Academy of Our Lady of Peace Winter Magazine 2023: The Legacy of Sisterhood

OLP MAGAZINE

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE (WINTER 2023)

Dear OLP Pilot Community,

After returning from winter break, it seems the days leading up to May are building with excitement. This joyful exuberance comes from the momentum of things such as College Acceptances, Spring Sing, Miss OLP, St. Joseph’s Day Mass, the Women’s Symposium, our Spring Soirée Gala, Prom, the welcoming of our new Frosh class, and Graduation. Whew, I think the calendar concurs with my sentiments! When considering the semester ahead, the idea of a roller coaster is top of mind. With each day we experience fun and exciting life moments as the clock counts down to our May end-of-year activities.

Like a rollercoaster, there are periods when we will experience some highs and lows, ups and downs. There are times where a “dear neighbor” may be needed for a bit of encouragement, or an OLP sister comes along to offer an empathetic ear. Concurrently, the excitement of receiving the good news of college acceptances and the joy of Spring Sing around campus. These highs and lows might present as somewhat of a “Ground Hog Day” for all of us in education, yet for our students this is their new and first go round. As I walk around campus, seeing students support students is what makes OLP so special. Moments of lifting each other up creates the opportunities for students to bond and form friendships that last beyond OLP years. These are the times when the sisterhood legacy takes root; a legacy that spans 140 years and is highlighted in the stories within this Winter edition of our OLP Magazine.

As the events of 2023 begin to unfold, enjoy getting a glimpse into the excitement around OLP today, as shared in this OLP magazine. Allow yourself to be immersed in the beautiful stories; allow these moments of love, compassion, and kindness to fill your new year with hope for our future.

Please also mark your calendar for the upcoming events as all are invited to join us for a Mass or two on campus. In closing, I am reminded of Maxim 11 from the Sisters of St. Joseph, that reads, “Always speak favorably of others and value highly the good in them, excusing and covering up, in the best way you can, the deficiencies that they might have.”

As we journey alongside one another, let us remember to focus on the good around us and let us take a moment to stop and feel proud, considering all that our students have achieved thus far in the school year. Remember the curves and bumps of the rollercoaster are part of the ride, and the love and encouragement we extend carries us forward to the high points once more.

Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace

Head of School

Lauren Lek, Ed.D.

Assistant Head of School

Brandy Sato, Ph.D.

Leadership Team

Diana Agostini

Rivka Bent

Jamie Flannery

Alonso Hurtado

Alison Knoll

Ryan Martin-Spencer

Jessica Occhialini

Sara Osmus

Tiffany Rajski ’07

David Ritzmann

Kaila Weedman ’08

Christine Wilson ’04

Contributors

Kelly Culver

Inez Odom

Ryan Martin-Spencer

Heather Tiegs

Katie Wilson

Design, Layout and Editing

Rivka Bent

Monica Hickey

Elsi Hildebrand

Inez Odom

Christine Wilson ’04

Proefessional Photography

Tim Hardy

Melissa Jacobs

Gary Payne

Robyn Scherer

Board of Trustees

Dr. Lauren Lek, Head of School

Danitza Villanueva ’98, Board Chair

Paul Baribault

Francesca Castagnola

Monsignor Richard Duncanson

Chris Herrera

Dr. Steven Jones

Deacon Lane Litke

Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea, CSJ

Carrie Sawyer

Michele Schiele ’85

Dr. Seanna Thompson ’93

Timothy Truxaw

Joel Tubao

Sister Maureen O’Connor, CSJ Provincial

Lauren Lek, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

THE ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE presents

Newsies

SHOW TIMES:

Thursday, April 27 at 6 PM

Friday, April 28 at 6 PM

Saturday, April 29 at 6 PM

OLP AMPHITHEATER

4860 Oregon Street San Diego, CA 92116

Parking available in garage and surrounding streets

JUSTIN TRACY, DIRECTOR

TICKETS $12 adults

$8 students, seniors, & military

Tickets will be available to purchase soon at aolp.org/drama.

San Diego Civic Theatre Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 pm

FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

JOIN US for OLP’s Ninth Annual Women’s Symposium.

TICKETS

$30 General Admission

$25 OLP Alumna, Young Professional College Student, Complimentary- Non-OLP Student, Educator, and Military

Visit aolp.org/olpws to learn more

Footsteps of our Founders: CSJ Heritage Pilgrimage

ocd & me: a contrapuntal

Written by Inez Odom, Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

Little did I know that when I sat down with senior, Mia Davis ’23, to discuss her spoken word poetry, that I would conclude our meeting deeply moved. Mia’s talent as a writer is only superseded by her sincerity in using her art form to bring awareness and expression to a frequently misunderstood condition, OCD {Obsessive Compulsive Disorder}. She does so with passion, compassion and articulate authority. Her poem challenges the way in which we see and talk about OCD as a society. Her word choice is crisp, insightful, moody and multi-dimensional.

Mia’s work was recognized as a Finalist in the YoungArts competition, moving her on to present her spoken word poetry at the National YoungArts Week in Florida this January 2023. Out of 7,000 submissions, only 700 writers are selected as award winners in general, which includes honorable mention, merit and finalists. Mia was selected as one of the 150 finalists in the nation putting her in the ranks of YoungArts alumni poet laureate and activist Amanda Gorman, actress and activist Viola Davis, and many more.

