I am so pleased to share this issue of Coeur à Coeur with each of you. In it you will find information about the visual and performing arts programs being offered at Woodlands. Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat believed that we should each cultivate a passion for the beautiful and surround ourselves with that which elevates the soul to God. This has stuck with me since my own days as a student in a Sacred Heart school.
Over the recent break I had the opportunity to spend a few days at the ocean…those who know my love of the beach will immediately paint a picture inclusive of sunshine, warm temperatures, and a sand chair! This was not the case. The real picture was, instead, one of threatening sky and churning turf.
Yet despite the wind, the cold water and the hostile skies…I was at peace. Stepping off the footpath over the dune and catching a glimpse of the wild scene before me, all I could think of was the glory and the power of God. It was magnificent!
Years ago, I took my mother to a state preserve in California…as we pulled into the nearly vacant parking lot, she looked at me as if I had lost my mind and wondered aloud, “what are we doing here?” I simply said we are going for a walk. Truth be told, my mother had never taken a walk in the woods before, she was more of a “city girl.” But indulging me, she changed her dress shoes into sneakers and off we went.
At first, uncertain of her footing on the dirt path, she focused on the route into the woods only looking around when I would stop to take a picture. Eventually on one of my ‘stops’ she looked up and out into the woods…and then she saw it…the canopy of trees above us parting and moving in the breeze just enough to create komorebi or the stunning image of the sunlight filtering through the trees.
In my mother’s “seeing” came a profound experience of God, one that caught her by surprise and delighted her beyond measure. In that moment she came to better understand my faith life, and that which draws me to God. In those mossy woods, among the fallen and standing Redwoods…my mother experienced that which had been nurtured in me through the Sacred Heart education which she and my father had gifted me.
Why are the arts important? They are important because they open our eyes to the wonder of God, they help us to see the majesty of the world entrusted to us, they provide us a means through which our soul both sings and cries out to others. The arts teach us to seek beauty in small (and tall) things, and they help us to turn a walk in the woods into a deeply spiritual experience.
I hope you enjoy learning more about what is happening today in the visual and performing arts offered at Woodlands, and I hope that you are inspired to foster or even rekindle the creative spark that dwells within each.
United in mission,
Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL
Woodlands Academy Honored for BLUE RIBBON EXCELLENCE
November 3 had members of the Woodlands Academy community ”seeing blue” just about everywhere they went. Blue Ribbon Day celebrated the school’s latest highly impressive acknowledgments of its exemplary academic performance.
Woodlands is one of only 13 private schools in Illinois to be named an inaugural recipient of the newly established Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools award. Gov. JB Pritzker, alongside state and education leaders, formally launched the program and celebrated this year’s designees at a ceremony on October 10.
Woodlands, one of the 28 Illinois public and private schools honored as a 2025 Governor’s Blue Ribbon School, will be invited to a special recognition event at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield this spring.
”Being designated a Governor’s Blue Ribbon School is an incredible distinction, and these schools deserve to be celebrated,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders. ”I congratulate this year’s honorees for their tremendous accomplishments and thank them for serving as models of excellence for schools across the state.”
This most recent honor follows Woodlands’ earlier recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2025 and 2020. National Blue Ribbon School awards were based on a school’s overall academic performance. For both years,
Woodlands was included in the category of Exemplary High-Performing Schools.
According to Associate Head of School for Academics Rocco Gargiulo, Woodlands Academy achieved its exemplary Blue Ribbon School status for several reasons. ”In aggregate, our students scored above the 85th percentile in national standardized tests in reading and mathematics,” he said. ”Our school programs are unique, innovative and support student learning and well-being. This includes our curricular and co-curricular offerings, our Center for Global Studies, our comprehensive college counseling curriculum, and our Learning Program support. Other factors considered entail our relationships with local organizations (who provide lessons on wellness, financial literacy, leadership skills and more), our student and adult dialogue training, and opportunities for student exchange around the world.”
The Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools award was established to replace the national honor, which the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) discontinued in late August. Just a few weeks earlier, DOE had notified Woodlands Academy that it met all the requirements for a 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools award. The national program’s sunset meant that DOE would not be honoring Woodlands and all the other schools that qualified for a 2025 designation, nor would it be holding the traditional awards-presentation celebration in Washington, DC, as it had in the past.
PHOTO: Gov. JB Pritzker is joined by Woodlands Academy Associate Head of School for Academics Rocco Gargiulo (left) and sophomore Emma O’Brien following the launch of the Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program at an October 10 event in Hickory Hills.
Fun, Traditions Launch New School Year at Woodlands Academy
Students, faculty and staff reporting for the first day of classes at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart on August 26 were greeted by various spirited signage and decorations inside and outside the building. They were all designed and created by the Class of 2026 as part of the traditional “Seniors Rule” celebration held before students report to their classrooms. During this time, members of the graduating class have a lot of fun celebrating their newfound status at the beginning of each school year. They chose “Hollywoodlands” as the theme for this year’s festivities.
