BUILD OUR FUTURE for OLP together

DISCOVER shared stories & life-giving forces

identifying this positive core and connecting to it in a way that heightens energy, sharpens vision, and inspires action for change.

DREAM of a preferred future

In approaching the process of adopting a new strategic plan, OLP has adopted the process of AI as a democratic approach to organizational development that exemplifies the CSJ charism of "unifying love" and inclusivity.

22 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

Appreciative Inquiry process implemented by OLP while developing our strategic plan

This word cloud captures the themes featured in the 22 statements of our preferred future for OLP developed in our January 2020 planning sessions.

In 2020, Dr. Lauren Lek, Inez Odom, Jessica Hooper, Rivka Bent, and I completed the training to become facilitators in the Appreciative Inquiry Approach to organizational development. As such, we comprise the Core Team that will guide our community through the process of applying AI principles to adopting a new strategic plan.

In early January 2020, we launched the process of Strategic Planning by conducting two virtual workshops that encouraged parents, faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and board members to reflect on our proudest moments at OLP, what we value about our involvement with OLP, and our hopes as we look toward OLP’s future. From these conversations we developed 22 different statements of our preferred future for OLP. Some of the insights that emerged from these initial conversations were how much we all value community, and the workshops themselves were another example of all that we value here at OLP. As one participant pointed out, “The sense of being a valuable part of the team and the inspiration from participating in the process.” Another participant shared, “I greatly valued crafting statements that embodied our visions for the future of OLP. It not only gave me the chance to reflect on my hopes and dreams, but also to gain insights from others’ perspectives.”

OLP will continue to apply the principles of the Appreciative Inquiry model as we continue to develop our strategic plan. For more information on how to get involved in the strategic planning process, contact Bridgette Ouimette at bouimette@aolp.org.

Scan the QR code to contribute to OLP's strategic plan!

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1

Engaging in Your Daughter's Education through Pilot Parents

BY KAILA WEEDMAN ’08

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"In partnership with parents as the primary educators, OLP seeks opportunities to actively engage them in their daughter’s transformative academic and faith experiences."

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These are the closing words of OLP’s philosophy statement and the sentiment at the heart of a fairly new group on campus called Pilot Parents. The group, which is open to any parent or legal guardian of a currently enrolled OLP student, officially began meeting monthly in 2019 with the intent to provide a more organized format for recruiting volunteers.

Within months, more than 100 parents had signed on to the group seeking ways to get involved, support the school, and make connections with other parents. One parent, Sally, shared, “I also joined because, like my daughter, I am brand new to OLP and wanted to make some personal connections so that I also have support during these next four years.”

Pilot Parents has worked with the OLP administration to organize special events for students, support annual fundraising campaigns for the school, offer gifts of gratitude and words of encouragement to OLP faculty and staff, and create resource-based programming for parents, including an ongoing series with experts called “Candid Conversations” which provides practical steps for supporting teen and family mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding her experience with Pilot Parents, another current parent, Kailee, shared, “I would say that it is a challenging time for us all, and I always leave our Zoom meetings with a smile on my face and a feeling of connection with the other parents who can relate to my family and the current circumstances.”

24 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

4 1. Pilot Parents handing out candy for Valentine's Day 2019, before COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

2. Pilot Parents volunteering during our Christmas Socials.

3. Pilot Parents handing out Halloween candy.

4. Pilot Parent, RN, and infectious disease specialist Vitoria Greene (right) with Toni Russo, Director of Facilities, offering on campus COVID-19 testing.

Connecting with CSSJ Schools from Around the World

BY RIVKA BENT

"I absolutely love how life converges.

I always feel as though things come together in ways that we could never have foreseen or planned, but only God could have orchestrated.”

- Dr. Lauren Lek

canceled and we were forced to pivot. Unwilling to miss a

For the past six years, all of the schools sponsored by the US

powerful day of learning, community, sharing, and support.

Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph

gathering opportunity, Dr. Lek insisted that we launch a virtual conference, and under her guidance, we had 30 days to make it happen. Together, we spent our time with board members, faculty, administration, campus ministers, staff, and directors discussing current issues facing schools, all through the lens of our CSSJ charism. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Shannen Dee Williams, professor at Villanova University, whose talk was titled “Why the History of Black Catholic Women and Girls Matters.” It was a

It was yet another silver lining of COVID-19,

have gathered together annually with

seeing a record number of attendees—over

Presidents, Heads of School, Principals,

120—from 20 different schools, including

Assistant Heads, and fellow administrators.

St. Joseph Joshi Gakuen Girls’ School in

Each year, we visit a different school, meet

Japan; Ensemble Scolaire Saint Jacques de

Sisters and students, and tour the campus.

Compostelle in Le Puy-en-Velay, France;

Over the years, our gatherings have taken

and Academia Maria Reina in Puerto Rico.

us to Chicago, Boston, Concord-California, St. Louis, and one year the event was

It was a reminder that here at OLP, we

hosted here at OLP.

are part of a colossal community of faith, intertwined across the world. These

This year’s host was to be St. Joseph’s

ever-widening circles of love will make a

Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1868 and the alma mater of both our own faculty member, Nicole Rayner, and our retreat week speaker, Sister Helen Prejean. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our trip was

profound impact on our world because all graduates of a CSSJ institution are given the tools to stand for peace, justice, inclusion, and compassion, as leaders in their faith.

Meet Our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Shannen Dee Williams Dr. Shannen Dee Williams is an Assistant Professor of History at Villanova University.

Dr. Williams is a historian of the United States with research and teaching specializations in African-American, women's, religious, and civil rights history. She is at work on her first book, Subversive Habits: The Untold Story of Black Catholic Nuns in the United States, which is under contract with Duke University Press. Her research has been supported by a host of awards, grants, and fellowships. In September 2018, Williams received the inaugural Sister Christine Schenk Award for Young Catholic Leadership from Future Church for using history to foster racial justice and reconciliation in religious congregations of women. Prior to her arrival at Villanova, she was Assistant Professor of History at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she co-founded the Fleming-Morrow Endowment in African-American History and established a film and distinguished lecture series in African-American history. Williams spent the 2013-14 academic year as a postdoctoral fellow in the History Department at Case Western Reserve University. For the 2012-13 academic year, she was a lecturer at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where she was named "Professor of the Year" by the Black Affairs Council and the Black Graduate Student Association.

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G I V I N G AT O L P

BY STEPHANIE KANASKI ’99

I am Advancement.

You are Advancement.

We are Advancement.

It’s our collective effort that leads to a profound impact.

We value and need your support.

I N VEST IN OLP STUD ENTS BY MAKI N G YO U R GI FT TO DAY. WWW. AO L P.O RG/SU P P O RT 26 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

On March 13, 2020, OLP flipped on a dime—events were postponed or canceled, and we had to quickly shift to a virtual learning environment. Beyond basic operational functioning of the school, what became apparent was the need for our community to come together to support each other in new, innovative ways.

Our campaign consultants at Graham-Pelton reflected in one of their first COVID-19 webinars, “your mission knows no day off.”

Our Advancement team quickly adopted that mindset and went to work, implementing new appeal efforts like #GivingTuesdayNow and transitioning our annual Women’s Symposium into a virtual offering, while also progressing our efforts toward our capital campaign, Boundless.

Advancement is more expansive than the operations of

REVENUE OF $47,665

fundraising and development, highlighting the intentional name of OLP’s Office of Institutional Advancement. According to ISM, an organization for school leadership, Advancement is “a plan to move your school from where it is now to what it wants to be for future generations.” The purpose of Advancement is overarching, multidimensional, and involves all departments, from Admissions, to Marketing and Communications, Facilities, Finance, and many different circles of people, including our Board of Directors, generous families, alumnae, volunteers, our committed faculty, dedicated students, and corporations that are dedicated to educating women. I am Advancement. You are Advancement. We are Advancement.

It’s our collective effort that leads to a profound impact.

% INCREASE IN FUNDS RAISED FROM 2019 TO 2020 23.92% increase

14.69% increase

All in for OLP Faculty/Staff

13.01% increase

All in for OLP Families & Board of Directors

End of Year Appeal

Breakout space in Navarra Hall

$11.2 MILLION RAISED

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