“I’ve been writing since I was really little, I’d say, as long as I can remember. When I was in 7th grade, I wrote a novel and just always enjoyed telling stories and sharing myself through words. In high school, I started focusing a lot more on poetry, specifically, and over

ocd & me: a contrapuntal

(This poem is in the form of the contrapuntal. The two columns can be read separately as well as together from left to right.)

ocd & me

draw near, darling... listen to my obsessions: dormant lies & flames licking skeletons framed by weak bones of frail innocence, now cremated truth. i am elusive, guilt and its ashes. pouring through trembling fingers

your tarnished being - imprisoned allow me with perpetual anxiety to find sanctuary in intertwining hands

your destructive palms. of delicacy (i’m sorry). don’t read into my apologies for suffering; i assure you, such apologizing is life. my sixteenth consecutive apology. used as a descriptor i cannot help but shatter the universe, yet i am a deceptor - an earthquake swallowing certainty or am i reality? i would do anything to break this cycle.

the past few years I’ve been submitting to competitions, publishing my work and just trying to get myself out there. I’ve won a few scholastic art and writing awards and attended the 2022 Sewanee Writers Conference which was a two week-long intensive writing program for high school writers across the country.”

The beauty of spoken word poetry is explained by Mia as being the relationship of the artist to the words that have been authored. While poetry is depicted through the artistry and emotion of words on the page, spoken word takes it to another level. “It gives it a 3D element. It provides the verbal and audible aspect. In spoken word, you get to hear what the author’s trying to convey and you get to follow along and it can capture {your} attention in amazing ways.”

She acknowledges that being diagnosed with OCD was a complex outcome, yet she was able to channel her journey into her poetry. She hopes that the piece conveys that OCD is more than just a label. Her advice to others would be,

“whatever it is for you, go for it. Take hold of the opportunities you see. And even if you don’t think that you’re good enough or that you are ready…just try. That is already the bravest thing you can do.”

Mia Davis ’23

THE TEMPEST

written by William Shakespeare

produced and directed by MR. JUSTIN TRACY

OLP’S FALL THEATER PRODUCTION

IMAGES TAKEN BY GARY PAYNE

The Ma’ake Family Legacy

Written by Inez Odom, OLP Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

One of the most striking aspects of spending time with the Ma’ake family is the sound of laughter. When they are together, laughter abounds. Ms. Stefini Ma’ake ’98, Chair of the Science department at OLP, is clearly an intensely scholarly person when it comes to the study of science and biology in particular. She blends a very grounded demeanor with a warmth and approachability with which students deeply resonate. She credits her love of science to her OLP science teacher, Mark Rauch, in whose shoes she has followed. Fifteen years later, her presence as a faculty member at OLP is one of the defining qualities of the school. Her nieces have followed in her footsteps, joining OLP as students.

When you speak with the younger Stefini Ma’ake ’24, her love of OLP and softball shine through and Alayna Ma’ake ’25 brings her own enthusiasm and authentic joy when talking about the sport. As athletes they have devoted an extraordinary amount of time to training, practice and game play. It is clear that Stefini and Alayna care deeply about their teams and are never happier than when out on the softball field. This past summer, Stefini won the Alliance National Championship Homerun Derby in Indiana with her travel club team. Stefini currently plays for one of the Top 18 U travel teams and Alayna currently plays for one of the Top 16 U travel teams in the nation, both teams are based out of Corona, California.

Their enthusiasm for softball is only outpaced by their feelings for OLP. From pep rallies to “Community Day,” the OLP school culture helps both Alayna and Stefini be the best versions of themselves. Each of them celebrates being part of a school community where students are encouraged to develop meaningful connections to their teachers to help them learn and develop. While OLP is a rigorous academic environment, it is also one replete with laughter and fellowship. Alayna and Stefini are proud members of the community, surrounded by friends, and conscious of the role they play in the community to care for others through their words and deeds.

As Ms. Ma’ake ’98 reflects on the traditions of OLP during her student days, she shares her appreciation of “the OLP of today” a notably different landscape where frosh, sophomores, juniors and seniors can interact inside and outside of the classroom in clubs, sports, the arts and in service to the dear neighbor. With a rich history of one hundred and forty years, clearly some of the traditions and courses may have changed, however the heart of OLP, inclusive of our legacy families, has remained the same.

We invite you to tune into OLP’s Pilot Voices podcast to hear from the Ma’ake family firsthand.

Sisters Alayna and Stefini share a birthday one year apart!