Another tradition is also observed just before classroom activities begin. The Woodlands Academy community gathers for the annual commissioning of faculty and staff. Adult community members are recognized individually for their vital, unique roles in creating the Sacred Heart community at Woodlands. They do so in ways such as teaching, coaching, moderating clubs and activities, advising, and attending to the school’s administrative needs.
And yet another Woodlands Academy tradition took place on August 25. The New Student Prayer Service marks the end of orientation for first-year students. This annual ceremony welcomes incoming freshmen, transfer students and their
families into a tradition of Sacred Heart education that traces its roots back to France in 1800. Woodlands Academy was founded near downtown Chicago in 1858 and moved to Lake Forest in 1904.
The New Student Prayer Service features a candle-lighting ceremony at its conclusion. Each first-year student receives a candle, which is then lit. At the end of the ceremony, all the new students process out of the school’s chapel carrying their lit candles. “The light you hold as you walk past the adults gathered will be a beautiful demonstration of how today marks the beginning of your Sacred Heart journey at Woodlands,” Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., told them. “Rest assured that your orientation leaders, along with the entire Woodlands community, are individuals you can turn to for guidance and light.”
Before the prayer service, first-year students and their families were assisted by orientation leaders as they toured their new classrooms, took ID photos, visited their lockers and participated in group ice-breaker activities preparing them for the August 26 start of classes.
PHOTO: They rolled out a red carpet on the steps of the main entrance to Woodlands Academy on August 26. The Class of 2026 chose “Hollywoodlands” as the theme for their traditional “Seniors Rule” celebration on the first day of the 2025-26 school year.
2026 National Merit
SCHOLARSHIP HONOREES
For the fourth year in a row, a Woodlands Academy senior has qualified to continue her pursuit of a highly prestigious scholarship award. And a classmate was commended for demonstrating exceptional academic promise.
Maya Whiteman ’26 is among the less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors achieving Semifinalist status in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This group of academically talented students will continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million to be awarded next spring. In addition, recipients of these scholarships earn the coveted title of Merit Scholar.
“I am so very proud of Maya for achieving this outstanding national recognition of the academic excellence she has achieved during her years as a student here at Woodlands Academy,” said Associate Head of School for Academics Rocco Gargiulo. “I join the entire Woodlands community in wishing Maya continued success during the rest of her National Merit Scholarship quest.”
The next step in the process is advancing to the Finalist level. Achieving that distinction is based on a Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
In addition to our Semifinalist, one more Woodlands senior distinguished herself in the current National Merit Scholarship competition. School officials were informed that Evelyn Maria (Emmy) Seliga ’26 is among approximately 34,000 high school seniors nationwide being recognized for exceptional academic promise.
Seliga received a Letter of Commendation from Woodlands and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program. While included among the top scorers, commended students do not continue in the National Merit Scholarship awards competition. However, they may be eligible for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
PHOTO: Pictured with Woodlands Academy Associate Head of School for Academics Rocco Gargiulo are (from left) senior Maya Whiteman, 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, and senior Evelyn Maria Seliga, National Merit Scholarship Commended student.
The Singles Tennis Prowess of Courtney Croll
On the heels of her sixth-place finish at the IHSA Girls Tennis Class 1A State Finals, Courtney Croll ’27 was named the 2025 Independent School League (ISL) Girls Tennis Player of the Year. The votes of all tennis coaches in the ISL, an athletic conference comprised of eight private secondary schools in the Chicago metro area, determine which player receives this annual distinction.
During the regular season, Croll achieved an undefeated 14-0 record. Her journey to the State Finals began with a #1 Singles second-place finish at the ISL Conference Tournament. Additionally, she was named to the All-Conference team.
During the state tournament, held at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Croll won five of her seven matches. The strength of Croll’s solo performance placed Woodlands’ Wildcats at #16 in the team standings out of the 50 Class 1A schools that scored any points at the IHSA State Finals.
Croll entered the IHSA State Finals as the #7 seed. “Courtney represented the Wildcats with grit, determination and power,” said Jim Franke, Woodlands Academy varsity tennis head coach. “She advanced to the Quarterfinals (of the Championship Bracket) where she lost a tight battle to the #2 seed in three sets.” Croll went on to win two of her three Consolation Bracket matches, losing the battle for fifth place to an opponent from Deerfield High School.
“She is one of the smartest, toughest competitors I have had the privilege to coach,” said Franke. “The quality of her play energized the whole team and made us better.”
Based on her record and performance at the state tournament, Croll was subsequently designated an All-State honoree.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ varsity tennis team finished its 2025 season with a 9-6 record playing in one of the toughest conferences in the state, according to Franke. “This was a tight-knit group held together and led by team captains Maggie Glunz ’26, MacKenzie Lockhart ’26 and Morgan Mathy ’26,” said Franke. “MacKenzie/ Morgan played #1 Doubles, and their 14-8 record was a big part of the Wildcats’ success.” During the postseason, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Antioch Sectional, finishing just one match away from qualifying for the State Finals and helping the Wildcats secure third place at Sectionals.
Other varsity tennis players included Lucy Petherbridge ’26, Sophia Patino ’26, Nyah Watson, ’27 and Talia Sevim ’27.