Stefini Ma’ake (center) and her nieces Alayna and Stefini

Stefini Ma’ake ( Pitcher/1st/SS) in 30 games played

Batting Avg. = 0.444

Homeruns = 13 (Ranked 2nd in San Diego)

Slugging % = 1.051 (Top 10 in San Diego)

RBI = 46 (Ranked 3rd in SD)

Runs = 38 (Rank 19 SD)

Pitching Stats:

ERA = 2.47 (Top 20 in SD)

Strikeouts = 143 in 93 innings (Rank 15 in SD)

Alayna Ma’ake (Outfield/3rd) in 30 games played

Batting Avg - 0.545 (Rank 22 SD)

Homeruns = 6 (Rank 17 SD)

Slugging % = 0.845 (Rank 35 in SD)

RBI = 44 (Rank 5th in SD)

OBP = 0.63 (Rank 18 in SD)

Stolen Bases = 22

“...the heart of OLP has remained the same. Our legacy families remain as the heartbeat of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace.” Stefini Ma’ake ’98

The Wong Family Legacy

Written by Inez Odom, OLP Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

The words of Mrs. Rachel Wong set the tone for the interview when she stated, “the emphasis that ‘God is love’ was what I found at OLP.” One’s sense of wonder at the transformative power of an OLP education is never more evident than when you are in the presence of an accomplished OLP graduate. That experience is exponentially amplified when meeting with the members of the Rachel (Murguia) Wong ’56 family, including her daughters, Alana (Wong) Robinson ’81 and Lisa (Wong) Soqui ’80 and her granddaughter Kate (Robinson) Googins ’10. In an hour-long conversation, we explored Rachel’s activism and efforts to desegregate schools in Oxnard for Mexican American children. We discussed Alana’s work in the U.S. Attorney General’s office for over thirty years, addressing serious issues related to violent gangs and her election to a Superior Court judge position. We explored Lisa’s role as a nurse practitioner working with those disadvantaged and marginalized people who lack access to quality health care. We reflected upon Kate’s journey as a young attorney and finding new points of intersection in her relationship with her family as she engages with her professional life.

some young men who were protesting that a local policeman had shot a young Mexican American man. The officer was reported to have said, ‘I finally got one of the brown ones.’ My heart went out to these young men, so at home I made some Mexican chocolate and took it to them. This was the first time I actually acted.”

I look at my daughter and my mother and my sister and what they’ve achieved. So much of that is due to the intangible or unspoken lessons that we all learned at OLP. You can fulfill your destiny that God gave you. You can use all of your gifts in this safe environment and be who God meant you to be. You learn that when you’re a teenager and then you leave the school and you still have that inside of you. It allows you to fully realize your gifts. I am just very grateful for OLP, not only for what it offered to my family, but also for what it will continue to offer to other families. It’s a very precious gem. Alana

“The schools were segregated,” reflected Rachel. “I saw that the {Mexican American students} were not getting an equal education. Here were these little kids who looked like me and I loved them and that’s where I got the courage to try to make changes. When I couldn’t do so from within the school district as an employee, that’s when I ran for school board and was elected. There was nothing in the schools to reflect their culture. So my idea was to integrate the staff.” She went on to see that a significant number of well prepared, highly educated Mexican American faculty and staff were hired to provide that presence and representation for the children.

As a young girl, Rachel read a novel about a girl that went to boarding school. She then asked her parents if she might do so, saying that “it sounded like fun.” Rachel attended OLP, as a boarding student, graduating in 1956. She then went on to become an activist, very much influenced by the example of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet that she experienced firsthand during her time at OLP.

Rachel Wong recalls, “when I first started to be active, I had four children and I was driving in the station wagon in the rain. There were

“What has motivated me to do what I’ve done is the example that my parents set for me, especially my mother,” shares Alana (Wong) Robinson ’81. “I remember as a kid going to the Legal Aid Society, where my mom worked and then later on, when I was at OLP, my mom worked at the California Fair Employment Practices Commission. She never said ‘Alana, you need to help people who no one else is helping.’ It wasn’t her words. It was her example that really led me on the path that I have followed in my life.” This example includes OLP, ensuring the right educational foundation would support the pathway forward.

“I was fortunate to go to law school, and I served as a federal prosecutor for thirty years. I also was in private practice, but really

(Wong) Robinson ‘81

it was public service that appealed to me. That was always kind of in my fiber of wanting to help others, because of the example that my parents had shown me, but also because that’s the gospel that we were taught at OLP. That we’re here to share God’s love with others and to help other people. With my parents’ encouragement and support, I did run for office. I feel really blessed to be in this position as a Superior Court judge because we see people at the worst times in their lives. They come to Superior Court and they need a judge who will be fair, who cares about them, and who will be compassionate. And those are all the things that my mom has taught me, that was reinforced at OLP.”

Caring for others is a central theme in this OLP family’s legacy. Lisa Soqui ’80 considers, “I’ve been a nurse for about forty years. Mainly, I’ve worked with people who don’t have good access to health care. The underserved patients and those that have a language barrier are often afraid, especially when they are ailing. So I’ve worked in areas that allow marginalized people to safely get health care.”

Kate Googins ’10 brings gratitude and grace to her appreciation of her OLP family legacy. “I had the good fortune of having my family to look to as examples for what I wanted to do. I just grew up around public servants. As my mom said so beautifully, it’s not like anyone ever told me…that wasn’t explicit.”

Following in her parents footsteps, Kate shares, “I really enjoyed the intellectual challenges that law school brought. My long term trajectory is not just to help the clients that I represent now, but to help my larger community. Being an attorney who fights for the rights of others who are underserved is something that I’ve always wanted to do and, once I have more training, I look forward to the opportunity to do that.”

Alana reflects, “girls at OLP had a chance to explore all of their interests and hold all of the leadership roles, and do so without societal constraints about what a girl student should be like. Girls were not encouraged to be demure and quiet and submissive. They were encouraged to excel and to use God’s gifts. And so that was very important, in my formation, gaining confidence. When I became a lawyer here in San Diego back in 1988, and then joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 1990, federal law enforcement was predominantly men. The prosecutors were men. All of the agents, of course, were men.” The formation of voice at OLP is a foundational cornerstone for ensuring girls have the skills and confidence of leadership especially where women are historically underrepresented.