PHOTO: Woodlands Academy junior Courtney Croll’s singles competition awards didn’t end with her sixth-place finish at the IHSA Girls Tennis State Finals. She was later named the 2025 Independent School League (ISL) Girls Tennis Player of the Year.
Congressional Debate Team Excels at Season’s First Tournaments
In its second year of participation in the Illinois Congressional Debate Association (ICDA), Woodlands Academy’s team made an impressive showing at its first tournament of the 2025-26 season. The event, held at Glenbrook South High School, drew more than 500 competitors from 26 schools.
Woodlands Academy earned a second-place finish in the Small School Sweepstakes, just six points behind the first-place team. A total of 10 teams competed in this event, including some larger programs such as Deerfield High School and Lake Forest High School.
In addition, several students received individual awards and recognition:
• Emmy Seliga ’26 won first-place Speaker in her chamber and received five top speaker nominations.
• Katie Gorman ’27 won first-place Speaker in her chamber, had four Top Speaker nominations and was the best Presiding Officer.
• Madeleine Lillis ’27 won third-place Speaker in her chamber and received a Top Speaker nomination.
• Talia Sevim ’27 received a Top Speaker nomination.
Woodlands’ Congressional Debate team, led by head coach Vanessa Vergara and faculty moderator Matthew Nuccio, was back in action on October 18 at Grayslake Central High
School. The team won second-place Sweepstakes honors for the second consecutive year. Individually, Seliga won first-place Speaker in her chamber in the Varsity Division.
The November 3 ICDA tournament at Adlai Stevenson High School produced some more notable firsts for the team:
• Rei En Chew ’27 and Monet Chalermratananon ’27 won Best Legislation in Economics, “A Bill to Ban Bloody Diamonds.”
• In the Varsity Division, both Rei En Chew ’27 and Talia Sevim ’27 won second-place Speaker in their respective chambers, earning their first Varsity-level medals.
• In the JV Division, Alyssa Mann ’28 won second-place Speaker in her chamber, earning her first Speaker medal at the JV level.
For the first time in the program’s brief history, a Woodlands debater finished among a tournament’s Top 10 Quality Speakers. Seliga tied with two students from Adlai Stevenson High School for 10th place in this prestigious category during the December 6 meet at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.
PHOTO: Congressional Debate team members (Varsity and JV) at the October 18 Grayslake Central tournament, from left, Front row: Jannat Thakur ’29, Sarah Khan ’29, Chloe Keck ’29 and Lara Scheiner ’27; Back row: Sarah Cohen ’29, Katie Gorman ’27 (V), Rei En Chew ’27 (V), coach Vanessa Vergara holding the 2nd-place Sweepstakes trophy, team captain Emmy Seliga ’26 (V) wearing her 1st-place Speaker medal, Talia Sevim ’27 (V) and Madeline Lillis ’27 (V).
Woodlands Holds FIRST SERVICE DAY OF 2025-26
Goal III of all Sacred Heart schools seeks to educate to a social awareness that impels action. With this in mind, Woodlands Academy held the first of its two 2025-26 Service Days on September 17. Freshmen and juniors lent a helping hand to some area service organizations. At the same time, sophomores and seniors participated in retreat activities.
The day began at Woodlands Academy with a discussion of why the school emphasizes service to its surrounding community, during which some juniors shared their past service experiences with the freshmen.
Equipped with this insight, the freshmen headed to the Mother’s Trust Foundation prom dress storage facility at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake. There, they helped sort and organize dresses for the foundation’s annual prom dress giveaway and donated any unusable dresses to the Salvation Army.
Juniors began their day of community service at Fill a Heart 4 Kids in Lake Forest, which provides homeless, at-risk and foster children with food, critical necessities, life skills and educational support. While there, they helped inventory, organize and fill care packages. Juniors then spent the afternoon playing games and visiting with residents at Sunrise of Highland Park, which offers assisted living and memory care.
“I’m so very proud of our freshmen and juniors who did truly awesome work during this year’s first Service Day,” said English teacher Erin Brysiewicz, Woodlands Academy’s service coordinator. “We do this with the hope that the girls gain a greater understanding of themselves and see the difference they can make in the lives of others.”
Woodlands Academy’s final Service Day of the 2025-26 school year will take place in March. Sophomores and seniors will volunteer at local service organizations, while freshmen and juniors will participate in retreats.
The school’s service program requires freshmen to perform 10 hours of service during their first year at Woodlands. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to complete 20 hours of service per year. Additionally, students complete a written reflection for each of their service sites annually. Many Woodlands Academy students become passionate about service and far exceed the required minimum of 70 hours.
PHOTO: Woodlands Academy freshmen (from left) Lia Jara, Bella Wood, Eloise Hartman, Gabi Martinez and Atzi Pulido model some of the apparel they helped sort and organize for the Lake Forest-based Mother’s Trust Foundation’s annual prom dress giveaway.
Woodlands Launches National Music Honor Society Chapter
The 2025 Christmas Concert at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart ended on a surprise high note. Immediately following the program’s conclusion, music teacher/choir director Claudia Vining informed those in attendance that Woodlands now has a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter. She also announced that 12 juniors and seniors were inducted as charter members of the national organization based on their participation in music, academic achievement, leadership and other qualifying criteria.