The Wong family legacy has made a mark on countless San Diegans. They’ve dedicated their life’s work to leaving a positive impact on everyone around them.

“I just want to express my gratitude for benefiting from this incredible legacy. It has just given me a sense of who I am.” Kate (Robinson) Googins ‘10

Top: Alana and her parents on election night Bottom: Alana and her daughter Kate (law school graduation)

What wish would you share with a future grandchild or great grandchild or child?

WHEN ASKED WHAT ALANA MIGHT SAY TO HER FUTURE GRANDDAUGHTER, SHE SHARED “All of this is a gift from God, and God spoke to this family through OLP. And the values, the development that they seek to encourage in girls in terms of faith, heart, courage, excellence. They’re all related and you need each to have the other. My granddaughter will have her complete, self nurtured, and educated in the OLP model. And if she puts in just a little effort, she’ll turn out as wonderfully as her own mother, my daughter Kate. And that would be a blessing to the world.

RACHEL WONG: I was married to my husband for almost sixty years. And my husband was a very good person. He was kind and intelligent. And his kindness came from a full heart. Not because he was trying to get anything or to look good but really from the fullness of love that he had in his heart. I would wish for that grandchild to have at least one person like that in her life.

LISA SOQUI: Their education is something that nobody can ever take away from them. Many things can be taken from them…a loved one, home, money, a career, but their education is always there. So they should put as much into it as they can, because that’s something they will always keep. {At OLP} you learn how to develop your relationship with God and again, that is something that no one can take away from you. He’s always there.

KATE GOOGINS: I want my daughter or granddaughter to know that she has a place in the world wherever she wants to be. She belongs there and that she’s allowed to do whatever she wants to do with her life, and make her own decisions in that the love of her community and her family is what allows her to have that, and what allows her to be in that place. And if she loves herself and has the love of everyone around her, then she’s gonna be able to accomplish whatever she wants to, and will be very happy and fulfilled. And I think that intangible sense that I could achieve whatever I wanted to achieve, and could go wherever I wanted to go, and would fit in anywhere. I wanted to fit in. I would hope that my granddaughter or my daughter would be able to have that as well.

The Stanley Family Legacy

Written by Inez Odom, OLP Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

When you speak with Marisea “Cici” (Stanley) Drummond, Ph.D., OLP class of 2001, about her family’s legacy at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, her eloquence as a historian and professor transports you as she describes how her great grandfather labored to provide his family with a better life. You can almost smell the scent of sea salt from the ocean breeze, hear the sound of the fishermen’s voices as they haul their catch into the boat and feel the lapping of the waves. Descended from immigrants who traveled from Portugal in 1938, the Stanley family legacy is one of four generations attending OLP. Her great grandparents, Manuel and Maria Rosa were, in her words, “the classic immigrant story and one of ‘rags to riches’ with hard work and wise investments.” They were dedicated to providing their daughter, Maria (Mary) Rosa ’41, with the opportunity of an excellent education.

Mary (Rosa) Santos ’41, Cici’s grandmother, not only attended OLP but also went on to medical school specializing in hematology. Cici recalls that her grandmother Mary credited her experiences with the science program and gazing through the microscopes in the OLP labs with stimulating her interest in medicine and hematology.

Mary’s daughter, Maria (Santos) Stanley ’70, also attended OLP and later became an attorney, distinguishing herself in the area of immigration law. All three of Maria’s daughters, Marisea “Cici” ‘01, Mariel ’99, and Malissa ‘00, also alumnae, are still rooted locally in the Point Loma community. Cici reflects that the legacy of the names of all of the girls have various derivations that harken back to their Portuguese roots and indirectly pay homage to their great grandmother, Maria Rosa.

In sharing about her conversations that she has had with her grandmother, mother, sisters and her own daughter, current student Eva Rosa Jones ’24, Cici notes the profound impact of an OLP education, sharing that...

“Something unique happens at OLP. Seeing women doing everything has given us the confidence to try anything. And while there is a lot of sacrifice in sending your child to OLP, I really do believe that those who attend look back and understand that the opportunities are endless if you want them to be. I’m personally forever grateful for my OLP experience.”

The Stanley family’s passion for supporting the community is evident and follows the path of “loving the dear neighbor without distinction.” In addition to their commitment to OLP, Cici and her mother are deeply connected with ARC of San Diego, an organization which serves individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Mary’s grandaughters, Marisea “Cici” ‘01, Mariel ’99, and Malissa ‘00

The OLP Legacy

Joyful laughter for students attending the Fall Arts Festival assembly in the Holy Family Event Center

“The Legacy of Sisterhood lives on in the eternal love of family, community , and God . ”

The Valladolid Family Legacy

Written by Inez Odom, OLP Strategic Initiatives and Research Director

in the evening to Mexico, created a strength, an awareness, and an advantage for Carina and Marcela that has defined who they are in the world and has allowed them to enjoy incredible success, which has transcended to the next generation of Valladolid young women. The core of the Valladolid legacy centers around the bonds of family, faith, love and heart.