“Woodlands Academy has established Tri-M to recognize students who are active in two or more music ensembles and classes or have shown exceptional leadership in their music groups,” said Vining. “They advance the spirit of good music and musical knowledge and enhance the reputation of our school as a center for musical enrichment.”
Tri-M, the only national honor society for student musicians, fosters a greater continued interest, appreciation and desire for excellence in musical performance. Vining adds that membership should also promote wider opportunities for sharing joy through music both within the school and its surrounding community.
The charter members of Woodlands Academy’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter are (l to r) Cat Dotson ’27, Kate Marlowe ’27, Annabelle Hayes ’26, Alli Rodriguez ’27, Lulu Henderson ’26, Emmy Seliga ’26, Madeleine Lillis ’27, Maggie Glunz ’26, Janicel Otero ’26, Lara Scheiner ’27, Kendall McCleary ’26 and Emanay Piracha ’27.
Woodlands Academy Gets Top Marks
For the seventh year in a row, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart earned an A+ for its faith-based education of young women. Niche.com’s 2026 rankings name Woodlands the #1 Catholic High School and the #1 All-Girls High School on the North Shore, as well as one of the Top 25 Private High Schools in Illinois.
Faith in Action: My Two-Week Pilgrimage Experience to Lourdes
By Lucy Petherbridge ’26
Last summer, I spent two weeks on a Catholic pilgrimage to France, Spain and Italy with my parish in Wilmette, St. Joseph Francis Xavier. The trip took us from Paris to the holy sites of Lourdes, to the sandy beaches of Spain and finally to Rome. Each place offered something different — history, service and reflection. Together, these experiences gave me a deeper understanding of how faith shows up in everyday life.
We spent our first day in Paris before flying to Lourdes, where we stayed for about a week and a half. Most of our time there was spent serving the assisted pilgrims, or, as we came to call them, “APs.” Our group helped them get to Mass, meals and other daily events. Some didn’t speak English (my four years of French helped tremendously!), but we quickly learned that kindness doesn’t need translation. Simple gestures like offering a hand, pushing a wheelchair or sharing a smile often spoke louder than words. The work was tiring, but it was fulfilling to know we were making someone’s experience easier. Serving in Lourdes reminded me that living out faith is less about what we say and more about consistent actions of care and patience.
The grotto in Lourdes, where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette, was one of the most memorable parts of the pilgrimage. I had read about it before, but being
there in person was completely different. The silence, the candles and the steady line of visitors created an atmosphere of deep peace and reflection. Every night, the locals hold a candle rosary procession that we participated in. Hearing more than a dozen languages around me made me realize the importance of this holy site and the devotion of Catholics from across the world. It encouraged me to truly reflect on what my Catholic faith meant to me.
We took a bus to Spain for a day. In San Sebastián, we had a beach day to reflect on all the service we had done. It was fun to connect with the other 40 people on this pilgrimage in a social way. We swam in the ocean, built sand castles and enjoyed a delicious lunch. We didn’t use our cellphones once, and the break from technology was refreshing. The day made me realize how close our group had grown since we departed O’Hare as mostly strangers.
After Spain, we traveled to Rome, where we had the incredible opportunity to see Pope Leo XIV in person. Being that close to him was surreal, and I even brought several items to be blessed. Visiting major sites like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican made me realize how global and diverse the Catholic community truly is.
We ended the pilgrimage in Paris for two days, during which we visited several important churches, including Notre Dame Cathedral. Seeing such an iconic site in person was eye-opening. The detail and history in every piece of architecture showed how deeply faith has shaped culture over time. Walking through Paris also made me think about how many people before us had found meaning and hope in those same places.
Throughout the two weeks, I learned that faith isn’t just something experienced in churches or sacred spaces — it’s found in how we meet and treat others, how we work together and how we stay open to growth. This pilgrimage was more than just travel; it was a chance to see how faith comes alive through service, community and shared experience. They were two weeks I will never forget.
Center Stage: How the Arts Shape Life at Woodlands
From stage to studio, concertos to ceramics, Woodlands students explore creativity, collaboration and community while building skills and confidence that last far beyond the classroom.
At Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, the arts are everywhere you look. Students sing, act, paint, draw, sculpt, take photos and play instruments with energy and passion. So when the Woodlands community supported the school’s visual and performing arts programs at last spring’s Congé gala, it confirmed what everyone already knew: The arts truly matter here.
This past year has only reinforced that idea. The fall play, “Little Women,” sold out all three nights, and excitement is building for the upcoming musical, “The Sound of Music” (February 26-28). New equipment and courses are giving students more ways to express their creativity. Choir and orchestra welcomed new faculty members with fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth. Across disciplines, through rehearsals, performances and projects, students and teachers share the belief that the arts at Woodlands are about community, discovery and being seen.
Theater as a Place to Grow
Over her nearly four years at Woodlands, senior Annabelle Hayes has sung in every choir and acted in every play and musical. Her favorite aspect of the performing arts at Woodlands is the people.
“In my freshman year, I was nervous about meeting new people and making new friends,” she said. “However, during my audition for ‘Steel Magnolias,’ I met a friend, and since then, we’ve been in almost every show together. Our friendship has grown exponentially due to the amount of time we’ve spent together in the Woodlands theater program over the years.”
Annabelle recalls many memorable moments on stage. During last year’s fall play, “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” her co-star, senior Janicel Otero, dropped her fan “during an intense marital argument scene.” Playing off “the energy of the moment,” Annabelle said she “snapped and pointed down for [Janicel] to grab it for me. She did, and laughter ensued from us and our directors. We all loved the moment so much, we did it for the actual performance, and it was always a struggle to keep from laughing at the audience’s reaction.”
Some of Annabelle’s favorite Woodlands roles include Lady Windermere and Shelby in “Steel Magnolias.”
Singing Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” in Woodlands’ Kaleidoscope choir was another highlight. “As long as I have my family and my Woodlands sisters supporting me, I would perform anywhere.”
Janicel values the same sense of connection. Singing in the student-led Microscope choir and the larger Kaleidoscope choir, as well as performing in theater productions, she enjoys how everyone’s strengths come together. She remembers a particular rehearsal for “Little Women.”
“Our director, Mrs. Adamczyk, knew we all had a ton of homework and busy schedules,” Janicel recalled. “So she
let us have a rehearsal where we studied and did homework in character! As Marmee, I went around asking if anyone needed help.”
Before last year’s musical, “Mamma Mia,” Janicel got sick right before opening night, “which meant the people around me had to step in for me vocally,” she said. “It was such a ‘wow’ moment to see everyone supporting me without me even having to ask. That experience taught me that a show isn’t just about one ‘main character.’ It takes everyone, from the actors on stage to the crew backstage.”
Performing at Woodlands has helped Janicel find her voice, both literally and figuratively. “That’s the beauty of our all-girls environment,” Janicel noted. “We get to have a say. I’ve been able to speak up in choir with song suggestions and ideas for duets or solos. And in theater, I’ve been able to share advice about how a character might act or when something on stage doesn’t quite fit. I’ve also been able to advocate for others in the cast when needed. The point is, I feel my voice is heard. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t speak up because someone might tell me I’m not allowed to.”
Guiding Creativity and Collaboration
In addition to their classroom roles, English teacher Jennifer
Brostrom and Latin teacher Beverly Adamczyk also lead Woodlands’ theater program. They do so with a focus on growth, creativity and teamwork. “Throughout the year, and especially after the spring musical, we engage in lots of conversations with students about their opinions of specific plays and musicals,” Adamczyk said. “From knowledge about our students’ interests and about our students’ special skills and abilities, we explore scripts that we believe our students and audiences would enjoy.” Brostrom added, “We look for plays and musicals that offer meaningful stories, rich characters and themes that engage both our students and our audiences to build a feeling of connection. We have had great success with productions that are both entertaining and deeply human— shows that build understanding, laughter and heart.”
“Little Women” offered a chance to step into Louisa May Alcott’s world. “Through this production, students not only honed their performance skills,” Brostrom said. “They learned about aspects of women’s history through their experience wearing costumes in the style of the 19th century as well as the play’s discussion of women’s roles and opportunities in American society during the Civil War era. Bev and I received feedback that some audience members were inspired by our production to go back home and read or re-read Louisa May Alcott’s novel!”
Adamczyk pointed to the upcoming musical as another way to explore challenges through performance. “‘The Sound of Music” lets us champion a woman who finds ways to face her challenges with joy and grace, whether her obstacles be internal or external.”
Collaboration drives theater at Woodlands. “It requires
teamwork and relies on the ability of very different skills and temperaments to work together successfully,” Brostrom said. She, Adamczyk and Woodlands’ new music teacher, Claudia Vining, who also serves as vocal coach and co-director for “The Sound of Music,”, bring complementary skills to guide students. “Bev is a genius when it comes to multiple technical aspects of theater and stage design,” Brostrom observed. “I focus on bringing out student voices as characters and honing those relationships onstage along with communications across the group. And Claudia is an amazingly talented vocal coach. While we each have some special areas of expertise, supporting positive student leadership and teamwork is our primary goal.”
Student leadership plays a role in every production. Choreographers, stage managers, lighting and sound designers, costume designers and publicity coordinators are all students.
“We have student leaders who are responsible for helping to define a creative vision in all areas: set design, costumes and publicity,” Adamczyk said. “With the spring musical, these roles include leadership in areas like student-led choreography. Through our productions, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own level of preparation, while also helping one another to prepare, whether that means helping
a castmate find the perfect pair of shoes for her costume or helping another actor learn lines backstage.”
“We truly embrace and model the idea that every role is extremely important, both onstage and backstage,” Brostrom said. “Being supportive of every member of the team is also key to a positive experience throughout the production.”