“There’s a saying in Spanish [applied to women] which means ‘the less you speak, the more beautiful you look,’ which is so sad. Attending OLP provided me with an opportunity to stand in my own power in a way that I had never experienced before. For us to go to OLP, all of a sudden, it was just women at the podium. It was just women with the microphone. It was just women raising their hands. It was definitely life changing. We had the best teachers. Everybody was so open minded, everybody was so encouraging. It really was a safe space,” Marcela concludes. Attending OLP helped to develop both Carina’s and Marcela’s sense of personal identity and agency. They saw a different world was available outside of the traditional gender roles experienced at home.

“By attending OLP, I became aware that there was more in life. It was the first space I remember not being scared to be me,” reflects Carina Valladolid ‘94. The discovery of their authentic voice is a life changing outcome shared by both of the Valladolid sisters. Carina recalls, “when we went to OLP, we developed an outlook that was more flexible. It is those spaces of flexibility that allow me to break so many patterns of so many set ways. Today, the relationship I have with my daughters is one of respect, acceptance, and letting them live their lives in their authenticity. It had its roots in learning to think differently while attending OLP.”

With OLP situated in the hub of bicultural commerce, the history runs deep of educating girls who daily cross the border to have a seat in class. Yet it was truly foresight on the part of the parents of Carina Valladolid ‘94 and Marcela Valladolid ‘96 to send their daughters to OLP with a committed understanding in the value of providing a strong, rigorously academic, Catholic education, along with an immersive American experience. They did not want to forgo their own rich culture of the Tijuana community, which their daughters could return to in the evening, which has had a transformational impact upon their lives. Living a bi-national daily experience of waking up in Mexico, traveling to the United States for education and returning

Carina and Marcela both share that their bond as sisters is unusually close in a way that strengthens them both and allows the entire family to benefit. Marcela reflects, “What we do right, as a family, is non-judgment and a ton of respect between the members. Through a lot of work and evolution, the space that we’ve created, my sister and I, is extended to the rest of the family. It involves respecting one another, not judging one another and focusing on the fact that life is to be enjoyed. The only thing that you’re doing on my journey is walking it with me. There’s no judgment; there’s no opinion of my journey, unless it’s asked.”

Marcela Valladolid ’96

Carina Valladolid ’94

Daughters of Carina – Gabriella Arnaiz Valladolid ’26, Daniella Arnaiz Valladolid ’23, Isabella Arnaiz Valladolid ’21

Gabriella Valladolid ‘26, Daniela Valladolid ’23 and Isabella Valladolid ’21 are Carina’s daughters. Gabi ’26 shares her reflections on OLP as a frosh. “OLP is such a nice and friendly space. It’s a very comfortable environment. I can remember my aunt, Marcela, speaking at the Women’s Symposium. I remember sitting there listening, and I was aware of OLP’s impact as a light, free, and loving space.”

Gabi, along with her mother and sisters, is part of a family dedicated to service traditions. Working with and supporting very poor, disadvantaged children with developmental disabilities is an area of emphasis for the family. Marcela identifies that food is her “love language,” and niece Gabi hones in on the beautiful connection between her mother and aunt as she describes their cooking show. “Just watching them bring all that energy and all the love to the people that are watching is so incredible because they both have such different personalities. It’s always incredible getting to be behind the scenes. To see how much love they give to people.” It is evident that being of service to others is a defining quality for the Valladolid family.

Marcela thoughtfully reflects that “when we jump from a different culture to a different country, to a different language, to different foods, it’s such a unique experience. I actually didn’t realize how unique it was until I did my very first interview with the Wall Street Journal. I was talking about my food and my new fresh take on Mexican food and I briefly mentioned that I would cross the border every day. That begged the question, how does that work? Literally we would get in the car at six in the morning, sometimes lunch in hand, or breakfast in hand, in a tupperware container. We would eat it in the car. We would carpool with all the Mexicans in our neighborhood and cross the border. Go to school in San Diego. Live a fully American life for half of the day and then head back home and have enchiladas for dinner and have a fully Mexican experience. That’s what happens in this Tijuana - San Diego region for us. We have this innate system that enables us to navigate both (countries) and transition so smoothly. Honestly, that has been one of the most impactful forces that built my career. When I am speaking to my community as an American, I am fully embraced as an American. But when I’m speaking as a Mexican or Latina, I am also fully embraced as a Mexican or Latina. And that’s because that experience is fully authentic for us. We literally grew up with a foot in either country, either culture, and either language.”

“I always say that the biggest gift that our parents are leaving us is faith. Their unshakable and non negotiable faith, and for them a Catholic school education was also non negotiable. So that was part of the gift from them to us,” shares Marcela Valladolid ‘96.

“I always say that the biggest gift that our parents are leaving us is faith. Their unshakable and non-negotiable faith, and for them a Catholic school education was also non negotiable.” Marcela Valladolid

’96

Top: Celebrating Graduation for Isabella ‘21

Bottom: Sisters Carina and Marcela Valladolid

Women's SYMPOSIUM

THE HOPE IS HERE

Almost a decade ago, Dr. Lauren Lek brought a unique forum to the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Modeled after speaker panels at leading universities, the OLP Women’s Symposium brings together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success with our students and the community. Through dialogue and modeling, these female leaders empower young women to stand up for themselves and fearlessly chase their dreams. This is the only event of its kind for students in Southern California and is a reimagined approach to the traditional “career day.”