Music That Brings Students Together
Claudia Vining, a classically trained singer who received her degrees in her native Germany, joined Woodlands this year as music teacher and choir director. She leads her program with a focus on growth and artistry. “Making music nurtures creativity, diligence, attention to detail and honest self-evaluation,” she said. Woodlands’ Kaleidoscope choir has grown to 21 members. They rehearse for concerts, competitions, holiday shows and will travel to New York City for a competition this spring.
“It gives me great joy to share the love for music with young women,” Vining said. “For over a decade I have led school choirs, bell choirs and instrumental ensembles and took different choirs overseas on concert tours. I came here to Woodlands to build a vibrant music department where students feel safe and can grow. Making music nurtures creativity, the virtues of diligence, attention to detail and
honest self-evaluation, which will serve these young women well, whatever path they decide to pursue later in life. It is very special to guide young talent in a place like Woodlands, where more individualized instruction is possible.”
Music Director Kurt Johnson, a former Houston Symphony violinist and another new Woodlands faculty member, leads the orchestra. He calls rehearsals “intense but rewarding.”
Arts, allowing each student to find her creative path by being exposed to art and music. Woodlands’ academic offerings include a wide range of visual arts disciplines, and students have an opportunity to have their drawings, photography, ceramics, and other works displayed at the Deer Path Art League Emerging Artists Show in Lake Forest. They can also apply to have a booth at the Art Fair on the Square Young Artist Show in the summer. All students in the fine arts department participate in Woodlands’ annual Fine Arts Evening.
Art and engineering faculty member Justin Goh teaches across disciplines, helping students find their artistic voice. “Art classes let students fully express themselves,” Goh said. “Through listening and talking with them, I go on a journey with them, looking at the media they enjoy, their Pinterest boards and what they scribble when they are in other classes. There are a number of assignments that encourage students to try new methods and materials, and that helps as well. I also sometimes add ad hoc activities depending on the time of year and the class’s mood.”
“It’s like working with a group of professional musicians,” he said. “Every day I always encourage my students to be at their best musically and always open to new ideas and challenges. We have never had a dull moment in class, and I know they always leave super happy.”
Johnson encourages collaboration across disciplines, with concerts that combine music and visual arts, joint projects with choir and original compositions like his upcoming “Woodlands Suite,” which the Woodlands orchestra will perform in New York.
Visual Arts: Exploring Creativity Across Mediums
Woodlands’ visual arts department has grown in both size and scope in recent years. Students start with Freshman Fine
Ceramics teacher Debbie MacAyeal emphasizes technical skills early on. “One of my favorite projects is the box project in Ceramics 1,” she said. “Students’ projects must include a box made of slabs of clay properly attached at right angles. But their box can be anything they can dream up, such as a birdhouse, a skyscraper or a cardboard milk carton. Each assignment requires them to demonstrate that they have learned a particular skill, while also allowing them to express themselves and be creative.”
Arts as a Community Experience
Walk through Woodlands, and you will find evidence of the arts in all the expected places. Paintings line the halls, orchestra rehearsals bring students in at the crack of dawn while theater
rehearsals fill evenings, choir songs emanate from the chapel and echo down corridors, and ceramics projects dry on all available flat surfaces.
But the arts don’t end there. They overlap with other academic areas at Woodlands. “We are continually teaching new techniques and working to use technology in our curriculum and within individual projects,” MacAyeal said. “Many of the skills needed for art, photography and ceramics are learned in other subject areas. For example, an understanding of chemistry is necessary to mix ceramic glaze, and chemistry plays a role in the development of photographs. Artwork often references history, politics, popular culture and literature.” Programs often intersect as well. Visual arts students paint sets, engineering students help with construction, and choir and orchestra collaborate in musicals.
The arts touch all aspects of student life at Woodlands. They reflect the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education, including personal growth, social awareness and intellectual curiosity. “Whether they go into law, education, business, science or the arts,” said Brostrom, “these skills are invaluable. The confidence and sense of community they develop here at Woodlands are lifelong gifts and the skills and memories built here will serve students wherever they go.”
Looking Ahead
Woodlands’ visual and performing arts programs continue to evolve. Last year saw the introduction of a new AP course in 3D ceramics. This year, visual arts components were added to the freshman fine arts curriculum, providing students with expanded opportunities to develop their technical and creative skills across their four years at Woodlands. Thanks in part to funds raised at
last spring’s Congé, the visual arts department has also added a new kiln for ceramics, giving students more ways to experiment with form, texture and firing techniques.
Lighting and sound upgrades in Woodlands’ Susan Saint James Performing Arts Center, including a state-of-the-art soundboard, will give theater students professional-level tools. “The new equipment will provide students with more options for space and color in their lighting designs, similar to what they may encounter in college or at another venue,” Adamczyk said.
For Woodlands’ student musicians, this year has also seen the establishment of a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter. At December’s Christmas concert, an inaugural group of 12 juniors and seniors was inducted into the national organization based on music participation, academic achievement, leadership, and other qualifying criteria. (See full story on page 11.)
Participation in the arts at Woodlands does more than just provide students with social and academic enrichment. It prepares them for life. “Our students benefit by being challenged to think creatively and to meet the challenge of transforming their ideas into works of art,” MacAyeal said. “Having a creative outlet is crucial to maintaining a balanced life. As they examine art, discuss it and create, they learn about themselves as individuals and as part of the whole. The process of creating helps the girls to know themselves better.”
Last year at Congé, families and alumnae invested in this vision. This year proves their trust was well placed.
“Engaging with the arts through making and enjoying visual and performing arts changes how you see the world,” Goh said. “The creative arts are a way for us to understand our humanity. They are an essential component of a well-rounded education. Especially in an all-girls school, the arts allow our students to be the fullest expression of themselves.”
Prize Day
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart students – and one of their teachers – were recognized for numerous achievements this school year during the Prize Day honors ceremony on June 3, 2025, the 166th annual distribution of awards.
Highlights included presentation of the 2024-25 Woodlands Award, the highest honor a Woodlands Academy student can attain, to graduating senior Avery Drehkoff. Based on the votes of faculty and students, this award recognizes outstanding service, leadership, character and scholastic development.
The Distinction in Studies Award was presented to Yue Pan, Class of 2025 valedictorian, for maintaining the highest scholastic average during her four years of high school. Zara Dimovski and Clare Pinnow, co-salutatorians, achieved the second-highest grade point average after four years of high school.
The Frances de la Chapelle Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to science teacher Julia Dunn.
Student Graduation Reflection
By Kjirste Miller ’25
The following is excerpted from the Student Reflection offered at Woodlands Academy’s 166th Commencement Exercises on June 4, 2025.
Most of the graduates can agree with me that immense change has happened since freshman year. From hair length to skirt length, from timid waves in the hallway, to full-on scream greetings from across campus. It’s safe to say we’ve all learned a few things.
Coming to an all-girls school isn’t always easy. Especially when you walk in at 8 a.m. and thirty girls are already chucking water balloons at your head. But it becomes easy knowing you’re walking into a home. And that’s what this place has become.
We are standing here now, dressed in white, but four years ago, we walked in here wearing masks, literally and figuratively. Ninth graders. Quiet, wide-eyed, a little unsure of where to sit at lunch or how to find our people. We were navigating
a pandemic, a new school year, and the general awkwardness of being fourteen. Everything felt fragile.
And now, somehow, we’re here. The seniors. The ones with the decorative posters on Senior Day. The ones sitting at the back of the chapel. The ones who know not to pull but rather push the front doors to the IC, when to hide in Canteen, and how to read each other’s moods with just a glance. The ones who carry the weight and joy of this place like second skin.
The spirit of Woodlands lives in every single hallway, sure, but more than that. It lives in the things that don’t get grades or awards. It lives in the late-night Prom selfies, the early mornings of Senior day, the Ring Ceremony tears, the chaotic Pack the Gym chants, and those deeply necessary after school Starbucks or Chipotle runs. It lives in the quiet moments too, watching the gleaming faces after finding out we all brought poems for Poem of the Day. Or, just sitting with your friends, not saying much, but feeling understood anyway.
Kairos and the Senior Retreat taught us to mend broken things, relationships, friendships, even our faith. It taught us that laughing until we cry at 11 p.m. can be spiritual. That God sometimes shows up in the form of a friend who sits beside you when you’re unraveling. That girlhood joy and divine joy may not be that different after all.
There’s something wild and sacred about the joy we’ve created here. It bubbles up from our throats when we sing too loud in the halls. It lives in the chaos of Winter Formal preparations, in spontaneous dance circles during club meetings, and when Leo was elected Pope. It’s unfiltered and deeply felt. And it’s ours.
Because here’s the truth: the world will try to take that joy from us. It will tell girls to quiet down. To be more palatable. Less emotional. Easier to digest. This school taught us not to listen to that. Our joy, especially as young women, is not something we should grow out of. Our laughter isn’t immature, it’s magic. It’s power. This school taught us to laugh even louder. To speak even when our voices shake. To lead from the front
and bring people with us. That’s what girlhood looks like when it’s protected. When it’s celebrated. When it’s given room to become something powerful.
If I had to sum up what we’ve done here in one word, it would be impact. Because we’ve left one. On this school, on each other, and on the people coming after us. And I know we’ll keep making an impact, because our generation doesn’t get to sit on the sidelines. We are inheriting a world that needs our empathy, our courage, our voices.
We have to make our mark in our neighborhoods, on college campuses, in workplaces, in boardrooms, and in communities that haven’t heard us yet. We have to be the women we needed when we were younger as the world is asking more of us now than ever. And honestly, we’re already answering.
Before we go, I want to ask you for one thing: a pinky promise.
Promise me you’ll remember this place, and not just the tests and transcripts. Remember the education from passionate faculty and staff. Remember the way it felt to laugh like you meant it. Remember the feeling of making your parents smile. And when the world tells you to quiet down, to grow up, to stop being so much, promise me you’ll get louder. Be more. Let the joy ooze out of you like it did here. Because it’s not just joy. It’s who you are.
CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATION
Members of Woodlands Academy’s Class of 2025 received their diplomas during the school’s 166th Commencement Exercises on June 4, 2025.