Many students and alumnae have shared that the women’s symposium was a transformative moment in their personal development. Alumna Jimena Villasenor ‘16 reflects, “at the (Women's Symposium) public policy panel during my senior year at OLP, Paola Avila, former Vice President of International Business Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, shared her insight of the Chamber's international work and advocacy on global policies that boost the economy and foster crossborder commerce. As a student who lived south of the border, this had a great impact on my perspective of our binational region and how the economic success of one city can positively impact the other. Further, during my sophomore year of college, when I was looking for an internship experience,

I remembered the representation of the business community on behalf of the Chamber and decided to apply as an intern. The experience that I gained during this four month internship and the work that I delivered, motivated me later on to become the International Business Affairs Coordinator at the Chamber after my college graduation. (OLP) Senior-year “me” would be very fulfilled to hear that I am following in one of the panelist’s footsteps as I am planning and implement quarterly International Business Affairs Forums, assist in the coordination of annual delegation trips to Washington D.C. and Mexico City, and serve as liaison with government officials and industry leaders in Mexico.”

Anne Holland ‘15 shares, “I remember being so enthralled that women were capable of pursuing and being a part of any field they wanted to be in. I really enjoyed listening to the woman from Facebook. Although I don’t work in the STEM field, she encouraged me to try coding, so I took a computer science course in college and actually did fine. If it weren’t for her, maybe I wouldn’t have tried it.”

As we celebrate the 9th annual Women’s Symposium in March 2023, our students are benefitting from a model created by Dr. Lek in which “empowered women, empower women” and the high school students of OLP and many guests, have the opportunity to collectively glean from top female leaders, consider entrepeneurial pusuits and experience the comraderie. Please mark your calendars to attend on Friday, March 24, 2023, and join us!

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE OLP WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM

“empowered women, empower women”

THE HOPE IS HERE

Women's SYMPOSIUM

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

JOIN US for OLP’s Ninth Annual Women’s Symposium

Modeled after the speaker panels at leading universities, OLP Women’s Symposium brings together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success with our students and community. Through dialogue and modeling, these female leaders empower young women to stand up for themselves and fearlessly chase their dreams.

SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Roundtable Lunch

11:15am – 1:05pm

Networking Happy Hour 21+ 5 – 7pm

Maya Gabeira Brazilian Big Wave Surfer

Written by Heather Tiegs, Art Instructor

ART AT OLP Inspired

Heather is a professional artist and educator who began her journey with OLP in the Spring of 2022

For a student to engage in art making gives them the potential to gain new skills as it nourishes their mind and feeds their soul. This leads to development in a wondrously complex myriad of extraordinary ways. The technicality of creating art requires a unique blend of awareness, perseverance, determination, innovation, and patience. To have students then pair this with the putting forth of their personal vision ignites a daring rambunctiousness tempered by a centered sense of knowing calm. These are the tenents of the conscious curriculum of the art program at OLP, our extraordinarily unique educational institution where we foster and greatly value our bold women of heart. Here, students first engage in art class through the Art I and II course, which serves as an introduction to the technical fundamentals of artmaking, as well as an intensive study of the practical aspects of these fundamentals in the contemporary contexts of illustration, design, digital design, curation, and understanding visual culture (addressing the importance and power of visual art in our social media age). From here the course options branch out to a Handbuilding Ceramics and 3-D Design course, where students have the opportunity to get their hands covered in clay mud as they gain a nuanced understanding of the quirky requirements of construction with this ancient and sophisticated art medium. In this class, ultimately the clay becomes their teacher, requiring mindful serenity as creation occurs. The other courses include “Painting”, another timeless tradition whose mastery refines minds, and an advanced AP Studio Art Course, where students have an incredible amount of independence to advance in their own chosen path of visual study, while being graciously guided through relative technical

advancements, time management, and material use as they adhere to schedules of expectation akin to the responsibilities of professional artists working in the field.

As we go through these various classes, we engage in art as a thing to be practiced and skill development as playful exercises. The goal of this outlook being to allow artworks their necessary natural evolution. Final art piece assignments are designed throughout the year to be cumulative representations of their knowledge gain.

While productive feedback is encouraged at every turn through individual dialogues and class discussions, harmful negative self criticism is not allowed. Instead, we emphasize how we have a choice in how to view any moment of the creative process, recognizing that a lot of what comes out is exploration. Critique is given only in the spirit of challenging the student to be aware of the difference between being uncomfortable because addressing an aspect of their work in progress is a challenge that will help them grow or if it is a creative decision they would rather keep. In that way, students tease out and strengthen their understanding of their literal and visual voices. This method of productive feedback does not allow for them to simply say “I like, I love, I hate”, but has them explain their successes or shortcomings in terms of the fundamental art theories as we discover them, as well as develop their objective observations and further conceptual connections.

It is my greatest hope that, in this consciously designed curriculum, students find and refine their voice, skills, patience, and knowing of their heart as they experience a deepening connection to the Holy Spirit, learning to live and actively experience the idea that to be inspired literally means to be “In Spirit.”