The senior class chose Woodlands theology teacher Christine Zapf as the ceremony’s faculty speaker. “I have loved seeing how each of you came to truly embody the Sacred Heart Goals in beautiful ways that are as unique as every precious one of you,” she said. “I can’t wait to see how you will take the Goals with you and live them in all the next phases and seasons of your future lives.”
Kjirste (KJ) Miller was selected by her senior classmates to deliver the student address. “There’s something wild and sacred about the joy we’ve created here,” she noted. “It’s unfiltered and deeply felt. And it’s ours.” Excerpts from her remarks can be found on pages 22-23 of this issue of Coeur à Coeur.
We are so proud to celebrate the Woodlands Academy Class of 2025, who are currently matriculating at the following colleges and universities. No matter where our alumnae go, they will always have a home in the Sacred Heart.
Beloit College
Bowdoin College
Champlain College
Dartmouth University
DePauw University
Drew University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott, AZ)
Florida Gulf Coast University
High Point University
John Carroll University
Knox College (2)
Loyola University Maryland
Marist University
Marquette University
New York University
Northwestern University
Rhodes College
Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, IN)
Santa Clara University
Siena College
Texas Christian University
Trinity College (Hartford, CT)
University of Chicago
University of Sydney
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
University of Notre Dame
Wake Forest University
William & Mary
Villanova University
Flag Ceremony
The Woodlands Academy community celebrated its multicultural makeup during the annual Flag Ceremony and Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 12, 2025.
“The Society of the Sacred Heart has been an international community since its early years,” said Associate Head of School for Academics Rocco Gargiulo. “At Woodlands Academy, there are many ways for each of us to expand our global hearts. Today, our Flag Ceremony recognizes, honors and celebrates the breadth and diversity on our campus.”
The flags of the U.S. and 24 other nations were carried into Woodlands Academy’s Chapel of the Sacred Heart during the Procession of the Nations. These flags represent nations where a Woodlands student or adult community member was born or holds dual citizenship. All 25 flags are on display throughout the entire school year to visualize the breadth of Woodlands Academy’s cultural diversity.
Mater Admirabilis
Parents and other guests joined the Woodlands Academy community on October 20, 2025 for the annual Mater Admirabilis Mass, which honors the school’s sophomores and brings them to a deeper understanding of the heritage and traditions of a Sacred Heart education.
This Woodlands Academy tradition marks a student’s transition from a time as a child to her emergence as a young woman who recognizes that receiving a Sacred Heart education is a blessing in her life to be treasured. During the ceremony, each sophomore receives a medal depicting the image of Mater (another name for Mary, Mother of God). It symbolizes the student’s transformation and calls on her to be a resilient, innovative young woman who bases her life on the values of the Sacred Heart.
Reunion 2025
Woodlands Academy alumnae from years ending in 0 and 5 joined us for Reunion 2025 on September 19 and 20. It was a joy to gather and celebrate our shared history, and your presence truly made it meaningful. Whether reminiscing over photos, catching up with favorite teachers, or taking a peek into their former classrooms, past memories were shared, and new ones were made.
Friday’s events included an Alumnae Social in the Woodlands Courtyard. Saturday’s festivities began with “Shop the Square” in downtown Lake Forest, followed by school tours and a chance to pick up some fun new Woodlands swag! Later that afternoon, alumnae gathered for a special Mass in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, followed by an evening of cocktails and dining at Lake Forest College’s Brown Hall.
Thank you, alumnae, for making Reunion Weekend so special!
In Memoriam:
(May 1, 2025 – October 30, 2025)
Ms. Meghan Cashman ’93 *
Alumna
Mr. Donald Cran P’96
Past Parent
Mrs. Margaret Crowe G’16
Former Grandparent
Mr. John P. Cunningham, Jr. P’89 ^
Former Parent
Ms. Elizabeth “Libby” W. Dallman ’68
Alumna
Mr. Brendan Robert Donovan
Former Faculty Spouse
Mr. Linneaus “Lin” C. Dorman
Former Faculty Father
Mrs. Nancy Sloan Hudson ’54
Alumna
Mrs. Evelyn O’Malley Casey ’46
Alumna
Mr. Desmond F. Perry P’92, P’93
Former Parent
Ms. Marie Pinnow
Former Student, Sister to Clare Pinnow ‘25
Mr. John “Jack” Preschlack G’22
Former Grandparent
Mrs. Ginny Miller Redman ’60 +
Alumna
Mrs. Mary Joyce Robbins ’67
Alumna
Mrs. Ethel Stamis G’21
Former Grandparent
“For the sake of one child, I would have started the Society.”
More than wo hundred years ago, our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, made that bold statement, and for over 160 years, we have made it our mission to value, understand, nurture, challenge, and love each of our girls as if she were the only one.
Your sustaining support of the Woodlands Fund benefits every student, every day, by supporting curricular and co-curricular programs, state-of-the-art science laboratories, and our exceptional teachers.
At Woodlands Academy, a young woman thrives thanks to your generosity. She is our mission. She is our priority. She is our future.
To make your gift to the Woodlands Fund, please scan the QR code at right, visit woodlandsacademy.org/donate, or use the envelope inside this issue of Coeur à Coeur.