Right: Full Bloom

VOICE through movement

WRITTEN BY KELLY CULVER, DANCE INSTRUCTOR AND HEAD DANCE TEAM COACH

When I was in high school, dance was the one constant in my life that I could always count on. No matter what stress or difficult situations I was going through at the time, for those hours that I was in the dance studio, I would forget about everything else and just be one with the music. When words were not enough to express my feelings, I let my body do the talking and I would walk out feeling completely refreshed, both physically and mentally. Dance can be so therapeutic and I hope that students in my class find this same release in their time with me in class. No matter what level of dance experience they have, I believe that anyone can find an outlet through dance and a deeper connection to themselves, their peers, and their experiences.

I also hope that students find new confidence in themselves after taking my class. I focus a lot on doing movement that feels good and trusting yourself, not necessarily copying or mimicking the instructor to do what “looks” good. This helps students discover the way their own bodies move and to be authentic in their own skin.

I not only want students to walk out of my class better dancers, but better people. Dance teaches you so much about life - consistency, grit, perseverance, confidence, accountability....I could go on and on! Like most classes here at OLP, we integrate our mission and the CSJ charism into our curriculum and instruction. It is always my hope that students in dance classes will also gain important life skills as part of their learning take-away.

In my dance classes, I strive to build a community of support and encouragement that inspires students to take risks and find their own voice through movement.

Faith and Family: Grandparents’ Day Mass

Written by Ryan Martin-Spencer, Director of Mission Integration, Liturgical Coordinator

On Friday, November 18, 2022, the OLP community welcomed 450 grandparents and grandparent figures to campus for our annual Grandparents’ Day Mass. Grandparents were invited to arrive early to relax, enjoy refreshments, and share in conversation with each other while taking in the beautiful views of Mission Valley from North Terrace before Mass in the Holy Family Event Center. The full Event Center was brimming with energy and love as students excitedly flowed in to find and sit with their grandparents.

Msgr. Richard Duncanson, OLP Board of Trustee member, celebrated the special mass and reflected upon how he has gotten to know multiple generations of many families, including quite a few present at Grandparents’ Day, throughout his years as a pastor accompanying families through weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other important events. The theme of the mass was, “Stand By Me,” and Msgr. Duncanson spoke beautifully about the love between grandparents and grandchildren, and how grandparents embody selfless Christ-like love, always standing by and supporting their grandchildren. Students offered prayer intentions of thanks for their grandparents and grandparent figures, while also remembering, in prayer, grandparents and grandparent figures who have passed away, leaving a legacy of loving care.

After Communion, Msgr. Duncanson led the community in a special blessing of grandparents and then OLP senior Paulette Vazquez and her grandmother, Erendira Vega, shared a remarkably touching and heartfelt reflection about the strength of their relationship and their unique bond. Paulette shared, “My grandmother, in short, is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. My life would not be the same without her as she is the glue that holds my family together. She is my biggest inspiration, my number one fan, my biggest supporter.” After her grandmother, Erendira, spoke about her love and support for Paulette, they shared an emotional embrace, deeply moving all gathered in the Event Center.

The legacy of love, family, and faith from Grandparents’ Day nourishes and enriches our OLP community each year. Truly, grandparents and grandparent figures embody unifying love in the genuine way that they bring families together and emanate their inspiring unconditional love outward to the wider community. At OLP, we give thanks for the love, support, generosity, and presence of all grandparents and grandparent figures in our students’ lives.

Board Trustee Member, Monsignor Duncanson celebrates Grandparents Mass.

Pilot Parents and Students: InService Together

Written by Katie Wilson, Service Learning & Retreats Director

Students at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace have served our n eighbors with compassion in a remarkably wide variety of ways for countless decades, both locally and internationally . From migrant and refugee families and youth, to people experiencing homelessness and hunger, OLP students have followed their hearts to share God’s unifying love with our dear neighbors. Truly, the deep and rich legacy of service is part of the fabric that constitutes OLP.

The Pilot Parents program provides OLP parents and guardians with opportunities to meet, connect, and support the OLP community based on shared interests. The recently established Pilot Parents “Faith and Service Crew” continues the OLP legacy of service this year by inviting OLP parents, guardians and students to volunteer in service together.

In December of 2022, a group of OLP parents and students, from multiple grade levels, served meals to guests at Fr. Joe’s Villages in downtown San Diego. Serving together with other pairs of parents

and students enriched the sense of community and family within OLP, even though the parent and student pairs did not know each other very well before meeting at Fr. Joe’s. Current Parent Siobhán Downing shared that her daughter Elisabeth (Class of 2025) and she were amazed at how much the OLP volunteers were able to assist the Fr. Joe’s staff and accomplish in just two hours. Meeting the guests at Fr. Joe’s and recognizing Christ’s presence within them touched and moved the OLP parents and students. For the Downings, serving at Fr. Joe’s was “such a great way to help light the world with the love of Christ!”

A growing number of OLP parents and guardians have expressed a desire to serve alongside their children through the Pilot Parents program, with more opportunities to serve being offered in the Spring semester. Parents and students serving together beautifully embodies what it means to be a member of the OLP Pilot family.

OLP mom, Siobhán Downing serving alongside daughter, Elisabeth class of 2025.

Two Schools, One Spirit of Service

Written by Katie Wilson, Service Learning & Retreats Director

One of the beautiful examples of “two schools, one spirit” is OLP’s ongoing partnership with St. Augustine High School for our monthly visits to CASA HOGAR INFANTI L in the La Gloria community of Tijuana, located just six miles south of the U.S. border. One Saturday a month, ministry leaders from both schools caravan down with students to visit the children and share an afternoon spent in intentional community.

Founded in 1975, Casa Hogar Infantil La Gloria is a home for at-risk and vulnerable children, ranging in age from infants to early teens. Some of the children are orphans; many come from situations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The OLP and Saints students undertake all sorts of activities with the children, from playing basketball and soccer, making monthly themed crafts, attending Mass, and on special occasions, sharing lunches of pozole soup, all in an effort to grow nurturing and lasting friendships with the children.

Casa Hogar Infantil is run by dedicated volunteers in partnership with the Augustinian community of Catholic priests and brothers in San Diego. The home is funded by a California nonprofit entity, managed by a Mexican nonprofit entity, and regulated by Mexico’s social services agency. Through this monthly partnership, not only have students been able to form strong friendships with the children, but they have also had opportunities to practice the art of fundraising. Saints and OLP

students have each undertaken fundraisers and shared the proceeds directly with Hogar Infantil La Gloria’s California nonprofit entity. Senior student leader Malia Lewton shares, “This example of student faith leadership demonstrates that all we truly need to make a positive difference in the lives of others is love and a willingness to serve.”

Recent OLP alums from the class of 2022 Annya Apodaca, Valentina Gutierrez, Lara Sanchez and Isabella Murillo reflected back on their four years of volunteering with Casa Hogar Infantil La Gloria. They communally shared: “This experience helped us exemplify the CSJ charism of serving the dear neighbor, beyond our OLP community to our neighboring community in Tijuana. This opportunity allowed us to see beyond ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We created many fond memories with the children, watched them grow over our high school years, and witnessed their excitement as they learned how to read, pray, and write, amongst other childhood milestones. We hope that the Casa Hogar Infantil community continues to thrive in an environment full of love for one another, and knows that they have left a permanent mark on our hearts, which we carry proudly and lovingly.”

If you are interested in joining on a future visit to Casa Hogar Infantil La Gloria, please reach out to Mrs. Katie Wilson, Service Learning and Retreats Director.

Dr. Sato, Assistant Head of School, Dora Gonzalez, Controller, Ms. Wilson, Service Learning and Retreats Director join with students for a volunteer service opportunity benefiting Casa Hogar Infantil.

The CSJ Legacy Continues: Faith i n Action

Written by Katie Wilson, Service Learning & Retreats Director

Over the past year, OLP students have had the incredible opportunity to serve side by side with our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet through a CSJ founded nonprofit organization, Border Compassion .

Border Compassion is an all-volunteer organization which coordinates and guides faith communities in US-Mexico border cross-overs, to stand in solidarity with families seeking asylum. The founder of Border Compassion, Sister Suzanne Jabro, CSJ shared: “The mission of Border Compassion is to invite faith-communities to offer a compassionate humanitarian response to families living at the Posada del Migrante Shelter, which houses up to three hundred people.” Through OLP Campus Ministry, OLP students have traveled to Mexicali, Mexico and shared in a day of celebration with the families living at the shelter this past Mother’s Day, and, more recently, for a Dia De Los Muertos celebration in November.

Sister Suzanne Jabro shared, “CSJs uniting at the Mexicali-California Border welcoming the refugee, feeding the hungry, building bridges of trust, not walls of fear, is how we shine a light and live the charism. Extending an invitation to the students of OLP is important because of their sensibility to the challenges of the present, and because they will be the ones to carry forth our mission into the future. We want to be together, sisters and students, and migrant parents and children, because we belong together. As CSJs, we situate ourselves on the margins together. This is where we belong. Our mission is to give ourselves away in love, particularly to those in greatest need, especially to the children.”

Each visit was spent sharing stories with one another, engaging in activities with the mothers and children and sharing a delicious meal with one another. Class of 2026 student, Isabella Pace, shared, “I feel like this experience built a bridge between two communities. Going

to this shelter we were able to connect with the people living there and listen to their experiences and understand their side of the story. I think that the families there felt a sense of comfort and happiness knowing that we were caring for and loving them. I feel that if I lived my life oblivious to what was going on in the world, I wouldn’t get to meet so many amazing people and I would miss out on the opportunities to learn and grow as a person.”

Another special part of this experience is traveling and interacting with our wonderful CSJ sisters. Since we no longer have sisters working on our OLP campus, immersions like this one with Border Compassion give us opportunities to learn from our wise and empathetic sisters. One special CSJ that we were able to spend the day with last spring was Sister Theresa Harpin, OLP Class of 1969. OLP students loved getting to know her and hearing her stories of attending OLP in the 1960’s. She is now the founder of Restorative Partners, a justice-oriented nonprofit organization in San Luis Obispo.

OLP looks forward to continuing to immerse our ministry programming in our CSJ spirit and legacy through partnerships with CSJ nonprofits, and continuing to serve the dear neighbor without distinction in all corners of our global community. If you would like to learn more about the work of Border Compassion, or donate, you can visit their website at border-compassion.org.

Janne Shirley, CSJ Associate from Los Angeles.

Celebrating Dia De Los Muertros with families living at the Posada del Migrante Shelter .

a DAY in the LIFE